Traffickers should no longer be allowed to determine who comes to Europe, the Czech prime minister, Andrej Babiš, has said, as he suggested thousands of police officers could be on standby in the Mediterranean ready to guard the continent’s borders. “There are 700,000 illegal migrants – they need to go home,” said Babiš. Last year, 618,780 non-EU citizens were found to be illegally present in the EU, according to Eurostat, a fall from a peak of more than 2 million in 2015. A skilled businessman but relatively inexperienced politician, Babiš has become the pre-eminent political figure in the Czech Republic and easily won an election last October with promises to clean up and invest in the state, fight Brussels encroachment and combat illegal migration. He formed his new party, ANO, in 2013, but beyond the promise to end corruption, doubts have been raised about the party’s wider politics. Since his election he has largely focused on domestic … [Read more...] about Migrants to Europe ‘need to go home’, says Czech prime minister
Yes prime minister
A year as Prime Minister: Jacinda Ardern reflects on her ‘surreal’ rise to the top
Toby Manhire for The Spinoff A year and an eternity ago, New Zealand grimaced through the final days of a post-election limbo. It was three weeks since voters had left the New Zealand First Party holding the balance of power, and it would be a few days yet before Winston Peters released the white smoke from the Beehive Theatrette. Spoiler: Peters chose Jacinda Ardern and the Labour Party. But even as Peters stared down the barrel of the camera, the PM-to-be didn't know it. Jacinda Ardern 'new squeezy toy' at United Nations - Duncan Garner PM Ardern doubles down on NZ's 'independent foreign policy' Jacinda Ardern attacks 'extreme positions' on climate change "I had absolutely no idea," Ardern said when she called in to The Spinoff last week. "Absolutely none. I've always said, it was the moment – or a minute or two before – the now deputy prime minister made the announcement, that I thought it was going our way. But not before that." Up 'til then, "I would … [Read more...] about A year as Prime Minister: Jacinda Ardern reflects on her ‘surreal’ rise to the top
Prime Minister highlights migration issues in speech to United Nations
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat used his annual speech to the United nations to mostly highlight migration issues, saying that a unified approach could stop criminal gangs profiting from smuggling human beings. This is his full speech below: "This summer we lost a great man: Kofi Annan. He stood for how we cannot achieve the United Nations’ goals without being united in our approach. Which is why I am here addressing you today: because I believe that global problems require global solutions. Advocating a global approach does not mean loving your country less than others. It means that working together makes it less likely that a ‘might is right’ doctrine will prevail. And better solutions can be found together, rather than alone. To find solutions we must remain committed to communicate and understand one another. Because, whatever challenges we need to address, and however different each nation’s views and perspectives are, we have a better chance at … [Read more...] about Prime Minister highlights migration issues in speech to United Nations
Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven loses confidence vote
(CNN)Sweden's center-left prime minister was toppled after losing a confidence vote in parliament Tuesday, forcing the country into a period of further political turmoil. The center-right opposition parties voted with the far-right Sweden Democrats to depose Stefan Löfven, two weeks after a tumultuous general election that delivered a hung parliament. The newly elected speaker of parliament, Andreas Norlén of the Moderates, will now consult with parliamentary parties over a new prime minister. Those discussions are likely to be tortuous, as the Democrats have pledged not to enter a formal coalition with the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats. The speaker's eventual choice for prime minister must be put to a vote. If no more than half of the politicians -- at least 175 members -- vote against the speaker's nominee, the appointment would go through, CNN's Swedish affiliate Expressen reports. Norlén has four attempts at proposing a new prime minister. If he fails to get … [Read more...] about Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven loses confidence vote
British Prime Minister Theresa May on Brexit, and #MeToo
Theresa May is only the second woman to have served as the United Kingdom's prime minister, after Margaret Thatcher. "CBS This Morning" co-host John Dickerson visited May at her official residence at 10 Downing Street in London for her only interview ahead of the U.N. General Assembly this week in New York City. We asked her about the #MeToo movement, as well as the intense fight she faces at home and across the European Union over Brexit. To read Part 1 of Dickerson's interview with May click here. On Brexit: JOHN DICKERSON: You are engaged in trying to manage the U.K. from withdrawing from the European Union, probably the biggest thing that Great Britain has been through since World War II. You had a rebuke from the EU. The British papers, which are a little more peppery than the ones in the States, said that they "twisted the knife." The word "humiliated" was used repeatedly. Did you feel humiliated by the way the EU treated your proposal? THERESA MAY: What I felt yesterday was … [Read more...] about British Prime Minister Theresa May on Brexit, and #MeToo