Latest news with #snapElection
ABC News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Samoan villages blindsided by decision not to excavate Manawanui
On the program today Villages in Samoa say they were blindsided by the decision to leave the sunken New Zealand Navy vessel Manawanui where it lies. New Zealand's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister announce they won't be attending Cook Islands Constitution Day celebrations next month. Two Fa'afafine leaders put their hands up to contest the upcoming snap election. Anticipation builds among Pacific islands climate activists ahead of a ruling by the International Court of Justice next week. Torres Strait Islanders lose their class action against the Australian government for failing to protect their communities from the effects of climate change. The PNG Royal PNG Constabulary is organising a special event involving Police bands. And It's semi-finals day at the OFC Women's Nations Cup tournament in Fiji, but the line-up is not quite what the pundits were expecting.
Times of Oman
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Serbia: Police clash with anti-government demonstrators
Belgrade: Police clashed with anti-government protesters in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, on Saturday night, as demonstrators demanded an early parliamentary election and an end to the rule of President Aleksandar Vucic. Officers in riot gear used pepper spray to disperse crowds after flares were thrown near a counterprotest by Vucic supporters. Earlier protesters, led by students, issued an ultimatum, saying the government must call a snap election or face a civil disobedience campaign. The main demonstration then ended, but some protesters marched toward the pro-government rally outside parliament. Many were wearing goggles, masks and helmets. Police detained several dozen protesters, while six police officers were reported injured in clashes, according to Dragan Vasiljevic, the director of police. Saturday's clashes came after months of anti-government demonstrations that were sparked by a deadly rail station collapse in late 2024 that killed 16 people and was widely blamed on government corruption and negligence. Vucic has repeatedly rejected calls for an early election and accused unnamed "foreign powers" of fueling the protests. "The country will be defended, and thugs will face justice," he told reporters in Belgrade on Saturday. Presidential and parliamentary elections are set for 2027. Vucic's refusal has only energized demonstrators, particularly university students, who have become a driving force behind the movement. "The reluctance of Vucic makes it all the more important to be there now," said Tara, a student who only gave DW her first name. "We want to show the president that we want elections. The fight is not over, and the protests are not over yet." "Realistically, we have to prolong the protest a little longer," added Kristina. "But we're almost at the finish line," said Teodora. "Vucic is on his last legs." In a now routine pre-protest crackdown, more than a dozen people have been arrested, including five on Friday who were remanded for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government, according to Serbia's Higher Court. Vucic supporters stage counter rally Thousands of Vucic supporters gathered near parliament in a counter-demonstration. Jasmina Matovic, a tax administration employee from Cacak in central Serbia, voiced her support for the ruling government. "I support the best president in Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic. I support the honest people of Serbia, not these blockade politicians who want to lead Serbia into a catastrophe," she told DW.
ABC News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Tasmania heads to election
Isabella Higgins: In Tasmania, campaign mode begins with the state headed for a snap election on July 19th. Despite the no confidence motion against Premier Jeremy Rockleaf that sent the state to the polls, the Liberal leader is hanging on. For the latest, Meg Whitfield in Hobart. Meg, how did we get here? Meg Whitfield: It's a good question. It's been quite the week in Tasmanian politics. So a week ago today, Premier Jeremy Rockliff lost a motion of no confidence vote on the House of Parliament in the House of Assembly. That was after a marathon two day debate over the motion. It was moved by Labor leader Dean Winter. Ultimately the vote got up 18 votes to 17 with Speaker Michelle O'Byrne casting that final vote. And the whole way through, Premier Jeremy Rocklifff said, if this motion is successful, I will go to the governor and I will request a snap election. Keeping in mind it's only been about 15 months since the last time we had a state election in Tasmania. But when that vote passed, he went to the government house. He made that request of the governor, Barbara Baker. Last night she came back to the premier and said, I'll grant that request. And we're going back to the polls July 19th. Now, she did say that was notwithstanding the 2024 election, the public interest in avoiding the cost of an election and the prevailing public mood against an election. But she granted the dissolution and said she was satisfied there was no real possibility an alternative government could be formed. So we're back to the polls. Isabella Higgins: Right, Meg, as you say, headed to a snap election. So what happens now? Meg Whitfield: Well, campaign mode will now get well and truly underway. It looked like it was beginning to get that way over the weekend, despite the election not yet being called, both major parties gearing up for it. But now that will well and truly get underway. The major parties will have to determine their policies. We'll have to say what candidates are coming out. There might be a bit of a shake up there. We've already seen former federal Liberal MP Bridget Archer. She's put her hand up to run in the state election for the Libs if she gets preselected for that. And we've also heard the other day Michelle O'Byrne, who has been with Labor for a very, very long time, saying she won't seek preselection. So that's a big loss in Bass for them. And obviously, Bec White, Rebecca White, she's now a federal MP, so she won't be going for Labor in lines. And she's a huge vote puller. So it'll be quite interesting to see what candidates we get, what kind of impact that'll have on the actual makeup of Parliament. At the moment, there's 14 Liberal MPs, there's 10 Labor MPs. You'd think they'd both be wanting to grow that. But there could also be a real move towards independents and Greens, because there is a bit of voter fatigue out there. We've had so many elections in Tasmania, not just state. But our fourth state election in seven years, it'll be interesting if voters turn away from the major parties as a result. And that is a bit of a trend that we've seen nationally. So interesting times ahead.
