#53: SPAIN'S SOCIALIST PM CALLS SNAP ELECTION AFTER STUNNING RIGHT-WING SWEEP
Marion Maréchal raises awareness about crisis of elderly rapes in France + French minister threatens total Twitter ban + EU plotting to prevent Hungary's European Council presidency + MORE!
SPAIN’S SOCIALIST PM CALLS SNAP ELECTION AFTER STUNNING RIGHT-WING VICTORY
After a slate of right-wing parties secured a stunning victory in Spain’s local and regional elections, socialist prime minister Pedro Sánchez has called for a snap national election, hoping to cement his position as head of state.
“I’ve taken this decision in view of yesterday’s election results,” said Sánchez.
“The first consequence of the results is that magnificent socialist regional presidents and mayors who have governed impeccably have lost despite the fact that many of them increased their support yesterday. The second consequence is that many, many institutions will be administered by new majorities comprising the People’s party and Vox.”
Over the weekend right-wing parties in Spain have achieved a remarkable victory in the local and regional elections held on 28 May 2023, dealing a severe blow to the left-wing coalition government led by Sánchez.
Sánchez has been seen by many as overseeing unpopular criminal law reforms as well as imposing a woke green agenda onto the country.
The conservative Popular Party (PP) was the main winner of the vote, gaining control of six regions and several major cities, including Madrid, Valencia and Seville. The PP also benefited from the collapse of the centrist Ciudadanos party, which lost most of its seats and influence.
\Vox, which emerged as a political force in 2018, consolidated its position as the third-largest party in Spain, more than doubling its share of local councillors and becoming a key ally for the PP in some regions where it lacked an absolute majority.
Left-wing parties suffered a major setback in these elections, losing ground in almost all regions and cities where they had governed, either alone or in coalition – many commentators have blamed this on the Sánchez’ government’s sharp leftward swing.
MARION MARÉCHAL DENOUNCES “HIDDEN SCANDAL” OF ELDERLY RAPES IN FRANCE
French conservative firebrand Marion Maréchal took to social media on Monday to denounce the silence over the “little'-known” tragedy of rapes against elderly women committed by illegal immigrants.
In a video posted on her Twitter account, Marechal claimed that there is a "deafening silence" from the media and the authorities about this issue, which she said affects thousands of vulnerable women every year.
Marechal called for more protection and support for the elderly women who suffer from this violence, and for more severe punishments for the perpetrators. She also urged the French people to wake up and to defend their values in the face of attacks.
She concluded by saying that she will not remain silent about this "hidden scandal" and that she will continue to fight for the dignity and the security of all French women.
Maréchal, who is the niece of National Rally leader Marine Le Pen, has served as a leader of the opposition in regional council.
FRENCH MINISTER THREATENS TOTAL TWITTER BAN IF ELON MUSK DOESN’T COMPLY WITH EU RULES
Twitter could be banned from the European Union if it does not comply with the bloc's rules on tackling online disinformation, according to France's digital minister Jean-Noël Barrot.
He made the remarks on Monday on France Info radio, following Twitter's decision to withdraw from the EU's voluntary code of practice against disinformation.
“Twitter plays an important role in public debate, but we cannot take the risk that a social network such as Twitter will be taken hostage by the proponents of disinformation and, therefore, our public debate, our democracy be affected," said Barrot.
“Twitter, if it repeatedly doesn't follow our rules, will be banned from the EU.”
The code of practice, which was adopted in 2018, sets out obligations for large digital platforms on tracking political advertising, clamping down on disinformation, and encouraging wider access and participation.
An incoming Digital Services Act (DSA) will cement some of these practices as law.
The DSA, which goes into effect throughout the EU at the end of August, foresees fines worth up to 6 percent of a company's annual revenue for rule-breakers.
Musk has argued that such rules infringe on freedom of expression and quash competition in the social media sector.
EU PLOTTING TO PREVENT HUNGARY’S COUNCIL PRESIDENCY
The European Parliament (EP) is plotting to adopt a resolution that could jeopardize Hungary's planned ascension to the presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) in 2024.
The resolution, which has the backing of five political groups in the EP, declares that Hungary is unfit to hold the rotating presidency due to its multiple and persistent breaches of EU law and values.
The resolution cites several examples of how the Hungarian government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party including his government’s fight against gender ideology.
According to Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs, the EU is engaging in the same old, tired charge that Hungary violates the EU’s basic principles and is hence unable to hold the presidency.”
“But we know the actual reason: they dislike Hungary’s pro-peace stance and seek to drive us into conflict,” said Kovacs.
Some have come to Hungary’s aid, including Freedom Party of Austria MEP Herald VIlimsky, calling the move an attack on European democracy.
“Hungary is and will remain an important partner in Europe,” said Vilimsky.
“The factions of the Socialists and Christian Democrats in particular should rather take care of the corruption scandals in their ranks instead of distracting them with attacks on Hungary.”
ACTOR JOHN CLEESE HAS “NO INTENTION” OF CUTTING TRANS CRITICAL SCENE FROM LIFE OF BRIAN
Monty Python actor has insisted that he will not be cutting a controversial scene which mocks trans women from his stage adaptation of the film The Life of Brian.
According to Cleese, media has misrepresented the scene and engaged in attacks against him over his refusal to oblige to woke sensibilities.
“All the actors - several of them Tony winners - had advised me strongly to cut the Loretta scene. I have, of course, no intention of doing so,” said Cleese.
“So someone in the audience had called a journalist and misreported me. Amazingly none of the British media called to check.”
The comical scene includes a man who claims he is a woman and that he has the right to have a baby.
LGBTQ activists have claimed that the scene is transphobic and offensive.
