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A8 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 15 September 2018

Spanish PM publishes thesis to dispel plagiarism allegations

Associated Press Sanchez surprised observ-
MADRID (AP) — Spanish ers of Spanish politics in
Prime Minister Pablo San- June when he succeeded
chez published his doc- in ousting his predeces-
toral thesis online Friday to sor with a vote of no con-
deflect any doubts over its fidence. While he won
existence and refute alle- early praise for leading a
gations of plagiarism raised cabinet with a majority of
by media and the political women, opening ports to
opposition. migrants and offering an
A day earlier Sanchez, a So- olive branch to the strong
cialist, wrote on Facebook separatist movement in
that he considered the pla- Catalonia, a cabinet mem-
giarism allegations a “per- ber resigned within a week
sonal attack” by opposition of taking the oath after
parties in the absence of a an undisclosed tax fine
“solid political project.” emerged.
He also threatened to take Sanchez’s minority govern-
legal action against ABC ment, with only 84 Social-
newspaper and other me- ist lawmakers in the 350-
dia that published stories seat lower house of the
arguing that passages of parliament, has also been
his “Spain’s Economic Di- Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez steps out of the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, Spain, marred by erratic policies
plomacy, 2010-2012” dis- Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. and increasing criticism, re-
sertation had been copied Associated Press versing decisions to accept
from other researchers’ cabinet, who both stepped the Popular Party’s Pablo low to be copied, and also migrants crossing from Mo-
works. down amid allegations that Casado, who graduated learned that Sanchez had rocco, to authorize a sex
Doctored or exaggerated they had obtained mas- from the same university. not authorized online cop- workers union and, just this
resumes have backfired in ter’s degrees at the same Media lined up at the library ies. Amid mounting pres- week, to halt arm sales to
Spanish politics in the past, private public policy insti- of Sanchez’s alma mater sure, the thesis was finally Saudi Arabia.
but academic misdeeds tute in Madrid without ap- in Madrid on Wednesday uploaded on Friday to an He lost his second cabi-
uncovered by the media parently showing up for shortly after another op- Education Ministry online net member on Tuesday
have led to political turmoil classes or by copying pas- position leader, Citizens’ directory for academic re- when Health Minister Car-
and a string of high-pro- sages of their papers. Albert Rivera, dared the searchers. The prime min- men Monton resigned
file resignations in recent Courts in Madrid have prime minister to publish ister’s office also issued a over irregularities found in
months. opened an investigation his thesis to dispel “reason- statement saying the thesis the way she obtained her
They include the conser- and the Supreme Court able doubts” over its exis- had passed plagiarism tests master’s degree, including
vative former president of is separately probing the tence. The journalists found of two specialized pieces chunks of the final thesis
the Madrid region and a degree obtained by the a single printed copy that of software used by aca- copied from websites and
health minister in Sanchez’s current opposition leader, the university wouldn’t al- demics. other works.q

No joke as ex-comic becomes Slovenia’s new prime minister

By JOVANA GEC elevation of a moderate thing,” Sarec said Thursday
Associated Press government spells a turning in parliament. “It is time to
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) point in the region. start working now.”
— Slovenia’s new prime “At stake now is Europe, One of the mainstays of
minister used to make peo- more than Slovenia,” said Sarec’s act was imperson-
ple laugh. Handling the dis- Janez Markes, an analyst ating former prime minister,
parate demands of his five- for the Delo newspaper. Janez Jansa, who is now his
party coalition government “Slovenia at this moment, I main right-wing opponent.
is unlikely to leave much hate to say it, is not part of With a group of young art-
time for jokes. the problem.” ists, Sarec hosted a satirical
Once a satirist who imper- The success of the new radio show dubbed ‘Radio
sonated prominent politi- government could depend Ga Ga’ that was popular
cians, Marjan Sarec has heavily on whether Sarec, throughout Slovenia in the
taken the helm of a largely In this Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017 file photo, Slovenian presidential who gave up a successful 1990s. Some of his perfor-
centrist government — a candidate Marjan Sarec talks to the media in Ljubljana, Slovenia. acting career when he first mances show Sarec alter-
Associated Press
rare phenomenon, at least entered politics, proves he ing his voice to mock poli-
recently, in Central Europe slim and the right-wing op- Thursday when the new is up to the task. ticians’ accents, singing or
where populists have been position is not going to give government was narrowly Sarec served twice as the screaming with a kitchen
on the march from Italy to Sarec a honeymoon in of- endorsed. Only half the mayor of his native Kam- cloth on his head as an al-
Poland. fice. Enacting too many 90-member backed the nik, in central Slovenia be- ternative poet.
Sarec, who has become reforms is not going to be government, just enough fore gaining prominence Saso Hribar, a journalist who
Slovenia’s youngest ever easy in that environment to keep away from power when he forced a presi- worked with Sarec, says he
premier at 40, will face a and that could potentially the anti-immigrant allies of dential runoff vote last year remembers the new prime
tough job keeping the mi- lead to disgruntlement in a Hungary’s Prime Minister against veteran politician minister as highly profes-
nority government afloat. country of just 2 million peo- Viktor Orban. Borut Pahor. “It is easier to sional and considers him
After all, the government’s ple. The tight parliamenta- Analysts warned it is too observe from the side and thoroughly prepared for his
majority in parliament is ry arithmetic was evident early to say whether the criticize than to do some- any of his roles.q