EU foreign relations chief Catherine Ashton has congratulated Ukraine on holding free and fair elections, in remarks that will make it harder for the losing side to contest the result. "The generally calm atmosphere in which the elections were conducted, the open campaign in the media and the fact that the electorate were provided with a genuine choice represent important achievements in Ukraine's democratic development," Ms Ashton said on Monday (8 February). Her statement came at a sensitive time, as Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who lost Sunday's poll by a narrow margin of around 3 percent, pondered her next move.
"The generally calm atmosphere in which the elections were conducted, the open campaign in the media and the fact that the electorate were provided with a genuine choice represent important achievements in Ukraine's democratic development," Ms Ashton said on Monday (8 February).
Her statement came at a sensitive time, as Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who lost Sunday's poll by a narrow margin of around 3 percent, pondered her next move.
The battle for the presidency of Ukraine continued to hang in the balance today as Viktor Yanukovych edged closer to victory and his bitter rival Yuliya Tymoshenko refused to concede defeat. Mr Yanukovych's lead over Ms Tymoshenko shrank to 2.4 percentage points this morning with 96 per cent of votes counted. Support for him was 48.39 per cent compared to 46 per cent for Ms Tymoshenko. An official at the Central Election Commission (CEC) in Kiev predicted that Mr Yanukovych would remain the winner because the votes still to be counted came from his strongholds in the south and east. Analysts said that the narrowness of the victory would encourage Ms Tymoshenko to challenge the result. In a sign of the tensions, Ms Tymoshenko postponed a press conference at which she was expected to set out her next steps while thousands of Mr Yanukovych's supporters demonstrated near the election commission headquarters in support of their candidate.
The battle for the presidency of Ukraine continued to hang in the balance today as Viktor Yanukovych edged closer to victory and his bitter rival Yuliya Tymoshenko refused to concede defeat.
Mr Yanukovych's lead over Ms Tymoshenko shrank to 2.4 percentage points this morning with 96 per cent of votes counted. Support for him was 48.39 per cent compared to 46 per cent for Ms Tymoshenko.
An official at the Central Election Commission (CEC) in Kiev predicted that Mr Yanukovych would remain the winner because the votes still to be counted came from his strongholds in the south and east. Analysts said that the narrowness of the victory would encourage Ms Tymoshenko to challenge the result.
In a sign of the tensions, Ms Tymoshenko postponed a press conference at which she was expected to set out her next steps while thousands of Mr Yanukovych's supporters demonstrated near the election commission headquarters in support of their candidate.
Three months ago, Herman van Rompuy might have struggled to be recognised on the streets of his native Belgium, let alone Paris or London. The bookish former prime minister, a fan of camping holidays and Haiku poetry, was nothing if not low-key; a studious consensus builder in the world of Belgian politics. Three months on and Van Rompuy, 62, may not outwardly have changed much, but his title and the expectations surrounding him certainly have. In November he was chosen to be the first permanent president of the European Council, the body that represents the EU's 27 leaders, and on Thursday he will host those heads of state and government at an economic summit in Brussels -- the first such gathering he has chaired. With Greece under extreme pressure with its mounting deficit and debt problems, and Portugal, Spain and Italy threatening to go the same way, the summit comes at a critical time. It is perhaps the most serious test of Europe's monetary union since the euro single currency was introduced 11 years ago.
Three months on and Van Rompuy, 62, may not outwardly have changed much, but his title and the expectations surrounding him certainly have. In November he was chosen to be the first permanent president of the European Council, the body that represents the EU's 27 leaders, and on Thursday he will host those heads of state and government at an economic summit in Brussels -- the first such gathering he has chaired.
With Greece under extreme pressure with its mounting deficit and debt problems, and Portugal, Spain and Italy threatening to go the same way, the summit comes at a critical time. It is perhaps the most serious test of Europe's monetary union since the euro single currency was introduced 11 years ago.
