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WORLD NEWS Saturday 6 January 2018

New Austrian leader rejects talk of eastern EU alliance

SEGGAUBERG, Austria (AP) strong on “big questions”
— Austria’s new chancel- such as border security but
lor on Friday rejected sug- leaves many policy deci-
gestions that his govern- sions to individual countries
ment will align with eastern and regions.
European Union nations Austria will hold the EU’s
that have clashed with the rotating presidency in the
bloc over migrants and second half of this year,
other issues. when the bloc should be
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz finalizing the terms of Brit-
leads a coalition with the ain’s departure.
traditionally euroskeptic “I very much hope that
Freedom Party that took we succeed in organizing
office just before Christ- an orderly departure by
mas. Both Kurz’ conserva- the British,” Kurz said, argu-
tive People’s Party and the ing that a failure to do so
Freedom Party have taken would hurt both sides.
a hard line against migra- Speaking alongside Kurz,
tion. Vice Chancellor Heinz-
The position has generat- Christian Strache down-
ed speculation that Austria played comments in an in-
could move closer to the terview with public broad-
Visegrad group of Hunga- caster ORF in which he ap-
ry, Poland, the Czech Re- peared to raise the idea of
public and Slovakia than housing asylum-seekers in
to its western EU allies. military barracks.
Kurz, who at 31 is Europe’s Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz talks in Vienna. Austria’s new chancellor is rejecting suggestions Strache, the Freedom Par-
that his government will align broadly with eastern nations that have clashed with the European
youngest leader, warned Union over migrants and other issues. Kurz warned Friday Jan. 5, 2018 against “over-interpreting ty leader, said Friday his
Friday against “over-inter- things.” comments had been tak-
preting things.” (AP Photo/Ronald Zak) en out of context and “no
“There are measures and championed efforts to re- in the European Union that something in the European mass accommodation is
initiatives where we have form the EU, Kurz said: “It is there is a French president Union.” planned” for asylum-seek-
goodwill in western Euro- clearly positive for all of us who aspires to change Kurz called for an EU that is ers in military facilities.q
pean countries,” he told
reporters after a meeting
“There are others where Spanish court keeps ex-Catalan leader in jail
of the new Cabinet.

we will perhaps get ap-
plause from the Visegrad By CIARAN GILES his ways. Junqueras was ber election imposed by Puigdemont demands that
Associated Press
countries, and still oth- one of several members of Spain in which secessionist he be re-elected president
ers where we agree with MADRID (AP) — Spain’s Su- Catalonia’s pro-secession parties won the most seats. but he is likely to be arrest-
all other 27 EU member preme Court judges ruled regional cabinet who were The ruling Friday raises the ed and jailed if he returns
states.” Friday to keep Catalonia’s fired and jailed on provi- question of what Puigde- to Spain. q
Kurz plans to visit Paris and ousted vice president in jail sional charges following a mont and the other four
Berlin in the coming weeks. while he is being investigat- declaration of indepen- elected Catalan lawmak-
He said he expects a ed for rebellion and other dence on Oct. 27. Other ers on the run will do now.
“good exchange” with charges stemming from the members of the Catalonia The pro-secession parties
German Chancellor An- restive region’s drive for in- government, including ex- won 70 out of the regional
gela Merkel, stressing that dependence from Spain. leader Carles Puigdemont, parliament’s 135 seats but
“Germany is our biggest The judges said there was are fugitives in Brussels. with eight candidates ei-
neighbor, our most impor- a risk that Oriol Junqueras Junqueras had hoped to ther on the run or in jail in
tant economic partner.” might again commit crimes, be released to take part Spain, the parties risk not
Of French President Em- as there was no sign that in Catalonia’s new parlia- being able to form a gov-
manuel Macron, who has he intended to change ment following a Decem- ernment.