Page 5 - aruba-today-20230118

A5
WORLD NEWS Wednesday 18 January 2023

Top EU lawmakers say no party immune to potential corruption

By LORNE COOK byists and the public list-
Associated Press ing of any meetings that
STRASBOURG, France (AP) lawmakers may have with
— Senior members of the them. Spot checks would
European Union’s parlia- be introduced on lawmak-
ment conceded Tuesday ers’ financial disclosures
that a corruption scandal and their links to any coun-
ravaging the assembly’s try outside the 27-nation EU.
reputation could have But it’s unclear whether the
happened to any political reforms can change old,
group, as Belgian prosecu- bad habits. Current rules
tors focus on lawmakers are already routinely ig-
and an assistant from the nored.
main center-left bloc. Cases of foreign funded
The leaders of a number of travel continue without
political groups in the Euro- members declaring the
pean Parliament said that paid trips, and few law-
corruption inside the house makers signal when they
the EU’s only publicly-elect- are given gifts worth more
ed institution is almost im- than 150 euros ($163), as
possible to stop, particular- they must do.
ly if it’s carried out by a few “There is a lot of readiness
determined members with when there are a lot of
criminal intent. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola delivers a speech during a plenary session, at the journalists looking at what is
German lawmaker Man- European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, Monday, Jan. 165, 2023. Associated Press happening, but very quick-
fred Weber, leader of the ly, when the media atten-
conservative European gang paid by Qatar and seat assembly. Prosecutors berta Metsola has unveiled tion has gone, also the
People’s Party (EPP) par- Morocco to influence par- want the parliamentary im- an overhaul of the assem- willingness to implement
liament’s largest bloc said liamentary decisions. Both munity of two group law- bly’s rules, aiming to pre- reforms is gone,” Greens
the cash-for-influence af- countries reject the allega- makers lifted. vent former lawmakers group leader Terry Reintke
fair has caused “huge tions. The accused include Others have resigned from from lobbying on behalf of told reporters in Strasbourg,
damage for the reputation Greek Socialist and Demo- senior posts. A long-serving businesses or governments France.
of this house.” He insisted, crats lawmaker Eva Kaili political advisor was also soon after they leave office Manon Aubry, leader of the
however, that “this scan- and her boyfriend Frances- suspended over “serious and to make publicly avail- far-left group known as The
dal is not a party political co Giorgi, an assistant to misconduct related to the able the names of current Left, acknowledged that
issue.” another S&D member. ongoing judicial investiga- members who violate the any new rules meant to dis-
So far, six people are sus- The S&D forms the second tion.” code. Metsola also seeks courage offenders must be
pected of links to a crime biggest group in the 705- Parliament President Ro- tougher controls on all lob- enforced. q

Dutch Senate expands constitutional ban on discrimination

By MIKE CORDER cifically ban discrimination be treated equally and tinue to suffer verbal and badly needed, because
Associated Press based on sexual orienta- that “discrimination on the sometimes physical abuse at the moment they expe-
THE HAGUE, Netherlands tion or disability, a move basis of religion, belief, po- in this country that has long rience discrimination and
(AP) — The Dutch Senate hailed as historic by rights litical opinion, race, gen- been seen as a bastion of exclusion every day in their
on Tuesday approved an groups. der, disability, sexual orien- tolerance. lives.”
amendment to the coun- The constitution’s updated tation or on any other basis Oosenbrug said the consti- The move was initiated by
try’s constitution, expand- Article 1 mandates that all is not allowed.” tutional change should be three lawmakers in the low-
ing its first article to spe- people in the country must Astrid Oosenbrug, chair seen by lawmakers as an er house of Dutch parlia-
of the country’s COC gay assignment to “tackle dis- ment, two from opposition
rights organization, called criminatory violence, bul- parties and a third from the
the vote “a historic victory lying in schools and other centrist D66 party, which is
for the rainbow community forms of discrimination.” part of the ruling four-party
and a crown on years of A group called Ieder(in), coalition led by Prime Minis-
work” by the group. which represents people ter Mark Rutte.
She said it was “an emo- with disabilities and chronic The Dutch Constitution
tional moment when, after illness, also welcomed the dates back to 1798 and
all these years, the Senate vote. has been updated several
voted overwhelmingly in fa- “Adding the disability basis times since then. Tweak-
vor of constitutional recog- to Article 1 is historic news,” ing the document is a long
nition this afternoon. At last, the organization’s director, process. Changes must be
LGBTI+ rights are proudly Illya Soffer, said in a state- approved by a majority of
mentioned in Article 1 and ment. “The government both houses of parliament,
are no longer concealed.” has been given an addi- then a second reading can
In 2001, the Netherlands tional task to permanently only happen once national
A huge inflatable pink cake with candles spouting rainbow became the first country improve and strengthen elections have happened
flames glided through the Amsterdam canals as the Dutch
capital celebrated the 20th anniversary of the world’s first legal in the world to legalize gay the position of people with and then both houses must
same-sex marriages, Thursday, April 1, 2021. marriage, but members of a disability. Not only in law, approve any change with
Associated Press its LGBTQ community con- but also in practice. This is a two-thirds majority.q