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A8 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 3 sepTember 2019
UK prime minister tells lawmakers to back his Brexit plan

By DANICA KIRKA that he was not backing
Associated Press down on the promise.
LONDON (AP) — British “There are no circumstanc-
Prime Minister Boris Johnson es under which I will ask
shot down the notion that Brussels to delay,” John-
he wanted an early elec- son said. “We’re leaving
tion to secure Brexit, insist- the 31st of October, no ifs
ing Monday that it wasn’t or buts.” Some of the most
the way to get a deal important votes are those
done. of Johnson’s own party
Johnson decried parlia- — particularly those who
mentary action set for Tues- can’t stomach the notion
day that is meant to delay of a no-deal exit. Conser-
Britain’s departure from vative former justice secre-
the European Union, argu- tary David Gauke accused
ing that it would “chop the Johnson of “goading” par-
legs” out of the U.K. posi- ty members to vote against
tion. He spoke moments the government so that
after lawmakers posted a they can be ousted in favor
copy of the proposed bill of lawmakers who support
on Twitter, making clear the prime minister’s more
that they would press the extreme version of Brexit.
government to seek a de- “It’s obviously a particularly
lay if there’s no deal. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks to the media outside 10 Downing Street in London, confrontational approach
“Let’s let our negotiators Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. and, I think, designed,
get on with their work, with- Associated Press frankly, to realign the Con-
out that sword of Damocles lion, Britain’s largest trading Conservative Party who lations. servative Party, to transform
over their necks, and with- partner. opposed his Brexit plans. The deal was defeated in the Conservative Party very
out an election, without an Despite Johnson’s com- The so-called rebels were Britain’s Parliament three much in the direction of a
election,” he said. “I don’t ment, Downing Street said being warned Monday times, largely because of Brexit party,” Gauke told
want an election, you don’t later Monday night that that they will be expelled opposition to clauses re- the BBC.
want an election. Let’s get Johnson would call an ear- from the party if they sup- lated to keeping open the Rumors had swirled that
on with the people’s agen- ly election if his opponents ported the parliamentary border between Ireland Johnson might try to trigger
da.” in Parliament manage to efforts. and Northern Ireland. a no-confidence vote —
Opposition parties are pass legislation that would Johnson insists the potential Time is short for lawmakers taking his message directly
pledging to challenge block his plans for a depar- for a no-deal Brexit must re- to block a no-deal Brexit. to the people to seek their
Johnson’s policy that the ture from the EU by the Oct. main an option in negotia- With 59 days before the support. But because of a
U.K. will leave the EU on 31 deadline. His goal would tions with the EU. The bloc is withdrawal date, and a largely untried law passed
Oct. 31 even if there is no be to gain a majority in a adamant it will not renego- lengthy parliamentary sus- in 2011, he needs the sup-
deal. A no-deal Brexit is new Parliament that would tiate the agreement struck pension in the middle, this port of two-thirds of Parlia-
considered dangerous be- back his Brexit stance. with former Prime Minister week is crunch time. ment to seek an election.
cause it will sever decades The febrile atmosphere Theresa May on the terms Johnson, who took power In this case, that means
of seamless trade with the came after Johnson got of Britain’s departure and in July with a pledge to go getting the support of the
EU single market of 500 mil- tough with members of his the framework of future re- no matter what, insisted Labour Party.q

Tunisia kicks off presidential campaign amid tensions

include Tunisia’s first-ever Sept. 8-10. His arrest shook to the presidential race.
televised presidential de- up the race, with his sup- “It’s an unhealthy climate,”
bate — and a prominent porters saying he’s being said former human rights
candidate may take part politically persecuted and activist Moncef Marzouki,
from a jail cell. electoral authorities strug- who was Tunisia’s provi-
Candidates held rallies gling to maintain a trans- sional leader after the Arab
Monday in Tunis and in parent race and peaceful Spring revolution and is run-
poorer provinces to present atmosphere. Tunisia’s de- ning again for president.
their platforms for the elec- mocracy, born of a 2011 He lamented to The Associ-
tion to replace Tunisia’s first uprising that led to revolts ated Press that candidates
democratically elected across the Arab world, re- are “fighting each other
president, who died in of- mains fragile, and its post- with methods unworthy of
fice in July. revolution leaders have democracy.”
Media magnate Nabil struggled against unem- Marzouki claimed that he
Karoui is considered a ployment, corruption and feared no other candidate,
A woman walks past a wall of campaign posters in Tunis, Tunisia, leading contender, but he Islamic extremism. but rather dirty money, his
Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. is in jail facing accusations The campaign kicked off “most formidable rival.”
Associated Press of money laundering and the same day that a na- Another candidate, De-
By BOUAZZA BEN BOUAZZA cal climate marked by un- tax evasion. The electoral tional guard chief and fense Minister Abdelkrim
Associated Press certainty, money launder- authority approved his three extremists suspected Zbidi, expressed regret at
TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Tuni- ing allegations and worries candidacy, but is await- of plotting attacks were “denigration campaigns”
sia’s 26 presidential candi- about violent extremism. ing a court decision over killed in a shootout near the between candidates, say-
dates launched their cam- The brief campaign for the whether he can take part Algerian border. The clash ing they make Tunisia look
paigns Monday in a politi- Sept. 15 first-round vote will in the televised debates did not appear to be linked bad internationally. q