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A8 World NEWS
Wednesday 28 June 2017

Scottish leader puts second independence referendum on hold

By SYLVIA HUI emerged” about how
Associated Press Scotland will be impacted
LONDON (AP) — Scottish by Britain’s breakup with
leader Nicola Sturgeon the EU.
told lawmakers Tuesday In the meantime, she said
she was postponing plans she would focus attention
to seek a second indepen- on seeking to influence
dence referendum, saying Brexit negotiations “in a
she would revisit the issue way that protects Scot-
when the terms of Britain’s land’s interests.”
departure from the Europe- Prime Minister Theresa May
an Union become clearer. said Tuesday that Sturgeon
In March, Sturgeon called should “completely take off
for a second vote on the table the question of a
whether Scotland should second independence ref-
break away from the Unit- erendum in Scotland.”
ed Kingdom to be held be- “I think that was the clear
tween late 2018 and early message from the general
2019. She had argued that election and I think now is
would give Scots an alter- the time for the United King-
native to Brexit. dom to be pulling together
Sturgeon said that she had and not be driven apart,”
reflected on the issue after In this Monday, June 12, 2017 photo, Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland and the leader of May said.
the June 8 general elec- the Scottish National Party (SNP) talks to the media in Parliament Square, Westminster, London. Another Scottish indepen-
tion, which saw her Scottish Sturgeon says she is postponing plans to seek a second independence referendum, saying she dence referendum must
said she would revisit the issue when the terms of Britain’s departure from the European Union
National Party lose 21 of its become clearer. be approved by May’s
54 seats in the national Par- (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) government for it to be le-
liament. an independence refer- Tuesday. give Scots a choice at gally binding.
“We will not seek to intro- endum immediately,” she But she left options open, the end of the Brexit pro- Scots chose to stay in the
duce the legislation for told the Scottish Parliament saying she still wanted to cess when “clarity has U.K. in a 2014 referendum.q

France’s new lawmakers open first parliament session

By SYLVIE CORBET During the opening session, be on one side or the other. Three-quarters of the law- rules and procedures.
Associated Press lawmakers elected the Na- It will come out of the de- makers are new to the “Actually there are law-
PARIS (AP) — France’s new- tional Assembly president, bate and the desire to act National Assembly and makers who know more
ly elected lawmakers, most a key post that organizes for the French people,” he 38 percent are women — because they are here for
of them from President Em- legislative business and de- said. Rugy also stressed the the highest proportion in 20 or 30 years. But did they
manuel Macron’s centrist bates. Francois de Rugy, a need for making changes France’s modern history. manage to make reforms
party, took part in their first former Green who joined to lawmakers’ status, often Some previously had local in the country ... I’m not
parliamentary session Tues- Macron’s party earlier this seen as privileged, through political experience, but sure about that,” she said.
day. year, got the job. new rules regarding their many are newcomers to Some lawmakers are high-
Macron’s 14-month-old Rugy called on lawmak- expenses, retirement ben- politics. The lawmakers’ av- profile politicians who in-
party, Republic on the ers to reform the house to efits or judicial immunity — erage age is down from 55 tend to use their seats at
Move!, won 308 of the 577 make it “more democrat- in line with one of Macron’s in the previous term to 49 the National Assembly to
seats at France’s lower ic,” ‘’more efficient” and most emblematic cam- now. The youngest is 23, the voice their opposition to
house of parliament in leg- “modern” to restore the paign promises. “This legis- oldest 79. Elected under Macron’s government, in-
islative elections earlier this confidence of the French lature will have to achieve Macron’s banner, 30-year- cluding two former presi-
month. His allies in Modem people in the institution. equality between citizens old lawmaker Aurore Berge dential candidates, far-
took 42 seats, giving the “In this house, with new and lawmakers,” he said in told reporters that she’s right leader Marine Le Pen
government a wide major- faces and a new political speech loudly applauded “not worried” about learn- and ultra-left politician
ity. landscape, the truth won’t by the majority. ing the house’s complex Jean-Luc Melenchon.q