#ITALY: Former PM Berlusconi, Barred From Politics, Suggests Police Force General As Possible Next PM

[world politics news]

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi suggested General Leonardo Gallitelli  a member of the Carabinieri (military police) could become prime minister if he wins an election in 2018, according to local media. Berlusconi, a four-time prime minister, is barred from public office because of a tax fraud conviction. He is said to be trying to overturn the ban but is seeking alternative candidates in case he is unsuccessful.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: Calls In Parliament To Condemn Trump After He Retweets Videos Of Anti-Muslim Group's Dep. Leader

[world politics news]

Donald Trump's retweets of anti-Muslim videos posted by far-right group Britain First have been raised in Parliament, with MPs demanding the Government condemns the US President. The issue was raised as a point of order by Labour MPs Yvette Cooper and Stephen Doughty, who asked the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, to respond to the tweets. Trump retweeted three videos posted by Jayda Fransen, Britain First's deputy leader.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#IRELAND: Deputy PM Resigns Amid Scandal, Potentially Averting Snap Election

[world politics news]

Ireland‘s deputy prime minister Frances Fitzgerald has agreed to resign over handling of a police whistle blowing scandal, pulling the country back from the brink of a snap election. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed his deputy would stand down in a phone call to opposition leader, Fianna Fail’s Micheal Martin, whose party threatened to bring down Ireland’s minority government over the affair.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: New Drone Safety Class Legislation Considered

[world politics news]

Drone users in the UK may have to take safety awareness tests under legislation planned by the government. Drones weighing more than 250g could also be banned from flying near airports, or above 400 ft, in a crackdown on unsafe flying.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ROMANIA: Thousands March Against Watered-Down Corruption Commission

[world politics news]

Thousands marched across Romania to protest against plans to reduce the powers of the anti-corruption body. It is the second time this year that attempts to reform graft laws have provoked protests. Thousands marched in the capital, Bucharest, and other cities Sunday to protest the government's proposed changes to the judicial system, which critics say will weaken anti-corruption laws and allow political graft to go unpunished.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Center-Left Social Dems Signal Possible Coalition With Merkel, Ending Crisis

[world politics news]

Germany moved a step towards ending its political crisis Friday when the Social Democrats said they were ready to hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel's party, in a sign they might offer the veteran leader their key support. "We won't be obstructionist for the sake of being obstructionist," said SPD leader Martin Schulz, dropping his earlier categorical rejection to a governing alliance with Merkel.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Merkel Tanks In Polling As New Election Looms Following Coalition Talks Collapse

[world politics news]

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s worries continue as the latest polls reveal the majority of Germans did not want her to run as a candidate for Chancellor again. The survey, carried out in the coalition talks breakdown, makes worrying reading for Angela Merkel. While Mrs Merkel said yesterday she wanted to stand again in any new snap election the German people appear to be turned off by the prospect. Of those polled, 54 per cent said she should not run for office, according to the polling institute Civey for t-online.de.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#FRANCE: Britain's HSBC And France's Societe Generale Bank Close Marine LePen's Personal, Party Accounts

[world politics news]

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Wednesday said she is filing lawsuits for "political discrimination" against bank Societe Generale, its subsidiary Credit du Nord and Britain’s biggest bank, HSBC, for closing her and her National Front party’s accounts. Le Pen said she and her party were the victims of what she called a "banking banishment" meant to silence them. According to Le Pen, she was informed by phone earlier on Wednesday by HSBC's French boss Thomas Vandeville that her personal account was being shut. She said she had been a client of the bank for 25 years.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Merkel's Coalition Talks Break Down After Free Democrats Walk Out; New Elections Loom

[world politics news]

In Germany’s biggest political upset in years, Free Democratic Party liberals walked out on coalition talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the Greens. Merkel's CDU and their Bavarian allies the CSU, the Greens and the FDP have been struggling to form a coalition for more than a month. It's feared that a new election could be called that would net very similar results, if polling is accurate.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: Sensing Political Fallout After Accident Kills Civilian, Military Confined To Base, Alcohol Banned

[world politics news]

Sensing more political fallout after an allegedly drunk US service member struck and killed a civilian with his truck, U.S. Forces in Japan has confined all service members stationed in Okinawa to their bases, banned alcohol consumption, and will require mandatory training on responsible alcohol use by members of the military serving in the country. The Sunday accident in Okinawa will likely increase negative feeling in the Prefecture, where past criminal acts by American servicemen have sparked angry protests and strengthened persistent calls to remove the base from the region.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ZIMBABWE: BREAKING: Mugabe Steps Down After Party Expels Him In Favor Of Ousted VP

[world politics news]

