#GERMANY: Party Head Calls For Term Limits For German Chancellor; Says Merkel Looks "Tired" After 4 Terms

[world politics news]

A chancellor in Germany should stay in power no longer than eight or 10 years, Christian Lindner, the head of the Free Democratic Party, said recently in an interview. Lindner said Chancellor Angela Merkel, 64, who has been the chancellor since 2005, looks "exhausted," and Germany needs a "boost" of youthful leadership. Parliament elects a chancellor for four year terms, but there are no limits on how many terms they may serve. Merkel, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union, is currently in her fourth consecutive term.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#VENEZUELA: Pres. Maduro Strips Parliament Of Power, Deepening Political Crisis

[world politics news]

Venezuela’s political crisis has deepened after a new pro-government "superbody" stripped the opposition-held parliament of its legislative powers and the fugitive attorney general accused President Nicolás Maduro of links to a corruption scandal. The move by the national constituent assembly, denounced by regional powers and the US, has limited practical impact. The government had in effect neutered the parliament soon after the 2015 election that brought it to power, and the new constituent assembly already has virtually unlimited reach.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRALIA: Oppo. Ldr. Bill Shorten Wants To Lengthen Gov't Term To Four Years

[world politics news]

Australians could be asked to give a Federal government four years in charge of the nation’s finances, with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten saying an end to revolving-door politics would boost confidence across the country. Shorten said he was looking for bipartisan support that both sides of politics would take to the next Federal election, promising a referendum on ditching three-year terms. And there is support within the Government after a prominent backbencher earlier this year introduced a Bill in Parliament to move to four years.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: Supreme Court Rules That Parliament Must Get A Vote On Brexit

[world politics news]

Britain's Supreme Court has ruled that Parliament must get a vote before the government triggers a "Brexit" from the European Union. The government of Prime Minister Theresa May had hoped to avoid the vote, but observers say vote, which will likely pass easily, will happen within two weeks. May hopes to trigger an exit from the economic union, which was approved by voter last year, in the Spring.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#THAILAND: Constitutional Committee Quashes Idea Of Unelected Senate Helping Choose PM

[world politics news]

The Constitution Drafting Committee has brushed aside a National Legislative Assembly proposal to allow the Junta-appointed Senate to take part in a process to nominate a prime minister,  deciding to keep the power to nominate a prime minister exclusively in the hands of MPs.

#JORDAN: Election Reforms Prompt King To Dissolve Parliament Ahead Of Nov. Election

[world politics news]

In accordance with the terms of a passage of a new election law, King Abdullah has dissolved parliament and has appointed a new prime minister, Hani al-Mulqi to oversee elections. Under the new bill, Jordan has done away with single-member districts, with elections now based on a large voting system, in which candidates will run for seats on one, multi-member ticket.

#DENMARK: All Parties Support Citizen Petition Plan That Would Require Votes In Parliament

[world politics news]

There is broad political support to allow Danish citizens to send proposals directly to parliament if they can recruit 50,000 fellow Danes to their cause. The plan is backed by the Danish People’s Party, the Social Liberals (Radikale), the Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten), the Alternative, the Socialist People’s Party and the Conservatives.

#KENYA: Plan To Eliminate The Senate, Reduce Number Of Counties, Finds Stiff Opposition

[world politics news]

Member of Parliament Moses Kuria wants to eliminate Kenya's Senate and reduce the number of counties, but his plan is being met with stiff opposition from lawmakers who believe the Senate's role of checking the "excesses" of the National Assembly. The Senate was eliminated in 1967 but re-established by the 2010 Constitution.

#ITALY: Senate Pres. Rejects 70 Million Computer-Generated Amendments To Reform Bill

[world politics news]

The head of Italy's Senate has rejected the more than 70 million computer-generated amendments submitted by the Northern League to a government-sponsored bill that would gut the Senate's powers and turn it into weaker a region-based assembly.

Pictured: Roberto Calderoli of the Northern League, a right-leaning separatist group which has 12 Senators in the 315-member Senate.

#THAILAND: Constitutional Drafting Committee Begins Reviewing Changes

[world politics news]

The 30-member Constitution Drafting Committee began the first day of a section-by-section deliberation of the draft constitution's 315 sections on Thursday, with only a few changes being made. The CDC has until July 23 to review changes before sending the amended draft charter back to the National Reform Council for an Aug. 6 vote.

#DENMARK: Far-Right Parties Will Back UK's EU Reform Demands If They Win Election Thursday

[world politics news]

A four-party coalition of far-right parties will back UK PM David Cameron's demands for reforms of the European Union if they win Denmark's election Thursday. The traditionally pro-European Liberal Party surprised many by striking the agreement with the eurosceptic Danish People's Party. The coalition is tied in the polls with the ruling Social Democrats.

Pictured: Former PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen, leader of the Venstre Party

#HONGKONG: Wealthiest Businessman in Hong Kong Urges Political, Electoral Reforms

[world politics news]

Hong Kong's wealthiest man, Li Ka-shing, has urged lawmakers to approve reforms that will change how the territory's leader is elected. He said the harm to Hong Kong could be "immeasurable" if they ended up blocked. Reportedly, he made the remarks after moving his corporate holdings from Hong Kong to the Cayman Islands.

#CANADA: Liberal Leader #JustinTrudeau Cites Open Nomination Process; Others Allege "Backroom Manipulation"

[world politics news]

Liberal Party Leader is hailing his "open nomination" candidate selection process as one of the most democratic in the world, but critics within his own party say favoritism and "backroom manipulation" have remained very much part of the process, with certain candidate names being blocked by party bosses.

#CHILE: Pres. #Bachelet Urged to Fulfill Promise to Reform Constitution in 2015

[world politics news]

Opposition parties are urging Pres. Michelle Bachelet to honor her campaign promise - a "pillar" of her campaign - to reform the country's constitution, though some are skeptical and she has been slow to commit to reforming the Pinochet-era document.

#HONGKONG: Lawmaker Condemns Police Brutality Against Protesters, Bystanders

[world politics news]

Civic Party lawmaker Claudia Mo has condemned police brutality shown to protesters in Hong Kong's Mongkok district last week. The protests were the hold-over of much larger demonstrations seeking political reforms and less interference from Mainland Communist Party bosses. Bystanders were shown on video also being beaten.

#DENMARK: PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt Offers Referrendum on Opting Out of EU Justice, Home Policy Rules

[world politics news]

PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt has promised to support a referrendum after the next election (sometime after Sept. 2015) on whether to opt out of EU rules on Justice and Home Affairs policies. The EU has warned a Justice opt-out would end participation in EUROPOL, the joint police agency.

#SPAIN: Constitutional Ct. Suspends Catalonia's Independence Referrendum

[world politics news]

Acting on a request from the Spanish Government, the country's 12-member Constitutional Court unanimously agreed to suspend the November referrendum on Catalonian Independence. The wealthy northeastern region of Spain overwhelmingly backs full independence from Spain, which is economically troubled.

#CHINA

Gov't Will Establish National Online Petitioning System to Petition Officials [world politics news]

#CANADA

Liberal Leader Trudeau Removes Senators from Party Caucus, Will Be Independents [world politics news]

#TUNISIA: "Slimmed Down" Gov't of "Technocrats" to Lead Until Elections

[world politics news]

PM-designate Mehdi Jomaa, who will lead a small gov't of 15 ministers until elections are held.