Latest news with #2027Elections
CTV News
24-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Ban cash: French minister coins novel idea to battle drug crime
France's Justice minister Gerald Darmanin leaves the weekly cabinet meeting, Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at the Elysee Palace in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) As France battles the scourge of drugs crime in its streets, a top minister has raised eyebrows by evoking stopping the use of cash entirely to discourage narcotics deals. 'How do we stop drugs from spreading in our neighbourhoods?' Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, a former interior minister and one of the most high-profile cabinet members, asked in a hearing with the upper house Senate on Thursday. 'There is a fairly simple measure -- the end of liquid cash would prevent the creation of points for drug dealing,' he added. Unlike in some other European countries, notably Nordic nations, cash remains a relatively essential part of daily life in France, with bakeries and cafes often setting a minimum payment before a card can be used. In an interview with RTL on Friday, Darmanin, who has expressed interest in standing in 2027 presidential elections, took care to clarify his comments while stopping short of disowning them. He said cash drug deals are worth 'between four and six billion euros' in France each year, of which only 'a few million euros' are seized by the authorities. Cash, he added, 'is what enables a large part of the functioning of organised crime, prostitution, and human trafficking.' But saying he was 'realistic' Darmanin, added that stopping cash was 'one of the responses but not the only one' to fighting drug crime, which has become an increasingly important political issue in France. 'It's a public debate that should undoubtedly be had in a presidential campaign, for example,' he said. Government spokeswoman Sophie Primas said while the issue had been 'put on the agenda by the minister of justice' it was 'not on the agenda of the government'. Cash still made up 43 percent of transactions in France last year, according to a study published in December 2024 by the European Central Bank (ECB). Liquid money is also important in the daily lives of older people and there are also concerns about what would happen in a cash-free country if payment systems suddenly went down.
Al Arabiya
24-05-2025
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Ban cash: French minister coins novel idea to battle drug crime
As France battles the scourge of drugs crime in its streets, a top minister has raised eyebrows by evoking stopping the use of cash entirely to discourage narcotics deals. 'How do we stop drugs from spreading in our neighborhoods?' Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, a former interior minister and one of the most high-profile cabinet members, asked in a hearing with the upper house Senate on Thursday. 'There is a fairly simple measure -- the end of liquid cash would prevent the creation of points for drug dealing,' he added. Unlike in some other European countries, notably Nordic nations, cash remains a relatively essential part of daily life in France, with bakeries and cafes often setting a minimum payment before a card can be used. In an interview with RTL on Friday, Darmanin, who has expressed interest in standing in 2027 presidential elections, took care to clarify his comments while stopping short of disowning them. He said cash drug deals are worth 'between four and six billion euros' in France each year, of which only 'a few million euros' are seized by the authorities. Cash, he added, 'is what enables a large part of the functioning of organized crime, prostitution, and human trafficking.' But saying he was 'realistic' Darmanin, added that stopping cash was 'one of the responses but not the only one' to fighting drug crime, which has become an increasingly important political issue in France. 'It's a public debate that should undoubtedly be had in a presidential campaign, for example,' he said. Government spokeswoman Sophie Primas said while the issue had been 'put on the agenda by the minister of justice' it was 'not on the agenda of the government.' Cash still made up 43 percent of transactions in France last year, according to a study published in December 2024 by the European Central Bank (ECB). Liquid money is also important in the daily lives of older people and there are also concerns about what would happen in a cash-free country if payment systems suddenly went down.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Peter Obi jokes with President Bola Tinubu at Pope Leo XIV's inaugural mass
Fierce Nigerian political rivals Peter Obi and President Bola Tinubu were seen laughing and joking at Pope Leo XIV's inaugural mass in of the All Progressives Congress defeated Obi of the Labour Party in the heated and tightly contested 2023 presidential election - a victory Obi challenged at the Supreme Court without pair's supporters have expressed bitter rivalry towards each other over the years, both on social media and on the streets, with some physical clashes occurring prior to the and Obi are expected to go head-to-head again in less than two years' time as Nigeria prepares for another election in 2027. Photos of the meeting were shared by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga on social media, who recounted what transpired when Obi and a former governor greeted the Nigerian president after seeing him at the event."Mr President, welcome to our church, and thank you for honouring the Pope with your presence," said former Ekiti state governor Kayode Obi and Fayemi are Catholics, while Tinubu is President Tinubu responded: "I should be the one welcoming you and Peter. I'm the head of the Nigerian delegation."The president's response elicited laughter from Obi, who agreed."Yes, indeed. We are members of your delegation," Obi the memorable encounter, Obi did not