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A8 WORLD NEWS
Friday 11 OctOber 2019
EU lawmakers reject France's nominee, deliver blow to Macron

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN Goulard has denied any
BRUSSELS (AP) — In a blow wrongdoing in a case dat-
to French President Em- ing back to her years in the
manuel Macron's ambi- European parliament from
tions, his nominee for the 2009 to 2017 in which she
next European Commis- was accused of using funds
sion was rejected Thursday to pay a legislative assistant
by EU lawmakers assessing who actually worked for her
whether she was fit for the former party. She has not
job. been indicted in a French
Sylvie Goulard, a close investigation but resigned
ally of Macron, had been as French defense minister
nominated to be part of when it was opened two
incoming European Com- years ago.
mission President Ursula She told lawmakers the is-
von der Leyen's new team sue was related to overpay-
with a high-profile position ments she made after the
overseeing Europe's inter- employee stopped work-
nal market, industry and ing for her and vehemently
defense. denied wrongdoing.
Goulard failed to con- In September, she an-
vince European parliament swered questions from
members who quizzed her French investigators.
twice about allegations European Commissioner designate for Internal Market Sylvie Goulard answers questions during "One can never be certain
she misused funds and her hearing at the European Parliament in Brussels, Thursday, Oct 10, 2019. of what will happen, but
consulted for a U.S. think Associated Press normally I won't end up be-
tank while she served in the ing charged," she said.
EU Parliament. with 82 votes against, 29 in professional skills, many ing over her candidacy, Meanwhile, Goulard was
Goulard, from Renew Eu- favor, and one abstention, European Parliament law- and she has not been able reportedly paid some
rope, a pro-business group the French presidency rued makers, known as MEPs, to rectify these," said Mar- 10,000 euros ($11,000) a
of parties in the European the perceived "political said Goulard was unable to cel Kolaja, an MEP from the month for consultancy
Parliament, is the third com- game" that led to Gou- properly address questions Greens. work for the Berggruen In-
mission candidate to be re- lard's dismissal. surrounding her workplace "The fact that she didn't stitute, a think tank in the
jected after lawmakers dis- The Elysee said "her com- ethics. seem to see an ethical U.S., during 2013-2015. She
missed two over suspicions petence and her commit- "Throughout this process, problem with taking large says it was not illegal. After
of conflict of interest. ment to Europe are not Sylvie Goulard has had sev- amounts of money from a an initial hearing left many
In a statement released questioned." eral opportunities to clarify U.S. think-tank while being lawmakers asking for more
soon after she was rejected While acknowledging her the ethics questions hang- an MEP raises serious con- explanations, Goulard had
cerns for someone want- to submit written answers
ing to hold one of the most to a set of questions before
high profile jobs in the EU." she was quizzed again.q

Climate change activist

climbs on plane, others

stop traffic

Associated Press carried signs in the shape
LONDON (AP) — Protesters of orange rescue lifebuoys,
in New York City brought with the words, "Save our
traffic to a standstill in the Future."
city's busiest hub and an The New York Police De-
activist in London climbed partment made dozens of
atop a plane as climate civil disobedience arrests
change demonstrators en- and removed the vessel
tered the fourth day of ral- some time later, which led
lies around the world. to re-opened area streets
Protesters transported a and brought the traffic
green boat on a trailer into back to normal.
Times Square and then sat In London, a climate
down and refused police change activist scaled
orders to move. a British Airways plane at
The boat bore the logo of London City Airport. Ex-
the activist group Extinction tinction Rebellion identi-
Rebellion. It also had the fied the activist as a former
words "Act Now" written Paralympic cyclist. A video
on it and a string of brightly streamed by the group
colored flags. showed the activist cling-
Some of the demonstrators ing to the fuselage.q