A European Union summit this week will focus on long-term economic strategy, President Herman Van Rompuy said, making no direct reference to Greece's fiscal crisis. The Feb. 11 summit, the first since Van Rompuy became the bloc's full-time president in January, will also discuss "some aspects of the present economic situation," according to a letter sent to EU leaders today.
The Feb. 11 summit, the first since Van Rompuy became the bloc's full-time president in January, will also discuss "some aspects of the present economic situation," according to a letter sent to EU leaders today.
Europe's new External Action Service (EEAS) could serve as a first port-of-call for small businesses looking to gain a foothold in foreign markets, according to Europe's main business lobby group. SMEs face particular challenges in emerging markets like China, where protectionism and intellectual property rights pose major problems, says Adrian van den Hoven, director of international relations at BusinessEurope. BusinessEurope has highlighted growing trade tensions between Europe and China in a series of letters to the EU executive, but van den Hoven believes the Lisbon Treaty provides scope for Brussels to provide advice and direct protection for companies operating overseas.
SMEs face particular challenges in emerging markets like China, where protectionism and intellectual property rights pose major problems, says Adrian van den Hoven, director of international relations at BusinessEurope.
BusinessEurope has highlighted growing trade tensions between Europe and China in a series of letters to the EU executive, but van den Hoven believes the Lisbon Treaty provides scope for Brussels to provide advice and direct protection for companies operating overseas.
As the European Parliament prepares to flex its muscles in the vote on the SWIFT data deal, the US is trying to convince the Europeans of the importance of sharing bank transfer information. US officials say the EU and Germany have already benefited from the SWIFT reports in fighting terrorism. The United States is upping the pressure ahead of a vote in the European Parliament later this week on an agreement that would continue to allow US terror investigators access to bank transfer data. Washington is warning the European Union and Germany that there could be serious diplomatic consequences, as well as security gaps, if the so-called SWIFT agreement gets overturned on Thursday. The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Transactions, the company that conducts the majority of the world's banking transfers, recently moved its servers from the US to Europe, raising concern among Washington's terrorism investigators that they may lose access to data on cross border financial transactions.
The United States is upping the pressure ahead of a vote in the European Parliament later this week on an agreement that would continue to allow US terror investigators access to bank transfer data. Washington is warning the European Union and Germany that there could be serious diplomatic consequences, as well as security gaps, if the so-called SWIFT agreement gets overturned on Thursday.
The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Transactions, the company that conducts the majority of the world's banking transfers, recently moved its servers from the US to Europe, raising concern among Washington's terrorism investigators that they may lose access to data on cross border financial transactions.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - US national security advisor James Jones on Saturday (6 February) reassured Europe that the transatlantic partnership continues to be strong, but underlined the need for the European Parliament to allow American investigators to access EU banking data to track terrorism funding. US national security advisor James Jones (l) and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov (m) "It has become fashionable in some quarters to suggest that the United States has somehow neglected the trans-Atlantic partnership. But ...Europe today is our indispensable partner," Mr Jones said at the Munich security conference, a yearly forum for high-level officials to air their views on international security and defence matters. He indicated that there were some potential glitches in the relationship. He mentioned a crucial vote due in the European Parliament this Thursday (11 February), which could derail an existing agreement allowing the US to track intra-European banking transactions in the search for terrorism funding.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - US national security advisor James Jones on Saturday (6 February) reassured Europe that the transatlantic partnership continues to be strong, but underlined the need for the European Parliament to allow American investigators to access EU banking data to track terrorism funding.
US national security advisor James Jones (l) and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov (m)
"It has become fashionable in some quarters to suggest that the United States has somehow neglected the trans-Atlantic partnership. But ...Europe today is our indispensable partner," Mr Jones said at the Munich security conference, a yearly forum for high-level officials to air their views on international security and defence matters.
He indicated that there were some potential glitches in the relationship. He mentioned a crucial vote due in the European Parliament this Thursday (11 February), which could derail an existing agreement allowing the US to track intra-European banking transactions in the search for terrorism funding.
