Page 358 - Politics
Spain's divided Podemos slumps in local, EU polls
Far-left party Podemos, which just four years ago took over major city halls across Spain, suffered a humiliating defeat in Sunday's local, regional and European elections, a victim of internal diputes. The party lost almost all of the mayorships it won in 2015 along with other far-left groups, and captured just 10 percent of the vote in the European elections, compared with 14.3 percent during an April 28 general election. At the same time the triple polls strengthened acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's Socialists, which placed first in the European elections and won the most votes in 10 of the 12 regions that voted on Sunday. The results undermined Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias's wish to form a coalition government with the Socialists, which won last month's general election while failing to reach a majority in parliament. "He is too weakened to demand Pedro Sanchez give him ministries," Carmen Lumbierres, a political science professor at Spain's Open University UNED, told ...
Nepal PM confirms attendance for Modi's swearing-in
The first amongst the BIMSTEC member-states to confirm their attendance is Nepal, as Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli is scheduled to attend Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony on May 30."Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will be travelling to India on May 30 of this month. This time he will be there to attend the swearing-in ceremony of his Indian counterpart. He will start from Kathmandu on May 30 itself and is slated to attend the ceremony later in the evening," a minister from the incumbent cabinet told ANI seeking anonymity.The two countries will be holding bilateral talks the following day, a senior official from Nepal's MoFA confirmed to ANI."We formally have received the invitation letter from Indian Prime Minister's Office for the oath ceremony. During the visit Nepal Prime Minister also will hold bilateral talks with Indian counterpart the following day after the swearing-in ceremony," the official said.Like SAARC leaders last time, heads of government from neighbouring ..
Mukul Roy's son arrives in Delhi amid speculations of joining BJP
BJP leader Mukul Roy's son Subhrangshu Roy, who was recently suspended from Trinamool Congress, arrived in New Delhi on Monday, amid speculations of him joining BJP.Speaking to ANI, Subhrangshu said, "I have not yet joined the BJP. I will tell you everything tomorrow. As many as 150 counsellors have come here along with me. There are, however, no MLAs here."Subhrangshu, a TMC legislator from Bijpur, was suspended from the party for six years for his anti-party comments.In the recently concluded elections, TMC bagged 22 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats at stake in the state, while BJP improved its tally and secured 18 seats, 16 more than it had bagged in the 2014 polls. The Congress managed to win just two seats, while the Left parties drew a blank.
Farage claims pro-Brexit momentum after divisive UK vote
British euroskeptic Nigel Farage said Monday that his new Brexit Party's victory in the European election should spur Britain to leave the European Union even without a divorce deal a call echoed by many senior Conservatives, stung by their party's humiliating defeat. Farage's single-issue party and pro-EU forces combined to trounce Britain's two dominant political parties in the European Parliament election, as angry voters blamed the ruling Conservatives and the opposition Labour Party for the country's Brexit impasse. With results announced Monday for all regions in the U.K. except Northern Ireland, the Brexit Party had won 29 of the 73 British EU seats up for grabs and almost a third of the votes. On the pro-EU side, the Liberal Democrats took 20 per cent of the vote and 16 seats a dramatic increase from the single seat in won in the last EU election in 2014. The opposition Labour Party came third with 14.1 per cent, followed by the pro-European environmentalist Greens , who ...
Israel parliament takes first step to hold new elections due to deadlock
Israel's parliament on Monday took a first step toward holding new elections due to deadlocked coalition negotiations following April polls, giving preliminary approval to a law to dissolve itself. Three more votes are required for final approval of the law, which would result in new elections being held. The vote was 65-43 with six abstentions, according to parliament's website. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been unable to reach a deal to form a governing coalition ahead of a Wednesday night deadline to do so. He was due to speak in parliament at 8:00 pm (1700 GMT). Ex-defence minister Avigdor Lieberman has prevented a deal by refusing to budge from a key demand. Holding elections so close to one another would be unprecedented in Israel, and there have been concerns over the cost and prolonged political paralysis that would result. It would also be a major setback for Netanyahu, who received support on Monday from his close ally US President Donald Trump. "Hoping ...
Savarkar proposed two-nation theory, Jinnah implemented it: Bhupesh Baghel
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel on Monday claimed that Veer Savarkar was the first one to propose the two-nation theory that led to the formation of India and Pakistan, while Muhammad Ali Jinnah implemented it.Speaking to reporters, Baghel said, "Savarkar had put forward the proposal of dividing the country into two parts on religious grounds and Jinnah had implemented it. This is a historical fact and no one can deny it."Speaking further about the demand of a Bharat Ratna for Savarkar, Baghel said, "He had fought for the independence of the country and was put in Andaman and Nicobar jail. Not just once but he apologised repeatedly to Britishers and after coming out of jail he stayed away from the fight for the country's independence. He had thought of two countries, this is also historically true."Baghel's remark comes a day ahead of the social reformer's birth anniversary.Last year during the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had remembered ...
