Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Monday 6 February 2017

Far-right hopeful: French election ‘choice of civilization’

speak our French lan- Francois Hollande who de-
guage?” cided not to seek a new
On Saturday, the party mandate.
published Le Pen’s 144 The right’s leading candi-
“commitments,” a nation- date, Francois Fillon, has
alist agenda that envisions been caught up in a cor-
a France unshackled from ruption scandal, opening
the European Union and the way for maverick cen-
NATO and that ensures trist Emmanuel Macron --
work, health care and who could face off Le Pen.
other services for its own The chances for Macron, a
citizens amid drastically re- rebel from the Socialist Par-
duced immigration. ty, were unclear.
She said she is defending Le Pen has been a leader
both France’s material and in early polls, which place
immaterial heritage, “which her at the top in the April 23
has no price.” Echoing U.S. first-round vote but not win-
President Donald Trump’s ning the May 7 runoff.
“America First” pledge, Le If elected, she envisions a
Pen proposes amending “government of national
the French Constitution to unity” formed after June
include the words “national legislative elections.
preference.” Le Pen told the crowd at
Far-right leader presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, center, stands among party officials at Running on a campaign the congress center in the
the end of a conference in Lyon, France, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017. Britain’s decision to leave the Eu- slogan of “In the Name of southeastern city of Lyon
ropean Union and the election of U.S. President Donald Trump have given the French a “reason the People,” Le Pen called that globalization is “eras-
to vote” because it can result in real change, the top lieutenant of far-right French presidential out for French “patriots” on ing” France and Islamic
candidate Marine Le Pen declared Sunday ahead of her long-awaited speech. the left and right to join with fundamentalism is “plant-
(AP Photo/Michel Euler) her. ing itself in some neighbor-
ELAINE GANLEY party conference, calling spring presidential election. In politics, “the division is hoods ... and vulnerable
Associated Press them “two totalitarianisms” “We are at a crossroad.... no longer right-left (but) minds.”
LYON, France (AP) — threatening France. This election is a choice of patriot-globalist,” she said. Le Pen listed Muslim veils,
French far-right presidential To applause and cries of civilization,” she said, ask- “You have your place at mosques or prayer in the
candidate Marine Le Pen “On est chez nous” (We are ing whether her three chil- our side.” streets of France as unac-
blasted globalization and in our land), Le Pen served dren and other young citi- The National Front has tak- ceptable cultural dangers
Islamic fundamentalism in up the grand themes of the zens would have the rights en heart in the disarray of that “no French person ...
her closing speech Sunday party that have made her and culture of the current the left with the unpopu- attached to his dignity can
of a two-day National Front a leader in early polls of the generation. “Will they even larity of Socialist President accept.”q
Rebels in Ukraine say commander is killed in a car bombing

INNA VARENYTSIA Ukraine, killing at least 33 The surge in violence be- fire.” The Ukrainian presi- called to allow workers on
Associated Press people, including civilians, gan the day after Russian dent thanked Trump for both sides to restore elec-
AVDIIVKA, Ukraine (AP) — and wounding several doz- President Vladimir Putin his “strong support for the tricity to freezing residents
A top rebel commander in en. More than 9,800 people spoke by telephone with sovereignty and territorial as shelling eased for much
eastern Ukraine was killed have died since the war Trump for the first time since integrity of Ukraine.” of the day. But the Ukraini-
along with another person began in April 2014. Trump entered the White The White House said Trump an military said rebel forces
when their car exploded, The rebels’ Lugansk Infor- House. had a “very good call” with began a mortar barrage of
rebels said Saturday, blam- mation Center reported Poroshenko has cast the Poroshenko. “We will work Avdiivka in the evening.
ing Ukraine’s special servic- Saturday that Lugansk Peo- outburst of fighting as an with Ukraine, Russia, and The daily shelling has left lo-
es for the blast. ple’s Militia commander argument for continuing all other parties involved to cals in the industrial town of
Ukraine’s military, mean- Oleg Anashchenko died in Western sanctions imposed help them restore peace about 35,000 traumatized.
while, said three soldiers the explosion along with an on Moscow for its actions in along the border,” Trump Olga Duzhikova’s apart-
were killed in shelling over unnamed person. Ukraine. said in a statement. ment was hit by a shell.
the past day. Ukrainian President Petro During Saturday’s call, a The government-held town “I lost my head. I don’t
Fighting between govern- Poroshenko spoke late Sat- statement issued by Po- of Avdiivka, just north of the know what I felt — I took
ment forces and Russia- urday with President Don- roshenko’s office said the main rebel-controlled city my kids to hide them and I
backed separatist reb- ald Trump, who he said two leaders “noted the of Donetsk, has been the was waiting for someone to
els has escalated over expressed “deep concern” urgent necessity of estab- focus of the fighting. A tem- help me leave the place,”
the past week in eastern over the escalation. lishing a complete cease- porary cease-fire had been she said.q