#CHINA: Top Ranking General Threatens To Take Back Taiwan By Force

[world politics news]

Taking Taiwan by force is an option for Beijing and it will take steps to “resolutely smash” any separatist moves made by the island, a top PLA general said on Friday.

At the same event, Li Zhanshu, the third most senior leader of the ruling Communist Party, said using force was a last resort and Beijing had not given up on peaceful reunification with the island, which it considers a part of China.

Taiwan denounced the comments, saying that threats of war were a violation of international law, while the 23 million people on the self-ruled island all strongly opposed the “one country, two systems” model. 

“Taiwan’s people will never choose dictatorship nor bow to violence,” Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said. “Force and unilateral decisions are not the way to resolve problems.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#CANADA: New Democratic Party Insiders Said To Be Planning Ouster Of Leader Tom Mulcair

[world politics news]

Upset with party leader Tom Mulcair's low profile after the New Democrat's crushing defeat last year, party insiders are said to be planning to oust him soon or force his resignation. He had previously agreed to resign next October, but some inside the party said he has "gone missing" and his low profile is hurting the party's image. His pleasant, grandfatherly demeanor and lack of passion - especially during national debates - are blamed by some for his poor showing and that of his party last year against the young, charming Justin Trudeau.

#SPAIN: Acting PM Rajoy Unable To Form Gov't - Again, Third Nat'l Election In 9 Months Looms

[world politics news]

Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy warned on Tuesday that the country may have to hold a third round of elections, after his Socialist rival refused to back his efforts to form a coalition government. Spain's been without a fully functioning government for more than seven months, after the national Dec. 20th election left Rajoy's Popular Party short of an absolute majority in parliament while upstart parties Ciudadanos and Podemos shook up Spain's two-party system.

#UGANDA: Supreme Ct. Rules Pres. Museveni Was "Duly Elected" Dismissing 2nd Place Finisher's Claim

[world politics news]

The Chief Justice of Uganda's Supreme Court has declared that Pres. Yoweri Museveni was duly elected and dismissed poll loser Amama Mbabazi's petition arguing that his nomination was invalid. It said that the evidence submitted by Mbabazi’s lawyers was not substantial to overturn the election results. A break-in at Mbabazi's lawyers' office the day before submitting evidence to the court had cost them many of the affidavits they had planned to file.

#CANADA: Polling For NDP Ldr. Mulcair Shows Slipping Support, But He May Keep His Job

[world politics news]

Polling shows New Democratic Party Leader Tom Mulcair's support has slipped among party faithful since last October's election loss, but a recent endorsement by five big unions may help him keep the job he's held since 2012 at a party convention in Edmonton in early April.

#SPAIN: Socialists Strike Deal With Centrists, Potentially Ending Post-Election Deadlock

[world politics news]

Spain's Socialist party announced on Wednesday that the centrist Ciudadanos (Citizen's) Party would back their candidate for prime minister, ending weeks of political deadlock since inconclusive elections. Spain has been mired in political deadlock since December elections resulted in a hung parliament split among four main parties - none of which have enough seats to govern alone.

Pictured: Pedro Sánchez, head of the Spanish Socialists, left, and Albert Rivera of the Ciudadanos (Citizen's) Party.

#POLAND: Leftist Party Gets New Leader After Disastrous Election Results

[world politics news]

Włodzimierz Czarzasty, 55, has taken the reins of the Democratic Left Alliance after last year's disastrous fall election. He beat challenger Jerzy Wenderlich by 428 votes to 327 during the SLD party congress. The October 25 general election was a disaster for the Polish left, and currently SLD does not have a single MP in the lower house of parliament.

#CANADA: Reclusive New Democratic Pty Ldr Addresses 2015 Election Disaster In News Conference

[world politics news]

New Democratic Party Leader Tom Mulcair has finally met the press to reflect on his party's 2015 election loss - in which it went from 95 to 44 members of parliament. Mulcair, 61, seems ready to identify some areas for improvement, and is resolved to remain that the helm of the party, despite prominent calls for him to step down.

#SPAIN: Leftist Podemos Pty Under Investigation For Poss. Iranian Funding

[world politics news]

Police are investigating allegations that the new Leftist party, Podemos, has been illegally financed with money from the Iranian regime. Pablo Iglesias, the pony-tailed leader of the anti-austerity and anti-corruption party is laughing off the accusations, which allege that Podemos received US$5.4 million from media companies administered in Spain by an Iranian regime-linked businessman. Iglesias hosts a TV talk show on an Iran-owned Channel, Hispan TV.

