#NIGERIA: Gov't Proposes US$7.5 million Budget For Presidential Jets, A 19% Increase

[world politics news]

Despite an ongoing harsh economic climate, the government is proposing to spend US$7.5 million in 2017 on fueling and maintenance of the presidential jets, an increase of nearly 20% over the US$6.27 million approved in the approved 2016 budget. In October, Pres. Muhammadu Buhari announced that two of the nation's 10 presidential jets would be sold in an effort to cut government waste.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GREECE: War Of Words Escalates Between PM & German Finance Min.

[world politics news]

The acrimonious public spat between Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has gotten personal after the latter said in an interview that he felt "no compassion" for the Greek leader. The German minister said he could not understand why Tsipras accuses the German government of wanting to harm Greek pensioners – in reference to Berlin’s opposition to the government granting a Christmas bonus to low-income pensioners. Germany, he said, is trying to help Greece get back on its feet, adding that understanding "has its limits."

#UK: Spain Pours Cold Water On Scotland's Plan For Separate Post-Brexit EU Deal

[world politics news]

The Spanish government has poured cold water on Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s proposal for a separate deal for Scotland if the rest of the UK leaves the EU in a hard Brexit. Sturgeon has laid out a detailed 62-page blueprint on how Scotland might remain in the EU single market, even if the rest of the UK is completely outside of it, similar to the relationship Norway has with the EU. Spain is reportedly wary of setting a precedent for its own separatist Basque and Catalan regions.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#PAKISTAN: New Law Targets Frivolous Lawsuits, Would Make Losers Pay Court Costs

[world politics news]

The Ministry of Law and Justice is targeting those who bring frivolous lawsuits by proposing amendments to the civil and criminal codes that would allow the winning party to claim the costs of litigation from unsuccessful litigants. Some critics say the government may use the proposed law to discourage the tendency of filing political petitions against public officeholders, since most such cases remain inconclusive or the petitioners cannot prove the culpability of the respondent authorities.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ZIMBABWE: Parliament Meets For 2-Minute Session, Costs Over $15,000

[world politics news]

The day after a wasted session, due to a lack of quorum, a Friday session of Zimbabwe's parliament was held on Dec. 23 but was adjourned after meeting for just two minutes. Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa ended the session without any motion being discussed, wishing MP's a Merry Christmas. The meeting reportedly cost over $15,000 in expenses for legislators. Seventy MPs who attended the brief session will be paid $75 each, along with $80 for hotel accommodation and fuel. They will meet again Jan. 24. On several occasions in 2016, Parliament had to incur extra expenses by meeting on Fridays due to lack of quorum.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CAMBODIA: National Assembly Denied Request To Grill Gov't Over Murder Case

[world politics news]

Saying the issue a court matter, the president of Cambodia’s National Assembly has blocked the opposition National Rescue Party’s attempt to interrogate members of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s cabinet over the investigation into the July murder of popular political commentator and government critic Kem Ley. The move prevents the National Assembly from questioning Interior Minister Sar Kheng and Justice Minister Ang Vong Vathana in an open session.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#KUWAIT: First Female Security Unit Assigned To Protect National Assembly

[world politics news]

The first female security personnel have been assigned to guard Kuwait's National Assembly, a move widely seen as a victory for women's empowerment in Kuwait. After reaching several key positions within the public and private domains, the ambition to be included in the state’s security and armed forces took years to achieve. Fourteen female cadets are being trained to join the current force.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UZBEKISTAN: Pakistan Wants Uzbekistan To Join China's "Silk Road" Infrastructure Group

[world politics news]

Pakistan has invited land-locked Central Asian nation Uzbekistan to join the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor - a plan to create a vast new "Silk Road" infrastructure project - and has urged it to formulate a joint integrated strategy to exploit the potential of trade in the region. The project is already slated to add millions of new jobs to Pakistan over the next 15 years.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Ulugbek Rozikulv (left) and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

#LEBANON: Nation's First Women's Affairs Minister... Is A Man

[world politics news]

Lebanon got a new government last week, including for the first time a women’s affairs minister. But Lebanese feminist groups are protesting the move - because he’s a man. The choice of Jean Ogasapian as the first minister has drawn wide-spread criticism. KAFA, a prominent women’s rights organization, called for protests under the slogan, "No women, no legitimacy."

