position:parliament speaker

Global Neo-Nazism Is Increasing. Why Is The State Department Anti-Semitism Envoy Position Still Vacant?
▻https://forward.com/scribe/407102/global-neo-nazism-is-increasing-why-is-the-state-department-anti-semitism-e

https://assets.forwardcdn.com/images/cropped/gettyimages-941357900-1533141239.jpg

The absence of a Special Envoy makes the media’s role of spotlighting outbreaks of hatred and anti-Semitism even more vital. This is why I was deeply alarmed to see the New York Times downplay and whitewash a neo-Nazi gang in a recent article [▻https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/21/world/europe/ukraine-roma-attacks.html] about Ukraine.

[...]

Over the past three years, the trajectory of far-right development in #Ukraine has gotten worse. The government has declared #Nazi collaborators guilty of slaughtering Jews to be freedom fighters; parades to these groups are a common sight in Ukraine. Often, they are accompanied by rank anti-Semitism: In January 2017, chants of “Jews out” were heard at a torchlight parade in Kiev. According to RFE, Nazi salutes were seen when 20,000 marched last October. This April, the Anti-Defamation League’s Director of European Affairs tweeted a video of Nazi salutes as hundreds of people marched in the memory of a Waffen SS unit.

[...] And while the country’s prime minister is Jewish, Deputy Interior Minister Vadym Troyan has a long history of involvement with #neo-Nazi gangs. In 2014, Jewish groups, including Ukrainian Jewish leaders, were appalled at the idea of Troyan becoming chief of police in Kiev; today, he is one of the most powerful men in the country. And according to the Washington Post, another extremely powerful figure, Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy, spent over a decade running the overtly neo-Nazi Social-National Party of Ukraine. Parubiy is no longer formally affiliated with neo-Nazi organizations, but his dark past is deeply troubling, especially in a nation where gangs such as C14 act with impunity (according to Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the United Nations).

#extrême-droite #silence

Will Iran’s most popular general enter politics?
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/06/qassem-soleimani-politics-iran-president-election.html#ixzz4BabEnQHb

Since being one of the signatories to the letter warning Reformist Khatami in 1999 about the direction of the country, Soleimani has mostly stayed out of the politics. During the February parliament elections, Soleimani, while not explicitly endorsing traditional conservative candidate Ali Larijani, praised the parliament speaker just four days before the election. During the 2013 presidential election, Soleimani was believed to have supported conservative candidate Ghalibaf. At the time, the head of IRGC public relations was caught in a minor controversy when the Iranian media reported that he denied Soleimani’s endorsement. He later clarified that he never spoke about Soleimani but that the IRGC would not be endorsing a candidate.

Read more: ▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/06/qassem-soleimani-politics-iran-president-election.html#ixzz4BhKbEuGf

Le Courant du Futur refait mai 2008, un coup de force politique pas du tout improvisé, Siniora à la manœuvre, avec risque d’escalade grave – mais une chose est certaine, le 14 Mars va à nouveau se poser en victime (politique de l’« humiliation » feinte).

Aoun threatens action against term extension : FPM sources
▻http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2015/Aug-06/309933-aoun-threatens-action-against-term-extension-fpm-sources.ashx

Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun has reportedly criticized Defense Minister Samir Moqbel’s abrupt decision to keep the country’s top Army generals in their posts, while his movement threatened to take escalatory steps against the decision.

FPM sources said in comments published Thursday by Al-Akhbar newspaper that the bloc had no prior knowledge that Moqbel intended to extend the generals’ terms “because [chances] of reaching a deal and amending the Defense Law were still being debated.”

The sources warned that the FPM would carry out a “major escalation” against the extension, adding that Aoun will not back down although they did not elaborate on what type of escalatory steps they would take.

Seven soldiers and 17 protesters were wounded near the Grand Serail in Downtown Beirut last month in a scuffle between the Lebanese Army and FPM supporters protesting the government ignoring the FPM’s demand to prioritize the issue of security and military appointments.

Aoun has been pressing the government to appoint new military and security chiefs. He was also lobbying for his son-in-law Brig. Gen. Shamel Roukoz to be appointed Army commander.

Al-Akhbar quoted high-ranking Future Movement sources as saying that the current regional and international political situation does not allow Aoun to have any share in the Army nor in the presidency, and instead seek to diminish his political weight.

