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A8 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 19 december 2018

Belgian PM offers to resign after migration tears government

By LORNE COOK In a tweet, the Royal Pal- tion treaty was signed just
Associated Press ace said Philippe had re- over a week ago.
BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgian ceived Michel and was The accord is non-binding,
Prime Minister Charles Mi- "withholding his decision" but the N-VA said it still went
chel submitted his resigna- about what steps to take too far and would give
tion Tuesday amid pressure next. even migrants who were in
on his government after the Belgian media said the king Belgium without authoriza-
biggest coalition party quit would meet party leaders tion many additional rights.
over Michel's support for a Wednesday before decid- The party launched an
United Nations compact ing whether to accept the in-your-face social me-
on international migration. resignation the prime min- dia campaign against the
"I am taking the decision to ister tendered on behalf compact, featuring pic-
offer my resignation. I am of himself and his govern- tures of Muslim women
now going to see the king" ment. with their faces covered
to inform him," Michel told Michel could be invited to and claiming that the ac-
Belgian lawmakers. In this file photo dated Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, Belgian Prime lead a caretaker govern- cord focused on allow-
Before the prime minister Minister Charles Michel arrives for an EU summit in Brussels. ment until an election can ing migrants to retain the
gave his notice, lawmak- Associated Press be held. cultural practices of their
ers had been demanding It's the first time the king homelands. But it quickly
he submit his new minor- topics up for debate. ber of government minis- has faced such a crisis. He withdrew the materials af-
ity government to a confi- Some in the assembly ters, and left. Michel made ascended to the throne in ter the campaign received
dence vote. But Michel re- pushed for an election to no comment to reporters 2013 after his father, King widespread criticism.
fused, and a confrontation be held before the regu- upon entering and leav- Albert II, abdicated for A number of governments
this week seemed likely. larly scheduled one in May. ing Belgian King Philippe's health reasons. refused to sign the U.N.
Michel tried to convince Michel again refused, say- residence, the Palace of The right-wing N-VA party Global Compact Global
the Chamber of Repre- ing it would only lead to Laeken in Brussels. quit the government after Compact for Safe, Orderly
sentatives of the reshaped "stagnation for the whole of The king holds a largely Michel sought parliamen- and Regular Migration.
government's plans and 2019." After a short break for symbolic role in Belgium but tary approval to support They included the United
said he would be ready reflection, he announced becomes a pivotal figure the U.N. compact against States, but also a group of
to work with the opposi- he was resigning instead. after inconclusive elections its wishes, branding his mi- European Union countries,
tion, but his overtures were As lawmakers applauded, or disputes like the current nority government "the among them Austria which
rejected. His 2019 budget he picked up his briefcase, one require the formation Marrakech coalition," after holds the EU's rotating presi-
was among the sensitive shook the hands of a num- of new governments. the city where the migra- dency until Dec. 31.q

Spanish court gears up for high-stakes trial of separatists

By ARITZ PARRA neys who argued the trial ary.
Associated Press should be heard by the top Four defendants are three
MADRID (AP) — A prelimi- regional court in Catalonia weeks into a prison hunger
nary hearing in a rebellion rather than Spain's highest strike to protest what they
case against Catalan sep- court in Madrid. deem unfair treatment by
aratists Tuesday displayed Prosecutors countered that Spain's judiciary. Central
some of the dynamics be- Madrid was the proper ven- government authorities say
tween defense and pros- ue, saying the events that there is no reason for the
ecutors expected during led regional lawmakers to strike and the defendants'
a trial that is likely to domi- make a unilateral declara- rights are guaranteed by
nate Spanish politics. tion of independence on Spain's independent judi-
Altogether, 18 former poli- Oct. 27, 2017 had ramifica- ciary.
ticians and activists from tions outside of Catalonia. The "trial of the century," as
the Catalonia region are The country's top court also it's been labeled by domes-
charged with rebellion, se- has jurisdiction, prosecutors Spanish judges preside over a preliminary hearing at the Su- tic media, has taken a high
dition, disobedience and argued, because the se- preme Court in Madrid, Tuesday Dec. 18, 2018. political significance. Sepa-
misuse of public funds for cession attempt affected Associated Press ratists in the northeastern re-
their parts in an attempt all Spaniards. gion have made clear that
to secede from Spain last Supreme Court judges re- later this week. Jordi Sanchez and 16 other they will use proceedings
year. jected similar defense ap- If the top court keeps the defendants are expected to prove that they are be-
At Tuesday's hearing, a peals during the investiga- case, former Catalan Vice to appear there when the ing tried for their ideas, and
panel of seven magistrates tive stage of the case. A President Oriol Junqueras, trial proceedings get un- in particular for advancing
heard from defense attor- final decision is expected activist-turned-politician derway at the end of Janu- a secessionist agenda.q