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Czech distrust in EU runs high ahead of October vote
Czech distrust in EU runs high ahead of October vote

Euractiv

time3 days ago

  • Politics
  • Euractiv

Czech distrust in EU runs high ahead of October vote

PRAGUE – A large share of Czechs believe the EU may interfere in the country's parliamentary elections in October, despite government reassurances that such fears are 'groundless.' A new survey by the Central European Digital Media Observatory (CEDMO) found that 41% of Czechs believe the EU is likely to interfere in the vote, just behind the 42% who suspect Russia. The findings echo persistent Euroscepticism in the country, with only 29% of Czechs viewing the EU positively – well below the bloc-wide average of 43% – while 27% hold negative views and 44% are neutral, according to a spring Eurobarometer survey. CEDMO's findings suggest said the perception of EU interference reflects longstanding mistrust rather than any recent developments. 'Respondents who view EU interference as likely predominantly supported Eurosceptic parties in previous elections,' he said. European Affairs Minister Martin Dvořák dismissed the claims of EU interference as 'groundless' and driven by 'enemies of democracy.' 'The EU has neither the interest nor the instruments to influence elections in its member states,' he told Euractiv Czechia. Still, disinformation narratives continue to spread on Facebook and encrypted platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, often driven by domestic political actors, according to Cuker. False narratives include claims that the EU plans to introduce a mandatory asset registry or could invalidate the national election results. A previous CEDMO study found that a quarter of Czechs believed the latter claim. Government steps To address these mounting concerns, the interior ministry has launched a cybersecurity task force to monitor the election process. The unit will monitor system logs, test defences against DDoS attacks, and prepare technical and organisational countermeasures. Ministry spokesperson Hana Malá warned that disinformation tactics seen in Romania and Germany, such as the reactivation of 'sleeper' accounts, bot-driven content amplification, and micro-influencer messaging, may also appear in Czechia. 'It can be assumed that similar patterns of influence may be present in the Czech information space,' Malá told Euractiv Czechia. The ministry will also soon launch a voter awareness campaign to explain voting safeguards and new procedures, including digital ID and postal voting. Neighbouring countries have recently shown similar suspicion towards Brussels. In Slovakia, 46% of the CEDMO survey respondents said the EU posed the greatest risk of election interference, ahead of the US (39%) and Russia (38%). In Poland, 47% still view Russia as the biggest threat, but 39% believe the EU is also likely to interfere, more than those who suspect the US (35%). (cs, de)

UK's Starmer suspends several Labour rebels
UK's Starmer suspends several Labour rebels

Eyewitness News

time4 days ago

  • Politics
  • Eyewitness News

UK's Starmer suspends several Labour rebels

LONDON - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer purged his ruling Labour party of four lawmakers on Wednesday as tries to reassert his authority following a rebellion over welfare reforms. Starmer was forced to backtrack on plans to slash disability and sickness benefits earlier this month after dozens of his own MPs threatened to vote against the proposals. Brian Leishman, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Rachael Maskell, and Chris Hinchliff were suspended, weeks after voting against a watered-down version of the controversial reforms on 1 July. Another three Labour MPs were stripped Wednesday of their roles as trade envoys over the rebellion, which spotlighted the tensions between the party's left and its more centrist leader. Starmer had made his authority-sapping climbdown to avoid a humiliating defeat in parliament, even though he should be able to force through any legislation he wants to as he still holds a massive majority of about 160 seats. Scottish MP Leishman, who will now sit as an independent, said in a statement he believed that "it is not my duty as an MP to make people poorer". Duncan-Jordan, the representative for Poole in southern England, said he understood that voting against the government "could come at a cost, but I couldn't support making disabled people poorer". Starmer has endured a difficult first year in power and has made several damaging U-turns in recent weeks. Political scientist Steven Fielding said the mini purge was a bid by Starmer to reinforce party discipline. "He wants to send a signal to all the others that rebelled over the welfare bill and have rebelled on other things that, 'Okay, you've got away with this one, but if you keep going, this is going to be your fate'," Fielding told AFP. But the University of Nottingham politics professor added it was a risky strategy considering the large numbers of lawmakers who had opposed the welfare reforms. "I think he's going about it in the wrong way. He needs to talk (to) and understand why the MPs are doing this," Fielding told AFP. Spokespeople for Labour declined to comment. NEW PARTY? Starmer's popularity has plummeted since he won a landslide general election result in July last year, ending 14 consecutive years of Conservative rule. Labour now trails Eurosceptic Nigel Farage's hard-right Reform UK party in many national polls, although the next election is likely four years away. In June, the government reversed a policy to scrap a winter heating benefit for millions of pensioners, following widespread criticism and another rebellion from its own MPs. The same month, Starmer - a former chief state prosecutor in England and Wales - announced a national inquiry focused on a UK child sex exploitation scandal after previously resisting calls. But some in the party complain of a disconnect between Starmer's leadership, which is focused on combatting the rise of Reform, and Labour's traditional centre-left principles. Maskell urged Starmer to engage with his backbenchers, saying she wanted to see "bridges built" and this would "make him a better prime minister". But as Labour loses votes to the right, it is also giving up supporters to the Greens on the left, surveys have shown, highlighting the tricky balancing act Starmer faces. Earlier this month, MP Zarah Sultana resigned her Labour membership and announced she would be founding a new party with Labour's former left-wing leader Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn tempered expectations a little by stressing instead that "discussions are ongoing".

