#POLAND: Former EU Pres. Tusk Will Boycott Election; Incumbent Duda Is Likely Winner

[world politics news]

Former European Council president Donald Tusk is appealing for a boycott of the upcoming presidential election in his native Poland, saying the postal vote the government has proposed carries health risks amid the coronavirus pandemic and would not meet democratic standards for free, equal and transparent elections.

Tusk, who served as Poland’s prime minister from 2007 to 2014, said in a video on Twitter that he would not “not take part in the voting procedure" for the May 10 balloting. He said the vote promoted by the right-leaning ruling party “has nothing to do with an election.”

According to the latest election poll conducted by Statista in April 2020, the current President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, has the highest chance of winning next year's presidential election. The poll estimates that he may count on 59% of votes.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UKRAINE: Former Georgian Pres. Saakashvili Set To Become Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister

[world politics news]

Former Georgian Pres. Mikheil Saakashvili, says he is confident and optimistic that the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, will approve him as Vice Prime Minister.

Saakashvili served as the third President of Georgia for two consecutive terms from January, 2004 to November, 2013. From May, 2015 until November, 2016, Saakashvili was the Governor of Ukraine's Odessa region.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ISRAEL: Former Ally Vows To Scuttle Plans For Gantz To Rotate With Netanyahu As PM

[world politics news]

In a bombshell move that threatens to block his former ally becoming Israel’s prime minister, Yesh Atid-Telem leader Yair Lapid on Monday promised his party would vote with Benjamin Netanyahu if the prime minister seeks to cancel his rotation agreement with Benny Gantz, which is supposed to take effect 18 months into the lifespan of the planned Netanyahu-Gantz coalition. Lapid would thus help ensure the necessary majority to cancel the law anchoring the Netanyahu-Gantz power-sharing deal, and bring down the government.

Lapid’s vow drew a furious response from Gantz’s Blue and White party, and an allegation from Yisrael Beytenu’s Avigdor Liberman that, in so doing, Lapid would be saving Netanyahu’s political skin. Lapid responded that it was Gantz who is saving Netanyahu by partnering with him in the new coalition,

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#KENYA: Governor Stokes Controversy Putting Beer In Coronavirus Care Packages

[world politics news]

Recipients of Nairobi politician Mike Sonko's Covid-19 care packages can expect to receive the typical food staples except for one item -- alcohol.

Sonko, the governor of the Kenyan capital city, Nairobi, confirmed in a media briefing on Tuesday that his care packages include a few small bottles of the cognac, Hennessy.

The governor justified the inclusion of alcohol as "throat sanitizer."

"I think from the research conducted by the World Health Organization and various organizations, it has been believed that alcohol plays a major role in killing the coronavirus," Sonko said in a video.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#TANZANIA: Pres. Magufuli Cancels $10billion Chinese Loan

[world politics news]

Pres. John Magufuli has cancelled a Chinese loan worth $10 billion saying that the terms of the Chinese loan agreement could only be accepted by a drunken man.

The loan had been signed by his predecessor Jakaya Kikwete to construct a port at Mbegani creek in Bagamoyo. The move is indicative of original African rethink of loans from China which came with restrictive terms.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#EU: German MEPs Say Coronavirus Has Made Euro "Green New Deal" Not Affordable

[world politics news]

Members of the European Parliament from Germany's ruling party are saying that in the age of Coronavirus, the European version of the Green New Deal is no longer economically viable.

The leader of the Parliamentary Party Markus Pieper told news magazine FOCUS:
"The Green New Deal was a gigantic challenge for an economy in top shape. After the corona bloodletting, it is simply not financially viable.”

Pieper suggests, among other things, to expand trading in CO2 to electric cars and building renovations instead of fixed CO2 quotas. “Then the market regulates the progress in climate protection according to supply and demand via a price mechanism,”

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#BOSNIA: Security Minister Calls For Deportation Of Migrants Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

[world politics news]

Bosnia’s security minister on Thursday proposed the deportation of migrants from the Balkan country, alleging that they pose a potential security threat and a severe economic burden amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fahrudin Radoncic also said migrants who could not provide passports or other identification documents should be imprisoned rather than accommodated in migrant camps in Bosnia.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#MOLDOVA: Opposition Party Raises Concerns Over Russian Loan

[world politics news]

The opposition Pro Moldova parliamentary group appealed to the Constitutional Court on Thursday over the legality of a 200-million-euro loan from Russia, urging the judges to give a verdict urgently, as parliament was about to ratify the agreement.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#EGYPT: Parliament Grants President New Powers To Fight Coronavirus

[world politics news]

Egypt’s parliament – the House of Representatives – voted Wednesday in favour of amending four articles of the law regulating the state of emergency (law 162/1958) to give the president greater powers to contain critical health situation such as the outbreak of the coronavirus.

