26-year-old Mahinur Ozdemir, a Belgian lawmaker of Turkish origin, was sworn in at the Brussels regional parliament Tuesday wearing an Islamic headscarf, in a first for the kingdom. AFP - A Belgian lawmaker of Turkish origin was sworn in at the Brussels regional parliament Tuesday wearing an Islamic headscarf, in a first for the kingdom. "I swear to respect the constitution," 26-year-old Mahinur Ozdemir said, her hand raised, to applause and a rain of camera flashes, as she was sworn in at around 1400 GMT. She won her seat in local elections on June 7. Members of her family and a strong contingent of Turkish media attended. Ozdemir, dressed in a beige dress with a headscarf marked by turquoise coloured squares, smiled broadly in response and flashed a discreet V sign to her family.
AFP - A Belgian lawmaker of Turkish origin was sworn in at the Brussels regional parliament Tuesday wearing an Islamic headscarf, in a first for the kingdom. "I swear to respect the constitution," 26-year-old Mahinur Ozdemir said, her hand raised, to applause and a rain of camera flashes, as she was sworn in at around 1400 GMT. She won her seat in local elections on June 7. Members of her family and a strong contingent of Turkish media attended. Ozdemir, dressed in a beige dress with a headscarf marked by turquoise coloured squares, smiled broadly in response and flashed a discreet V sign to her family.
President Nicolas Sarkozy has reshuffled his government, naming eight new ministers, including Frederic Mitterrand (pictured) as culture minister, but leaving the foreign affairs and economy portfolios unchanged. AFP - French President Nicolas Sarkozy unveiled a major reshuffle of his right-wing cabinet Tuesday, naming new interior and justice ministers and bringing on board the nephew of late Socialist leader Francois Mitterrand. Seeking to jumpstart his presidency half way through his mandate, Sarkozy made the wider-than-expected changes following a historic address to parliament Monday, in which he set out his roadmap for steering France out of recession.
AFP - French President Nicolas Sarkozy unveiled a major reshuffle of his right-wing cabinet Tuesday, naming new interior and justice ministers and bringing on board the nephew of late Socialist leader Francois Mitterrand. Seeking to jumpstart his presidency half way through his mandate, Sarkozy made the wider-than-expected changes following a historic address to parliament Monday, in which he set out his roadmap for steering France out of recession.
Firstly it makes him look taller, and secondly it's an unintentionally effective damage management strategy.
Czech President Vaclav Klaus has pledged to be the last in the EU to sign the Lisbon Treaty, raising fears about the future of the document which has been several painful years in the making. The Czech parliament has approved the treaty, but the president's signature is needed to complete the process, a fact that the eurosceptic Mr Vaclav has dangled over the rest of the member states on several occasions. Vaclav Klaus says he is not the 'last mohican' on the question of the treaty "I will certainly not rush," Mr Klaus told Czech Radio, reports DPA. "I will certainly wait until after all those things about which I have talked about, which include a constitutional complaint by our senators ... happen." "The Irish have not voted again. Poland has not signed the Lisbon Treaty, and Germany has not signed the Lisbon Treaty. So I am not the last Mohican who is fighting against all," he said.
Czech President Vaclav Klaus has pledged to be the last in the EU to sign the Lisbon Treaty, raising fears about the future of the document which has been several painful years in the making.
The Czech parliament has approved the treaty, but the president's signature is needed to complete the process, a fact that the eurosceptic Mr Vaclav has dangled over the rest of the member states on several occasions.
Vaclav Klaus says he is not the 'last mohican' on the question of the treaty
"I will certainly not rush," Mr Klaus told Czech Radio, reports DPA. "I will certainly wait until after all those things about which I have talked about, which include a constitutional complaint by our senators ... happen."
"The Irish have not voted again. Poland has not signed the Lisbon Treaty, and Germany has not signed the Lisbon Treaty. So I am not the last Mohican who is fighting against all," he said.
EUOBSERVER/BRUSSELS - EU regional policy commissioner Danuta Hubner announced she would on Wednesday (24 June) resign from her post, in order to take up her mandate as a member of the European Parliament. "I have received during the elections a huge support coming from my fellow citizens and that encourages me now to take up the seat in the European Parliament, so I am resigning from the current post as EU commissioner for regional policy," Ms Hubner told journalists in Brussels on Tuesday. Danuta Hubner has decided to take up her MEP seat, but is still open for future EU commissioner job The 61-year old economist and policy-maker, who won by an overwhelming majority in the Warsaw constituency was required by Polish electoral law to step down by Wednesday from any other position that would be in conflict of interest with the MEP function. She is to stay on as commissioner temporarily however giving the Polish government, led by Donald Tusk, a chance to appoint a replacement.
