Page 9 - aruba-today-20190622

A9
WORLD NEWS Saturday 22 June 2019
Turkey: Erdogan's party dominance tested in repeat poll

Associated Press said Can Selcuki, general
ISTANBUL (AP) — Millions of manager of the Istanbul
voters in Istanbul go back Economics Research think
to the polls for a controver- tank. "The budget of Istan-
sial mayoral election re-run bul is larger than some sov-
Sunday, as President Re- ereign GDPs of small coun-
cep Tayyip Erdogan's party tries."
tries to wrest back control The loss of Istanbul in March
of Turkey's largest city. was a blow to Erdogan's
The high-profile vote is tak- 25-year dominance of the
ing place because Turkey's city as mayor and backer.
top election authority ruled He was born in the city and
in favor of Erdogan's Jus- began his political career
tice and Development Par- as mayor. He once fa-
ty, AKP, and canceled the mously said: "Whoever wins
result of the March 31 vote Istanbul wins the whole of
for mayor of Istanbul, which Turkey."
had given a narrow victory Erdogan has dominated
to opposition candidate Turkish politics for the past
Ekrem Imamoglu. The deci- 16 years, but a loss could
sion cited a breach of laws put him on shaky politi-
concerning the composi- cal ground. News media
tion of officials overseeing reports suggest there is
the vote. In this Wednesday, June 19, 2019 photo, supporters of Ekrem Imamoglu, candidate of the secular growing dissent within his
opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, cheer as he speaks at a rally in Istanbul, ahead of
The controversial deci- the June 23 re-run of Istanbul elections. party, with former party
sion fueled concerns over Associated Press heavyweights including ex-
democracy and the rule President Abdullah Gul and
of law in Turkey, a NATO ugees to Europe. the Islamic-based AKP is lion, straddling Europe and former prime minister Ah-
member that is still formally The race for Istanbul is entering the election with Asia, is Turkey's financial, met Davutoglu reportedly
a candidate to join the Eu- seen as a test of Erdogan's its democratic credentials commercial and cultur- preparing to launch break-
ropean Union. Turkey is also popularity amid a sharp dented for triggering the al center, with a budget away parties. The two men
a key Western ally in the economic downturn, rising repeat vote. worth $8.8 billion last year. have openly criticized AKP
fight against terrorism and unemployment and high The election is important "It's very risky for any politi- for seeking a redo of the Is-
in stemming the flow of ref- food prices. To its critics, because the city of 15 mil- cal party to lose Istanbul," tanbul vote.q

Spain's top court convicts 5 men in gang rape case

Associated Press was aggravated by being
MADRID (AP) — Spain's performed in a group.
Supreme Court on Friday The victim didn't consent to
overruled two lower courts the acts, the judges said,
and sentenced five men to and was subjected to 10
15 years in prison for raping acts of sexual aggression
an 18-year-old woman. in "a genuinely intimidating
The case had triggered an scene." They found that the
outcry because the lower men also made videos of
courts last year convicted their attack.
the men of the lesser crime Prosecutors said the men
of sexual abuse and hand- boasted about the 2016 at-
ed down nine-year sen- tack during Pamplona's San
tences. Fermin festival on a What-
The public prosecutor, the sApp group named "La
victim and regional au- Manada," or "The Animal
thorities appealed to the Pack." The case brought
Supreme Court, asking for widespread criticism from
a rape conviction and lon- women's groups after the
ger sentences. The men's first court agreed to study a
lawyers wanted them ac- defense detective's report
quitted, arguing that the Women protest after Spain's top court found five men known as the "La Manada," or "The Animal on the woman's behavior
woman consented. Pack" guilty of rape outside the Supreme Court in Madrid, Spain, Friday, June 21, 2019. after the incident, which
Women's rights advocates Associated Press some said made it appear
had expressed anger the victim was on trial.
about what they saw as "We are delighted that jus- journey to get here has The judges heard both Viviana Waisman, presi-
the lower court's leniency tice has finally prevailed in been long, and caused the sides' arguments in a tele- dent of the international
and the confirmation of this horrific case and that woman involved further un- vised session Friday and nonprofit organization
that sentence by a sec- the rights of the survivor necessary and avoidable gave their verdict after just Women's Link Worldwide,
ond court. They have held have been upheld," said suffering. two hours. which pursues social
national protests since the Massimo Moratti, the hu- "This case shows exactly They said that, in accor- change through the law,
2017 verdict. man rights group's deputy why it's so crucial for Spain's dance with legal prece- said that courts too often
Amnesty International wel- director of the European Penal Code to be amend- dent, the attack could be doubt the victims and fail
comed the ruling. regional office. "But the ed," he said in a statement. classified as rape, which to protect them.q