Latest news with #Socialists'
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Socialist stuns TV host by dodging questions on Hamas
Victorian Socialists' Jordan Van Den Lamb explosively dodges questions on Hamas' atrocities on October 7. 'I think it is a cowardly move by Albanese to recognise the rubble he helped create, and while he recognises Palestine, still supplies and arms Israel to help bomb the Palestinians, I don't think that is going to help the Palestinian people whatsoever,' Mr Van Den Lamb told Sky News host Freya Leach. 'I don't think who runs the people being killed is the relevant question here."
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
Socialist wildly claims there is ‘no need' for the housing market
Victorian Socialists' Jordan Van Den Lamb joined Sky News host Freya Leach to analyse the great housing debate raging through the country. 'It's pretty clear your main concern is how people would make profit instead of, oh, it is a way to stop 10,000 people experiencing homelessness every month in Australia,' Mr Van Den Lamb told Sky News host Freya Leach. 'Yeah, we just do not need markets for human need … if a market is an efficient way of distributing something, then why do we have more than 100,000 empty properties in the Melbourne metropolitan area alone, while we have 30,000 approximately in the entire state of Victoria experiencing homelessness.'
The Star
18-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Explainer-French PM aims to soften opposition to his budget to avert new crisis
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou leaves following the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor PARIS (Reuters) -French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou has to convince opposition Socialist lawmakers in the coming months to tolerate his 44 billion euro budget squeeze or he faces the risk of being toppled. Bayrou is bringing his 2026 budget to a fractured parliament where hard-left and far-right parties threaten no-confidence motions against him unless he makes major revisions. If he can convince the Socialists at least to abstain from backing such motions, Bayrou's minority government could get the budget through, however, meaning he must rewrite the legislation enough for them to stomach it. Politicians will be heading off for the summer break, with parliament in recess until Sept. 22, effectively giving Bayrou two months to try to soften the Socialists' resistance to his plans. BAYROU'S PROPOSAL Bayrou aims to reduce France's budget deficit, the biggest in the euro zone, from 5.4% to the European Union's 3% GDP limit by 2029. His 43.8 billion euro ($51 billion) package freezes most non-defence spending and eliminates two public holidays. Nearly 21 billion euros comes from limiting social and local government spending growth, with no inflation adjustments for public sector wages or welfare benefits. Another 10 billion euros targets high earners through a "solidarity" tax, restricts pensioner tax breaks, and cracks down on fraud. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? While politicians debate the budget over their summer break, unions are considering strike action - the hard-line CGT is in favour while the moderate CFDT has not ruled it out. The September return from the summer recess promises to be particularly tense as parties stake out positions. Bayrou must finalise his budget bill by Oct. 1 when it is to be sent to lawmakers. Without a majority, he will likely at some point invoke article 49.3 of the constitution to adopt the budget without a vote, triggering inevitable no-confidence motions. His survival would depend on the Socialists' abstention. SOCIALIST DEMANDS Socialists demand a total budget revision, arguing that the spending freeze burdens average workers and pensioners while treating the wealthy with a light touch. They have criticised Bayrou's 4 billion euro tax increase on high earners as grossly insufficient. Bayrou has signalled a willingness to adapt, but he faces constraints from allies who think France's tax burden is already excessive. The Socialists are also against plans not to replace some retiring public workers and the scrapping of two public holidays. IF BAYROU FALLS Should Bayrou fail to placate the Socialists and fall, President Emmanuel Macron would have to find a new prime minister, as happened with Bayrou's conservative predecessor Michel Barnierin December. This would leave budget legislation in limbo during the formation of a new government, which could drag on in the absence of figures palatable to at least some parties. Alternatively, Macron could call snap legislative elections again, plunging France even deeper into political uncertainty. ($1 = 0.8592 euros) (Reporting by Leigh Thomas; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Straits Times
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Explainer-French PM aims to soften opposition to his budget to avert new crisis