UK's Starmer suspends several Labour rebels
UK's Starmer suspends several Labour rebels

eNCA

time4 days ago

  • Politics
  • eNCA

UK's Starmer suspends several Labour rebels

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer suspended several lawmakers on Wednesday as he tried to reassert his authority over his ruling Labour party following a rebellion over welfare reforms. Starmer was forced to backtrack on plans to slash disability and sickness benefits earlier this month after dozens of his own MPs threatened to vote against the proposals. MPs Brian Leishman, Neil Duncan-Jordan, and Rachael Maskell said they had been suspended while the Times newspaper reported that Chris Hinchliff had suffered the same fate. All four voted against the welfare reforms on July 1 after Starmer made his authority-sapping climbdown to avoid a humiliating defeat in parliament. Leishman's office confirmed to AFP that the Scottish MP had been temporarily suspended from the party. Duncan-Jordan, the representative for Poole in southern England, said he understood that voting against the government "could come at a cost, but I couldn't support making disabled people poorer". Starmer has endured a difficult first year in power and has made several damaging U-turns in recent weeks. Political scientist Steven Fielding said the purge was a bid by Starmer to reinforce party discipline. "He wants to send a signal to all the others that rebelled over the welfare bill and have rebelled on other things that, 'Okay, you've got away with this one, but if you keep going, this is going to be your fate,'" Fielding told AFP. But the University of Nottingham politics professor added it was a risky strategy considering the large numbers of lawmakers who had opposed the welfare reforms. "I think he's going about it in the wrong way. He needs to talk (to) and understand why the MPs are doing this," Fielding told AFP. Labour did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Starmer's popularity has plummeted since he won a landslide general election result in July last year, ending 14 consecutive years of Conservative rule. Labour now trails Eurosceptic Nigel Farage's hard-right Reform UK party in many national polls, although the next election is likely four years away. In June, the government reversed a policy to scrap a winter heating benefit for millions of pensioners, following widespread criticism and another rebellion from its own MPs. The same month, Starmer -- a former chief state prosecutor in England and Wales -- announced a national inquiry focused on a UK child sex exploitation scandal after previously resisting calls. The prime minister has a massive majority of about 160 MPs, meaning he should be able to force whatever legislation he wants through parliament. But some in the party complain of a disconnect between Starmer's leadership, which is focused on combatting the rise of Reform, and Labour's traditional centre-left principles. Confirming she had been suspended, Maskell urged Starmer to engage with his backbenchers, saying she wanted to see "bridges built" and this would "make him a better prime minister".

UK's Starmer expels four Labour lawmakers after welfare reforms rebellion
UK's Starmer expels four Labour lawmakers after welfare reforms rebellion

