A8 WORLD
Thursday 15 August 2019
NEWS
UK Labour leader lays out plan to stop a no-deal Brexit By JILL LAWLESS DANICA KIRKA Associated Press LONDON (AP) — The leader of Britain's biggest opposition party on Wednesday urged other opposition forces to unite, topple Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative government and prevent Britain from leaving the European Union in October without a divorce agreement. The move came after Johnson accused anti-Brexit U.K. politicians of collaborating with the EU to stymie Britain's exit from the bloc. Jeremy Corbyn, who heads the main opposition Labour Party, said he planned to call a no-confidence vote in Johnson's government "at the earliest opportunity when we can be confident of success" once Parliament returns from its summer break in September.
In this file photo dated Wednesday, April 10, 2019, Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond in Downing Street in London. Associated Press
In a letter to other opposition leaders and pro-EU Conservative lawmakers,
the Labour chief said Parliament should then unite behind a Corbyn-led "tem-
porary government" that would seek a delay to Brexit day — currently scheduled
for Oct. 31 — and call a national election. The plan is feasible under Parliament's rules, but is likely to face resistance. The smaller opposition parties agree on the need to avoid a no-deal Brexit, but don't want to put Corbyn — a veteran left-winger whom many distrust — in power. Labour, meanwhile, is likely to oppose a politician from any other party heading a national unity government. Johnson has vowed that Britain will leave the EU on Oct. 31 — just 11 weeks away — with or without a divorce deal. He is demanding the EU make major changes to the agreement the bloc made with his predecessor, Theresa May. The EU refuses to renegotiate, so a no-deal Brexit appears increasingly likely.q
Czech president nixes Cabinet nominee; move could fold govt
In this Wednesday, June 26, 2019, file photo, Czech Republic's Prime Minister Andrej Babis looks up during a parliament session in Prague, Czech Republic. Associated Press
PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech president refused to appoint a candidate for a Cabinet post Wednesday, deepening a political crisis that could cause the country's coalition government to fall. Prime Minister Andrej Babis nominated the candidate to replace the culture minister he asked to have removed in May at the request of a partner party in the governing coalition, the Czech Social Democratic Party. Cabinet changes are generally a routine matter. Under the Czech Constitution,
the president is supposed to comply with the prime minister's appointment requests. President Milos Zeman initially hesitated but then fired Culture Minister Antonin Stanek at the end of July. But Zeman said Wednesday he didn't think the person nominated to take Stanek's place was "competent" for the job. The proposed replacement, Michal Smarda, is Social Democratic Party deputy chairman. The president said Smarda has no experience with cultural affairs.
The Social Democrats have said Smarda's appointment was a condition for staying in the government. If they pull out, it could lead to an early election. Babis said he would meet with party chairman Jan Hamacek next week. Hamacek told Czech public television Wednesday he was not ready to consider a candidate other than Smarda. The Social Democrats pushed for Stanek's ouster after he fired two directors of state-run art galleries in April, moves that were met with a wave of protests.q