A classified Dutch government report has revealed that criminals stole 341,956 passports, identity cards, visa stickers and drivers' licences from European government facilities since 2000.
The new European Commission officially takes office next week if, as expected all the fresh appointments are approved by the European Parliament on Tuesday. Former Portuguese prime minister Jose Manuel Barroso is due to take the reins for a second term.
Former Portuguese prime minister Jose Manuel Barroso is due to take the reins for a second term.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Moscow is "concerned" and expects "proper explanations" on US plans to deploy anti-ballistic missile defence systems in Romania, but it is still interested in contributing to a "common assessment" of threats with Europe and the US, Russia's envoy to Brussels told this website. Anti-ballistic missiles are not aimed against Russia, says the US "We took note of President Basescu's statement on his agreement to host those elements. This is a serious issue which we'll be analysing when we receive all the details regarding what exact equipment is meant to be deployed there," Mr Chizhov said in a phone interview on Monday (8 February). Last Thursday, Romanian President Traian Basescu announced that his country had accepted an invitation by the Obama administration to host land-based anti-ballistic missiles as part of US plans to defend Europe against Iranian and other regional threat
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Moscow is "concerned" and expects "proper explanations" on US plans to deploy anti-ballistic missile defence systems in Romania, but it is still interested in contributing to a "common assessment" of threats with Europe and the US, Russia's envoy to Brussels told this website.
Anti-ballistic missiles are not aimed against Russia, says the US
"We took note of President Basescu's statement on his agreement to host those elements. This is a serious issue which we'll be analysing when we receive all the details regarding what exact equipment is meant to be deployed there," Mr Chizhov said in a phone interview on Monday (8 February).
Last Thursday, Romanian President Traian Basescu announced that his country had accepted an invitation by the Obama administration to host land-based anti-ballistic missiles as part of US plans to defend Europe against Iranian and other regional threat
Prime Minister François Fillon (left) said an "experts committee" would take over the debate on French national identity, bringing an end to months of public debate on the tricky and divisive issue. Wrapping up months of public debate on the sticky issue of French national identity at a specially convened cabinet meeting Monday, French Prime Minister François Fillon announced a set of initiatives aimed at "deepening" the discussion on what it means to be French. Speaking to reporters at the prime minister's office, the Matignon, in Paris after a two-hour meeting Monday, Fillon said he would recommend the creation of a civic guide for young people and more civics education in schools. Flanked by French Immigration Minister Eric Besson, who initiated the debate, and Education Minister Luc Chatel, Fillon also proposed the formation of an "experts committe" -- made up of politicians and historians -- to continue pondering an issue that has divided public opinion in France.
Wrapping up months of public debate on the sticky issue of French national identity at a specially convened cabinet meeting Monday, French Prime Minister François Fillon announced a set of initiatives aimed at "deepening" the discussion on what it means to be French. Speaking to reporters at the prime minister's office, the Matignon, in Paris after a two-hour meeting Monday, Fillon said he would recommend the creation of a civic guide for young people and more civics education in schools. Flanked by French Immigration Minister Eric Besson, who initiated the debate, and Education Minister Luc Chatel, Fillon also proposed the formation of an "experts committe" -- made up of politicians and historians -- to continue pondering an issue that has divided public opinion in France.
PartenariatEquity Lab est une association travaillant à l'émergence de nouvelles problématiques sur les questions de diversité et d'action positive. www.equity.lab.fr
PartnershipEquity Lab is an organization that deals with the emergence of new issues on questions of diversity and positive action. www.equity.lab.fr
The diversity of ethnic origins and cultures in the French population is for you...?
Une bonne chose / A good thing Une mauvaise chose / A bad thing Sans opinion / No opinion
People of foreign origin who live in France should renounce their culture of origin to adopt French culture... Do you agree or not with this opinion?