[FULL STORY HERE]

#HUNGARY: Socialists Choose Popular Mayor To Run As PM In 2018

[world politics news]

The Hungarian Socialist Party has named the 43-year-old mayor of Szeged, László Botka, as its candidate for prime minister in the next parliamentary elections, expected in April 2018. Mr. Botka was merely 29 years old when he was first elected as mayor of Hungary’s third largest city in 2002 and he has since been re-elected three times. In the most recent 2014 municipal elections, Mr. Botka won in a landslide victory against his Fidesz opponent, beating him by 22 percent.

#INDIA: PM Modi Says Disruptions In Parliament Make Debate Impossible

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hit out at the Opposition for disrupting Parliament and not letting him speak on the issue of the demonetisation of the nation's currency. "Parliament is not being allowed to function," he said, in a recent open-air rally. The Prime Minister has come under fire over his silence on the issue in Parliament. The Opposition is demanding that the Prime Minister's speak in the House during debate on this issue, in which the government has banned large-denomination banknotes.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ETHIOPIA: PM Accuses #Egypt Of Funding Terror Groups Inside Country

[world politics news]

In an explosive accusation, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said that there are Egyptian institutions harboring, supporting, and funding terrorist groups inside Ethiopia. His comments came in response to a question regarding his country's claims that Egypt and Eritrea are supporting opposition groups in Ethiopia.

#PAKISTAN: Frmr. Pres. Zardari Returns From Self-Imposed Exile, Threatens Mass Protests

[world politics news]

Pakistan’s former president Asif Ali Zardari has returned to the country, ending his 18-month- long self-imposed exile, amidst speculations about his future role in the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which has threatened a major protest against the Nawaz Sharif government. The party has asked the government to change the interior minister and appoint a full-time foreign minister, among other demands, before December 27 or face street demonstrations. So far, none of the demands have been fulfilled.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ROMANIA: Syrian Husband Of Prime Minister Choice Is Supporter Of Syria's Assad

[world politics news]

The Social Democratic Party's proposal for Prime Minister, Sevil Shhaideh, is reportedly raising concerns among Romania’s international partners. The potential PM’s husband is said to be a supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a leader whose authority has been challenged by the U.S. and other Western countries. Shhaideh, of Tatar and Turkish origins, would be the first woman and fist Muslim prime minister of Romania. Assad has been accused of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity by Western countries, but has Russia's support.

#INDIA: Oppo. VP Rahul Gandhi Calls For Bribery Investigation Of PM Modi

[world politics news]

Opposition Congress Party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi has demanded an investigation into allegations that two Indian conglomerates paid millions of rupees in bribes to the prime minister Narendra Modi when he was chief minister of Gujarat. Gandhi said the allegations dating between 2013-14 were found in diary notes and computer records of the Sahara Group and the Birla Group and were in the possession of income tax authorities.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#IRAN: Pres. Rouhani Signs "Charter of Citizenship Rights"

[world politics news]

Pres. Hassan Rouhani has signed into law a landmark bill of rights, guaranteeing freedom of speech, protest, fair trials and privacy, saying the achievement was "one of my oldest dreams" despite Iran being considered one of the biggest human rights violator with an unprecedented number of executions in the past three decades. Although many of the rights are already enshrined in Iran’s constitution written after the 1979 Islamic revolution, Rouhani said it offered the first clear list of principles that could be used to check the performance of state institutions.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ROMANIA: Ruling Party Proposes First Woman, First Muslim Prime Minister

[world politics news]

Romania could have its first female prime minister, an economist who is a member of the country's small Muslim community. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday he would appoint a prime minister designate after Sunday as he needed time to assess a proposal made by the Social Democrat Party, winners of a Dec. 11 parliamentary election. Liviu Dragnea, chairman of the PSD, proposed that Sevil Shhaideh take the post of prime minister. The announcement was a surprise because her name is not widely known in Romania.