mention it in his long post on X about his visit to the Hussain, a member of Nigeria's House of Representatives, told the BBC that the light-hearted meeting was good for the country's politics and should help reduce tension."They portrayed a good image of the country and that's how politics should be played - without bitterness."I hope supporters of both Tinubu and Obi can see that after elections and court cases, then it is all about the country and how everyone can join hands together to grow it," he won the 2023 elections after the opposition was split between the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic is speculation that the two parties could form a coalition in 2027 to challenge Tinubu, who is expected to seek a second are often marred by violence in Nigeria, with hundreds of people losing their lives since the country's return to democracy in 1999. You may also be interested in: Blank questions, power cuts and a suicide: Nigeria's exams fiasco'I screamed': Nigerian Doctor Who fan thrilled show is coming to LagosNigerians fear savings lost as investment app freezes them out Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
'I no go contest for 2027, Tinubu go win'
Former govnor of Rivers State and di Minister of di Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike don confam say e no get plans to go against im oga, President Bola Tinubu for di seat of di presidency for 2027 as e confam say e no stop being a member of di opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In di build-up to di 2023 elections, Wike bin show interest, buy form to contest to become di PDP presidential candidate but e no win di party ticket. Former Nigeria Vice-President Atiku Abubakar win am and since den, Wike don dey very open, speaking against di party leadership and oda key members say dem dey wrong as dem decide to give dat ticket to di north. Since di defeat of di party for di 2023 election, di party don witness a lot of crisis, defections and in-fighting. For inside exclusive interview wit BBC Pidgin, Wike say di party no stand a chance for 2027 if dem no put dia house in order, even as e say e no get interest to run dis time around. "I no go contest again. I no fit contest against somebody wey I dey work wit. Who go win am except am? "You dey for opposition, opposition no dey show impunity, opposition no dey show arrogance, na ruling party dey do impunity and arrogance say we dey power. "Make I ask you, who dey PDP, Achike Udenwa, former govnor of Imo, e no get one Assembly member, e no get one National Assembly member, e no give im party 3% of di vote, e dey threaten, Saba Egu, former govnor Ebonyi, e no get one assembly member, e no get one national assembly member, you no produce govnor, e dey threaten, wetin you dey threaten, you dey empty. Wetin you dey threaten?" Wike tok as e comment about di crisis wey dey di PDP. E however insist say e no go defect from di party. "I no go fit do dat kain tin, I no be fear fear man, I be weak man? how I go build house, you go come come frustrate me, make I comot, who go comot, na you go comot, I no gree you spoil house wey I build, I go dey dia." 'I want peace but na Fubara hand e dey' On di ongoing crisis for Rivers state wey lead to di suspension of di Govnor, Siminalayi Fubara, Wike say, e dey out of im hands, e dey ready for peace but na di suspended govnor dey run di show. "Dat boy na my boy, my son how I go fight battle wit am? Di pipo wey I dey fight na pipo wey wan thief wetin dem no work. President call me say make we make peace, I say oga how you go tell me make I go make peace wen I no go go. If I no wan make peace, see wia e siddon here, I siddon, some govnors, one former govnor siddon. I tell am say, yam dey for your hand and di knife. Na you know how you want di peace. If you want beta peace, you take, if you want wayo peace, ok." Wike also counter allegations say e dey play dirty politics for im own selfish political interests. "Wetin you expect pesin wey hate you to tok? You want your enemies to praise you? If e praise you e never fail? Wetin I do for my own selfish interest? My interest be say you wan kick me out of politics I say I no go comot from politics, na my selfish interest? You wan take our sometin wey we don build for years, we say no, you fit carry your governance do, na selfish interest?. Wetin I do? Say I support Tinubu? I no tok am before say I go support Southerner? So wetin I dey do wey somebody go say e no know say na so I go do am. In any case, politics na wetin? No be interest? FCT IGR increase from 9 - 30 billion monthly Since e assume office as FCT minister, Wike don commission projects - rehabilitate roads, schools and invest in security. On di issue of generating funds to fund di projects, Wike say dem bin need to look inwards to generate more revenue. "I come here August 2023, dat time, wetin we dey get na between 8 and 9 billion every month, but I sidon wit my team, we say wetin 8, 9 billion go help us do, which job, our allocation from federal government na 1%. We come say we go block dis leakages for our revenue drive, we come dey serious, you fit dey hear say I revoke dis, I do dis and dat na to get our money back so we fit do di job we suppose do. As I dey speak wit you now, we dey hit 30 billion every month from 9 billion." Wike also address some pipo wey dey compare im work to dat of former FCT Minister, Nasir El Rufai "I no dey work make dem compare me to anybody, my own be say di President Bola Tinubu come say make I work wit am, I come see say e dey sincere for wetin e tok, e come give me every support wey pesin wey give you job, suppose give you, I come say true-true, dis man want make I support make I make sure say Abuja change. Na Nigerians dey judge, na dem dey see, I never live for Abuja before. I no dey come Abuja like dat. Dat time wey dem say El Rufai dey I be chairman of council, I no dey come Abuja, e go hard me to come dey tok about comparison but all I know be say dem say El Rufai try.