D'accord / Agree Pas d'accord / Don't agree Sans opinion / No opinion
In France, everybody has chances to succeed whatever the color of their skin... Do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
And from the Equity Lab press release, a point not mentioned in the Metro article wherein multiculturalisme meets laïcité:
Whilst there is nothing wrong with this kind of attitude - on the contrary, it is highly commendable, some people have voiced their concern that celebrating multiculturalism has been the Government's way of blunting nationalist aspirations, banishing those to the history books and reassuring they will never resurface again. Curiously enough, I was first acquainted with this view while reading an article, posted by an immigrant living in Leicestershire! This is the link: http://conservativehome.blogs.com/platform/2010/02/leon-hadjinikolaou-why-i-as-an-immigrant-hate-the -way-labour-has-used-multiculturalism-to-undermine-.html
The author does make some valid points. For example, when he talks about Culture A and Culture B and how it sounds insane asking people of culture A (if they form 90% of the population of a given country) to stop practising their culture and way of life just so representatives of culture B do not feel alienated, uncomfortable and not fitting into the picture.
Multiculturalists, however, advocate that the culture A must stop practising their culture in order not to make culture B feel uncomfortable.
I do not agree with this description of multiculturalism. What multiculturalists have advocated such a position? Can you provide any specific examples that would illustrate Mr. Hadjinikolaou's premise? The march of civilizations is a series of defenses that man has put up against the dread of pure existence.
Let's have a look on some examples of peaceful immigration. Between 1880 and 1900 there was a significant movement of Jews from Eastern Europe to Ottoman Syria and the United States. Between 1840 and 1900, a large number of Germans emigrated to the United States. Today there are approximately 50,000,000 German-Americans. In 1820 a large number of Irish migrated to the United States for purely economic reasons, well before the Famine. A second wave of Irish immigration happened during the Great Irish Famine in 1845. Today more than 35,000,000 Americans trace their ancestry to Ireland. As far as we can see, there was no big fuss about these waves of immigration.
Between 1880 and 1900 there was a significant movement of Jews from Eastern Europe to Ottoman Syria and the United States.
Between 1840 and 1900, a large number of Germans emigrated to the United States. Today there are approximately 50,000,000 German-Americans.
In 1820 a large number of Irish migrated to the United States for purely economic reasons, well before the Famine. A second wave of Irish immigration happened during the Great Irish Famine in 1845. Today more than 35,000,000 Americans trace their ancestry to Ireland.
As far as we can see, there was no big fuss about these waves of immigration.
I.e., Palestine. No big fuss?
Cough! And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg
The key problem with multi-culturalism is that it classifies people by nebulous ideas of "culture". It's divide and conquer by skin colour and where your ancestors came from.
For example, when he talks about Culture A and Culture B and how it sounds insane asking people of culture A
pondering an issue that has divided public opinion in France
Nuts. The whole "identity debate" was a transparent fake from the start.
It is now being turned over to a commission, in other words, a burial party.
MOSCOW -- President Dmitri A. Medvedev on Monday made one of the most complex regional appointments of his presidency, nominating Magomedsalam M. Magomedov to be the next president of the combustible southern republic of Dagestan. Mr. Magomedov, 45, is an economist and businessman who rose to prominence thanks to his father, Magomedali Magomedov, who led Dagestan from 1987 until 2006. That year, Mukhu G. Aliyev was appointed to succeed him, amid a push to fight corruption in the republic. Though violence and corruption seemed to ease during the early years of his presidency, last year saw the number of armed attacks more than double, and some blamed Mr. Aliyev's weak grip over Dagestan's combative clan groupings. Mr. Magomedov's nomination falls in line with the appointment of a new presidential envoy, Aleksandr G. Khloponin, who is expected to bring order to the Caucasus through economic means, said Grigory Shvedov, the editor of the Web-based news service Caucasian Knot. It also suggests the Kremlin wants to see significant changes, since Mr. Magomedov has been a persistent critic of Mr. Aliyev's government.
MOSCOW -- President Dmitri A. Medvedev on Monday made one of the most complex regional appointments of his presidency, nominating Magomedsalam M. Magomedov to be the next president of the combustible southern republic of Dagestan.