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou leaves following the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor PARIS - French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou has to convince opposition Socialist lawmakers in the coming months to tolerate his 44 billion euro budget squeeze or he faces the risk of being toppled. Bayrou is bringing his 2026 budget to a fractured parliament where hard-left and far-right parties threaten no-confidence motions against him unless he makes major revisions. If he can convince the Socialists at least to abstain from backing such motions, Bayrou's minority government could get the budget through, however, meaning he must rewrite the legislation enough for them to stomach it. Politicians will be heading off for the summer break, with parliament in recess until Sept. 22, effectively giving Bayrou two months to try to soften the Socialists' resistance to his plans. BAYROU'S PROPOSAL Bayrou aims to reduce France's budget deficit, the biggest in the euro zone, from 5.4% to the European Union's 3% GDP limit by 2029. His 43.8 billion euro ($51 billion) package freezes most non-defence spending and eliminates two public holidays. Nearly 21 billion euros comes from limiting social and local government spending growth, with no inflation adjustments for public sector wages or welfare benefits. Another 10 billion euros targets high earners through a "solidarity" tax, restricts pensioner tax breaks, and cracks down on fraud. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Critical infrastructure in S'pore under attack by cyber espionage group: Shanmugam Singapore Who is UNC3886, the group that attacked S'pore's critical information infrastructure? Singapore HSA looking to get anti-vape cyber surveillance tool with AI capabilities Singapore Singapore police in contact with Indonesian authorities over baby trafficking allegations Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Singapore NTU upholds zero grade for student accused of using AI in essay; panel found 14 false citations or data Singapore 30% of aviation jobs could be redesigned due to AI, automation; $200m fund to support workers: CAAS Singapore Former NUH male nurse faces charges after he allegedly molested man at hospital While politicians debate the budget over their summer break, unions are considering strike action - the hard-line CGT is in favour while the moderate CFDT has not ruled it out. The September return from the summer recess promises to be particularly tense as parties stake out positions. Bayrou must finalise his budget bill by Oct. 1 when it is to be sent to lawmakers. Without a majority, he will likely at some point invoke article 49.3 of the constitution to adopt the budget without a vote, triggering inevitable no-confidence motions. His survival would depend on the Socialists' abstention. SOCIALIST DEMANDS Socialists demand a total budget revision, arguing that the spending freeze burdens average workers and pensioners while treating the wealthy with a light touch. They have criticised Bayrou's 4 billion euro tax increase on high earners as grossly insufficient. Bayrou has signalled a willingness to adapt, but he faces constraints from allies who think France's tax burden is already excessive. The Socialists are also against plans not to replace some retiring public workers and the scrapping of two public holidays. IF BAYROU FALLS Should Bayrou fail to placate the Socialists and fall, President Emmanuel Macron would have to find a new prime minister, as happened with Bayrou's conservative predecessor Michel Barnier in December. This would leave budget legislation in limbo during the formation of a new government, which could drag on in the absence of figures palatable to at least some parties. Alternatively, Macron could call snap legislative elections again, plunging France even deeper into political uncertainty. REUTERS
Local Spain
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Local Spain
Spain's PM rules out elections and dares opposition to file confidence motion
The case against a top Socialist official increases legal and political pressure on Sánchez, one of Europe's longest-serving leftist leaders whose inner circle faces several ongoing investigations. The main opposition Popular Party (PP) and far-right Vox have demanded that Sanchez resign after a judicial report published last week suspected Socialist heavyweight Santos Cerdán of accepting kickbacks in the alleged improper awarding of public contracts. After an hours-long crisis meeting with top Socialist officials at party headquarters in Madrid, Sánchez ruled out calling early elections and hit back at the two opposition parties, who do not command a parliamentary majority. "They should present a no-confidence motion and tell parliament and the citizens what model of country they want for Spain," Sánchez said. The report also implicated José Luis Ábalos, a former transport minister and once a member of Sanchez's inner circle, and his ex-adviser Koldo García. Cerdán, the Socialists' third-highest ranked figure, resigned as its organisation secretary last week. On Monday, he relinquished his position as MP and the party definitively expelled Ábalos, who sits in parliament as an independent. Defending the Socialists' response to the case, Sánchez said his party was "clean" and would not "cover up the corruption that emerges in our ranks, however painful it may be". Sánchez again ruled out quitting or holding early elections, saying that he would conduct discussions this week with the far-left and Basque and Catalan separatist parties who backed his government. The PP reiterated its demand for Sánchez's resignation and early elections, with party spokesman Borja Semper telling reporters that "the only possible, dignified future is giving the Spanish people their say". As well as the Cerdán affair, legal investigations are ongoing against Sánchez's wife, brother and the country's Socialist-appointed top prosecutor.
