7, September 2016
German Chancellor Merkel defends her stance on allowing asylum seekers into Germany 0
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has once again defended her stance on allowing asylum seekers into Germany despite her party’s loss at local elections apparently over the government’s refugee policy. “I consider the fundamental decisions as right, but there is much to be done to win back trust and the topic of integration will play a huge role, as well as the repatriation of those who don’t gain residency rights,” Merkel said during a speech in the lower house of the German parliament in the capital Berlin on Wednesday.
The remarks came just three days after a stunning defeat suffered by her party, the Christian Democratic Party (CDU), from an anti-refugee party in regional elections. On Sunday, Merkel’s CDU party fell to third place after the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in her home state of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. The center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) gained the first place in the contest, according to exit polls.
Merkel said her government has expedited integration measures for those refugees who are granted asylum, including by raising school funding to help their education and by trying to find solutions for local problems through working with cities and states. “The situation today is many times better than a year ago, but there remains a lot to do,” she said. Merkel has been under fire at home since last year, when she opened the country’s borders to the massive influx of asylum seekers, mostly fleeing violence in Middle Eastern and African states.
Presstv
12, September 2016
UK: Former Prime Minister resigns as MP 0
Former British Prime Minister David Cameron announces his decision to resign as Conservative MP for Witney, Oxfordshire, triggering a by-election. According to ITV news, Cameron said that he had informed Theresa May of his decision on Monday to quit and said he did not want to be a “distraction” for her.
Cameron, who was the Conservative Prime Minister in 2010-2016, had said he would continue as an MP until the next general election. The 49-year-old said he would have to “build a life outside Westminster” and said “in my view, with modern politics, with the circumstances of my resignation it isn’t really possible to be a proper backbench MP as a former prime minister.” “I think everything you do will become a big distraction and a big diversion from what the government needs to do for our country.” “I hope I will continue to contribute in terms of public service.”
He complimented May, his former home secretary, saying she had been “very understanding” and that she had “got off to a cracking start” as prime minister. Asked about his legacy, he said he hoped his time would be remembered for a strong economy and “important social reforms” and that he had transformed a Conservative Party that was “in the doldrums” into a “modernizing force”.
In June, Cameron has announced his resignation after Britons voted to leave the European Union. Cameron said he could not lead the country in the process of UK’s separation from the bloc. Theresa May was swiftly appointed as head of the UK government soon after.
Presstv