Mr. Magomedov, 45, is an economist and businessman who rose to prominence thanks to his father, Magomedali Magomedov, who led Dagestan from 1987 until 2006. That year, Mukhu G. Aliyev was appointed to succeed him, amid a push to fight corruption in the republic. Though violence and corruption seemed to ease during the early years of his presidency, last year saw the number of armed attacks more than double, and some blamed Mr. Aliyev's weak grip over Dagestan's combative clan groupings.
Mr. Magomedov's nomination falls in line with the appointment of a new presidential envoy, Aleksandr G. Khloponin, who is expected to bring order to the Caucasus through economic means, said Grigory Shvedov, the editor of the Web-based news service Caucasian Knot. It also suggests the Kremlin wants to see significant changes, since Mr. Magomedov has been a persistent critic of Mr. Aliyev's government.
There was no let-up in the turmoil caused by European budget deficits on Thursday (4 February), with investors turning their attention to the weak state of Portugal's public finances. The country's stock market plunged nearly five percent, the biggest daily fall since November 2008, and bonds yields rose, even as opposition parties proposed to increase public spending on the Atlantic islands of Madeira and the Azores Portuguese finance minister Fernando Teixeira dos Santos from the centre-left Socialist party implored members of parliament not to follow through with the opposition regional finance bill, warning it would only add to investor doubts. In a televised address, he said it would send the "the worst possible message" to financial markets, at a time when Europe's peripheral states are under intense scrutiny.
There was no let-up in the turmoil caused by European budget deficits on Thursday (4 February), with investors turning their attention to the weak state of Portugal's public finances.
The country's stock market plunged nearly five percent, the biggest daily fall since November 2008, and bonds yields rose, even as opposition parties proposed to increase public spending on the Atlantic islands of Madeira and the Azores
Portuguese finance minister Fernando Teixeira dos Santos from the centre-left Socialist party implored members of parliament not to follow through with the opposition regional finance bill, warning it would only add to investor doubts.
In a televised address, he said it would send the "the worst possible message" to financial markets, at a time when Europe's peripheral states are under intense scrutiny.
As though the current crisis were the result of overheated wages, benefits, and a bloated welfare state instead of a financial sector run amuk.
Political scientists studying the EU have come up with this idea that there are basically two outcomes possible here: 1) The EU continues to undermine social protection at the national level and creates a new, neo-liberal European state, or 2) This attack on social protection produces a popular movement against the EU which results in a retreat from European integration.
What's interesting for me is that I see a third possibility.
That the attack on national social protection does produce a popular movement calling for greater regulation of business and social democracy. Where I differ, is that I see this movement occurring at the European level so that a new, European social democracy is the result of a crisis. It's Jean Monnet's bicycle all over again. The difference is that it's the masses not the technocrats pushing the process forward.
So basically, it seems to me that the economic elites who see opportunity in crisis could really be screwing themselves in the long term if they create a movement for social protection at the European level, for example shared wage and working conditions standards. It's not impossible.
The poorest EU state, Bulgaria has a per capita GDP about 40% of the average. In the US, the same rate is about 80%, but there is a national minimum wage, with exceptions for the states. Imagine if there was an EU minimum wage across member states, with higher wages permitted at the member state level. Isn't this really the next step in terms of economic integration? By trying to escape social regulation at the national level, the neo-liberals using the EU have concentrated power in Brussels. Right now they control that, but what happens if they lose control over that power to social democrats? I don't mean an EP election, I mean a real power shift away from an EU of member states to member states in the EU, so that there is a real, democratic, European polity. And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg
There is a movement in Germany with precisely that goal. I don't know any details, but I remember seeing them campaigning in Nürnberg last year.
This was a huge part of what prompted the wildcat strikes in Britain in 2009. And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg
Do you ever get the feeling that a lot of what's happening with the PIGS story is economic elites wanting to use this as an opportunity to kill European social democracy, a la the shock doctrine?