Alapan Bandyopadhyay appointed new WB Home Secretary
In an attempt at administrative revamp in the wake of the ruling Trinamool Congress suffering serious setbacks in the Lok Sabha polls, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday appointed Alapan Bandopadhyay as the new home secretary.
Bengal sends 31 crorepatis to Lok Sabha, 5 more thatn 2014
Of the 42 elected Lok Sabha MPs from West Bengal, 31 are crorepatis, five more from than the 2014 tally, while 23 parliamentarians have declared criminal cases against them, a study said.
Trump backers launch construction on private border wall
A US military veteran has launched construction on the first section of private border wall between the United States and Mexico, using money crowdsourced by supporters of President Donald Trump. "This is Americans' way of saying, 'Congress, you're worthless, and we're fighting it. We're going to build (the wall) ourselves," said New Mexico resident Jeff Allen, the co-owner of the land where the private wall is being built. Determined to help Trump fulfil his promise to build a "big, beautiful wall" on the border, Allen began erecting a towering fence of steel slats last weekend on his land in the city of Sunland Park, across from Ciudad Juarez, in Mexico. He said the project was being funded by We Build the Wall, a company launched by war veteran and triple amputee Brian Kolfage to help get Trump's border barrier built, using millions of dollars in private donations he raised online. The company's advisory board is chaired by Steve Bannon, the far-right strategist and former Trump ...
Nath asks ministers to look after MLAs to prevent poaching
Days after the Lok Sabha poll results, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has moved swiftly to keep his flock of Congress MLAs together to thwart any poaching attempt by a resurgent BJP. Nath, whose five-month-old government is surviving on a wafer-thin majority, has asked each of his Cabinet colleague to look after at least five legislators to check any desertion to the opposition camp, a Congress leader said Monday. Apprehension about the government's stability has crept in the Congress after its humiliating defeat in the recently concluded general elections in Madhya Pradesh, where it won just one of the 29 parliamentary seats, conceding the rest to the BJP. The BJP last week wrote a letter to the governor, requesting her to convene a special session of the assembly for testing the Nath government's strength on the floor of the House. "Nath ji has asked each of his 27 Cabinet colleague from his party to look after five legislators, the Congress leader told ...
From Greta to Luisa, youths spearhead climate movement
They're the faces of the climate alert that propelled Green parties to strong gains in EU elections: Greta, Luisa and Leah lead a generation of youths that have put the planet atop the political agenda. Without these youngsters, some of whom are still not old enough to vote, Europe's Green parties might have still posted strong scores, as the climate has become one of voters' main concerns. But their ubiquitous activism -- in the streets, on social networks, and in the media -- has had an undeniable effect mobilising voters. "The Green parties' results are due to all the young people striking, climate activism is getting more important, especially among young women. They are the ones who set the agenda for the European elections," said Katri Ylinen, a spokeswoman for the Federation of Young European Greens. At just 16, Sweden's Greta Thunberg has become a figurehead for a movement that has gone global, inspiring hundreds of thousands of other youths in dozens of countries to strike ...
MB Patil clarifies Congress MLA's 'neglection of Lingayats' remark
Karnataka Home Minister MB Patil on Monday clarified his party MLA BC Patil's comment about Congress "neglecting" Lingayats in the Lok Sabha polls and said that elections are won with the support of all communities of the society."We need all the communities to win the elections. We cannot win the polls by favouring one community. This is what BC Patil has said and this is his personal statement," the Home Minister said.After Congress' dismal performance in Karnataka, BC Patil -- Congress MLA from Hirekerur, had said that party's drubbing in the Lok Sabha polls was a result of "neglection" of the Lingayat community."Congress has neglected the Lingayat community which is the largest community in Hyderabad, Karnataka and north Karnataka. In north Karnataka, all the seats were lost by the Congress. North Karnataka was neglected. I think this might be the reason for downfall in results in Lok Sabha election in Karnataka," the actor-turned-politician had told a regional television ...
Kamal Nath devises strategy to keep party flock united
After the crushing defeat of the Congress in the Madhya Pradesh Lok Sabha polls, Chief Minister Kamal Nath has worked out a plan to combat the BJP according to which every state minister will handle complaints and issues of five MLAs each to counter any dissatisfaction among the legislators, party sources said.
Romania's ruling party strongman begins jail sentence
Romania's ruling party strongman Liviu Dragnea was jailed on Monday, Romanian media reported, hours after his appeal against a corruption conviction failed. Dragnea, 56, was seen being driven in a police car into the Rahova prison on the outskirts of Bucharest, in images carried live on Romanian television late on Monday afternoon. Just hours earlier a court had confirmed his original three-and-a-half-year jail sentence. The verdict will almost certainly remove from public life a man who was widely seen as the puppet master behind the Social Democrats (PSD) and the government they lead. Dragnea was also a key figure in his party's push for controversial judicial reforms which have led to clashes with Brussels and have overshadowed Romania's first-ever EU presidency. But he was unsuccessful in his bid to overturn a conviction he received last year for using his influence to procure fake public jobs for two women who were actually working for the Social Democrats (PSD) at the ...