Pres. Robert Mugabe has agreed to step down after 37 years.  He's due to officially announce his departure on live television tonight. Mugabe reportedly broke down in tears and asked for his dead wife and son before meeting army chiefs Sunday after being ousted as leader of Zimbabwe's Zanu-PF party. The frail 93-year-old has until noon local time on Monday to resign as president or impeachment proceedings will start. He was replaced by the vice president he previously fired, Emmerson 'Crocodile' Mnangagwa, after all ten Zimbabwean provinces passed no-confidence motions against the dictator two days earlier.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: Corbyn Ally Richard Leonard Elected Leader of Scotland's Labour Party

[world politics news]

Jeremy Corbyn has strengthened his grip on the Labour party after Scottish members elected a left-wing trade unionist, Richard Leonard, as their seventh leader in the past decade. Announced as the winner in front of cheering supporters in Glasgow, Leonard won a decisive victory over his rival Anas Sarwar, a former Scottish deputy leader, after a fractious contest between the party’s left and right wings in which the Unite union played a significant role.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ZIMBABWE: Mass Demonstrations Call For Mugabe To Step Down

[world politics news]

Thousands of Zimbabweans have taken to the streets to demand President Robert Mugabe's resignation, a spectacle that would have been unthinkable just one week ago. Saturday's rally in Harare, the capital, is backed by the army, which seized power on Wednesday. The mood at Zimbabwe Grounds, where speeches took place, was celebratory.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CAMBODIA: Supreme Court Outlaws Main Opposition Party Ahead Of 2018 Elections

[world politics news]

Cambodia's Supreme Court has dissolved the country's main opposition party, leaving the government with no significant competitor ahead of elections next year. The Cambodia National Rescue Party was accused of plotting to topple the government - charges it denies, and describes as politically motivated. More than 100 party members are now banned from politics for five years. Cambodia's Prime Minister, Hun Sen, has ruled for 32 years.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ITALY: Former PM Berlusconi Seeking Comeback After Coalition Wins Sicily Elections

[world politics news]

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi looks set for another political comeback after a coalition he backed won Sicily's regional elections. The result adds momentum to the newly formed center-right alliance. The vote on the Italian island has been viewed as a crucial test ahead of next year's national election. The 81-year-old billionaire businessman's career has been beset by scandals both in and out of government.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ZIMBABWE: COUP! Troops Take The Capitol To "End Purges"; Mugabe Under House Arrest

[world politics news]

Zimbabwe's military has placed President Robert Mugabe under house arrest in the capital Harare, South African President Jacob Zuma says. Mugabe told Zuma in a phone call that he was fine, the South African leader's office said. Troops are patrolling the capital, Harare, after they seized state TV and said they were targeting "criminals". The move may be a bid to replace Mugabe with his sacked deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa's dismissal last week left Mugabe's wife Grace as the president's likely successor.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRALIA: Overwhelming Support For Same-Sex Marriage In Nationwide Vote

[world politics news]

Over sixty-one percent of Australians voted Yes to legalizing same-sex marriage in a survey by mail. 79% of eligible voters participated. The final count was 7.8 million responses in support of same-sex marriage, and 4.9 million against. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull addressed the nation minutes after the result was announced, promising to bring the same-sex marriage bill to a vote in Parliament before Christmas. "They have spoken in their millions and they have voted overwhelmingly Yes for marriage equality," he said. "They voted Yes for fairness, Yes for commitment, Yes for love. Australian statistician David Kalisch said the final number of responses was 12,727,920 people, representing 79% of eligible Australian voters.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Christine Forster, the sister of former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, celebrates after watching the same sex marriage vote result. 

#HUNGARY: PM Orban Accepts His Party's Nomination To Seek Another 4-Year Term

[world politics news]

Hungary’s right-wing prime minister Viktor Orban accepted his ruling Fidesz Party’s endorsement on Sunday to lead it into an election next year, saying he needed another four-year term in power to make his transformation of the country "irreversible."

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CROATIA: Center-Right Gov't Survives No Confidence Vote Called Over Handling Bailout Of Retailer

[world politics news]

The center-right Croatian government has survived a no-confidence vote launched by the opposition over the cabinet's handling of the debt crisis at Agrokor, the country's largest private food and retail company. The vote early Saturday in the Croatian parliament was 78-59 in favor of the center-right government. The vote was triggered by the opposition, which claims the government bailout of the biggest retailer in the Balkans favored some creditors and lacked transparency.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#INDONESIA: Top Court Overturns Discriminatory Religious ID Law

[world politics news]

Indonesia's top court has overturned a law that denied recognition and legal rights to followers of indigenous faiths. The Constitutional Court said articles in the 2013 Civil Administration Law were discriminatory and unjust. The law effectively required followers of faiths not among the six recognized by the government to list one of the official religions on their national identity card or be denied basic rights such as marriage registration and land titles.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: Priti Patel Resigns As Int'l Development Min. Following Secret Meetings; Replaced By Penny Mordaunt

