Latest news with #coalition
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Muhyiddin seeks united Opposition front in Perikatan meeting with eight parties including Pejuang, PSM, Muda — but PAS absent
KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 — Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday said he held a meeting with leaders of several opposition parties to discuss forming a coalition focused on national interests. On Facebook, Muhyiddin said the proposed coalition aims to provide a united opposition front and reinforce the check and balance function in and out of Parliament. 'All those in attendance gave very positive feedback on the proposal,' said Muhyiddin posted. 'God willing, I will present the views raised during this meeting at the upcoming Perikatan Nasional Supreme Council Meeting.' Among those present were Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, and other PN components — Datuk Dominic Lau Hoe Chai from Gerakan, and Malaysian Indian People's Party president Punithan Paramsiven. Leaders from Islamist party PAS, also a PN component, were notably absent. Also attending were Parti Pejuang Tanahair president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) deputy chair S Arutchelvan, and Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) acting president Amira Aisya. Others included Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) president Datuk Ibrahim Ali, and People's Progressive Party youth chief Sathiah Sudakaran. Berjasa president Zamani Ibrahim, United for the Rights of Malaysians Party (Urimai) president P Ramasamy, and Malaysian Advancement Party president P Waytha Moorthy also took part. Pejuang, Putra and Berjasa were formerly in the Gerakan Tanah Air coalition, which failed to make inroads in the 15th general election.
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
German chancellor Merz says his government has a ‘stable foundation' despite a dispute
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Friday that his coalition has a stable foundation and has achieved a lot in its first 10 weeks but acknowledged that occasional setbacks are a risk in government as his administration struggles with its first major dispute. Merz took office on May 6 leading a coalition of his conservative Union bloc with the center-left Social Democrats that has a relatively thin parliamentary majority. He vowed to strengthen Europe's biggest economy after years of stagnation, enable Germany to build Europe's strongest conventional army and keep the US on board with aid to Ukraine. The government has launched a program to encourage investment, set in motion plans to raise defense spending and implemented a tougher approach to migration. Merz has taken a prominent role in diplomacy on Ukraine and other issues. Merz said at the German leaders' annual summer news conference that he is 'very satisfied with what we have achieved in the first 10 weeks.' Merz set out to avoid the infighting that plagued ex-Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-party coalition which collapsed in November. However, the new government's record has been overshadowed over the past week by parliament's failure to elect three new justices for Germany's highest court. Nominations have in the past mostly been approved uneventfully. But planned votes last Friday were scrapped at the last minute after some lawmakers in Merz's bloc balked at a candidate put forward by the Social Democrats. Opponents of the nominee, law professor Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, have cited her perceived liberal views on issues such as abortion. Leading Social Democrats have been irked by the conservatives' failure to follow through on an agreement on the new justices and have stood by their candidate. Merz has downplayed the argument and insisted Friday that there is no time pressure to rush to a solution. And he rejected a suggestion that his coalition is on wobbly ground with the court nominee flap following its bumpy start when lawmakers needed an unprecedented two rounds of voting to elect Merz as chancellor in May. 'This government stands on a stable foundation, on a stable majority in the German parliament,' Merz said. 'But you see from these two votes that we are living in very uncertain times, also regarding supposed certainties in the German parliament.' He said that 'we know what job we have and high points and successes are part of that, as well as occasional setbacks.' Recent polls have suggested that Merz's coalition has work to do to convince voters. Ratings for the Union and Social Democrats haven't picked up from their lackluster showing in Germany's February election. Surveys show the far-right anti-immigration Alternative for Germany solidifying its strong second place.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
German leader Merz says his government has a 'stable foundation' despite a dispute
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Friday that his coalition has a 'stable foundation' and has achieved a lot in its first 10 weeks, but acknowledged that 'occasional setbacks' are a risk in government as his administration struggles with its first major dispute. Merz took office on May 6, leading a coalition of his conservative Union bloc with the center-left Social Democrats that has a relatively thin parliamentary majority. He vowed to strengthen Europe's biggest economy after years of stagnation, enable Germany to build Europe's strongest conventional army and keep the U.S. on board with aid to Ukraine. The government has launched a program to encourage investment, set in motion plans to raise defense spending and implemented a tougher approach to migration. Merz has taken a prominent role in diplomacy on Ukraine and other issues. Merz said at the German leader's annual summer news conference that he is 'very satisfied with what we have achieved in the first 10 weeks.' Merz set out to avoid the infighting that plagued ex-Chancellor Olaf Scholz 's three-party coalition, which collapsed in November. However, the new government's record has been overshadowed over the past week by parliament's failure to elect three new justices for Germany's highest court. Nominations have in the past mostly been approved uneventfully. But planned votes last Friday were scrapped at the last minute after some lawmakers in Merz's bloc balked at a candidate put forward by the Social Democrats. Opponents of the nominee, law professor Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, have cited her perceived liberal views on issues such as abortion. Leading Social Democrats have been irked by the conservatives' failure to follow through on an agreement on the new justices and have stood by their candidate. Merz has downplayed the argument and insisted Friday that 'there is no time pressure" to rush to a solution. And he rejected a suggestion that his coalition is on wobbly ground, with the court nominee flap following its bumpy start when lawmakers needed an unprecedented two rounds of voting to elect Merz as chancellor in May. 'This government stands on a stable foundation, on a stable majority in the German parliament,' Merz said. 'But you see from these two votes that we are living in very uncertain times, also regarding supposed certainties in the German parliament.' He said that 'we know what job we have, and high points and successes are part of that as well as occasional setbacks.' Recent polls have suggested that Merz's coalition has work to do to convince voters. Ratings for the Union and Social Democrats haven't picked up from their lackluster showing in Germany's February election. Surveys show the far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany solidifying its strong second place.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