To avoid crowdedness and in line with the anti-coronavirus measures, parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal decided that all deputies should not vote at the same time.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#PORTUGAL: Controversy Over Celebrating "Liberty Day"

[world politics news]

Controversy continues to rage over the decision by Members of Parliament  to commemorate ‘Dia 25 de Abril’ (Portugal’s Liberty Day) at a time when the population in general is being told to stay at home.

Leader of the House Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues is adamant that celebration, which commemorate the 1974 bloodless coup that toppled a military dictatorship - go ahead, albeit in a reduced form and according to advice from DGS health chiefs, on the basis that this will be a way of “saying no anti-democratic alternative will emerge from this crisis."

Prime Minister António Costa has sought to keep out of the arguments by saying, "this isn’t the time for division."

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#HONGKONG: Gov't Arrests 15 Pro-Democracy Figures For October Rallies

[world politics news]

Hong Kong police arrested 15 high-profile pro-democracy figures this weekend in connection with allegedly “organising and participating in unlawful assemblies,” according to the security bureau. The arrests are thought to be related to demonstrations last October.

Former chairs of the Democratic Party Martin Lee and Albert Ho and the Labour Party’s Lee Cheuk-yan were among those arrested, as was lawmaker Leung Yiu-chung, the Democratic Party’s Yeung Sum, democrats Au Nok-hin and Richard Tsoi, Kwai Tsing District Council chair Sin Chung-kai, and the Labour Party’s Cyd Ho.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: Governing Party Wins Parliamentary Election In Landslide

[world politics news]

By the time the polls closed on April 15th, 66.2% of South Korea's eligible voters had cast a ballot, more than in any parliamentary election since 1992. And they had voted overwhelmingly for the governing Democratic Party, largely due to their handling of the coronavirus crisis.

As much of the world remained in virus-induced lockdown, South Koreans donned face masks and plastic gloves to show that even in a pandemic, the journey to the polling booth is essential.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#HONGKONG: China Warns Hong Kong Opposition Over Legislative Delays

[world politics news]

China’s top agency overseeing Hong Kong said lawmakers blocking action by the local legislature were potentially violating their oaths, in a signal that Beijing was losing patience with the monthslong legislative logjam.

The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office urged the city’s Legislative Council in a statement released Monday to end the stalemate and resume normal operations. Opposition lawmakers led by Civic Party member Dennis Kwok have blocked legislation in the body, which is up for election in October.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: All-Female Party Formed To Contest Parliamentary Seats

[world politics news]

South Korea is regularly ranked lowest in the developed world for gender equality, but for the first time a feminist party is seeking parliamentary seats at Wednesday’s election, accusing the political establishment of having failed women.

The party was founded last month on International Women’s Day on the back of a surge of anger over the country’s spycam porn epidemic and other crimes, and against a backdrop of an enduring pay gap and employment and childcare issues.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#BRAZIL: Gov't Forecasts 'Dramatic' Increase In Deficit Spending For 2020-21

[world politics news]

Even if the Brazilian government monitors coronavirus spending this year, Bolsonaro's government predicts that public spending will increase dramatically in 2020. Thus, the government is predicting and even larger fiscal deficit in 2020 and 2021.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#MALAYSIA: Politician Calls For "Virtual" Parliament To Meet During Coronavirus Lockdown

[world politics news]

Lim Kit Siang, a leader of the Democratic Action Party (part of the ruling government coalition)  has urged the government to consider holding an emergency “virtual” Parliament.

His suggestion came as Malaysia marks its third week of a government-enforced movement control order (MCO) to break the chain of COVID-19 infections across the country.