CTV News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Israel MPs to vote on opposition bid to dissolve parliament
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at the head of the table, center right, and lawmakers attend a session of the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem, Israel, Monday, July 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) JERUSALEM — Israeli lawmakers are expected to vote early Thursday on a bill submitted by the opposition to dissolve parliament, which could pave the way to a snap election. While the opposition is composed mainly of centrist and leftist groups, ultra-Orthodox parties that are propping up Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government are also threatening to back the motion. If the bill wins a majority, three more rounds of voting will be needed to dissolve the Knesset. If it fails, the opposition will have to wait six months to submit another bill. Debate continued through Wednesday evening and Israeli media said a vote was not expected before 3 am on Thursday (midnight GMT). 'The opposition faction leaders have decided to bring the bill to dissolve the Knesset to a vote today,' the leaders said in a statement on Wednesday. 'The decision was made unanimously and is binding on all factions.' They added that all opposition parties would freeze their lawmaking activities to focus on 'the overthrow of the government'. Netanyahu's coalition, formed in December 2022, is one of the most right-wing in the country's history. It includes two ultra-Orthodox parties -- Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ). The two parties have threatened to back the motion for early elections amid a row over compulsory military service. If they join forces with the opposition, the bill to dissolve parliament will be approved on Wednesday. 'Existential danger' Military service is mandatory in Israel but under a ruling that dates to the country's creation -- when the ultra-Orthodox were a very small community -- men who devote themselves full-time to the study of sacred Jewish texts are given a de facto pass. Whether that should change has been a long-running issue. Efforts to scrap the exemption and the resulting blowback have intensified during the nearly 20-month war in Gaza as the military looks for extra manpower. Netanyahu is under pressure from his Likud party to draft more ultra-Orthodox men and impose penalties on dodgers -- a red line for parties such as Shas, who demand a law guaranteeing their members permanent exemption from military service. Israeli media reported that officials from Netanyahu's coalition were holding talks with ultra-Orthodox leaders hoping to find common ground on the issue. In an apparent bid to allow time for those negotiations, Netanyahu's coalition filled the Knesset's agenda with bills to delay the dissolution vote. Shas and UTJ have said they will support the dissolution of parliament, but observers say Shas leader Aryeh Deri is trying to find a compromise behind the scenes. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Wednesday that bringing down the government during wartime would pose 'an existential danger' to Israel's future. 'History will not forgive anyone who drags the state of Israel into elections during a war,' Smotrich told parliament, adding that there was a 'national and security need' for ultra-Orthodox to fight in the military. Netanyahu's government is held together by an alliance between his Likud party, far-right groups and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties, whose departure would mean the end of the government.
LBCI
11-06-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Israel opposition submits bill to dissolve parliament: Statement
Israel's opposition leaders said Wednesday they submitted a bill to dissolve parliament, which, if successful, could start paving the way to a snap election. Ultra-Orthodox parties that are propping up Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government are threatening to vote for the motion. "The opposition faction leaders have decided to bring the bill to dissolve the Knesset to a vote in the Knesset plenum today. The decision was made unanimously and is binding on all factions," the leaders said in a statement, adding that all their parties would freeze their ongoing legislation to focus on "the overthrow of the government." AFP
