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world news Diamars 13 september 2022

New Zealand PM says no republic plan following queen’s death

(AP) — New Zealand an Australian republic after
Prime Minister Jacin- he was elected in May. But
da Ardern said Monday he said Sunday that now is
that her government will not the time for a change but
not pursue any moves to rather for paying tribute to
change the country into Elizabeth. He previously said
a republic following the that holding a referendum on
death of Queen Elizabeth becoming a republic is not
II. a priority of his first term in
government.
Ardern said she thought New
Zealand will eventually be- Many people in New Zea-
come a republic, and it would land have speculated in the
probably happen within her past that the republic debate
lifetime, but that there were would gather momentum
more pressing issues for her only after the death of Eliza-
government. beth, given how beloved she
was by so many.
The remarks were her first
about the New Zealand Ardern said she didn’t link
republic debate since the the two events. “I’ve never
queen’s death, and reflect attached it in that way,” she
previous comments she has said.
made on the issue. Ardern out from the shadows of its term measure or anything
has also previously expressed colonialist past and become a that is on the agenda any time The death of Elizabeth and Elizabeth’s image features on
her support for the country truly independent nation un- soon,” Ardern said. ascension of King Charles many of New Zealand’s coins
eventually becoming a re- til it becomes a republic. III to the throne has revived and banknotes. prompting
public. She said that becoming a re- the republic debate in many the nation’s central bank to
“There’s been a debate, prob- public was not something her countries around the world. advise people the currency
Under the current system, ably for a number of years,” government planned to dis- depicting her remains legal
the British monarch is New Ardern said. “It’s just the cuss at any point. Charles became the head of tender following her death.
Zealand’s head of state, rep- pace, and how widely that de- state not only in the United
resented in New Zealand bate is occurring. I’ve made “As I say, in large part actu- Kingdom and New Zealand Ardern also announced
by a governor-general. The my view plain many times. I ally because I’ve never sensed but also in 13 other coun- Monday that New Zealand
governor-general’s role these do believe that is where New the urgency,” Ardern said. tries, including Canada, Ja- will mark the death of Eliza-
days is considered primarily Zealand will head, in time. I “There are so many challeng- maica and Australia. beth with a public holiday
ceremonial. believe it is likely to occur in es we face. This is a large, sig- on Sept. 26. The nation will
my lifetime. nificant debate. I don’t think Australian Prime Minister hold a state memorial ser-
Still, many people argue that it’s one that would or should Anthony Albanese started vice on that day in the capital,
New Zealand won’t fully step “But I don’t see it as a short- occur quickly.” laying the groundwork for Wellington.

Swedish voters boost anti-immigration party amid high crime

(AP) — A populist anti- that laws can only be passed but over the past two de-
immigration party has with different parties work- cades it has worked to move
surged to become Swe- ing together. The parties to the mainstream under its
den’s second-largest po- campaigned under two gen- 43-year-old leader Jimmie
litical force after a na- eral blocs, one conservative Akesson.
tional election dominated and the other a center-left
by fears of gang violence, group headed by Prime Min- Its transformation included
which has given the once- ister Magdalena Andersson, changing its official logo
safe Scandinavian country Sweden’s first female prime from a torch to a flower and
one of Europe’s highest minister. expelling the most radical
levels of gun violence. members.
The not-yet-final count in-
Overall, a conservative oppo- dicated that the conservative Those who support it like its
sition bloc including the anti- bloc would have 175 seats tough vows to crack down on
immigration party, the Swe- and the center-left would crime and strictly limit im-
den Democrats, had an ex- have 174. “It is extremely migration, while opponents
tremely narrow lead over the close. Things can change, but fear that its historic roots
incumbent center-left with I doubt it,” said Zeth Isaks- make it a threat to Sweden’s
94% of the votes counted. son, a sociologist at Stock- democratic identity.
holm University, who added
Analysts expect the final tally that votes from abroad are Mark Johnson, a 50-year- preliminary figures, up from Andersson’s Social Demo-
will confirm a conservative traditionally conservative. “As old Swedish finance worker, 17.5% four years ago, gained crats, who have been in
bloc win, but the election was it is now, it is more likely that said while the party’s strong on the rising fears of crime in power in Sweden since 2014,
so close that electoral officials the right side will win.” showing was expected, it largely immigrant neighbor- remain the largest party, even
said they would not have the is still shocking for many hoods. gaining slightly to take 30.5%
final result until outstanding One certainty, however, is Swedes because “it’s hard to of the vote Sunday, accord-
postal votes and votes from that the result marked a suc- understand that we would be This year so far there have ing to the incomplete results.
abroad are counted. cess for the right-wing pop- taking such an obvious turn been 273 shootings, 47 of Andersson said Sunday night
ulist Sweden Democrats, to the right, to the far-right them fatal, according to po- it was obvious that the so-
With eight parties contending which won its best result even.” lice statistics. Those shoot- cial democratic movement,
for seats in the 349-member since entering parliament in ings also wounded 74 people, which is based on ideals of
Riksdag, Sweden’s parlia- 2010. The party’s founders in The Sweden Democrats, including innocent bystand- creating an equal society and
ment, none can secure a ma- the 1980s had links to fascist which won 20.6% support in ers. a strong welfare state, re-
jority of 175 seats, meaning and neo-Nazi movements Sunday’s vote, according to mains strong in Sweden.