The sources added that the Future Movement has proceeded with the decision after a flurry of contacts Wednesday with MP Walid Jumblatt, former President Michel Sleiman, MP Sami Gemayel, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

The decision also came after a Future Movement meeting was held following Wednesday’s Cabinet session and before the Hezbollah-Future talks at Berri’s Ain al-Tineh residence, according to the report. The meeting was attended by Future bloc head Fouad Siniora, Deputy Prime Minister Farid Makari and former MP Ghattas Khoury.

The WikiLebanon Files (Part I) : The Day Berri Called Lahoud a “Bastard” | mai 2007
▻http://moulahazat.com/2015/02/15/the-wikilebanon-files-part-i-the-day-berri-called-lahoud-a-bastard

1. (S) Describing President Emile Lahoud as a “bastard,” Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri used a 5/9 meeting with the Ambassador to seek USG help in derailing what Berri suspects is a diabolical Syrian-inspired plot Lahoud plans to implement to destroy Lebanon’s parliament. (Yes, gentle reader, the previous sentence is correct as written.) As if forgetting that he is the one holding the power to open Parliament’s doors, Berri outlined a scenario by which Lahoud, drawing on his insistence that the Siniora cabinet does not legally exist, will use a creative interpretation of the constitution to dissolve parliament unilaterally when it fails to meet in its ordinary session that expires May 31. At that point, Lahoud will argue that he is free to appoint a new prime minister and cabinet, without the need for parliamentary approval. And this sets up a scenario by which Lebanon is plunged into new legislative elections. The emerging pro-Syrian majority would then elect Lebanon’s new president, or the Lahoud-appointed cabinet would inherit the powers of the presidency. Describing the “plot” to destroy the constitutional institution he controls, Berri gave a very believable performance of vein-popping rage.

2. (S) As the new cabinet begins work, the March 14 majority would continue to recognize the Siniora cabinet and the existing parliament and proceed with its own presidential elections. Lahoud’s scheme as described by Berri would, at a minimum, set up two entirely parallel structures: two PMs, cabinets, parliaments, and presidents. But it would be more likely that Lebanon would be plunged into chaos, with institutions splitting and the army sitting on the sidelines as the two parallel structures battled for supremacy. To avoid this, Berri advocates a first step that we have long urged he grab: open the parliament, thus preventing Lahoud from dissolving it. He is now on board, but under limited conditions he seeks our help to impose with our March 14 contacts. We are inclined to do so, in order to avoid his worst-case scenario, but we have to consider carefully what tricks Berri himself has up his sleeve. When asked about the impact of potential Chapter VII approval of the tribunal, Berri threw up his hands: “approve it Under Chapter VII, Chapter 67, or whatever — I don’t care!” While Berri seemed to speak with far more candor than usual, we, of course, remain skeptical that the alliance he advocates to thwart a Syrian-inspired plot is a lasting one. End summary and comment.

Cable chez #Wikileaks (#cablegate) :
▻http://www.wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/07BEIRUT655_a.html

À noter : encore une très belle #théorie_du_complot contre la Syrie qui s’est avérée… fausse

#Iraqi_parliament elects #Kurdish politician president
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/iraqi-parliament-elects-kurdish-politician-president

Iraq’s parliament on Thursday elected veteran Kurdish politician Fuad Masum as federal president, a move that paves the way for the much-delayed formation of a new government. Parliament Speaker Salim al-Juburi announced that Masum, who was born in 1938 and became the first prime minister of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan more than two decades ago, had won the most votes. (AFP)

#Iraq

#Bahrain sacks MP for criticizing prison conditions
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/bahrain-sacks-mp-criticizing-prison-conditions

Bahrain’s parliament on Tuesday sacked an MP who had criticized conditions at a prison where inmates are mostly anti-government activists held over protests. Parliament speaker Khalifa al-Dhahrani said 31 MPs out of the 40-member chamber voted to eject Osama Mehanna, in a statement published by BNA state news agency. Dhahrani did not disclose the reason behind his removal. But political sources pointed out that Mehanna had a fierce argument with fellow MPs on April 29 after he criticized the situation at #Jaw_prison, in southeastern Bahrain. read more

#Lebanon's #presidential_election expected to be postponed
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanons-presidential-election-postponed

Lebanon’s second round presidential vote is expected to be postponed after March 8-aligned legislatures vowed to boycott Wednesday’s Parliamentary session in which it was scheduled to elect a new head of state. #parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is currently meeting with Walid Jumblatt, leader of the so-called Progressive Socialist Party, which routinely switches loyalties between the March 8 and March 14 coalitions — Lebanon’s two main political factions. read more

