Latest news with #Danko
Hamilton Spectator
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Is Hamilton heading back to the polls? Councillors talk byelection to fill Danko's seat
Hamilton councillors say they want a byelection, or are 'leaning toward' one, to replace outgoing colleague John-Paul Danko after his federal election win. That's better than appointing someone with the October 2026 municipal election more than a year away, councillors suggested Tuesday. 'It's the more democratic way to go,' Coun. Cameron Kroetsch said of temporarily filling the central-west Mountain seat. The Ward 8 council representative should be 'publicly elected' rather than chosen through an interview-appointment process, Kroetsch said. A byelection is the 'democratic' thing to do, Coun. Ted McMeekin also said, noting there's 'lots of time' to organize a ward-specific contest. Danko, who took an unpaid leave to run federally, cruised to victory Monday in Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, keeping the riding for the Liberals. Reached Tuesday, the second-term councillor said he still has 'a few loose ends' to tie up before he resigns and is sworn in as MP. 'Whether that's me doing that personally at next week's council meeting or one of my colleagues, I'm not sure yet.' The city's clerk's office didn't immediately respond to The Spectator's questions about filling the Ward 8 seat. The last time an in-term council vacancy arose was in 2021, when Ward 5's Chad Collins won Hamilton East—Stoney Creek for the federal Liberals. The past council opted to temporarily fill the vacancy through appointment rather than a byelection, selecting former Dundas councillor Russ Powers with just under a year to go in the term. In that process, hopefuls made five-minute pitches to council about why they were best suited to temporarily represent Ward 5. That selection exercise was estimated to cost $10,000, while a byelection was pegged at $190,000. Hamilton has done both over the years. In 2018, former alderman Terry Anderson was appointed for Ward 7 after Donna Skelly won Flamborough-Glanbrook for the provincial Tories. But Skelly had won her ward seat in a 2016 byelection with a 22-candidate field after Scott Duvall won the Mountain for the federal NDP. In 2014, former mayor Bob Morrow was appointed to fill in after the death of Ward 3 Coun. Bernie Morelli. With the dust still settling on Danko's win, some councillors said they hadn't yet decided the best way to choose a Ward 8 fill-in. Coun. Jeff Beattie said he's 'open-minded' to options but suggested an appointment would more likely result in a 'caretaker' as opposed to someone who has a long-term city vision in mind. 'I'm not sure that serves the community very well.' Likewise, Coun. Craig Cassar said 'democracy needs to happen' via a byelection, but added he's willing to listen to all the factors involved. Coun. Matt Francis said he's leaning toward a byelection, calling it the 'best opportunity' to select someone to represent constituents in a proper fashion. Ward residents, not city politicians, should choose their ward representatives, Coun. Alex Wilson said. 'I certainly know that Hamiltonians expect to be engaged and … that's what I'm going to continue to put forward.'
Russia Today
09-03-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Party in EU state criticizes Russia sanctions
The Slovak National Party (SNS), a member of the ruling coalition, has announced plans to introduce a parliamentary resolution rejecting further sanctions against Russia, arguing the restrictions are negatively affecting Slovakia's own economy. The party, which holds 10 out of the 150 seats in the national parliament, stated that the sanctions against Russia were negatively impacting the standard of living in Slovakia. 'Sanctions take more from us than they give,' party leader Andrej Danko has said, as cited by the local media. 'The result is rising energy prices, loss of competitiveness of our businesses, and deepening economic uncertainty.' The SNS called the restrictions ineffective, adding that the new EU sanctions package introduced in February is already pushing the prices of gas and aluminum higher. 'It is unacceptable that Slovak households and businesses bear the economic consequences of decisions that were taken without a thorough assessment of their impact on the national economy,' Danko said. 'We cannot stand idly by while someone makes decisions for us, while weakening us economically,' he added. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has repeatedly voiced skepticism over Western support for Ukraine, declaring that Bratislava wouldn't provide military or financial assistance to Kiev and advocating for an immediate ceasefire. Fico has also criticized Kiev's Western backers for pursuing 'peace through force,' arguing that 'Ukraine will never be strong enough to negotiate from a position of military power.' Tensions between Slovakia and Ukraine were exacerbated after Kiev declined to renew a gas transit agreement with Moscow that expired at the beginning of this year. The move significantly affected Slovakia, which remains highly dependent on Russian energy.
