Page 9 - ARUBA TODAY
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WORLD NEWS A9
Wednesday 3 January 2018
Bulgarian leader vetoes “insufficient” anti-corruption law
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bul- Bulgarian president Rumen Radev speaks in Paris, France. Radev on Tuesday Jan. 2, 2018, vetoed elect the board of the new
garia’s president on Tues- an anti-corruption law approved by Parliament. anti-corruption body, say-
day vetoed an anti-cor- ing that risks political inter-
ruption law approved by (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) ference in criminal matters.
Parliament, saying it’s not “These measures, albeit
strong enough to effective- necessary, are insufficient
ly combat corruption. for the effective suppres-
President Rumen Radev sion of corruption that the
imposed the veto a day af- public expects,” Radev
ter the Balkan country took said in a statement about
over the rotating six-month the law.
presidency of the 28-nation He also warned of possible
European Union. retaliation against whistle-
Bulgaria, a country of 7.1 blowers who report graft
million, joined the EU in because the new law does
2007 but remains the poor- not protect them from pros-
est and one of the most ecution.
corrupt nations in the bloc. “I believe that the adopted
It has repeatedly been sub- law not only does not cre-
ject to criticism by Brussels ate an adequate legal ba-
for failing to efficiently fight sis for tackling corruption
corruption or organized but will even make it diffi-
crime and for failing to cult to fight it,” Radev said.
overhaul its judiciary. Parliament can still overrule
Radev said the new anti- Radev’s veto while re-ex-
corruption law was not ro- amining the government-
bust enough and criticized sponsored bill and approve
the fact that parliament will it unchanged.q
No happy new year for UK
commuters as fares rise
LONDON (AP) — British complaints of unreliable rail den commuters with “eye- Campaigners protest against rail fare increases imposed on
commuters are facing stiff service. watering fare hikes today train travellers outside the central London rail terminus at Kings
increases in rail fares on the Anthony Smith, chief of the after suffering 12 months of Cross Station, Tuesday Jan. 2, 2018, as rail passengers face
first work day of the new independent group Trans- delays, cancellations and increased fares for travelling on the rail network.
year. port Focus, said fares are poor service.”
Travelers on Tuesday faced going up as workers’ wag- He said the government (Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP)
average fare hikes of 3.4 es stagnate, placing an un- and private rail compa-
percent, prompting howls fair burden on commuters. nies have to give passen-
from activist groups and London Mayor Sadiq Khan gers better service at a fair
London’s mayor amid said it was wrong to bur- price. q
