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A8 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 20 april 2017
Back to the ballot box: UK lawmakers approve June 8 election

JILL LAWLESS from voters and produce
Associated Press a bigger Conservative ma-
LONDON (AP) — British vot- jority.
ers will be heading to poll- May’s Conservatives cur-
ing stations for the third rently hold 330 House of
time since 2015, after law- Commons seats and La-
makers overwhelmingly bour 229.
backed Prime Minister The- Liberal Democrat leader
resa May’s call for a snap Tim Farron said that, for
election on June 8. May, calling the election
The parliamentary election is “the political equivalent
comes less than a year af- of taking candy from a
ter Britain voted to leave baby.”
the European Union, and “She expects a coronation
will likely be dominated by and not a contest,” Farron
the political and econom- said, urging voters to back
ic upheaval spawned by his strongly pro-EU party to
Brexit. stop a Conservative land-
May, who took office in slide. The Lib Dems cur-
July after an internal Con- rently have just nine seats
servative Party leadership in Parliament.
race, wants the election May dismissed criticism of
to increase her majority in Britain’s Prime Minister, Theresa May, at a rally with supporters in Walmsley Parish Hall, Bolton, Eng- her decision to call voters
Parliament and consoli- land, as she asked voters for the mandate to lead post-Brexit Britain ahead of the looming elec- back to polling booths for
date her power as she fac- tion campaign, Wednesday April 19, 2017. Lawmakers voted Wednesday by a resounding 522 the third time in just over 24
es both pro-EU opposition to 13 to back May’s call for an election, easily surpassing the two-thirds majority in the 650-seat months.
politicians and hard-core House of Commons needed to trigger an early vote. (Andrew Yates/PA via AP) A national election in May
Brexit-backers inside her 2015 was followed by the
own party. stable leadership” for Brexit “That would be in nobody’s Labour leader Jeremy June 2016 referendum
Lawmakers voted Wednes- and beyond, and prom- interest,” May said. Corbyn said the election on EU membership.
day by a resounding 522 to ising to wage “a positive Now that lawmakers have “gives the British people She said the early ballot
13 to back May’s call for and optimistic campaign.” approved the election, the chance to vote for a would strengthen Britain’s
an election, easily surpass- Earlier, May said holding Parliament will be dissolved Labour government that negotiating hand with the
ing the two-thirds majority an election in June, rather at midnight on May 2, 25 will put the interests of the 27-member EU.
in the 650-seat House of than as scheduled in 2020, working days before elec- majority first.” “Brexit isn’t just about the
Commons needed to trig- would “deliver a more se- tion day. Despite Corbyn’s bravado, letter that says we want
ger an early vote. cure future for our country” The opposition Labour Par- his party is demoralized to leave. It’s about ... get-
May wasted no time, go- as it negotiates its depar- ty and Liberal Democrats and divided under his left- ting the right deal from Eu-
ing from the vote in Parlia- ture from the EU. welcomed the chance to wing leadership and is ex- rope,” May said.
ment to kick off her cam- She said that waiting un- put their policies to voters, pected to fare badly. Polls EU officials say Britain’s sur-
paign with a speech in to til 2020 would mean the though the Scottish Nation- give the Conservatives a prise election will not inter-
supporters northwestern “most sensitive” part of al Party called the election double-digit lead over La- rupt the bloc’s preparations
England. the two-year Brexit nego- a cynical political ploy. Its bour, and May is gambling for Brexit talks — though
She said the Conservatives tiations would come during lawmakers abstained dur- that an election will deliver they will slightly delay the
would provide “strong and the run-up to an election. ing Wednesday’s vote. her a personal mandate start of negotiations.q

French candidates boost security ahead of tense vote

PARIS (AP) — A feel-good tial candidate Benoit Ham- the campaign with her an- The candidates have in- group CFCM, Anouar Kbi-
Paris concert, a meeting on held what is seen as a ti-immigration, anti-EU pro- creased security in recent bech.
with Muslim leaders and a last-chance rally and con- posals, is appealing to her days. In a statement afterward,
blowout rally in Marseille — cert. Hamon is polling a electoral base in hopes of Independent centrist can- Macron insisted on the
France’s presidential can- distant fifth place ahead of maintaining a shot at the didate Emmanuel Ma- importance of respecting
didates are blanketing the Sunday’s first-round elec- runoff. cron reached out to the France’s secular traditions
country Wednesday with tion and has little chance She assailed recent gov- French Muslim community but said they shouldn’t be
campaign events to try to of reaching the decisive ernments for failing to stop Wednesday, saying it’s used to target Muslims.
inspire undecided voters May 7 runoff — a failure extremist attacks in recent fighting on a “common Some Muslims feel unfairly
just four days before a nail- that could crush his party. years and warned on BFM front” alongside the state targeted by French laws
biting election. French far-right presiden- television that “we are all against Islamic extremism. banning headscarves in
Crowds danced on a Paris tial candidate Marine Le targets. Macron met with the head schools and full-face veils
plaza as Socialist presiden- Pen, who has dominated All the French.” of leading French Muslim in public.q