Russia Today
25-02-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
EU state should demand money back from Ukraine
Slovakia has a right to seek repayment for the aid it has provided to Ukraine if Western nations like the US, Germany, and France take similar steps, a top Slovak MP has stated. Andrej Danko, chairman of the Slovak National Party and a key figure in the ruling coalition, opined in a Facebook video on Monday that Bratislava has the right to demand repayment of its €3.5 billion ($3.8 billion) contribution. Reflecting on reports that Washington is negotiating a deal in which Ukraine could hand over 50% of its critical minerals as compensation for US aid, Danko questioned what the EU would receive in return for its assistance. The proposed agreement, reportedly granting the US extensive rights to Ukraine's natural resources, seeks to offset what Washington claims is $500 billion in military and economic aid to Kiev. 'And I will ask about Slovakia,' Danko stated. 'How will Slovakia return the €3.5 billion we sent there?' he questioned, stressing that the sum represents a significant amount of money for the EU nation. 'And I want to say that if the Germans, the French and Americans ask for their money back, Slovakia cannot remain silent,' the politician stated. On Monday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kiev to mark the three-year anniversary of the Ukraine conflict, unveiling a €3.5 billion package of EU financial assistance to inject additional liquidity into the nation's strained budget. The sum is an advance payment from the EU's larger €50-billion ($54 billion) assistance fund set up in early 2024. Separately, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Monday expressed optimism that the bloc's leaders would quickly approve new military funding for Kiev. Her proposal to extend arms deliveries into 2025 has faced resistance from some member states. Italy, Portugal, and Spain have openly opposed the plan, while France and Germany remain undecided, according to Politico. The proposed package, worth €10 billion, is set for discussion at the March 6 EU summit and includes weapons, ammunition, air defense systems, and expanded military training for Ukrainian forces. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has previously criticized the EU's approach, arguing that Brussels has effectively 'banned' the word 'peace' from discussions about Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly warned against Western arms shipments to Ukraine, arguing that they only prolong the conflict without altering the outcome, while increasing the risk of a direct Russia-NATO clash. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko has suggested that the EU could contribute to resolving the crisis by halting military and logistical support.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Slovakian MP outraged Zelenskyy and not Russia was invited to commemoration of Auschwitz liberation
Andrej Danko, Deputy Speaker of the Slovak Parliament, who recently paid a visit to Moscow, has complained that Russia was not invited to the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Source: Danko on Telegram, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Slovak deputy speaker is offended that "Germans and Bandera supporter Zelenskyy were sitting in the front row during the celebrations," and Russia was not even invited [Stepan Bandera was a Ukrainian nationalist leader and a key figure in the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) known for his efforts to achieve Ukrainian independence, particularly during World War II. He is viewed as a hero by Ukrainians for his fight against Soviet and Polish domination, while Russian propaganda dubs him a Nazi and uses this image to justify the invasion of Ukraine – ed.]. "This is the time we live in, dear friends. Yesterday, at the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp, Germans and Bandera fan Zelenskyy sat in the front row, while Russians were not invited. History is distorted, they say one thing and do another," Danko wrote. Prior to the celebrations marking the anniversary of the liberation of the extermination camp, Russian Ambassador to Poland Sergei Andreev said that Russian diplomats would not participate in them. Background: Danko recently spent several days in Russia. Announcing the trip to Russia, Danko said that he would "consider it an honour" to have the opportunity to make a speech at the State Duma of the Russian Federation [the lower chamber of the Russian parliament – ed.]. Support UP or become our patron!
