Far right, Euroskeptics make sweeping gains in European Parliament election
Far right, Euroskeptics make sweeping gains in European Parliament election
BRUSSELS — Far-right and Euroskeptic parties made sweeping gains in European Parliament elections Sunday — triggering what one prime minister called a political “earthquake” by those who want to slash the powers of the European Union or abolish it altogether.
Voters in 21 of the EU’s 28 nations went to the polls Sunday, choosing lawmakers for the bloc’s 751-seat legislature. The other seven countries in the bloc had already voted in a sprawling exercise of democracy that began Thursday in Britain and the Netherlands.
One of the most significant winners was France’s far-right National Front party, which was the outright winner in France with 26 percent support— or 4.1 million votes.
“The sovereign people have spoken … acclaiming they want to take back the reins of their destiny,” party leader Marine Le Pen said in a statement. She called the results “the first step in a long march to liberty.”
The National Front like other far-right parties across Europe promote anti-immigrant and often anti-Semitic policies.
Lawmakers overseeing VA hospital system urge remedies to ease long waits, backlogs
WASHINGTON — The chairmen of House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees on Sunday decried long waits and backlogs at the nations VA hospitals but stopped short of calling for the resignation of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki.
“You’ve got an entrenched bureaucracy that exists out there that is not held accountable, that is shooting for goals, goals that are not helping the veterans,” said Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., chairman of the House panel
“I think some people may by cooking the books” to suggest waiting times are shorter that they actually are, said Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who chairs the counterpart Senate committee.
Both chairmen were interviewed on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that the Justice Department “has to be involved.” He said there is “credible and specific evidence of criminal wrongdoing across the country” at VA hospitals.
Thailand’s coup leader to receive endorsement as military warns protesters
BANGKOK — One day after Thailand’s military junta stiffened warnings to crackdown on civilian opposition to its takeover of power, the country’s monarchy was set today to officially endorse the general who staged the coup.
Army Commander Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha was expected to receive the endorsement formalizing his status as head of government at the army headquarters in Bangkok. It was not known whether King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest serving monarch, would attend the ceremony. The 86-year-old king’s health is fragile.
After that, it’s anticipated Prayuth may announce plans for reshaping Thailand’s political scene with an interim constitution to replace the one scrapped by the army after Thursday’s coup, and an appointed legislative body.
The army’s plans for reform before elections mirror those of ex-lawmaker Suthep Thaugsuban, who led seven months of demonstrations against the government.
Suthep, who had been detained by the junta since the coup was announced last Thursday, left a military detention center Monday and later appeared at the attorney general’s office escorted by police and soldiers. He faces insurrection charges for seizing government ministries and other infractions during his protest bid.
By wire sources