Dutch PM congratulates Modi on electoral victory
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Monday made a congratulatory phone call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the latter's win in the Lok Sabha polls 2019.Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a clear majority with 303 seats, which is 22 more than it got in the 2014 elections. Along with its allies, the NDA took its tally up to 352 in the 17th Lok Sabha.Wishes have been pouring in for the leader ever since it became clear that his party along with its allies had secured a thumping majority in the general elections.Scores of world leaders, right from Japan in the East to the United States in the West, have wished the Prime Minister on being re-elected for a second term.Modi has thanked most leaders who have extended their greetings through Twitter. Continuing his thanking spree, Modi tweeted: "I thank Excellency President Rouhani for his warm greetings. India and Iran enjoy civilizational links. We will work to strengthen close ties between the two countries. @HassanRouhani""Thank you
2 Rajasthan ministers demand detailed review of Cong poll debacle
Amid speculation of a Rajasthan minister quitting in the wake of the Congress' election debacle, two state ministers have come out in the open demanding a detailed assessment by senior leaders of the party. Cooperative Minister Udai Lal Anjana and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Ramesh Meena have said the party should review the defeat in detail so that it stands up again and performs well in upcoming local body elections in the state. "The results were below expectations. Voters were swayed by the issue of nationalism raised by the BJP. Our leaders, too, made full efforts, but it was not acceptable to the people," Anjana told reporters here. "Our senior leaders are doing brainstorming in Delhi and party president Rahul Gandhi offered his resignation. There should be introspection by the leaders," he said. Anjana also raised question on selection of the Jodhpur seat for fielding chief minister Ashok Gehlot's son Vaibhav, saying Jalore was more suitable. "Some mistakes have happened ..
Would love to meet Modi, says Left supporter Bengali woman in viral video
The Bengali woman whose video clip lauding the achievements of Narendra Modi government in spite of being a dedicated Left supporter went viral on social media on Monday said if given an opportunity, she would love to meet the Prime Minister someday.
Mutharika narrowly re-elected Malawi president: commission
Malawian President Peter Mutharika was narrowly re-elected with 38.57 percent of the vote ahead of opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera with 35.41 per cent, official results from last week's election showed Monday. The vote count was released after a court battle, with Chakwera's party obtaining a temporary injunction to bar the release of results over alleged vote-rigging. The Malawi Electoral Commission said Mutharika, who heads the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), took nearly 159,000 more votes than Chakwera, of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). The result is likely to trigger criticism from Chakwera, who had warned of alleged attempts to rig the election and said his party's own count showed him ahead. The electoral body stopped releasing results updates Friday after receiving 147 complaints from parties involved in Tuesday's vote. Chakwera's MCP went to court over what it claimed were irregularities in results from 10 of the country's 28 districts. Opposition parties have .
Thakor meets Gujarat Deputy CM; triggers talk of BJP entry
Former Congressman and Gujarat OBC leader Alpesh Thakor Monday met Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, triggering speculation that he may join the ruling BJP. Thakor, the MLA from Radhanpur in Patan district, had quit the Congress before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Thakor met Patel at his Gandhinagar office for about about half an hour, BJP sources said. The OBC leader's associate and Congress MLA from Bayad Dhavalsinh Zala was also present at the meeting, they said. However, what transpired in the meeting was not known as both Thakor and Zala could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. The BJP appeared reluctant to provide details and speculate on the OBC leader's future course of action. "There is no such development with regards to Alpesh Thakor (on joining the BJP) The meeting might be for some other reason as he is an MLA," state BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said. However, speculation is rife among sections in both the Congress and the BJP here that he may be ...
With prayers and a personal touch, Modi woos Varanasi in first visit after thumping win
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a day-long visit to his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi on Monday and struck a chord with residents of the city by referring to himself as their 'Sevak' and offering prayers at the prominent Kashi Vishwanath temple."For the country I am the Prime Minister, but for you, I am your MP, I am your sevak," said Prime Minister Modi while addressing party workers at the Deen Dayal Hastkala Sankul in the city.He also started his address by greeting BJP workers of the region in Bhojpuri. "Pranam Baa" (I bow to you), Modi said.Modi arrived at the police line helipad of the city and left directly for Kashi Vishwanath temple. From his slow-moving cavalcade, he greeted those who had lined up on both sides of the largely barricaded road to catch a glimpse of their leader.Sitting on the front seat of a black rang-rover, a visibly elated Modi greeted citizens of his constituency as his convoy passed through the road, parts of which were decorated with saffron ..