#VENEZUELA: Assembly Vows To Topple Maduro Regime Within 6 Months "By Constitutional Means"

[world politics news]

Venezuela's opposition parties have vowed to find a way to get rid of Leftist President Nicolas Maduro within six months, after taking control of the National Assembly for the first time since 1999, the year the late socialist leader Hugo Chavez came to power. At its first regular session, the opposition-controlled assembly swore in three anti-government lawmakers, defying Maduro who had secured a court injunction to suspend them, in an attempt to take away the opposition's majority.

#TANZANIA: Post-Election Stalemate In Zanzibar Region Causes Confusion, Turmoil

[world politics news]

More than two months after Tanzania's general elections, the island region of Zanzibar's political parties are still arguing over who won, and the results are affecting the nation's economy. After Zanzibaris went to the polls October 25, the region's electoral commission annulled the vote, citing election irregularities.

#EGYPT: First Sitting Of Parliament Since 2013 Starts Today

[world politics news]

After four years of political turmoil, Egypt's new parliament, the House of Representatives, is due to hold its procedural sitting on Sunday. The meeting will be the first of its kind after the country's two previous parliaments were dissolved - the first in February 2011 and the second in June 2012 - and after former president Mohamed Morsi was ousted from office in July 2013.

#CANADA: Ontario NDP Legislator Calls For Pty Ldr Mulcair To Step Down

[world politics news]

A high-profile Ontario New Democrat has publicly called for federal NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair to resign. Cheri DiNovo, a member of provincial Parliament for the riding of Parkdale-High Park, told The Toronto Star's Thomas Walkom that Mulcair is "tainted" from a disastrous federal campaign and "has to go."

#CROATIA: Pharma Exec. Named Prime Minister As Compromise Cand. After Month-Long Crisis

[world politics news]

Pres. Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic named pharmaceutical company director Tihomir Oreskovic as prime minister designate, signalling an end to a political deadlock following November's parliamentary elections. Oreskovic was nominated by the center-right Patriotic Coalition, led by the Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ, and the kingmaker party, the Bridge of the Independent Lists, MOST.

#SPAIN: Conservatives Begin Difficult Task Of Seeking Coalition Partners After Close Election

[world politics news]

Spain entered a governing void Monday, facing weeks or months of uncertainty over what political party or parties will lead the country following a national election that fragmented the status quo. Anti-austerity party Podemos and liberal Ciudadanos made big gains forcing the ruling conservative Popular Party to lose its majority.

Pictured: PM Rajoy after last week's election.

#CENTRALAFRICANREPUBLIC: Referendum Passes; Supporters Hope It Brings Stability

[world politics news]

A referendum passed voter approval by 93% last month, paving the way for elections this Sunday. The referendum creates a senate, allows freedom of worship and prohibits religious fundamentalism. It also prevents perpetrators of coups cannot hold public office. Central African Republic has been highly volatile since early 2013.

#SPAIN: Political Turmoil As New Parties Win Nearly 35% of Vote; 109 Seats In Parliament

[world politics news]

Sunday's Spanish election saw voters reject the two traditional parties. The result is a hung parliament, with new Citizen's and Podemos parties taking nearly 35% of the vote. the conservative Popular Party took 28.72% of the vote, Socialists won 22.01%, Podemos 20.66% and Citizen's won 13.93%. In the 350-seat parliament this translates to PP (123); Socialists (90); Podemos (69); Citizens (40).

#DENMARK: Voters Reject Gov't Plan For Greater Police Integration With EU

[world politics news]

Voters in euro-skeptic EU member Denmark have soundly rejected a government proposal to further integrate its police force with that of the EU's. The 'no' side was led by the anti-EU, anti-immigration Danish People's Party which argued that dropping the justice opt-out it currently enjoys would give too much power to the EU.

#BURKINAFASO: Free And Fair Elections Held After 2014 Coup

[world politics news]

The country that overthrew long-serving Pres. Blaise Compaoré last year, then survived a coup attempt this September, has successfully held free and fair elections. Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, a former prime minister and parliamentary speaker, won 53.49 per cent of the vote, followed by former Finance Minister Zephirin Diabré with 29.65 per cent. The turnout was 60 per cent of the 5.5 million registered voters.

#SPAIN: Socialist Party Falls To Fourth Place In Polls After Debate Fiasco

[world politics news]

The opposition Socialist Party has fallen to fourth place after a disastrous debate performance. They are now behind the new Podemos and Citizen's Parties. The ruling conservatives of PM Rajoy are favored to win the election. Rajoy, who is gaffe-prone, skipped the debate, which commentators said was won by the pony-tailed leader of the left-leaning Podemos Party.