Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 17 december 2019
French pension reform architect resigns as strikes drag on

By SYLVIE CORBET Minister Edouard Philippe
Associated Press is expected to meet with
PARIS (AP) — French Presi- union leaders by the end of
dent Emmanuel Macron's the week.
government suffered a Meanwhile, major unions
major blow Monday when stated that they want to
the key architect of the push the strike through
pension overhaul resigned Christmas.
over alleged conflicts of in- Finance Minister Bruno Le
terests, on the 12th day of Maire advocated Monday
transport strikes against the on news broadcaster BFM
planned changes. television for the retirement
The announcement came age of 64 as "a reasonable
at a crucial time: just be- solution."
fore a new round of pro- He also called on rail work-
tests planned Tuesday ers to end the strikes before
across France and as the the Christmas school holi-
government was prepar- days that start Friday eve-
ing for last-minute talks with ning, a period during which
workers' unions ahead of millions of French are ex-
the Christmas season. pected to travel for family
The French presidency said celebrations.
Macron accepted "with re- The government plans to
gret" the resignation of High formally present the pen-
Commissioner Jean-Paul In this Sept.4, 2019 file photo, newly appointed French High Commissioner for Pension Reform sion bill in January. It will
Delevoye, a 72-year-old Jean-Paul Delevoye, leaves the cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris. then be debated in parlia-
politician who prepared Associated Press ment, where Macron's par-
the pension plans for two ty has the majority.
years before being ap- of reform. Delevoye acknowledged the government to push Authorities measured a re-
pointed in September to Delevoye was under fire a "mistake," saying he "for- ahead with the pension cord traffic jam of 630 kilo-
drive the reform program. from the opposition and got" to declare several changes, which include meters (390 miles) Monday
He was notably in charge unions after French news- positions, some in the insur- raising the age of retire- morning in the Paris region,
of talks with workers' unions paper Le Parisien and Le ance and banking sectors, ment with full pension from where only two Metro lines,
and professional organiza- Monde reported last week a think tank and one at the 62 to 64 and ending special using automated trains
tions. that he hadn't mentioned foundation of national rail privileges for some workers. with no drivers, were fully
Macron's office stressed some of his activities in company SNCF. Last week, the government running. The other 14 metro
Delevoye's "work and com- the formal declaration re- Macron's office said Del- opened the door for new lines were closed or only
mitment" and said the de- quired from all government evoye will be replaced "as negotiations, suggesting it very partially running.
cision was needed in order members to avoid poten- soon as possible." was ready to make some Most regional and national
to preserve the next steps tial conflicts of interests. Macron has said he wants changes to its plans. Prime trains were at a standstill.q

UK prime minister to welcome new lawmakers to Parliament

By GREGORY KATZ passes and Britain leaves first day at work. The new
DANICA KIRKA the EU on time, the country representative for Bury in
Associated Press will enter a transition period northwest England, Chris-
LONDON (AP) — British when EU rules and regula- tian Wakeford, tweeted:
Prime Minister Boris John- tions would still apply in the "Reality with a bump, 5:33
son is set to give a pep talk country and people and train down to #Westminster
Monday to a new group goods would still be able not a morning person at all
of Conservative Party law- to pass freely between the but couldn't be happier to
makers as he begins his U.K. and the remaining EU be on this train."
push to secure parliamen- members. Newcastle-under-Lyme
tary approval for his Brexit Negotiators for the British lawmaker Aaron Bell
deal. government and the EU shared an image of himself
Johnson will welcome 109 would start trade talks with smiling in front of the Pal-
newly elected colleagues, an eye toward reaching a ace of Westminster: "Good
many of them coming from comprehensive post-Brexit morning Newcastle. A new
parts of the country that agreement. dawn has broken, has it
were once strongholds of Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, gestures as he speaks to The pomp and ceremony not?"
supporters on a visit to meet newly elected Conservative party
the opposition Labour Par- MP for Sedgefield, Paul Howell, at Sedgefield Cricket Club in surrounding the queen's There was no such giddi-
ty. County Durham, north east England, Saturday Dec. 14, 2019. speech will be less lavish ness on the Labour side as
Buoyed by the party's deci- Associated Press than usual because she the party prepares for what
sive win in last week's elec- last formally opened Parlia- is likely to be a bruising
tion, Johnson will move fast historic departure from the ceive strong support in Par- ment just two months ago leadership contest, which is
to deliver on his campaign European Union by the cur- liament, where Johnson's for what turned out to be expected to formally begin
mantra to "get Brexit done." rent deadline of Jan. 31. Conservatives hold a strong a session that was cut short in early January.
That means ensuring a Johnson has promised to majority. The party won 365 by a vote for an early elec- The goal is to have a re-
Brexit withdrawal agree- bring the bill to the House of the 650 seats in the House tion. placement for Jeremy Cor-
ment bill is passed in time of Commons before Christ- of Commons in Thursday's New lawmakers took to byn in place by the end of
for the U.K. to complete its mas. It is expected to re- landslide election. If the bill Twitter to chronicle their March.q