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WORLD NEWSThursday 7 April 2016
Russia’s National
Guard to be tasked
to suppress riots T. ADAMSON
V. ISACHENKOV
Associated Press
MOSCOW (AP) — The Na-
tional Guard being formed
in Russia will be given
broad powers to suppress
riots, according to a presi-
dential decree released
Wednesday.
Analysts said President
Vladimir Putin’s decision to
create the National Guard
could reflect Kremlin fears
of possible anti-govern-
ment protests — or even a
coup attempt — amid an
economic downturn. The
Russian economy last year
was dragged into reces-
sion by plummeting oil pric-
es and Western economic
sanctions over the crisis in
Ukraine.
Putin’s popularity has re-
mained high, but living
standards have dropped
sharply and the prospect
of unrest looms. Parliamen-
tary elections set for Sep-
tember will test the Krem-
lin’s ability to maintain a
tight grip on political life. rise to 3,750 euros for a sex
Putin announced the
creation of the National
Guard on Tuesday, when
he said it would focus on
the fight against terrorism
and organized crime.
Putin appointed his former
chief bodyguard, Viktor Zo-
lotov, to oversee the force.
Zolotov, who previously
led the Federal Protective
Service and served as a
deputy interior minister, has Associated Press
been one of Putin’s closest
lieutenants. He will have a
ministerial rank and answer
directly to the president as
the National Guard chief.
Wednesday’s presidential
bill said the law enforce-
ment agency also would
be used to quell mass dis-
turbances and would be
provided an arsenal of
non-lethal weapons, in-
cluding stun grenades,
and newly designed anti-
riot vehicles.q
France passes law punishing prostitutes’ clients
S. CORBET rently illegally in France — ists and a sponsor of the France’s parliament start-
to acquire a temporary res- legislation, told The Associ- ed debating the bill in 2013,
Associated Press idence permit if they enter ated Press. but the final vote was de-
PARIS (AP) — French law- a process to get out of the Olivier said that many of layed due to sharp divisions
makers on Wednesday ap-
proved a bill against pros- Sex workers hold signs reading ‘Prostitutes are angry. Don’t touch to our customers’ during a pro-
titution and sex trafficking test against new bill against prostitution and sex trafficking, in Paris, Wednesday, April 6, 2016.
that bans buying sex, not
selling it. Customers will prostitution business. the sex workers who arrive between the lower parlia-
face fines and be made to Supporters of the bill argue in France have their pass- mentary chamber and the
attend awareness classes that it will help fight traffick- ports confiscated by pimps. Senate.
on the harms of the sex ing networks. “We will provide them with Written by a group of law-
trade. “The most important as- documents on the condi- makers from both right and
The legislation, which pect of this law is to ac- tion they commit to leave left and backed by the So-
passed 64-12 in the parlia- company prostitutes, give prostitution behind,” she cialist government, the leg-
ment’s lower house, the them identity papers be- added. But opponents islation has been inspired
National Assembly, makes cause we know that 85 fear that cracking down by Sweden, which passed
French law one of the percent of prostitutes here will push prostitutes to hide, a similar measure in 1999.
toughest against sex buy- are victims of trafficking,” leaving them even more Norway and Iceland also
ers in Europe. Maud Olivier, a lawmaker at the mercy of pimps and followed the Swedish mod-
Prostitution in itself is legal in with the governing Social- violent clients. el. q
France — though brothels,
pimping and the sale of
sex by minors are illegal.
The new measure does
away with a 2003 law that
banned passive soliciting
by sex workers on the street
and thus put the legal onus
on prostitutes.
This new bill focuses the
punishment on the client,
introducing a 1,500-euro
($1,700) fine that would
buyer’s second offense.
The convicted client will be
obliged to attend classes
highlighting the dangers
associated with prostitu-
tion. The measure will also
make it easier for foreign
prostitutes — many cur-
Ireland fails to elect new leader for second time
S. POGATCHNIK ago left the two traditional to win the leadership vote, liament.
enemies of political life — Kenny and Martin con- A glum-faced Kenny, who
DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland re- caretaker Prime Minister firmed that they would has been Ireland’s leader
mained mired in political Enda Kenny’s Fine Gael meet Wednesday night to since 2011, said he would
limbo Wednesday after and Micheal Martin’s Fian- open discussions on form- try to form a government
lawmakers overwhelmingly na Fail — virtually neck and ing a possible coalition. with Fianna Fail that could
rejected all three candi- neck in a fractured parlia- Kenny received all 51 votes survive a full five-year term.
dates to lead the country’s ment. from his own party, Martin “I hope the discussions that
next government. Their center-right parties 43 from his own party. A I hope to initiate with Dep-
It was the second time that trace their origins to the third candidate, socialist uty Martin will lead us very
lawmakers tried and failed opposite sides of Ireland’s Ruth Pottinger, received 10 much in that direction,” he
to select a prime minister 1922-23 civil war and have votes. A winner would have said. Members of Irish par-
following Ireland’s Feb. 26 never shared power. required at least 79 votes in liament are called depu-
election. That poll 40 days But after both men failed Ireland’s 158-member par- ties. q