Page 9 - ARUBA TODAY

A9
WORLD NEWS Thursday 13 June 2019

EU asks Italy to better explain debt or face legal action

By LORNE COOK ticular Deputy Premier Mat- ferred with his two populist
FRANCES D’EMILIO teo Salvini, who has been deputy premiers, Salvini
Associated Press emboldened by his right- and Luigi Di Maio, joined by
BRUSSELS (AP) — Europe’s wing League party’s strong Economy Minister Giovanni
economy commissioner on gains in the May EU elec- Tria, who has been trying to
Wednesday urged the Ital- tions. Italy’s debt load is the satisfy the EU and defend
ian government to quickly second-highest in Europe, his government’s agenda.
provide any new informa- after Greece. Many fear Salvini emerged combat-
tion it might have to explain new financial turmoil in Eu- ive as usual toward Brussels.
its high debt levels or face rope should Italy lose con- Speaking on a video on his
the prospect of imminent trol of spending, but the Facebook feed, he said
legal action. government in Rome says it the commission was “dele-
Pierre Moscovici told report- must spend more to jump- gitimized by the vote of
ers that “we stand ready to European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs start growth after years of millions of Europeans,” and
take into account any new Pierre Moscovici pauses before speaking during a media austerity. that Brussels “can’t take
elements that Italy may put conference at EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, June “Italy’s debt ratio is one of decisions or impose choic-
forward, but let’s not waste 12, 2019. the highest in the world,” es or sanctions on govern-
time.” Associated Press Moscovici said, and noted ments and peoples.”
“The ball is in Italy’s court,” intelligent and flexible ap- states must agree for it to that debt servicing alone He said the government
he said. plication of our fiscal rules,” happen, and Moscovici ex- was equivalent to about wants to dialogue with
The European Commission, but he added that “no one pects eurozone countries 1,000 euros ($1,132) a year Europe “as equals and
which supervises budget should be in doubt that we to back the commission’s for every Italian citizen. with equal dignity.” Salvini
plans in the 28 member will apply those rules if the findings at a finance minis- “The high debt is a major denied the government
states, says that Italy’s pub- criteria are not fulfilled.” ters’ meeting Thursday. vulnerability for the econo- would take unpopular
lic debt stood at 132.2% The commission believes an Italy could face billions of my and it’s in Italy’s interest debt-fighting measures like
of GDP in 2018, far above “excessive deficit proce- euros (dollars) in fines, al- to tackle this,” he said. taxing Italians’ savings. In-
the EU’s 60% limit. Debt is dure” should be launched though that is unlikely. In Rome, Italian Premier Gi- stead he pushed for broad-
forecast to rise to 135% this against Italy, and the EU’s The threat of action comes useppe Conte led a hud- er tax amnesties, which
year. financial economics com- at a time of rising tensions dle early Wednesday over he prefers to call “fiscal
Moscovici said the com- mittee agrees that action between Brussels and the the looming possibility of EU peace” initiatives aimed at
mission is “committed to an is warranted. EU member Italian government, in par- disciplinary action. He con- raking in revenues.q

Ex-Algerian PM jailed in sweeping anti-corruption campaign

By AOMAR OUALI amid a people’s revolt to rarely seen in public.
Associated Press do away with the era led Two retired generals who
ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — by ex-President Abdelaziz headed top intelligence
Former Algerian Prime Min- Bouteflika. He resigned units also were jailed on
ister Ahmed Ouyahia was April 2 after two decades in corruption charges.
imprisoned Wednesday office under pressure from Ouyahia was not the only
by a Supreme Court judge weekly anti-government ordered to prison Wednes-
investigating corruption, demonstrations and the day. Abdelghani Zaalane,
taken in a police van to a powerful army chief. former public works and
prison on the outskirts of the The former president’s transport minister, also was
capital. brother, Said Bouteflika, is sent to El Harrach prison,
Numerous journalists saw among a raft of leading fig- the state ENTV channel re-
the van leave the Supreme ures in government and in- ported.
Court for the prison of El dustry jailed on charges of Ouyahia was a major figure
Harrach after Ouyahia In this Monday, Sept. 17, 2018 file photo, Algerian Prime Minister corruption. It is widely be- for years in Algerian politi-
made an hours-long ap- Ahmed Ouyahia listens to a question during a press conference lieved Said Bouteflika held cal life and served several
pearance before the inves- in Algiers, Algeria. the reins of power in Algeria times as prime minister. Like
tigating judge. Video post- Associated Press after the president suffered most of the other people
ed on Twitter by several Al- on the van, which was es- March, was the latest per- a 2013 stroke that left him detained in the corruption
gerian sites showed crowds corted by police. son held in a sweeping unable to speak clearly , investigation, he was close
near the prison pounding Ouyahia, replaced in anti-corruption campaign partially paralyzed — and to President Bouteflika. q