EUOBSERVER/BRUSSELS - EU regional policy commissioner Danuta Hubner announced she would on Wednesday (24 June) resign from her post, in order to take up her mandate as a member of the European Parliament.
"I have received during the elections a huge support coming from my fellow citizens and that encourages me now to take up the seat in the European Parliament, so I am resigning from the current post as EU commissioner for regional policy," Ms Hubner told journalists in Brussels on Tuesday.
Danuta Hubner has decided to take up her MEP seat, but is still open for future EU commissioner job
The 61-year old economist and policy-maker, who won by an overwhelming majority in the Warsaw constituency was required by Polish electoral law to step down by Wednesday from any other position that would be in conflict of interest with the MEP function.
She is to stay on as commissioner temporarily however giving the Polish government, led by Donald Tusk, a chance to appoint a replacement.
A harsh new Council of Europe report focuses on the Yukos Oil and Hermitage Fund cases as it slams Russian criminal justice system abuses. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has singled out reform of Russia's legal system as the biggest challenge facing the country. Medvedev, a former law professor, has coined the expression "legal nihilism" to describe widespread legal abuses-a problem, he says, that seriously hinders Russia's development. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev speaks talks to international business leaders and bankers at the 13th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. But a new report, published on June 23, is likely to prove embarrassing reading for the Russian President. It comes from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, a Strasbourg-based international organization promoting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Europe. Titled Allegations of Politically Motivated Abuses of the Criminal Justice System in Council of Europe Member States, the report examined alleged abuses in four member states: Britain, Germany, France, and Russia. Much of the document focuses on Russia, detailing several recent cases that "give rise to concerns that the fight against 'legal nihilism' launched by President Medvedev is still far from won." More Bad News for Investors That is perhaps putting it mildly. Among its observations, the Council of Europe report alleges that Russia's justice system is characterized by "pressure on judges," frequent "intimidation and reprisals" against defense lawyers, "irregularities in the investigative process," and "political interference in the criminal justice process."
A harsh new Council of Europe report focuses on the Yukos Oil and Hermitage Fund cases as it slams Russian criminal justice system abuses.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has singled out reform of Russia's legal system as the biggest challenge facing the country. Medvedev, a former law professor, has coined the expression "legal nihilism" to describe widespread legal abuses-a problem, he says, that seriously hinders Russia's development.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev speaks talks to international business leaders and bankers at the 13th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. But a new report, published on June 23, is likely to prove embarrassing reading for the Russian President. It comes from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, a Strasbourg-based international organization promoting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Europe. Titled Allegations of Politically Motivated Abuses of the Criminal Justice System in Council of Europe Member States, the report examined alleged abuses in four member states: Britain, Germany, France, and Russia. Much of the document focuses on Russia, detailing several recent cases that "give rise to concerns that the fight against 'legal nihilism' launched by President Medvedev is still far from won."
More Bad News for Investors
That is perhaps putting it mildly. Among its observations, the Council of Europe report alleges that Russia's justice system is characterized by "pressure on judges," frequent "intimidation and reprisals" against defense lawyers, "irregularities in the investigative process," and "political interference in the criminal justice process."