[FULL STORY HERE]

#KENYA: Opposition Rails Against New Election Law In Chaotic Special Session

[world politics news]

Security personnel besieged Parliament Monday, blocking all roads to the chambers, disabling internet and telephone communication during a debate on a controversial election reform bill. Opposition members briefly prevented the speaker of the House from entering the chamber, where the special session debated the changes, which the government said would make elections more transparent.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: MP Millie Odhiambo and other Opposition MPs protest at Parliament Buildings Monday during a Special Sitting of the House.

#UK: PM Theresa May Refuses To Commit To Final Brexit Vote In Parliament

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Theresa May has refused to commit herself to giving Parliament a vote on the final Brexit deal, as she came under sustained pressure from members of the House of Commons Liaison Committee, May said she would make sure MPs had a "proper opportunity" to consider her plans for Brexit before she triggered Article 50 early next year, but refused to say that the Commons would have a vote on the final deal agreed with Brussels.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ECUADOR: National Assembly Overwhelmingly Passes Trade Deal With EU

[world politics news]

The National Assembly has approved the Protocol for Ecuador's Accession to the Trade Agreement with the European Union in a lopsided 97-1 vote. The agreement with the EU is said to benefit Ecuadorian trade by allowing the entry of agricultural and industrial products into the bloc with zero tariffs, which could translates into $2.7 billion.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRIA: Freedom Party Leader Vows Close Ties To Putin's Party; Meets With Trump Advisor

[world politics news]

President-elect Donald Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, met with the leader of a far-right Austrian political party that has close ties with Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin. The leader of Austria's Freedom Party, Heinz-Christian Strache, wrote on his Facebook page Monday that he met with Flynn "and a few other high-ranking US politicians" a few weeks ago at Trump Tower, including Flynn, whose ties to Russia have come under fire. He noted in the post that his party had recently signed a cooperation deal with Putin's United Russia Party.

#KOSOVO: Parliament Debates Prison Death Of Activist For Six Hours

[world politics news]

Kosovo MPs spent more than five hours debating the mysterious death in prison of the opposition activist Astrit Dehari while demonstrators rallied outside the parliament. MPs from the ruling coalition of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, and the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, had earlier refused to discuss the matter on the grounds that they were awaiting the official forensic report. Both parties backed a motion stating that if the family required extra expertise from the EU or the US, the authorities would pay for it.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ARMENIA: New Law Allows Legislators To Switch Parties & Parties To Expel Members

[world politics news]

Parliament has voted to allow parliamentarians to be able to switch political parties. The National Assembly also gave parliamentary factions the authority to expel opposing members from their ranks. Some were concerned that rouge legislators were speaking against their own parties while enjoying all the benefits of membership in those parties, and of being a legislator.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#POLAND: Gov't Drops Plans To Restrict Press Access To Parliament After Mass Protests

[world politics news]

Poland's president says he has received a pledge from leaders of the populist ruling party that they won't introduce restrictions on media access in parliament, a plan that had sparked days of bitter protests. It was a victory for opposition parties and activists who had staged mass protests. It is the second time that the ruling populist Law and Justice party has stepped back from disputed measures due to street protests.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SOUTHKOREA: Impeached Pres. Park Calls Her Impeachment "Baseless"

[world politics news]

Pres. Park Geun-hye has said that no serious crime was committed to justify her Dec. 9th impeachment, calling all allegations in the National Assembly impeachment motion as "groundless." Stripped of power, she's now awaiting the Constitutional Court's deliberation on the impeachment, and is urging the court to wait for the results of a criminal trial of suspects in the corruption scandal involving her confidant Choi Soon-sil.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Parliament Approves Deal With Utilities Over Nuke Waste Storage Costs