Spain is the victim of an international conspiracy focused on destroying the country's economic standing and via that the euro. That's the plain and simple view of the Spanish government, or at least its Development minister, Jose Blanco, according to an article in Monday's Expansion newspaper -- Spain's premier financial daily. ... While the economic vice, Elena Salgado, has traveled to London today to appease the spirits of investors, Development Minister, Jose Blanco, accused the "financial speculators" of orchestrating a plot against the euro and the Spanish market. "Nothing is happening in the world, including foreign newspaper publishers, is casual or innocent," said Blanco. The deputy general secretary of the PSOE denounced an "attack against the euro and the existence of" somewhat murky maneuvers "to avoid scrutiny of financial markets.
That's the plain and simple view of the Spanish government, or at least its Development minister, Jose Blanco, according to an article in Monday's Expansion newspaper -- Spain's premier financial daily.
...
While the economic vice, Elena Salgado, has traveled to London today to appease the spirits of investors, Development Minister, Jose Blanco, accused the "financial speculators" of orchestrating a plot against the euro and the Spanish market. "Nothing is happening in the world, including foreign newspaper publishers, is casual or innocent," said Blanco. The deputy general secretary of the PSOE denounced an "attack against the euro and the existence of" somewhat murky maneuvers "to avoid scrutiny of financial markets.
The comments come from a Socialist minister, but I can't help but notice the outlets that seem to be covering this. (El Mundo, Expansion ,owned by the same group as El Mundo, ABC, etc) All rightish media sources. I bet that they are not pleased, because this is precisely the kind of thing (the idea of a bank based conspiracy) that could allow ZP to rally some support around him now that he's fallen in the polls. So it seems that they are trying to paint him as paranoid, but it isn't really working.
Of course, I see Robert Rubin and the boys at Goldman Sachs in any sort of thing like this. They've become the Mr. Burns (Simpson's reference) of the financial world. And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg
I think ZP has lost control of the situation narrative-wise so I don't think this will help. The whole government is in damage-control mode and I personally find Salgado's visit to The City to reassure whomever that Spain's government will cut public spending alternately ridiculous and infuriating.
See El Pais (Google translation follows)
Zapatero will appear in Congress forced by all groups The Prime Minister will go next week to report on the crisis and the European summit. "The socialist group run out of allies for help ... The Government lacked the support to stop the hearing after being PNV and CiU have joined the initial request by the PP. Other groups such as ERC also supports the conclusion of the hearing. Therefore, the chief executive will be at their request.
The Prime Minister will go next week to report on the crisis and the European summit. "The socialist group run out of allies for help
The Government lacked the support to stop the hearing after being PNV and CiU have joined the initial request by the PP. Other groups such as ERC also supports the conclusion of the hearing. Therefore, the chief executive will be at their request.
I'm thinking of writing a diary in the vein of an open letter to ZP about this situation. En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
The Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, has fallen behind the opposition for the first time since he came to power in 2004, according to a poll published by El Mundo newspaper. According to a Sigma Dos opinion poll published by newspaper El Mundo, voters gave the Socialist prime minister an average 4.1 points out of 10, versus 4.21 for Mariano Rajoy who leads the conservative Popular Party. At the last poll in January Zapatero, who is suffering a mid-term credibility crisis during Spain's worst recession for 40 years, led with 4.53 to Rajoy's 4.18. The survey was carried out following a surprise announcement 10 days ago that the government planned to raise the pension age to 67 from 65, causing outrage among all segments of society.
The Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, has fallen behind the opposition for the first time since he came to power in 2004, according to a poll published by El Mundo newspaper.
According to a Sigma Dos opinion poll published by newspaper El Mundo, voters gave the Socialist prime minister an average 4.1 points out of 10, versus 4.21 for Mariano Rajoy who leads the conservative Popular Party.
At the last poll in January Zapatero, who is suffering a mid-term credibility crisis during Spain's worst recession for 40 years, led with 4.53 to Rajoy's 4.18.