Other legislative bodies around the world are contemplating a similar move, as they adapt to the new circumstances caused by COVID-19.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#POLAND: Due To Lockdown, Parliament Approves All-Mail Vote, May Move Election Date

[world politics news]

Polish lawmakers has voted to conduct the country's forthcoming presidential elections exclusively through postal voting due to the lockdown imposed for the coronavirus pandemic.

Parliament also empowered house speaker Elzbieta Witek to push back the date of the election, if necessary. Both decisions by parliament require approval from the Senate and from President Andrzej Duda, who is seeking reelection.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#TURKEY: Opposition Parties Try To Use Courts To Fix Bill Barring Release Of Dissidents From Prison

[world politics news]

Turkey’s opposition parties plan to appeal to the country’s highest court against a bill that, if passed, would exclude dissidents from early release to protect them from the coronavirus.

But with Constitutional Court now stacked with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s appointees, the opposition will have its work cut out.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#HUNGARY: Prime Minister Orban Introduces Economic Program To Combat Effects Of Coronavirus

[world politics news]

The government of  Prime Minister Viktor Orban has introduced an economic program that aims to create as many jobs as the number of jobs destroyed by novel coronavirus. Orban told public news channel M1 that no Hungarian would be left alone.

He presented new economic protection measures, including a wage support scheme, reintroducing 13th month pensions, restoring highlighted sectors of the national economy and granting over 2,000 billion forints in loans with interest subsidies or state guarantees to companies.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#FRANCE: Pres.Macron's Poll Numbers Rise Over Coronavirus Rrsponse

[world politics news]

French President Emmanuel Macron's popularity rating jumped to a more than two-year high, according to an opinion poll, edging past the 50% mark for the first time since 2018 as voters give his handling of the coronavirus crisis a vote of confidence.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#EU: European Court Rules Three Countries Broke EU Law By Refusing Migrants

[world politics news]

The European Court of Justice  has ruled that Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic breached their obligations under EU law by refusing to take in refugees.

The court says in its ruling that these countries had failed to accept their share of 120,000 asylum seekers who had arrived in Italy and Greece, under a relocation programme agreed by the European Council in 2015.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Sir Keir Starmer Wins Labour Party Leadership Election

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Sir Keir Starmer won in the first round of the UK Labour Party's leadership Election, with more than 50% of the votes. He has become Leader of the Opposition, succeeeding Jeremy Corbyn, who announced he was stepping down after the general election in December.

The shadow Brexit secretary and former director of public prosecutions is viewed as more of a centrist than the 'Corbyn' candidate. He had been an advocate for a second referendum on Brexit.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Outgoing UK Labour Party Leader Says He's Leaving It Stronger

[world politics news]

Jeremy Corbyn today claimed he was leaving the Labour Party in a position to win the next general election.

The outgoing party Leader, whose successor is to revealed today, led the party to its worst defeat in 84 years last December.

He faced numerous revolts in challenges to his leadership within his own party during his four and a half year term as party leader, many calling him too radical and too far to the left to be elected.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Issues "Shoot to Kill" Order For "Troublemakers" During Quarantine

[world politics news

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has told security forces they should shoot dead anyone causing "trouble" in areas locked down due to the coronavirus pandemic.

About half the country's roughly 110 million people are currently under quarantine -- including millions in deep poverty, left jobless by tough restrictions on movement.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UN: US Backs Singaporean, Defeats Chinese Candidate For UN Intellectual Property Head

[world politics news]

A US campaign helped prevent China’s contender from taking the helm of the World Intellectual Property Organisation — and its trove of 250,000 patents — as part of wider efforts to curb Beijing’s influence at the UN.

Daren Tang, head of Singapore’s intellectual property office, was nominated Wipo’s incoming director-general subject to confirmation from the body’s general assembly in May. Tang defeated Wang Binying, currently a WIPO's deputy director and a former Beijing trade official, in a second round of voting with 55 votes to 28.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Hesse State Finance Minister Commits Suicide Over Coronavirus

[world politics news]

The finance minister of the German state of Hesse has been found dead in an apparent suicide which has been linked to the coronavirus crisis, officials say.

Thomas Schaefer, 54, was found dead on railway tracks at Hochhein, near Frankfurt, on Saturday. State governor Volker Bouffier suggested he was 'in despair' over coronavirus and it's economic effects.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.