German leader Merz says his government has a 'stable foundation' despite a dispute
BERLIN — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Friday that his coalition has a 'stable foundation' and has achieved a lot in its first 10 weeks, but acknowledged that 'occasional setbacks' are a risk in government as his administration struggles with its first major dispute. Merz took office on May 6, leading a coalition of his conservative Union bloc with the center-left Social Democrats that has a relatively thin parliamentary majority. He vowed to strengthen Europe's biggest economy after years of stagnation, enable Germany to build Europe's strongest conventional army and keep the U.S. on board with aid to Ukraine. The government has launched a program to encourage investment , set in motion plans to raise defense spending and implemented a tougher approach to migration . Merz has taken a prominent role in diplomacy on Ukraine and other issues. Merz said at the German leader's annual summer news conference that he is 'very satisfied with what we have achieved in the first 10 weeks.' Merz set out to avoid the infighting that plagued ex-Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-party coalition, which collapsed in November . However, the new government's record has been overshadowed over the past week by parliament's failure to elect three new justices for Germany's highest court . Nominations have in the past mostly been approved uneventfully. But planned votes last Friday were scrapped at the last minute after some lawmakers in Merz's bloc balked at a candidate put forward by the Social Democrats. Opponents of the nominee, law professor Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, have cited her perceived liberal views on issues such as abortion. Leading Social Democrats have been irked by the conservatives' failure to follow through on an agreement on the new justices and have stood by their candidate. Merz has downplayed the argument and insisted Friday that 'there is no time pressure' to rush to a solution. And he rejected a suggestion that his coalition is on wobbly ground, with the court nominee flap following its bumpy start when lawmakers needed an unprecedented two rounds of voting to elect Merz as chancellor in May. 'This government stands on a stable foundation, on a stable majority in the German parliament,' Merz said. 'But you see from these two votes that we are living in very uncertain times, also regarding supposed certainties in the German parliament.' He said that 'we know what job we have, and high points and successes are part of that as well as occasional setbacks.' Recent polls have suggested that Merz's coalition has work to do to convince voters. Ratings for the Union and Social Democrats haven't picked up from their lackluster showing in Germany's February election . Surveys show the far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany solidifying its strong second place.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
German leader Merz says his government has a 'stable foundation' despite a dispute
BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Friday that his coalition has a 'stable foundation' and has achieved a lot in its first 10 weeks, but acknowledged that 'occasional setbacks' are a risk in government as his administration struggles with its first major dispute. Merz took office on May 6, leading a coalition of his conservative Union bloc with the center-left Social Democrats that has a relatively thin parliamentary majority. He vowed to strengthen Europe's biggest economy after years of stagnation, enable Germany to build Europe's strongest conventional army and keep the U.S. on board with aid to Ukraine. The government has launched a program to encourage investment, set in motion plans to raise defense spending and implemented a tougher approach to migration. Merz has taken a prominent role in diplomacy on Ukraine and other issues. Merz said at the German leader's annual summer news conference that he is 'very satisfied with what we have achieved in the first 10 weeks.' Merz set out to avoid the infighting that plagued ex-Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-party coalition, which collapsed in November. However, the new government's record has been overshadowed over the past week by parliament's failure to elect three new justices for Germany's highest court. Nominations have in the past mostly been approved uneventfully. But planned votes last Friday were scrapped at the last minute after some lawmakers in Merz's bloc balked at a candidate put forward by the Social Democrats. Opponents of the nominee, law professor Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, have cited her perceived liberal views on issues such as abortion. Leading Social Democrats have been irked by the conservatives' failure to follow through on an agreement on the new justices and have stood by their candidate. Merz has downplayed the argument and insisted Friday that 'there is no time pressure' to rush to a solution. And he rejected a suggestion that his coalition is on wobbly ground, with the court nominee flap following its bumpy start when lawmakers needed an unprecedented two rounds of voting to elect Merz as chancellor in May. 'This government stands on a stable foundation, on a stable majority in the German parliament,' Merz said. 'But you see from these two votes that we are living in very uncertain times, also regarding supposed certainties in the German parliament.' He said that 'we know what job we have, and high points and successes are part of that as well as occasional setbacks.' Recent polls have suggested that Merz's coalition has work to do to convince voters. Ratings for the Union and Social Democrats haven't picked up from their lackluster showing in Germany's February election. Surveys show the far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany solidifying its strong second place.