The survey was carried out following a surprise announcement 10 days ago that the government planned to raise the pension age to 67 from 65, causing outrage among all segments of society.
Even those who [derogatory verb for people who have emigrated] will be able to vote. Netanyahu tells Likud faction his government plans to submit bill allowing every Israeli citizen to vote for Knesset from anywhere worldwide. 'It will contribute to the connection and to Israel's strength,' he says. [...] If Knesset approves the bill allowing Israelis to vote abroad, it will implement one of the clauses included in the coalition agreement signed between Yisrael Beiteinu and the Likud. According to the clause, "The government will form a governmental bill allowing the vote of Israelis who are abroad on Election Day, under conditions and criteria agreed upon by all the coalition members. The bill will be submitted to the Knesset within a year after the government's establishment." Based on data from the main stastical office, about half a million Israelis with the right to vote were abroad at the time of the last elections. If the law is passed, it is expected to significantly strengthen the right-wing bloc, with whom many Israeli living abroad identify.
[...]
If Knesset approves the bill allowing Israelis to vote abroad, it will implement one of the clauses included in the coalition agreement signed between Yisrael Beiteinu and the Likud. According to the clause, "The government will form a governmental bill allowing the vote of Israelis who are abroad on Election Day, under conditions and criteria agreed upon by all the coalition members. The bill will be submitted to the Knesset within a year after the government's establishment."
Based on data from the main stastical office, about half a million Israelis with the right to vote were abroad at the time of the last elections. If the law is passed, it is expected to significantly strengthen the right-wing bloc, with whom many Israeli living abroad identify.
I hope it doesn't pass. If it does, I would have to decide what to do. I have no problem with voting for the Democrats in the U.S. (most of the time, anyway), if the U.K. allowed expats to vote, I suppose I could hold my nose and vote for NuLab. I would probably have no problem voting for the PD in Italy (if without much enthusiasm), but Israel?
Until this moment, I had naively assumed that the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) was an official body, funded by the Home Office to co-ordinate policing policy. Well, guess what? It's a nice little privatised earner, as this Telegraph report suggests. Concerns have been raised that the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is being run as a private company and as such escapes many of the rules that ensure public bodies are accountable. Nevertheless it has been taking on an increasing role in advising the government on strategies to fight terrorism and organised crime. The `not for profit' company does not pay dividends to shareholders but its accounts show ACPO has built up £15.8m in assets, including £9.2m cash in the bank on a turnover of £18m. It has emerged that the association is charging between £35 and £70 for criminal record checks for US visas which used to cost £10. It also markets a service to endorse crime prevention measures which made £225,000 profit.
Until this moment, I had naively assumed that the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) was an official body, funded by the Home Office to co-ordinate policing policy. Well, guess what? It's a nice little privatised earner, as this Telegraph report suggests.
Concerns have been raised that the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is being run as a private company and as such escapes many of the rules that ensure public bodies are accountable. Nevertheless it has been taking on an increasing role in advising the government on strategies to fight terrorism and organised crime. The `not for profit' company does not pay dividends to shareholders but its accounts show ACPO has built up £15.8m in assets, including £9.2m cash in the bank on a turnover of £18m. It has emerged that the association is charging between £35 and £70 for criminal record checks for US visas which used to cost £10. It also markets a service to endorse crime prevention measures which made £225,000 profit.
Concerns have been raised that the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is being run as a private company and as such escapes many of the rules that ensure public bodies are accountable.
Nevertheless it has been taking on an increasing role in advising the government on strategies to fight terrorism and organised crime.
The `not for profit' company does not pay dividends to shareholders but its accounts show ACPO has built up £15.8m in assets, including £9.2m cash in the bank on a turnover of £18m.
It has emerged that the association is charging between £35 and £70 for criminal record checks for US visas which used to cost £10.
It also markets a service to endorse crime prevention measures which made £225,000 profit.
