Page 8 - aruba-today-20190518

A8 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 18 May 2019
EU citizens in UK to use EU vote to have a say on Brexit

By JILL LAWLESS Polish citizen who has done
Associated Press his bit in politics elsewhere,”
LONDON (AP) — Hedwig Vincent-Rostowski said.
Hegtermans has lived in “Brexit is collapsing under
Britain for two decades, the weight of its own inter-
but she didn’t have a vote nal contradictions. And if
when the country decided something bad is collaps-
in 2016 to leave the Euro- ing I think it’s a good idea
pean Union. She’s deter- to give it a push. That’s
mined to have her say on what I’m trying to do.”
Brexit now. Chipper and polite — “Can
An election for the Europe- I give you a leaflet mad-
an Parliament being held am?” — he got a reason-
this month in all 28 EU mem- ably warm reception in
ber states — including the suburban Ealing, a diverse
not-yet-departed U.K. — is London district that voted
giving Hegtermans and 60% for remaining in the
other Europeans in Britain European Union. Several
the chance to pass judg- Poles recognized him, stop-
ment on the Brexit decision ping to chat or film him on
that left their lives in limbo. their phones.
“It is a way for people to But this is a heated and
voice their frustration,” said In this Tuesday, May 14, 2019, photo, a supporter of Change UK party holds a poster advertising for bad-tempered election.
Hegtermans, a Dutch citi- voting in the European election in London. Both of Britain’s main par-
zen and member of The 3 Associated Press ties — the governing Con-
Million, a lobby group for EU we were the people who tion in Britain in years — but in U.K. national elections. servative and opposition
citizens in Britain. will be affected the most,” it shouldn’t be happening. That’s why a former finance Labour — are bracing for
Like other non-U.K. EU na- Hegtermans said. The U.K. was due to have minister of Poland could be a hammering as voters frus-
tionals, she was not eligible She said the May 23 elec- left the EU by now. found recently standing trated by the Brexit impasse
to vote in Britain’s EU mem- tion to fill the U.K.’s 73 seats Instead, British politicians outside a suburban London turn to parties promising ei-
bership referendum three in the 751-seat EU legisla- are deadlocked over de- subway station, thrusting ther a definitive break with
years ago — and like them ture “is one way for us to let parture terms and Brexit anti-Brexit leaflets at tired the EU or a chance to re-
she saw her automatic right our voices (be) heard.” has been postponed from commuters. Jan Vincent- main in the bloc.
to live and work in Britain The result of next week’s March 29 until Oct. 31 while Rostowski, a London-born Thousands of Brexiteers
whipped away by the Brex- election won’t directly af- they try to sort out the mess. economist who served in a across the country are
it decision. (The British gov- fect Brexit. But it will be in- So Britain is taking part, center-right Polish govern- flocking to rallies for the
ernment says all 3 million EU terpreted as a test of public and the contest here is ment between 2007 and new Brexit Party led by for-
citizens in Britain can stay, sentiment — almost a mini- dominated by candidates 2013, is a candidate for the mer U.K. Independence
but they have to apply for referendum — and could promising either to speed newly former pro-EU party Party leader Nigel Farage,
“settled status” through sway politicians to take a up Brexit or throw it into re- Change UK. who accuses the govern-
a somewhat glitch-prone harder or softer course as verse gear. “I thought that was some- ment of betraying Brexit
new registration process). Britain heads for the exit Pro-European parties are thing I could bring to the and wants Britain to walk
“We did not have a vote in door. eager to attract votes from campaign, being both a away from the bloc even if
the referendum, we could That makes this the most EU citizens, who can vote in British citizen — a Londoner there is no divorce deal to
not voice anything while high-profile European elec- European polls though not born and bred — but also a smooth the way.q

Greek far-left killer in intensive care after hunger strike

By NICHOLAS PAPHITIS monitoring Friday in a hos- transferal from a maximum-
Associated Press pital in the central town of security Athens jail to a
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Volos. Following prosecutor laxer unit near Volos, have
Greece’s top prosecutor Dimitriou’s order, supreme been criticized as unduly
late Friday ordered a re- court judges will meet in lenient by relatives of No-
view of a decision to deny coming days to decide vember 17’s victims and
temporary leave from pris- whether Koufodinas’ bid U.S. authorities.
on to a hunger-striking ex- for a furlough should be re- Professing a mixture of
tremist who is serving multi- examined. Marxism and nationalism,
ple life terms for 11 murders Koufodinas, 61, has vowed November 17 killed 23 peo-
by the country’s deadliest to continue his hunger ple from 1975-2000, includ-
far-left group. strike “to the end” unless ing Americans and other
The move by supreme authorities allow him a new foreign diplomats.
court prosecutor Xeni Dimi- temporary prison leave. He Koufodinas has claimed
triou came hours after Dimi- In this Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017 file photo, Dimitris Koufodinas had been granted six fur- “political responsibility” for
tris Koufodinas, the main hit smiles as he leaves Korydallos prison in western Athens. loughs since late 2017, but the group’s acts. He was
man of the now-defunct Associated Press last week judges ruled that convicted in 2003 and is
November 17 group, was granted a new furlough has is not life-threatening, al- he still poses a threat to so- serving 11 life terms.
placed in intensive care triggered violent protests though his lawyer warned ciety and should not be let Koufodinas’ lawyer, Ioanna
due to the effects of his by left-wing sympathizers. that his health is deterio- out temporarily. These brief Kourtovik, said he could
15-day hunger strike. Kou- Greece’s health ministry rating fast. Koufodinas was leaves from prison, com- suffer kidney failure “at any
fodinas’ campaign to be said Koufodinas’ condition moved to intensive care for bined with Koufodinas’ moment.”q