#Top_News

#Assad declares candidacy for #syria's presidential election
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/assad-declares-candidacy-syrias-presidential-election

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad declared on Monday he will run for re-election in a vote on June 3 which is widely expected to secure him a third term in office despite a three-year civil war stemming from protests against his rule. Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Lahham made the announcement during a televised session of Syria’s parliament. Assad’s letter to Syria’s constitutional court, read out in parliament by Lahham, said: “I ... Dr Bashar Hafez al-Assad ... wish to nominate myself for the post of president of the republic, hoping that parliament will endorse it.” read more

#Top_News

Salam resigns today... or Saturday
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/salam-resigns-today-or-saturday

http://english.al-akhbar.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/4cols/leading_images/228387-01-08%281%29.jpg

A handout picture released on January 15, 2014, by the Lebanese photo agency Dalati and Nohra shows Lebanese President #Michel_Sleiman (C) meeting with Parliament Speaker #Nabih_Berri (L) and prime minister-designate Tammam Salam at the presidential palace in Baabda ahead of announcing the formation of the new Lebanese government following a 10-month vacuum. (Photo:AFP- Ho/Dalati and Nohra) A handout picture released on January 15, 2014, by the Lebanese photo agency Dalati and Nohra shows Lebanese President Michel Sleiman (C) meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) and prime minister-designate Tammam Salam at the presidential palace in Baabda ahead of announcing the formation of the new Lebanese government following a 10-month vacuum. (...)

#Lebanon #Articles #Future_Movement #Hezbollah #ministerial_statement #Tamam_Salam #Wael_Abou_Faour

Governor survives blasts as #Iraq_violence increases
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/18767

Atheel al-Nujaifi, governor of Iraq’s #Nineveh_province and the parliament speaker’s brother, survived on Monday the third attempt on his life this month, as violence killed 19 people, officials said. Iraq is suffering its worst unrest in years and authorities have failed so far to stop daily violence targeting both civilians and security forces. There have now been at least six attempts to kill al-Nujaifi in less than a year, showing that even the most senior official in the northern province is vulnerable to attack. read more

#Top_News

#Lebanon’s government: A ticking time bomb with regional and international controls
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanon%E2%80%99s-government-ticking-time-bomb-regional-and-inter

http://english.al-akhbar.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/4cols/leading_images/228690-01-08-1.gif

Lebanese President Michel Sleiman (Front C) Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (Front C-L) and prime minister-designate Tammam Salam (Front C-R) posing with ministers of the new cabinet at the presidential palace of Baabda, east of Beirut. (Photo: AFP- Ho / Dalati and Nohra) Lebanese President Michel Sleiman (Front C) Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (Front C-L) and prime minister-designate Tammam Salam (Front C-R) posing with ministers of the new cabinet at the presidential palace of Baabda, east of Beirut. (Photo: AFP- Ho / Dalati and Nohra)

The mistake that the various Lebanese parties made after the formation of the new government is that some of them saw it as a victory but they might be surprised, while others accepted (...)

#Opinion #Articles #Hassan_Nasrallah #Iran #MARCH_14 #March_8 #Michel_Aoun #Saad_Hariri #syria

March 8 finished, Aoun out in the cold

THE DAILY STAR
▻http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2013/Jul-10/223165-march-8-finished-aoun-out-in-the-cold.ashx#axzz2YnzRDsMC

BEIRUT: Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri announced the collapse of the March 8 coalition Tuesday, putting an end to the Amal Movement’s frail alliance with the Free Patriotic Movement of MP Michel Aoun.

Berri’s bombshell was expected to give a major boost to efforts to form a new Cabinet, which have been mired by delays and a series of obstacles. By ending their alliance with Aoun, Berri explained that March 8’s key demand to acquire veto power within the new government “was no longer valid.”

“There is no such thing as the March 8 alliance anymore,” Berri told The Daily Star. “We agree with [Gen.] Aoun on strategic issues such as the resistance and [the stance toward] Israel but not on domestic issues.”

Lebanon sheikh warns of toy gun that allegedly insults prophet’s wife
►http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2012/Jun-22/177802-lebanon-sheikh-warns-of-toy-gun-that-insults-prophets-wife.ashx

Controversial Sidon Preacher Sheikh Ahmad Assir warned Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Hezbollah’s leader Friday that he will haunt their nights if they fail to deal immediately with a toy gun that he said featured an audio recording that insults a wife of Muslim Prophet Mohammad’s when the trigger is pulled.