[world politics news]

Germany's lower house of parliament approved a new law on Thursday which will see the country's top utilities pay into a US$24.8 billion state fund from next year in return for shifting the liability for nuclear waste storage to the government. The new legislation removes uncertainty over how to pay for the costs of storing nuclear waste, giving investors greater clarity over the finances of Germany's top four utilities.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#FRANCE: National Assembly Extends State Of Emergency Past 2017 Election

[world politics news]

France’s parliament has voted to extend a national state of emergency until 15 July, after next year’s elections. The security measures, in force since attacks in Paris that killed 130 people in November 2015, are now expected to be approved by the Senate. It is the fifth extension of the state of emergency, which gives police extended powers of search and arrest.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GREECE: Parliament Passes Austerity Budget; Hopes For 2.7% Growth In 2017

[world politics news]

Greek lawmakers have approved a 2017 budget that projects a return to strong economic growth next year but also impose a wave of tax hikes and austerity cuts prescribed by its international lenders. The government hopes the economy will expand by 2.7% in 2017, supported by impact of bailout cash inflows and resurgent private demand. It also sees a primary surplus, excluding debt-servicing costs, of 2% of GDP.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRIA: Foreign Min. Seeks Continued "Freeze" In EU Membership Talks With Turkey

[world politics news]

Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz is set to continue his pursuit of a freeze in the EU’s membership process with Turkey, which is likely to remain "frozen" by the EU Parliament. Kurz also says he is also eager for Austria to act as a bridge between the West and Russia.

#KENYA: Pres. Urges Violence-Free Election In 2017 As Pre-Election Violence Flares

[world politics news]

Pres. Uhuru Kenyatta has given a tough warning against possible election violence to opposition parties ahead of next year's elections, telling them to take election disputes to the courts, not to the streets. The warning came as pre-election violence is already flaring in several counties between factions. He said Kenyans should not forget what happened in 2007 and 2008 after political differences escalated into ethnic hatred, leading to the post-election violence in which 1,133 people were killed and another 650,000 were left homeless.

#ITALY: Newly Installed Gov't Said To Be Short-Lived "Caretakers" Until New Elections

[world politics news]

Italy's parliament on Wednesday approved a new government which is widely said to be so short-lived that its inauguration was seen as the start of battle for the next election. Incoming Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni of the Democratic Party was previously foreign minister in the government of Matteo Renzi, who resigned after the crushing defeat of his government reform referendum. The government was approved by a vote of 169 to 99 in the Senate.


[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: Diet Approves Controversial Law Paving The Way To Legalized Casino Gambling

[world politics news]

The Upper House of the Diet has approved legislation paving the way towards legalized casino gambling in Japan for the first time. The legislation gives Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government a year to develop specific plans on issues such as licensing operators and preventing gambling addicts from using casinos. Further legislation in coming years will enable the first casino to open in the early 2020s. It's part of Abe’s drive to make Japan a more tourism-oriented nation. It as backed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and conservative opposition Nippon Ishin no Kai.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Parliamentary Office Investigates Trudeau Spending On Fighter Jet Costs

[world politics news]

Six years after ripping into the Conservative government's cost estimates for F-35 stealth fighters, Parliament's budgetary watchdog says it is digging into the "interim" Liberal plan to purchase Super Hornet jets. The Liberal government announced last month it wants to buy 18 Super Hornets as a stop-gap measure until a competition can be held in five years to find a replacement for the air force's aging fleet of CF-18 fighter jets.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SOUTHKOREA: Impeachment Probe Uncovers "Secret" Doctor Visits To President

[world politics news]

The impeachment probe into corruption and influence-peddling charges against Pres. Park Geun-hye has uncovered not only secret visits to the presidential residence by a friend accused of influencing the president, but also of "shadowy" doctors. It's alleged that the doctors were visiting to perform a cosmetic procedures on the president. Opponents claim the visits distracted her during national emergencies.

