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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 12 december 2017

Germany’s Merkel presses for quick move toward new coalition

By GEIR MOULSON smaller parties collapsed.
Associated Press If they don’t enter a coali-
BERLIN (AP) — German tion, the only possibilities
Chancellor Angela Merkel would be an unprecedent-
pushed Monday for quick ed minority government led
movement toward a new by Merkel or a new elec-
governing alliance with the tion. President Frank-Walter
main center-left party, say- Steinmeier, who alone has
ing that only such a coali- the power to dissolve par-
tion will bring the “stable liament, has made clear he
government” needed at doesn’t want a new elec-
a challenging time for Eu- tion.
rope. Germany’s political im-
Merkel stressed her interest passe comes at a time
in bolstering European unity when the European Union
and suggested that it could is considering how to shape
underpin a new “grand its future after Britain’s im-
coalition” of Germany’s pending departure in 2019,
biggest parties — her own and with French President
conservative Union bloc Emmanuel Macron cham-
and the center-left Social pioning ambitious EU re-
Democrats. form plans.
The two sides will begin dis- “I favor quick talks. And I
cussions Wednesday on a Christian Democratic Union party chairwoman and German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends think a stable government
possible extension of their a party’s leaders meeting at the headquarters in Berlin, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. is the basis on which we
coalition of the past four (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) can work best with France
years. But it is far from cer- easily beat its previous re- of a new government. would go into opposition. and for Europe,” Merkel
tain that a new alliance will cord of 86 days — set in After their disastrous elec- They reluctantly agreed to said after a meeting of
come together. 2013 — for the time from an tion result on Sept. 24, the reconsider after Merkel’s her Christian Democratic
Germany is on course to election to the swearing-in Social Democrats said they coalition talks with two Union’s leadership.q

Saakashvili freed by Ukraine court, urges government change

By YURAS KARMANAU of Ukrainian oligarchs,” he he will coordinate with oth- marched across Kiev, de- Odessa region in 2015, but
Associated Press said in an apparent refer- er political forces in Ukraine manding his release and Saakashvili resigned the fol-
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — ence to the business back- to push for a peaceful calling for Poroshenko to lowing year, claiming that
Mikheil Saakashvili, the for- ground of Poroshenko, who change of government. be impeached. Poroshenko and other of-
mer Georgian president ran a chocolate business Saakashvili, who was refus- Saakashvili was a key figure ficials were impeding anti-
turned opposition leader in before he was elected ing food to protest the ar- in the 2003 Rose Revolution corruption reforms, and
Ukraine, walked free Mon- president. rest, said that the first thing protests that drove Geor- became a strong critic of
day after a court in the Prosecutors had asked to he now wants is to get back gian President Eduard She- his former patron. Georgia
Ukrainian capital refused to keep Saakashvili under home and eat. vardnadze from office. He stripped Saakashvili of his
sanction his arrest, vowing house arrest, but the judge Yulia Tymoshenko, a former served two terms as Geor- citizenship after his move
to push for a peaceful gov- turned it down to the ap- prime minister who leads an gian president in 2004-2013, to Ukraine. Poroshenko
ernment change. plause of Saakashvili’s sup- opposition party, attended winning broad acclaim for this summer rescinded his
Saakashvili was arrested porters. the hearing in a show of his anti-corruption efforts, Ukrainian citizenship while
Friday on allegations that The court’s verdict marked support for Saakashvili. but drawing criticism over Saakashvili was out of the
he colluded with Ukrainian a defeat for Poroshenko, About 200 of Saakashvili’s a disastrous war with Rus- country, leaving Saakashvili
businessmen tied to Russia who has faced mounting supporters gathered out- sia and what his opponents stateless. He forced his way
to topple President Petro criticism for his failure to up- side the court and scuffled saw as an authoritarian into Ukraine in September,
Poroshenko, accusations root endemic corruption. with police earlier Monday. streak. barging across the border
Saakashvili rejected. The victorious Saakashvili On Sunday, thousands of Poroshenko named him from Poland with the help
“I consider myself a prisoner said after the verdict that Saakashvili’s supporters the governor of Ukraine’s of a crowd of supporters.q