In keeping with the institutional reform he himself saw through, the French president was able to give a direct address, on Monday June 22, to both houses of the French parliament at Louis XIV's chateau of Versailles. Such an "historical event", which last occurred all of one hundred and fifty years ago, hasn't escaped the attention of the European press, which has lambasted Sarkozy's "monarchical delirium". In the palatial setting of Versailles, it should have been a consecration, but as the Libération headline points out it was more of a "Hassle in a Castle." For the inauguration of institutional reforms voted in July 2008, the French President made his first ever address to an assembly which convened both houses of the French parliament -- and failed to live up to the occasion with a "drab" speech in marked contrast to the sumptuous venue. "Even the Right could not hide its disappointment at a speech which only surprised by its utter predictability," reports the left-wing daily. This sentiment is also re-echoed by the European press led by Der Standard, which ironically reports on "a revolutionary event in the royal palace," only to conclude that the first exercise of the president's right to address parliament was marked by "a total absence of revolutionary content. (...) The only certainty is that Sarkozy does not intend to raise taxes," observes the Viennese daily, which emphasizes the media circus surrounding the assembly and the dash of celebrity glamour provided by the presence of Carla Bruni. For Dziennik in Warsaw, Nicolas Sarkozy's address was not so much a speech as a show to promote a new political program, which the editor of the daily Andrzej Talaga deplores as "a mix of populism, socialism and nationalism." In seeking to assist key sectors of French industry, the French President is threatening to undermine the foundations of Europe, which are the Single Market and free and fair competition. In conclusion, Talaga takes the view that "Sarkozy has stamped these principles into the mud beneath his elevated shoes." For Spanish newspaper El Mundo, the assembly in Versailles was first and foremost the expression of the French president's "regal delusions." The conservative daily goes on point out that the staging of "the event cost a million euros," which could have been used for a more useful purpose than "pomp and circumstance."
In keeping with the institutional reform he himself saw through, the French president was able to give a direct address, on Monday June 22, to both houses of the French parliament at Louis XIV's chateau of Versailles. Such an "historical event", which last occurred all of one hundred and fifty years ago, hasn't escaped the attention of the European press, which has lambasted Sarkozy's "monarchical delirium".
In the palatial setting of Versailles, it should have been a consecration, but as the Libération headline points out it was more of a "Hassle in a Castle." For the inauguration of institutional reforms voted in July 2008, the French President made his first ever address to an assembly which convened both houses of the French parliament -- and failed to live up to the occasion with a "drab" speech in marked contrast to the sumptuous venue. "Even the Right could not hide its disappointment at a speech which only surprised by its utter predictability," reports the left-wing daily.
This sentiment is also re-echoed by the European press led by Der Standard, which ironically reports on "a revolutionary event in the royal palace," only to conclude that the first exercise of the president's right to address parliament was marked by "a total absence of revolutionary content. (...) The only certainty is that Sarkozy does not intend to raise taxes," observes the Viennese daily, which emphasizes the media circus surrounding the assembly and the dash of celebrity glamour provided by the presence of Carla Bruni.
For Dziennik in Warsaw, Nicolas Sarkozy's address was not so much a speech as a show to promote a new political program, which the editor of the daily Andrzej Talaga deplores as "a mix of populism, socialism and nationalism." In seeking to assist key sectors of French industry, the French President is threatening to undermine the foundations of Europe, which are the Single Market and free and fair competition. In conclusion, Talaga takes the view that "Sarkozy has stamped these principles into the mud beneath his elevated shoes." For Spanish newspaper El Mundo, the assembly in Versailles was first and foremost the expression of the French president's "regal delusions." The conservative daily goes on point out that the staging of "the event cost a million euros," which could have been used for a more useful purpose than "pomp and circumstance."
EUOBSERVER/BRUSSELS - The EU's planned foreign service should be established gradually and not in a 'Big Bang', if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified after a second Irish referendum, the bloc's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said on Monday. With only a few months left to go on the job, Mr Solana held a speech outlining his foreign policy vision for the European Union, including the perspective of creating a common foreign service should the Lisbon Treaty come into force after Ireland holds a second referendum and Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic complete the ratification process. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana says diplomats abroad will represent all 27 member states "The foreign service is contemplated in the treaty as an effort of the member states to create a global common diplomacy. I like to think that in time we will be one of the most important diplomacies in the world, along with US, China and other big players in the world," he said. Mr Solana, who has been the Union's first high representative for foreign and security policy for the past ten years, said the bloc's foreign service would consist of national and EU diplomats.
EUOBSERVER/BRUSSELS - The EU's planned foreign service should be established gradually and not in a 'Big Bang', if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified after a second Irish referendum, the bloc's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said on Monday.
With only a few months left to go on the job, Mr Solana held a speech outlining his foreign policy vision for the European Union, including the perspective of creating a common foreign service should the Lisbon Treaty come into force after Ireland holds a second referendum and Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic complete the ratification process.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana says diplomats abroad will represent all 27 member states
"The foreign service is contemplated in the treaty as an effort of the member states to create a global common diplomacy. I like to think that in time we will be one of the most important diplomacies in the world, along with US, China and other big players in the world," he said.