[world politics news]

Penny Mordaunt has been appointed by Prime Minister Theresa May as the UK's new International Development Secretary. She replaces Priti Patel, who resigned Wednesday following revelations of secret meetings between her and Israeli politicians while she was on vacation last summer. Mordaunt, a Conservative MP for Portsmouth North, was first elected in 2010 and has served as minister for disabled people since July 2016. She was also the first woman to serve as a minister for the armed forces.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#QATAR: Gov't Will Introduce Minimum Wage Law To Settle Labour Org Complaint

[world politics news]

The UN's International Labour Organisation has closed a complaint over the treatment of migrant workers in Qatar, after the nation said it would introduce a minimum wage and allow its labor practices to be monitored by trained inspectors. It is now expected that Qatar will sign a bilateral agreement with the UN protecting laborers, making it the first Gulf country to do so.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: PM May Faces Pressure To Fire Development Sec. Patel After Secret Meetings Revealed

[world politics news]

New revelations have emerged that have made many calling on Prime Minister Theresa May fire Development Minister Priti Patel. She breached the ministerial code by secretly meeting meeting with 12 Israeli politicians including premier Benjamin Netanyahu during a family holiday this summer. She had kept the meetings hidden from the foreign office.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SOLOMONISLANDS: PM Sogovare Ousted In No Confidence Vote

[world politics news]

Manasseh Sogavare has been ousted as the Solomon Islands' prime minister in a vote of no confidence.  Sogavare's third stint as prime minister was his longest, and he came tantalisingly close to that elusive goal in Solomon Island politics: a full term in office. However, 10 months before elections he was politically wounded by recent defections by almost half his cabinet, and narrowly defeated by 27 votes to 23.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRALIA: PM Turnbull Announces New Policies To Deal With Dual Citizenship Crisis

[world politics news]

All federal politicians will be required to publicly detail their citizenship history and status under  Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's new government transparency measures designed to end the crisis that has rocked federal Parliament. Turnbull acted after pressure from the Labor Party and the public following numerous politicians were "outed" as being dual citizens, something forbidden by the Constitution. MPs will be required to provide a statement to Parliament's registrar of interests that outlines where they were born, where their parents were born, and what steps they took to renounce any foreign ties.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ICELAND: Four-Party Coalition Talks Break Down

[world politics news]

The center-left government coalition talks that begun on Friday have been abandoned. The formal talks were initiated on after the leaders of the Progressive Party, the Left-Green Movement, the Social Democratic Alliance and the Pirate Party agreed to make an attempt to form a majority government following the October 28 general elections. According to our sources, the Progressive Party decided to abandon the talks due to the small majority in parliament. The four party coalition would have had 32 MPs in Iceland’s 63 member parliament, the smallest possible majority.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#LEBANON: PM Resigns, Citing Meddling From Iran, Hezbollah Death Threats

[world politics news]

Saad Hariri has announced his resignation as Lebanon's prime minister and implicitly blamed Iran and its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, for his decision. In a televised speech on Saturday, he said he suspected there were covert plans to target his life, but he did not elaborate. Hariri, who made the statement during a visit to Saudi Arabia, said Iran planted "disorder and destruction" in the country and meddled in the internal issues of Lebanon as well as other Arab countries.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: Lawmaker Charlie Elphicke Suspended By Conservative Party Over "Serious" Allegations

[world politics news]

Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke has said he is unaware of the nature of the “serious allegations” which the Conservative Party says have been passed to the police. Tory chief whip Julian Smith said  Elphicke has been suspended but would not elaborate further on the claims that prompted the action.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: United Conservative Pty of Alberta Ldr Jason Kenney Seeks Seat In Legislature

[world politics news]

The day after claiming victory in the United Conservative Party leadership race, Jason Kenney was as confident and combative as ever – saying he cannot wait in his quest to oust Alberta's NDP government, and will seek a seat in the province's legislature through a by-election.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SPAIN: Former Catalan Pres. In Exile In Brussels; Says He Accepts Madrid's Election Plans

[world politics news]

Catalonia's ousted leader Carles Puigdemont has agreed to the snap election Dec. 21st called by Spain's central government when it took control of the region to stop it breaking away, but he said the fight for independence would go on. Puigdemont, speaking at a news conference in Brussels on Tuesday, also said he was not seeking asylum in Belgium after Spain's state prosecutor recommended charges for rebellion and sedition be brought against him. He would return to Catalonia when given "guarantees" by the Spanish government, he said.

[FULL STORY HERE]