Page 8 - AT

A8 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 9 april 2019
Euroskeptic, populist parties form alliance in Europe

MILAN (AP) — Euroskeptic political parties with com-
populist parties formed a mon ideology then unite
new and expanded right- in EU-wide groups, like the
wing alliance on Monday center-right EPP, the cen-
that aims to become the ter-left S&D Socialists
strongest faction in the Eu- or the liberal, pro-business
ropean Parliament and ALDE.
seeks to radically transform The new euroskeptic alli-
European Union policies on ance, launched under the
migration, security, family banner "Toward a Europe of
and environment. common sense," expands
Italy's hard-line interior min- on the parliament's four-
ister, Matteo Salvini, leader year-old Europe of Nations
of the anti-migrant League and Freedom Group (ENF),
party, told a news confer- which already includes
ence in Milan that the goal France's far-right National
of the new movement in Rally, Austria's Freedom
the EU-wide elections next Party and the Netherland's
month was to "win and Party for Freedom.
change Europe." From left, Olli Kotro, leader of The Finns Party, Jörg Meuthen, leader of Alternative For Germany Salvini was joined Monday
party, Matteo Salvini, Italian deputy-Premier and leader of the League party, and Anders Vistisen,
He was joined by represen- leader of the Danish People's Party, join hands prior to the start of a press conference, in Milan, by the far-right Alternative
tatives of populist parties Monday, April 8, 2019. for Germany's co-leader
from Germany, Finland and Associated Press Joerg Meuthen, Olli Kotro
Denmark. of the euroskeptic populist
At the top of their common acterizations that the Brussels. Today, we look to be a tipping point in party The Finns, and Anders
agenda, the right-wing movement, which includes ahead with a clear memo- post-war European politics, Vistisen of the right-wing,
euroskeptics demanded far-right parties, is made up ry of what happened in the if traditional political pow- populist Danish People's
a halt to all illegal migra- of political extremists flirting past, but the tired debate erhouses lose support and Party. Those parties now
tion, stronger European with Europe's totalitarian of right, left, fascist, com- extremist, populist parties come from other parlia-
borders, restoring political history. munist, is not what makes gain more clout. mentary groups, the Euro-
sovereignty to EU nations "Today at this table there us passionate." The vote, which involves pean Conservatives and
and protecting what they are no nostalgic extrem- Political experts say the 705 seats this year, is run as Reformists (ECR) and the
called "European culture." ists," Salvini said. "The only May 23-26 European Par- national ballots in each of Europe of Freedom and Di-
Salvini rejected any char- nostalgics are in power in liament vote could prove the bloc's states. National rect Democracy (EFDD).q

Young German activists demand earlier coal-burning deadline

By FRANK JORDANS backdrop to illustrate the sions are still several times
Associated Press consequences of inaction those of developing na-
BERLIN (AP) — Young Ger- on climate change. tions, she said.
man activists who have Germany has been a vo- The group's demands are
staged weekly "school cal supporter of the 2015 unlikely to find favor with
strikes" to bring attention to Paris climate accord's most German businesses, which
climate change issued de- ambitious goal of cap- already are wary of the
mands Monday that would ping global temperature rising cost of energy . And
require Germany's govern- rises at 1.5 degrees Celsius politicians worry about
ment to adopt measures (2.7 F) compared to pre- provoking citizens given
far more ambitious than industrial times by the end how public anger over fuel
current plans for to curbing of the century. Thousands tax hikes led to protests in
greenhouse gas emissions. of scientists have publicly France that notched their
The six key actions listed backed the student pro- 21st consecutive week
by Fridays For Future, the tests, saying Germany can't Saturday. Still, the student
group that organized the reach the goal with current protests, inspired by Swed-
strikes by secondary school policies. ish teenage activist Gre-
and university students, in- Young protestors march with a sign reading 'We will go to school "We're simply demanding ta Thunberg, have also
if you keep the climate cool!' during a climate strike of school
clude moving forward the students as part of the Fridays for Future movement in the city that the goals of the Paris caught the attention of
timeline for Germany to center of Duisburg, Friday, April 5, 2019. Agreement and the 1.5-de- leaders in Germany and
phase-out coal-fired power Associated Press gree target are adhered elsewhere. Last month ,
plants. to," Sana Strahinjic, another hundreds of thousands
A government-appoint- its energy from renewable it to the adults," Fridays for Fridays For Future member, around the world skipped
ed expert panel recently sources and cut net green- Future representative Linus said. school to call for climate
agreed that coal burning house gas emissions to zero Steinmetz said. "But in the Germany has a special action. Andreas Kuebler, a
should end by 2038. The by 2035; end billions of eu- last months we've seen it's responsibility to act com- spokesman for Germany's
student group said it in- ros worth of annual fossil not enough to let adults pared to poorer countries, Environment Ministry, de-
stead wants one-quarter fuel subsidies; and intro- get on with it." Strahinjic added. The heav- clined to comment directly
of coal-fired power stations duce a carbon tax of 180 Speaking to reporters while ily industrialized country on the protesters' demands,
switched off this year and euros ($202.19) per metric standing in front of dinosaur has been emitting large but said the government
the rest by 2030. ton. fossils at Berlin's Natural His- amounts of greenhouse was focused on imple-
The group also said Germa- "We'd prefer not to issue any tory Museum, group mem- gases for more than a cen- menting the coal panel's
ny should generate all of demands and simply leave bers said they chose the tury and its per capita emis- recommendations.q