#GERMANY: EU Parl. Pres. Closes In On Merkel In Pre-Election Polling For 2017

[world politics news]

Outgoing European Parliament President Martin Schulz has gained tremendous ground in a new poll, emerging as a potential threat to Chancellor Angela Merkel in next year’s election. When Schulz announced last month that he would not seek a new term as EU Parliament President to return to German politics, he was immediately pegged by German media as being a potential candidate for Chancellor for the Social Democrats to run against Merkel. A new poll shows him out-polling the current SPD leader, Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#NORWAY: Trump Inspires Formation Of New Anti-EU Nationalist Party

[world politics news]

Norway’s number one fan of Donald Trump, Hans Jorgen Johansen Lysglimt, says Trump's victory and the British "Brexit" from the EU has inspired him to seek to establish a new political party. Johansen will launch "Alliansen–Norge ut av EØS" - Alliance-Norway out of the EEA (the European Economic Area) - next week. He says it's time for Norway to opt out of the EEA and fight for greater national sovereignty.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: Upper House Passes Trans-Pacific Partnership, Unlikely To Become Operational

[world politics news]

Japan's Upper House has passed bills to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal and prepare related measures, despite the fact that incoming US Pres. Donald Trump's opposition to the deal means it will likely never come into effect. The TPP calls for Japan to scrap tariffs in phases on 95 percent of its imports, including agricultural and industrial goods. The pact also stipulates a wide range of trade and investment rules including protection of intellectual property rights and settlement of investment disputes.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#NEWZEALAND: Bill England Chosen By National Pty As New PM Replacing Key

[world politics news]

More than 14 years after he failed in a tilt to become the country's leader, Bill English is poised to become New Zealand's 39th Prime Minister. The job will officially become vacant after John Key's formal resignation at Government House on Monday afternoon.  English will be named as the National Party leader after a caucus vote in the morning, with Paula Bennett named as his deputy.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#FRANCE: A Fox In The Hen House: Anti-Tax Dodge Crusader Convicted Of Tax Evasion

[world politics news]

Former French Budget Minister Jerome Cahuzac has been handed a three year jail sentence for hiding millions of Euros abroad while he was leading a crackdown on tax dodgers at home. The 64-year-old former rising star in the Socialist Party was also accused of under-declaring the value of his fortune when he took up his ministerial post in 2012 with a remit that included cracking down on tax evasion.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SWEDEN: Russian Ambassador Assures Wary Swedes: "No Plans" For Russian Invasion

[world politics news]

Russia has "no plans whatsoever to invade Sweden", its ambassador in Stockholm has said. Ambassador Victor Tatarintsev made the comments in a press interview. Relations between the two countries have been frosty for some time, with Sweden accusing Russia of showing aggressive tendencies and Russia dismissing the concerns as James Bond theories.

#GAMBIA: Dictator Who Conceded Election Tries To Take Back Concession

[world politics news]

Long-reigning Gambian Dictator Yahya Jammeh, who last week surprisingly conceded to his rival after a decisive victory, is now taking back his concession and is challenging the results. Some irregularities have narrowed his loss to newcomer Adama Barrow to 4 percentage points, but regional and world leaders are condemning his reversal, and say it could spark bloodshed, as the army splits into factions.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#THENETHERLANDS: Leading Anti-Islam Pol. Convicted of "Inciting Hatred" Against Moroccans

[world politics news]

Geert Wilders, whose party is leading in the polls to be the next government of the Netherlands, has been convicted by a 3-judge panel of inciting hatred against Moroccans by leading a chant against that nation's immigrants. Wilders denounced the ruling as a blow against free speech, but the court imposed no penalties and he is unlikely to face any at the polls, either. In fact, the controversial mass immigration of Muslims will likely continue to fuel his party's rise.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: With Polling Down, Merkel Considers Burka Ban "Wherever Possible"

[world politics news]

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the wearing of full-faced veils should be prohibited in the country "wherever it is legally possible." At a meeting of her CDU party, she backed a burka ban in schools, courts and other state buildings. It is widely accepted that a total ban would violate Germany's constitution. Merkel was re-elected CDU leader, but faces a tough challenge by the right-wing anti-immigration AfD party in next year's election.