Mr Solana, who has been the Union's first high representative for foreign and security policy for the past ten years, said the bloc's foreign service would consist of national and EU diplomats.
Britain has expelled two Iranian diplomats after Tehran ordered two British diplomats to leave. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that Tehran's decision to expel the British diplomats was unjustified. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was expelling the Iranian diplomats from their embassy in London after Tehran on Monday said it was expelling two British envoys. Brown said Tehran's decision to throw out the British envoys was based on allegations that "were absolutely without foundation." He did not elaborate what those allegations were. Iranian authorities have repeatedly accused Western governments, particularly Britain and the United States as well as UN Chief Ban Ki-moon of meddling in its internal affairs.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was expelling the Iranian diplomats from their embassy in London after Tehran on Monday said it was expelling two British envoys.
Brown said Tehran's decision to throw out the British envoys was based on allegations that "were absolutely without foundation." He did not elaborate what those allegations were.
Iranian authorities have repeatedly accused Western governments, particularly Britain and the United States as well as UN Chief Ban Ki-moon of meddling in its internal affairs.
A former Kosovo prime minister, Agim Ceku, has been arrested in Bulgaria on an international warrant issued by Serbia for alleged war crimes.The Bulgarian interior ministry said Mr Ceku was detained as he crossed the border from Macedonia and a court would consider his case in the next few days. Serbia accuses Mr Ceku of committing war crimes in 1998-99. At the time he was commander of the ethnic-Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), which was fighting Serbia.
A former Kosovo prime minister, Agim Ceku, has been arrested in Bulgaria on an international warrant issued by Serbia for alleged war crimes.
The Bulgarian interior ministry said Mr Ceku was detained as he crossed the border from Macedonia and a court would consider his case in the next few days.
Serbia accuses Mr Ceku of committing war crimes in 1998-99.
At the time he was commander of the ethnic-Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), which was fighting Serbia.
Despite the lurid headlines, nothing seems to stick to Italy's PM - as the latest elections demonstrateSilvio Berlusconi can breathe again. After weeks of revelations about his private life - culminating in a prosecutor's decision to question dozens of young women on suspicion that they were paid to attend his parties - Italy's Prime Minister shrugged off the pressure yesterday, recording a convincing victory for his centre-right coalition in provincial and municipal elections across the country. Beyond Italy's borders it may seem inconceivable that an elected national leader could comport himself like an ancient Roman emperor without facing grave political consequences. But within Italy, Mr Berlusconi's fallible humanity and the fact that he is not so obsessed with power play that he has no time for the sweeter things in life, are seen by many as points in his favour. So while the centre-left celebrated their success in hanging on to much of its traditional "red zone" in central Italy, Mr Berlusconi's Freedom People Party managed to seize control of Milan and Venice. "If this is a victory for the opposition, we always want to lose like this," Mr Berlusconi crowed after results were in. "Before this provincial election, the Freedom People governed five million people [in the constituencies which voted]. Now it governs as many as 21 million."
Silvio Berlusconi can breathe again. After weeks of revelations about his private life - culminating in a prosecutor's decision to question dozens of young women on suspicion that they were paid to attend his parties - Italy's Prime Minister shrugged off the pressure yesterday, recording a convincing victory for his centre-right coalition in provincial and municipal elections across the country.
Beyond Italy's borders it may seem inconceivable that an elected national leader could comport himself like an ancient Roman emperor without facing grave political consequences. But within Italy, Mr Berlusconi's fallible humanity and the fact that he is not so obsessed with power play that he has no time for the sweeter things in life, are seen by many as points in his favour.
So while the centre-left celebrated their success in hanging on to much of its traditional "red zone" in central Italy, Mr Berlusconi's Freedom People Party managed to seize control of Milan and Venice. "If this is a victory for the opposition, we always want to lose like this," Mr Berlusconi crowed after results were in. "Before this provincial election, the Freedom People governed five million people [in the constituencies which voted]. Now it governs as many as 21 million."
But within Italy, Mr Berlusconi's fallible humanity and the fact that he is not so obsessed with power play that he has no time for the sweeter things in life, are seen by many as points in his favour.
