Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 8 February 2018

Merkel clinches German coalition govt deal, hurdle remains

that promises "a new awak- crat leader Martin Schulz,
ening for Europe." a former European Parlia-
"I know that millions of citi- ment president.
zens have been watching On Wednesday he de-
us closely on this long road clared that, with the co-
over recent weeks," Merkel alition deal, Germany "will
said. "They had two justified return to an active and
demands of us: First, finally leading role in the Europe-
form a government — a an Union." The agreement
stable government — and states, among other things,
second, think ... of people's that Germany is prepared
real needs and interests." to pay more into the EU
The coalition deal could be budget.
"the foundation of a good To help that process, Schulz
and stable government, announced later he would
which our country needs hand over his party's lead-
and many in the world ex- ership to Andrea Nahles,
pect of us," she added. the head of its parliamen-
Germany has already bro- tary group, and take on
ken its post-World War II the role of Germany's for-
record for the longest time eign minister. Nahles will still
between its last election on have to be confirmed by
Sept. 24 to the swearing-in the party.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union, CDU, is of a new government. That Yet before addressing Eu-
flanked by Martin Schulz, chairman of the Social Democratic Party, SPD, and Bavarian Governor is still at least several weeks rope's future, Schulz faces
Horst Seehofer, chairman of the Christian Social Union, CSU, during a press statement in Berlin,
Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. away. hard work at home.
(AP Photo/Ferdinand Ostrop) Merkel currently leads a The coalition accord will
caretaker government, be put to a ballot of the
By GEIR MOULSON try's main center-left party proval of the deal. which isn't in a position to Social Democrats' more
Associated Press in an agreement aimed at Merkel's conservative Chris- launch major initiatives or than 460,000 members, a
BERLIN (AP) — Chancel- ending months of political tian Democratic Union, play any significant role in process that will take a few
lor Angela Merkel finally gridlock. its Bavaria-only sister, the the debate on the Euro- weeks. Germany's high-
reached a deal Wednes- The center-left Social Dem- Christian Social Union, and pean Union's future, led so est court said Wednesday
day to form a new Ger- ocrats' leaders now have the center-left Social Dem- far by French President Em- it had dismissed a series of
man coalition government, one last major hurdle to ocrats agreed after a gru- manuel Macron. complaints against the bal-
handing the powerful fi- overcome — winning their eling final 24 hours of nego- A key role in the EU is partic- lot. Merkel defended the
nance ministry to the coun- skeptical members' ap- tiations on a 177-page deal ularly dear to Social Demo- carve-up of ministries. q
Judge to ask EU court about post-Brexit citizenship issues

By MIKE CORDER on the protection of rights A group of British citizens the bloc. tal question that will be put
Associated Press of EU citizens living in Britain who live in the Netherlands Christiaan Alberdingk Thi- forward to the European
THE HAGUE, Netherlands and U.K. citizens living on took their case to the Euro- jm, the Dutch lawyer who Court."
(AP) — A judge in Amster- the continent, but no full pean Court of Justice last represented the Britons in One of the Britons who filed
dam said Wednesday he agreement has yet been month in a bid to protect the Amsterdam court, wel- the case, Stephen Huyton,
will ask a European Union reached on the issue. Law- their EU citizenship rights af- comed the ruling. who has lived in the Neth-
court to answer key ques- yers for the plaintiffs said ter Britain leaves the bloc in "Theresa May famously erlands for 24 years, said he
tions about the rights of Brit- the uncertainty so far left March 2019. said, 'Brexit means Brexit,' was delighted with the de-
ish citizens in the bloc after their fate up in the air. According to the Treaty on but the Brits currently liv- cision.
Brexit, in a decision that Judge Floris Bakels said in a the Functioning of the EU, ing on the continent have "However, this is but the first
could provide important written ruling that "there has any person who is a citizen no idea what that means step to clarity about what
clarity for some 1 million Brit- to be more clarity about of an EU nation automati- for them," Alberdingk Thijm Brexit means for our EU citi-
ons living on the continent. the consequences of Brexit cally is also an EU citizen. EU said. "Are you an EU citizen zenship," he said in a state-
Officials negotiating Brit- for EU citizenship," accord- citizenship grants rights in- for life or can your citizen- ment. "This case has always
ain's exit from the European ing to a statement by the cluding the ability to move, ship be taken away from been about seeking clarifi-
Union have made progress Amsterdam court. work and live freely within you? That is the fundamen- cation." q