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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 7 February 2018

Polish president signs law barring some Holocaust speech

By VANESSA GERA lieves is confusion about
Associated Press who bears responsibility for
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Auschwitz and other death
Poland's president on Tues- camps Nazi Germany set
day signed legislation that up in occupied Poland.
outlaws blaming Poland They say it was modeled
as a nation for Holocaust on anti-defamation laws in
crimes committed by Nazi many other countries, in-
Germany, defying both cluding laws criminalizing
criticism from Israel and a Holocaust denial.
warning from the U.S. The proposed law has fu-
But in a move that ap- eled a diplomatic crisis with
peared designed to soften Israel, which fears it would
the impact of his decision, stifle discussion about the
President Andrzej Duda Holocaust and enable Po-
said he would also ask Po- land to whitewash the role
land's constitutional court of the Poles who killed or
to evaluate the bill — leav- denounced Jews during
ing open the possibility it the German occupation of
would be amended. Poland during World War II.
As currently written, the Israel's Foreign Ministry said
legislation calls for prison Tuesday that it would con-
terms of up to three years tinue to communicate with
for falsely attributing the Poland despite its reserva-
crimes of Nazi Germany tions about the law. It said Polish President Andrzej Duda announces his decision to sign a legislation penalizing certain
to Poland. The law takes it hopes Duda's decision to statements about the Holocaust, in Warsaw, Poland, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018. Duda said that he will
effect 14 days after it's of- ask the constitutional court also ask the constitutional court to make final ruling on the disputed Holocaust speech bill.
(AP Photo/Alik Keplicz)
ficially published, but it to evaluate the bill will al-
wasn't immediately clear low both sides to "agree on promise. tional review as a way to centrist Civic Platform party
when that will be. changes and corrections." Duda acknowledged there save face while calming accused Duda of giving in
Poland's authorities have That language seemed were doubts about the the storm. to the pressure of national-
described it as an attempt more conciliatory than ear- legislation's intent, leading But critics say it was a diver- ists and anti-Semites and
to protect the country's lier statements, suggesting some observers to interpret sionary tactic. said his signing "deepens
reputation from what it be- the sides are seeking com- his request for a constitu- Slawomir Neumann of the the diplomatic crisis."q
Talks on new German government enter final stretch

By GEIR MOULSON Sunday, but had budgeted tical about extending a tian Democratic Union. spirit and with a good re-
BERLIN (AP) — Talks on a for two extra days as a pre- four-year partnership with "We must not lose sight of sult for our country," Social
new German coalition caution when they started the conservatives after a the main thing," she add- Democrat leader Martin
government entered what formal negotiations on Jan. disastrous election result. ed. "If we look at the tur- Schulz said.
participants expect will be 26. On the conservative side, bulent developments of Two points that are impor-
their final day, with nego- If a deal emerges, it still Merkel needs only the ap- the last few hours on stock tant to the Social Demo-
tiators hopeful a deal can won't be the end of Ger- proval of a party congress. exchanges: we are living in crats remain to be worked
be agreed Tuesday that many's unprecedentedly "Every one of us will have turbulent times, and what out: their calls to curb the
would bring an end to the long effort to form a new to make painful compro- is expected of us as major use of temporary work con-
country's political limbo government after an elec- mises — I am ready to do parties ... is that we form a tracts and narrow differ-
closer. tion in September. that if we can ensure that government for the good ences between Germany’s
Chancellor Angela Merkel's Any agreement will have the benefits ultimately out- of the people, a govern- public and private health
conservative Union bloc to be put to a ballot of the weigh the disadvantages," ment that offers reliability." insurance systems. No oth-
and the center-left So- Social Democrats' mem- Merkel told reporters as she "I have good reason to er plausible combination of
cial Democrats originally bership for approval, and arrived for the talks at the believe that we will finish parties has a parliamentary
hoped to finish the job on many in the party are skep- headquarters of her Chris- today, I hope in a positive majority. q