Berlusconi is driven by the need of power. All of his laws consolidate his paranoid mania for power, his need to control reality and impose his brand of Truth. As for "the sweeter things in life" he's anthropologically incapable of perceiving them- staging photo-opportunity wholesomeness goes hand in hand with the Fellini-like scene of an old man drenched in makeup dancing very tightly with a high class entreneuse before an audience of the latest brand of female beauty, 20 strong. Nocturnal twilight, a sad scene from Roma or Casanova.
Berlusconi's party did not break through as he advertised. Further Berlusconi associated his image with what was in the final analysis local and provincial politics which, as ever, reflects local realities. Milan was lost by a few thousand votes, which translates into a lively assembly with a strong opposition. The "Freedom People" practically disappeared from the map four years ago when the center left wiped them out everywhere (five million only left to the right). Now that they've come back they still have not recovered equal footing. It looks nice on a geopolitical map, but that doesn't reflect the actual numbers.It's a stalled situation where everone sings victory while no one won.
The proximity of the scandal to the summit revives unpleasant memories for Mr Berlusconi: at a summit in 1994, during his first term as PM, he was served with legal papers alleging corruption. Soon afterwards he resigned.
He was summoned to be interrogated on a corruption case. It is suspected that he arranged events so that he would be served during the summit. His resignation had utterly nothing to do the that event. Bossi pulled out of the government, thus forcing the government into minority.
The "Freedom People" practically disappeared from the map four years ago when the center left wiped them out everywhere (five million only left to the right).
There is also the long wave of the rightwing message that trumpets insecurity and intolerance enough to motivate the lazy voter to vote.
In the present situation the electoral law has disenfranchised over eight percent of those who vote. The far left parties are stupidly divided into three groups none capable of mustering votes to get over the 4% barrier. Together they total between 8 and 9%.
Berlusconi is more likely to be ousted by his own coalition. He continues to accuse the left of some sort of subversive plot when all the press is doing is their job: inform the public. If ever there were a plot it would be among his own, not necessarily for noble reasons. D'Addario candidly declared several times that she went public on her one night stand because Berlusconi did not deliver on a promise. But what goaded her on was the fact that the Bari Procura had started interrogating people near her.
The latest news flash is that one of the women who has testified in the case has had her car burned. However la Repubblica site is temporarily down on that- perhaps too much traffic.
Further key developments- and a great thanks to the foreign press for focusing on Italy- are that the secret service oversight committee is holding hearings on the anomalous situation of Berlusconi's body guards. The Council president should be under escort of special police services that depend on the Minister of the Interior. On the contrary he is using his private guards that have been directed through the secret services. He is guarded by his own thugs, Uzis included (says a unverifiable source). When D'Addario tried to approach Berlusconi ten days ago it was these guards that blocked her off, one in particular who she recalls watched Berlusconi and her make out in front of him.
This brings up the accusations made by Berlusconi's primetime grovelers that the State had not protected him and his privacy. The oversight committee has discovered that the State has been co-opted by his own private services. It's doubtful he could have his indulged in his pathetic orgies with plenty of cocaine had his body guards been effectively appointed by the Ministry of the Interior.
There are more details today on the burglary in Ms. D'Addario's home. She declared today that the house was ransacked and all electronic devices were stolen as well as the dress she wore the night she passed with Berlusconi. I suppose Berlusconi was afraid on Ken Starr and Monica's frozen dress.
Lawmakers voted 75-0 Thursday to ratify an agreement that should enable the U.S. to continue shipping military hardware and troops through the Manas air base in the Central Asian state. Five deputies abstained. Approval was expected after officials announced the deal Tuesday. The decision comes four months after Kyrgyzstan's president stunned the U.S. by announcing that its military would be evicted from the base they have used since 2001. Kyrgyzstan ordered U.S. forces out by mid-August. The new deal more than triples the rent the U.S. will pay to $60 million a year.
Lawmakers voted 75-0 Thursday to ratify an agreement that should enable the U.S. to continue shipping military hardware and troops through the Manas air base in the Central Asian state. Five deputies abstained.
Approval was expected after officials announced the deal Tuesday.
The decision comes four months after Kyrgyzstan's president stunned the U.S. by announcing that its military would be evicted from the base they have used since 2001. Kyrgyzstan ordered U.S. forces out by mid-August.
The new deal more than triples the rent the U.S. will pay to $60 million a year.
As they say: "money talks, shit walks." Hey, Grandma Moses started late!
I would say this was the most likely result and is not treated as much of a surprise. A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!
