Page 9 - ARUBA TODAY

A9
WORLD NEWS Friday 21 april 2017
Labour leader says UK election ‘establishment vs people’

election pitted “the estab- States to France.
lishment vs. the people” To a crowd of supporters
and insisted the result is not and journalists in London,
a foregone conclusion. he said that the old rules
Labour trails a long way drawn up by political and
behind Prime Minister The- economic elites no longer
resa May’s Conservatives apply.
in opinion polls, and many “I don’t play by their rules,
within the party believe and if a Labour govern-
67-year-old socialist Cor- ment is elected on the 8th
byn is too left-wing to con- of June we won’t play by
nect with voters. their rules either,” he said.
Bookmaker Ladbrokes “They are yesterday’s rules,
gives Labour 12-1 odds of set by failed political and
winning the snap election corporate elites we should
called by May this week. be consigning to the past.”
Polls suggest the party Corbyn made little mention
could lose dozens of their of the biggest issue over-
current 229 seats in Parlia- shadowing the election —
ment. The Conservatives Brexit. Britons voted by 52-
currently hold 330 of the 48 percent in June 2016 to
650 seats. leave the European Union,
In his first major speech of and May says re-electing
Britain’s Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, waves to supporters at an election campaign event the campaign, Corbyn her with a bigger major-
in Church House, London Thursday April 20, 2017. Britain will hold a general election on Thursday echoed anti-establishment ity will strengthen the U.K.’s
June 8, 2017. sentiment that has upend- hand in divorce negotia-
(Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP)
ed politics from the United tions with the bloc.q
JILL LAWLESS paign on Thursday, paint-
Associated Press ing himself as a populist
LONDON (AP) — Fac- outsider who will overturn a
ing steep odds and low “rigged” political and eco-
popularity ratings, Britain’s nomic system.
main opposition leader Labour Party chief Jeremy
launched his election cam- Corbyn said the June 8
Obama offers France’s Macron
luck, advice ahead of election

JOSH LEDERMAN former U.S. president.
Associated Press Obama’s office an-
PARIS/WASHINGTON (AP) nounced the call in a short
— Former President Barack statement. It stressed that
Obama waded into Obama wasn’t formally
France’s closely watched endorsing any candidate
presidential election on in the race.
Thursday, offering centrist But Macron’s team re-
candidate Emmanuel Ma- leased a video recording
cron his best wishes — and on Twitter of Macron talk-
even a bit of campaign ing to Obama on speak-
advice. erphone. Obama’s voice
In a phone call three days could be heard on the
before France’s first round other end. It was a highly
of voting, Obama stopped unusual move as conversa-
short of an official endorse- tions among politicians are
ment as he wished Macron usually kept private.
“good luck.” Drawing on It was unclear if Macron
his own political expertise, received permission to re-
he urged the upstart can- lease the recording of parts
didate not to take anything of the call. An Obama
for granted. spokesman wouldn’t say if
“Make sure that, as you Obama or his aides autho-
said, you work hard all the rized Macron to release it.
way through,” Obama Macron faces off against
said. “Because you never anti-establishment popu-
know, it might be that last lists and other candidates
day of campaigning that in a first-round vote Sun-
makes all the difference.” day. The outcome is be-
Replied Macron, “I will ing closely watched for
do my best, believe me.” signs that Europe is moving
Speaking in English, he toward nationalist candi-
vowed to “fight to the last dates who advocate the
minute” and said he’d European Union’s dissolu-
“keep in touch” with the tion. q