Express Tribune

time4 days ago

  • Politics
  • Express Tribune

UK's Starmer expels four Labour lawmakers after welfare reforms rebellion

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer purged his ruling Labour party of four lawmakers on Wednesday as tries to reassert his authority following a rebellion over welfare reforms. Starmer was forced to backtrack on plans to slash disability and sickness benefits earlier this month after dozens of his own MPs threatened to vote against the proposals. Brian Leishman, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Rachael Maskell, and Chris Hinchliff were suspended, weeks after voting against a watered-down version of the controversial reforms on July 1. Another three Labour MPs were stripped Wednesday of their roles as trade envoys over the rebellion, which spotlighted the tensions between the party's left and its more centrist leader. Starmer had made his authority-sapping climbdown to avoid a humiliating defeat in parliament, even though he should be able to force through any legislation he wants to as he still holds a massive majority of about 160 seats. Scottish MP Leishman, who will now sit as an independent, said in a statement he believed that "it is not my duty as an MP to make people poorer". Duncan-Jordan, the representative for Poole in southern England, said he understood that voting against the government "could come at a cost, but I couldn't support making disabled people poorer". Starmer has endured a difficult first year in power and has made several damaging U-turns in recent weeks. Political scientist Steven Fielding said the mini purge was a bid by Starmer to reinforce party discipline. "He wants to send a signal to all the others that rebelled over the welfare bill and have rebelled on other things that, 'Okay, you've got away with this one, but if you keep going, this is going to be your fate'," Fielding told AFP. But the University of Nottingham politics professor added it was a risky strategy considering the large numbers of lawmakers who had opposed the welfare reforms. "I think he's going about it in the wrong way. He needs to talk (to) and understand why the MPs are doing this," Fielding told AFP. Spokespeople for Labour declined to comment. Starmer's popularity has plummeted since he won a landslide general election result in July last year, ending 14 consecutive years of Conservative rule. Labour now trails Eurosceptic Nigel Farage's hard-right Reform UK party in many national polls, although the next election is likely four years away. In June, the government reversed a policy to scrap a winter heating benefit for millions of pensioners, following widespread criticism and another rebellion from its own MPs. The same month, Starmer -- a former chief state prosecutor in England and Wales -- announced a national inquiry focused on a UK child sex exploitation scandal after previously resisting calls. But some in the party complain of a disconnect between Starmer's leadership, which is focused on combatting the rise of Reform, and Labour's traditional centre-left principles. Maskell urged Starmer to engage with his backbenchers, saying she wanted to see "bridges built" and this would "make him a better prime minister". But as Labour loses votes to the right, it is also giving up supporters to the Greens on the left, surveys have shown, highlighting the tricky balancing act Starmer faces. Earlier this month, MP Zarah Sultana resigned her Labour membership and announced she would be founding a new party with Labour's former left-wing leader Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn tempered expectations a little by stressing instead that "discussions are ongoing".

UK's Starmer Suspends Several Labour Rebels
UK's Starmer Suspends Several Labour Rebels

Int'l Business Times

time4 days ago

  • Politics
  • Int'l Business Times

UK's Starmer Suspends Several Labour Rebels

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer suspended several lawmakers on Wednesday as he tried to reassert his authority over his ruling Labour party following a rebellion over welfare reforms. Starmer was forced to backtrack on plans to slash disability and sickness benefits earlier this month after dozens of his own MPs threatened to vote against the proposals. MPs Brian Leishman, Neil Duncan-Jordan, and Rachael Maskell said they had been suspended while the Times newspaper reported that Chris Hinchliff had suffered the same fate. All four voted against the welfare reforms on July 1 after Starmer made his authority-sapping climbdown to avoid a humiliating defeat in parliament. Leishman's office confirmed to AFP that the Scottish MP had been temporarily suspended from the party. Duncan-Jordan, the representative for Poole in southern England, said he understood that voting against the government "could come at a cost, but I couldn't support making disabled people poorer". Starmer has endured a difficult first year in power and has made several damaging U-turns in recent weeks. Political scientist Steven Fielding said the purge was a bid by Starmer to reinforce party discipline. "He wants to send a signal to all the others that rebelled over the welfare bill and have rebelled on other things that, 'Okay, you've got away with this one, but if you keep going, this is going to be your fate,'" Fielding told AFP. But the University of Nottingham politics professor added it was a risky strategy considering the large numbers of lawmakers who had opposed the welfare reforms. "I think he's going about it in the wrong way. He needs to talk (to) and understand why the MPs are doing this," Fielding told AFP. Labour did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Starmer's popularity has plummeted since he won a landslide general election result in July last year, ending 14 consecutive years of Conservative rule. Labour now trails Eurosceptic Nigel Farage's hard-right Reform UK party in many national polls, although the next election is likely four years away. In June, the government reversed a policy to scrap a winter heating benefit for millions of pensioners, following widespread criticism and another rebellion from its own MPs. The same month, Starmer -- a former chief state prosecutor in England and Wales -- announced a national inquiry focused on a UK child sex exploitation scandal after previously resisting calls. The prime minister has a massive majority of about 160 MPs, meaning he should be able to force whatever legislation he wants through parliament. But some in the party complain of a disconnect between Starmer's leadership, which is focused on combatting the rise of Reform, and Labour's traditional centre-left principles. Confirming she had been suspended, Maskell urged Starmer to engage with his backbenchers, saying she wanted to see "bridges built" and this would "make him a better prime minister".

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