#CANADA: Auditor Slams Ontario Liberal Gov't Spending Practices

[world politics news]

Ontario's Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk has a bucketful of criticism for how Kathleen Wynne's Liberal government is spending tax dollars. In her new annual report released Wednesday, Lysyk bemoans "excessive" wait times for hospital beds, reveals shoddy highway paving by contractors, and unveils that the government's own projection for its cap and trade program will see the majority of its cuts to greenhouse gas emissions come from outside Ontario, despite its $2 billion yearly price tag.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SWITZERLAND: In Lower House Bill, Citizens Get Priority Over Foreigners In Hiring

[world politics news]

The smaller chamber of parliament has backed legislation by a Liberal-Radical MP for implementing the immigration initiative approved by Swiss voters in 2014. The concept proposed by Philipp Müller foresees Swiss residents being prioritized over foreign workers for job vacancies. The right-leaning Swiss People’s Party championed the legislation, a less stringent version of which was passed this week by liberal parties.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Posters for and against the 2014 referendum on tightening hiring standards for migrants.

#CAMBODIA: King Pardons Opposition's Kem Sokha At Request Of PM To Cool Tensions

[world politics news]

Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni has granted a royal pardon to a leader of the main opposition party, at the request of Prime Minister Hun Sen, holding out hope for compromise after a period of rising political tension. Kem Sokha, a leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, was sentenced to five months in jail in September after failing to appear in court in connection with a case against two of his party colleagues.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#DENMARK: Center-Right PM Invites Libertarians, Conservatives Into Government

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen has shored up his minority government by bringing in the libertarian-leaning Liberal Alliance and the Conservative People's Party. Rasmussen presented a 22-member cabinet that includes six posts for LA and three for the Conservatives. In the cabinet shuffle, number of high profile politicians swapped portfolio and a handful of veteran politicians were left without a job.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#EGYPT: Human Rights Groups, Opposition Parties, Say New Law "Shackles" NGOs

[world politics news]

Six liberal and leftist parties and 22 human rights groups have condemned a bill rushed through parliament last month that would severely restrict and regulate Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs.) Activists are critical of the law, which turns NGOs into entities affiliated to the government in a flagrant violation of the constitution and international conventions. Opponents say the law shackles NGOs and impede them from having any meaningful role in society. The bill must be approved by the State Council before becoming law. The Council is a judicial body  that can reject legislation.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ITALY: Five Star Founder Denies #BuzzFeed Accusation Of Backing "Fake News" Sites

[world politics news]

The leader of Italy's populist Five Star Movement party appears rattled by accusations that it is behind a network of fake news sites. A BuzzFeed News investigation which accused the 'anti-establishment' party of being behind a network of blogs and websites spreading propaganda and fake news.  Five Star Party founder Beppe Grillo tweeted that "BuzzFeed's inquiry is fake news," and accused traditional media of publishing fake news and pro-Renzi propaganda.

#SOUTHKOREA: Opposition Parties Say They'll Impeach Pres. Park In Friday Vote

[world politics news]

Opposition parties say they will hold a parliamentary impeachment vote on scandal-tainted Pres. Park Geun-hye this Friday, while her own party remains undecided on whether to force her out of office. Park has offered to resign and has asked parliament to decide how and when she should step down over the influence peddling scandal but the opposition has rejected it as a delaying tactic to avoid impeachment.

[FULL STORY HERE]