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A8 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 12 sepTember 2019
UK court rules Johnson’s suspension of Parliament unlawful

By JILL LAWLESS preme Court. In a state-
Associated Press ment, the government said
LONDON (AP) — Prime it “needs to bring forward
Minister Boris Johnson’s a strong domestic legisla-
decision to suspend Parlia- tive agenda. Proroguing
ment less than two months Parliament is the legal and
before Britain is due to necessary way of deliver-
leave the European Union ing this.”
was unlawful, a Scottish It noted that another chal-
court ruled Wednesday — lenge to the suspension,
though it said Britain’s top brought by transparency
court must make the final campaigner Gina Miller,
decision. was rejected at the High
Judges at the Court of Ses- Court in London last week.
sion in Edinburgh said the The court ruling deepens
government’s action was Britain’s political deadlock,
illegal “because it had the with Brexit due in about 50
purpose of stymieing Parlia- days.
ment.” Johnson says the country
The judges said the suspen- must leave the EU on Oct.
sion was “null and of no 31, with or without a di-
effect,” but referred the vorce deal to smooth the
matter to Britain’s Supreme way. But many lawmakers
Court for resolution. A hear- Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits Pimlico Primary school in London, Tuesday July 10, 2018, fear a no-deal Brexit would
ing there is due to begin with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to meet staff and students. be economically devastat-
Tuesday. Associated Press ing, and are determined to
After the ruling, opposi- start afresh on his domestic it was a matter for politi- Government, tweeted that stop him.
tion politicians urged the agenda at a new session of cians, not the courts, to de- the ruling “does not (yet) Johnson says he wants to
government to scrap the Parliament next month. But cide. change the prorogation strike a new deal with the
suspension and recall law- the suspension also gives But that was overturned itself. Though of course will bloc after the agreement
makers to Parliament. him a respite from rebel- Wednesday on appeal. add to pressure.” made by his predecessor
A group of about 70 op- lious lawmakers as he plots Jolyon Maugham, a law- Labour Party Brexit spokes- Theresa May was rejected
position lawmakers chal- his next move to break the yer who is part of the claim, man Keir Starmer said the three times by Britain’s Par-
lenged the government’s political deadlock and said he believed “that the court’s ruling was “very liament. But EU officials say
decision to prorogue, or lead Britain out of the EU by effect of the decision is that rare and it’s very strong.” the U.K. has made no con-
formally shut down, Parlia- Oct. 31. Parliament is no longer pro- He said the government crete proposals.
ment, for five weeks un- Opponents argue that rogued.” should immediately recall German Chancellor Ange-
til Oct. 14 — just over two Johnson is trying to evade It was unclear what that Parliament. la Merkel said Wednesday
weeks before Britain is due democratic scrutiny. means in practice. Cath- The British government said that “it’s my firm conviction
to leave the EU. Last week, a court in Ed- erine Haddon, a senior it was disappointed by the that we still have a chance
Johnson claims he took inburgh rejected the law- fellow at independent decision and confirmed it to achieve this in an orderly
the action so that he can makers’ challenge, saying think-tank the Institute for would appeal to the Su- way.”q

Massive rally for Catalonia’s secession in Barcelona

By JOSEPH WILSON minister, Pedro Sánchez,
Associated Press who has tried to thaw ten-
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) sions with Catalonia since
— Hundreds of thousands taking power last year,
of Spaniards who support wrote on Twitter that “To-
the secession of Catalonia day should be a day for all
gathered in Barcelona on Catalans. For the path of
the region’s main holiday dialogue within the Consti-
Wednesday, just weeks be- tution, harmonious coexis-
fore a highly anticipated tence, respect and under-
verdict in a case against standing.”
12 leaders of the separatist This year’s rally comes while
movement. a dozen leaders of Cata-
Supporters of Catalan se- lonia’s 2017 failed attempt
cession came from all parts to secede await a verdict
of the wealthy northeast- from the Supreme Court on
ern region to its main city. charges that include rebel-
Many carried flags or wore lion.
T-shirts supporting Catalan Protesters hold esteladas or independence flags as they take part in a demonstration during the They face spending several
independence as they met Catalan National Day in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019. years behind bars if found
for the rally in a large public Associated Press guilty, and a heavy pun-
square. it has become the date of that around 600,000 people dents are roughly equally ishment would most likely
The Sept. 11 holiday memo- massive rallies for the re- turned out for the event. split between those in favor spark public protests in Cat-
rializes the fall of Barcelona gion’s secessionist move- Polls and the most recent and those against breaking alonia.
in the Spanish War of Suc- ment. election results show that with the rest of Spain. The verdict is expected this
cession in 1714. Since 2012, The Barcelona police said the region’s 7.5 million resi- Spain’s caretaker prime month or next.q