Latest news with #coalitionGovernment
The Independent
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Netanyahu's coalition is rattled as ultra-Orthodox party announces exit over military draft law
An Israeli ultra-Orthodox party that has been a key governing partner of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Tuesday it was leaving the coalition government, threatening to destabilize the Israeli leader's rule at a pivotal time in the war in Gaza. United Torah Judaism's two factions said they were bolting the government over disagreements surrounding a bill that would codify broad military draft exemptions for their constituents, many of whom study Jewish texts instead of enlist to the military. The issue has long divided Jewish Israelis, most of whom are required to enlist, a rift that has only widened since the war in Gaza began and demands on military manpower grew. The departure of a party that has long served as a kingmaker in Israeli politics doesn't immediately threaten Netanyahu's rule. But, once it comes into effect within 48 hours, it will leave the Israeli leader with a slim majority in a government that could now more heavily rely on the whims of two far-right parties. Those parties oppose concessions in ceasefire negotiations with Hamas and have themselves quit or threatened to quit the government over moves to end or even pause the war in Gaza. The political shake-up comes as Israel and Hamas are discussing the terms of a truce for the 21-month war in Gaza. Despite heavy pressure by the U.S., Israel's top ally, and mediators Egypt and Qatar, there is no breakthrough yet in the talks. A recurring sticking point has been whether the war ends as part of any truce and Netanyahu's far-right parties oppose ending the war while Hamas remains intact. United Torah Judaism's departure has a window of 48 hours before becoming official, meaning Netanyahu can still find ways to satisfy the party and bring it back into the coalition. But Shuki Friedman, vice president of the Jewish People Policy Institute, said the gaps between the draft law currently on the table and the demands of the party are still wide, making a compromise unlikely during that time. Friedman said the party's departure doesn't immediately put Netanyahu's rule at risk. A vote to dissolve parliament, that would bring down the government and trigger new elections, can't be brought by the opposition until the end of the year because of procedural reasons. And a summer recess for Parliament, beginning later this month and stretching until October, gives Netanyahu another attempt to bridge the gaps and bring the party back into the coalition. Cabinet Minister Miki Zohar, from Netanyahu's Likud party, said he was hopeful the party could be coaxed back to the coalition. 'God willing, everything will be fine,' he said. A Likud spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
News24
27-06-2025
- Politics
- News24
GNU kicked off with newbie DA ministers told they do not just represent their party
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says political parties have learned from one another in the government of national unity. ANC ministers had to clarify that ministers, especially from the DA, do not just represent their party. On Thursday, Ntshavheni addressed a press conference in Cape Town. In the first year of the government of national unity (GNU), experienced ANC Cabinet ministers had to constantly remind their DA colleagues that they do not only represent their political parties. 'We had to clarify this is not a DA ministry, it's a government ministry,' Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said on Thursday. But one year into the GNU, the Cabinet has gotten over that hurdle and was 'now moving towards working as a government, accepting that the wins of one are the wins of all', added Ntshavheni when she addressed a post-Cabinet briefing in Cape Town on Thursday. Asked how the GNU was working out, she said it was a huge transition for opposition parties. Ntshavheni added they had to go from criticising the government to finding solutions to the country's challenges. 'It's easier to be in the opposition than to be in government because your job is to criticise when you're in opposition. When you're in government, your job is to find solutions to the country's challenges. That realisation made quite an impact on all of us and a commitment for all of us within the government of national unity to find solutions. 'Coalition governments have fallen in their first year, and through the Budget, we almost went there. But like South Africa and our resourcefulness, we worked it out. We now all agreed on the Budget, what it means, and the work that still needs to be done,' she said. Ntshavheni added that ministers also challenged each other about the pace of implementation. 'In the first year, we had to deal with a lot of DA ministers, and we had to clarify … that [you] are not a DA minister, it's a government minister. We are now getting over that; we are moving towards working as a government, accepting that the wins of one are the wins of all and that there's no one department that is insular from the others. No one department can work outside the support of others,' she said. The GNU was seriously jeopardised in February after the ANC and DA disagreed on the Budget. The ANC rejected a DA proposal in which the parties agreed on shared economic policy management. For the DA, which had pinned its support for the Budget on securing such an agreement, the rejection effectively ended talks on the Budget. The DA had told the ANC that if it passed the Budget, it would effectively end the GNU without its support. The ANC openly said it was shopping for votes among other GNU parties and non-GNU ones in Parliament. Despite the hurdles, Ntshavheni said there were several positives. 'We have had to learn to do the consultation, [we looked at] how do you strengthen the mechanisms of engaging both formally in Cabinet and outside of government, but what I can assure all of you is that decisions in Cabinet have never been on a vote. They've been on a consensus basis to show solidarity,' she added. Ntshavheni said although parties worked in the GNU, she knew they were still competing. 'Next year [in the 2026 local government elections] and by-elections, we will continue contesting each other. We win and lose some, but we are all committed to ensuring we grow South Africa. We are committed to ensuring our parties achieve victory in our different parties,' she added.
Bloomberg
25-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
BBVA-Sabadell Takeover Hit With an Ugly Political Fudge
Spain's interference in BBVA SA's takeover bid for Banco de Sabadell SA can be looked at in two ways. Either it's a political bridge to help get a shaky coalition government through to its next election — or a hefty kick into some very long grass from which the proposed deal might never escape. BBVA will need to be fairly sure it's the former if the bank is to launch its €14 billion ($16 billion) tender for Sabadell shares. However, it might decide that after waiting nearly 16 months for clearance, more uncertainty is too much for its shareholders to bear and so walk away. That would reflect badly on Spain — and on the myopic politics around banking consolidation across Europe.
Washington Post
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Romanian lawmakers vote in favor of pro-EU coalition, aiming to end protracted political crisis
BUCHAREST, Romania — Romanian lawmakers voted Monday decisively in favor of a new pro-European coalition government led by a center-right prime minister, as the European Union and NATO member nation seeks to end one of its worst political crises in its post-communist history. Parliament approved the new administration in a 301-9 vote in Romania's 464-seat legislature, days after Romania's new President Nicusor Dan nominated lie Bolojan of the center-right National Liberal Party, or PNL, to lead a new government. Some lawmakers from nationalist opposition parties were absent from the voting.
Bloomberg
23-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
South Africa's Biggest Political Party Regains Ground, Poll finds
Support for South Africa's biggest political party rebounded after it was forced to scrap plans to raise value-added tax and now stands at 40%, the same as it garnered in last year's elections, while the nation's coalition government enjoys widespread popularity, an opinion poll found. A previous survey showed backing for the African National Congress 'to be trending down from its 2024 election results, especially during the debate around the VAT increase,' but appears to have since recovered, the Social Research Foundation said in its analyst of responses from 1,004 registered voters who were canvassed earlier this month.
