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A8 WORLD NEWS
Monday 11 noveMber 2019
650 seats, 46 million voters: The UK election in numbers

LONDON (AP) — There's just makers not running for re-
over a month to go until election amid Britain's toxic
Britain's Dec. 12 election, political atmosphere. Politi-
and the country's political cians on both sides of the
parties are battling over Brexit argument have re-
funding promises, policy ceived abuse and threats.
priorities and Brexit plans. Those leaving include
Here is a look at some key many moderate pro-EU
numbers in an election Conservatives, Labour leg-
that could determine not islators who say their party
only who governs Britain, has not stamped out anti-
but when, how — or even Semitism and high-profile
whether — the country female legislators, who
leaves the European Union: have received a dispropor-
46 million: The number of tionate amount of abuse.
eligible voters in the U.K. ___
___ 42.8%: The portion of po-
650: The number of seats litical parties' campaign
in the House of Commons, spending that went to digi-
all up for grabs in the elec- tal advertising during the
tion. Any party that wins a last election in 2017 — up
majority — or becomes the from just 0.3% in 2011. It's
largest party, even without expected to be even more
a majority — can form a Britain's Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson makes a speech at a rally at the Battersea Arts this time.
government, with its leader Centre in Lavender Hill, while on the General Election campaign trail in London, Saturday, Nov. ___
as prime minister. 9, 2019. 35: The number of seats
___ Associated Press in Parliament held by the
298: The number of seats Scottish National Party,
held before the election by 243: The number of seats der Conservative govern- ___ which opposes Brexit and
Prime Minister Boris John- held by the left-of-center ments. 82: The number of days until wants Scotland to leave
son's ruling Conservatives opposition Labour Party, ___ Britain is due to leave the EU. the U.K. and become an
— more than 20 short of a which is battling to return 96: The number of years Brexit day was supposed to independent country.
majority. The government's to office for the first time since Britain last had a De- be Oct. 31, but with Britain's ___
lack of a majority meant it since 2010. Labour plans to cember election. British politicians deadlocked, the 20: The number of seats
struggled to pass key mea- downplay Brexit and focus elections are usually held EU granted a three-month held in Parliament by the
sures needed for Britain to on health care, education in the late spring, when the delay until Jan. 31. pro-EU Liberal Democrats,
leave the European Union. and social welfare, which weather is better and the ___ who want to cancel Brexit
___ all saw funding cuts un- days are longer. 72: The number of law- altogether.q

Western Balkan leaders seek to create

region without borders

discuss concrete measures
for establishing a free trade
zone to boost economic
growth and foreign invest-
ment. It has been dubbed
"little Schengen," after the
EU's free transit zone.
Bosnia and Montenegro
are willing to join the zone,
but Kosovo did not send a
representative to the sum-
Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama talks for the media during a mit.
joint news conference, following the Western Balkan leaders' Relations among Western
meeting in the southwestern town of Ohrid, North Macedonia,
Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019. Balkan countries remain
Associated Press tense after the wars amid
the breakup of Yugoslavia
By BORIS GRDANOSKI is to become members of in the early 1990s.
Associated Press the European Union. "We discussed our dream
OHRID, North Macedonia "There is no sustainable al- to create a modern Bal-
(AP) — Leaders in the West- ternative for this goal," said kans and a better place to
ern Balkans said Sunday a joint statement released live", Zaev said. Vucic said
that they are committed after the meeting. that the trade initiative was
to working closely together Prime ministers Edi Rama of an opportunity for coun-
to remove barriers on the Albania and Zoran Zaev of tries to save more than 220
free movement of goods North Macedonia, along million euros ($242 million)
and people between their with Serbian President Alek- by setting up joint check-
countries. They also reiter- sandar Vucic, met in the points for customs and ad-
ated that their main goal lakeside town of Ohrid to ministrative services.q