Welche Zukunft hat das Commonwealth nach dem Tod der Queen? | Fokus Europa

Was hält den Staatenbund noch zusammen und wie wichtig ist er für die Identität Großbritanniens? Einige Länder haben bereits angekündigt, ihre Mitgliedschaft zu beenden.

Du Commonwealth à l’isolement britannique

LE MONDE – ÉDITORIAL : L’atmosphère de fin de règne liée au grand âge d’Elizabeth II risque de renforcer le relatif isolement du pays avec ses anciennes colonies, dont certaines ont déjà coupé ce lien.

Les soixante-dix ans de règne de la reine Elizabeth II ne sont pas célébrés seulement à Londres, Cardiff et Edimbourg. Les Etats membres du Commonwealth sont invités à festoyer à l’occasion du Jubilé de platine d’une reine qui, depuis l’après-guerre, a su personnifier le lien entre le Royaume-Uni et ses anciennes possessions coloniales. De « l’empire sur lequel le soleil ne se couche jamais », il ne subsiste que quelques confettis sous souveraineté britannique comme Gibraltar, les îles Caïmans, Sainte-Hélène ou les Malouines.

Mais, plus de soixante ans après la décolonisation, Elizabeth II demeure non seulement la reine de seize Etats dont le Canada et l’Australie, mais la cheffe du Commonwealth, qui réunit cinquante-quatre pays dont l’Inde, l’Afrique du Sud, le Nigeria et le Rwanda.

Contrairement à la France, qui s’est parfois embourbée dans ses anciennes colonies et n’a jamais réussi à faire décoller l’Organisation internationale de la francophonie, le Royaume-Uni a su maintenir un lien souple avec ses anciens « dominions » sous la forme d’une « communauté » rassemblant 2,5 milliards d’habitants. Le mot « Commonwealth », longtemps synonyme d’empire, a été habilement conservé pour désigner un ensemble d’Etats indépendants liés à Londres. » | Éditorial « du Monde » | dimanche 5 juin 2022

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Queen Hails Togetherness in Commonwealth Day Address

Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday praised the 'courage, commitment and selfless dedication to duty' of frontline healthcare and public service workers across the Commonwealth in their response to the pandemic. The broadcast replaces the annual service at Westminster Abbey, which was cancelled due to Covid restrictions, and comes hours before the airing of a two-hour special hosted by Oprah Winfrey in which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to tell the story behind their tumultuous departure from royal duties. Harry and Meghan stir public debate ahead of Oprah interview

Will Looking to Its Past Help Britain's Future? – Inside Story

The United Kingdom is on course to break away from the European Union. So, it's looking for economic and political opportunities elsewhere. One important tool is the Commonwealth: an organisation made up of former British colonies - and one of the most diverse - created 87 years ago. The British government says it will try to 'revitalise' the Commonwealth and increase trade with its member states. So, can the Commonwealth help a post-brexit UK economy?

Presenter: Sami Zeidan | Guests: Alex Vines - Head of the Africa Programme at Chatham House; Sophie Gallop - Teaching Associate at the University of Birmingham; Murtala Touray - Former Senior West Africa analyst at IHS Global Insight.

Queen Backs Human Rights in Commonwealth Day Message
BBC: The Queen has delivered her annual Commonwealth Day message with a focus on equality.

The organisation is adopting a new charter committing all Commonwealth countries to uphold human rights and oppose all forms of discrimination.

This is seen as an important milestone for gay rights but is a sensitive issue as some member states still regard homosexuality as a criminal offence.

The Queen said, "Our shared values of peace, democracy, development, justice and human rights... mean that we can place special emphasis on including everyone in this goal especially those who are vulnerable". (+BBC audio) » | Monday, March 11, 2013

Attention! Achtung! Now It’s Catholics. Next It Will Be Muslims! Brown Is Just Plain Stupid – and Treasonous! Gordon Brown Opens Way for End to Ban on Monarchs Marrying Catholics
THE TELEGRAPH: Gordon Brown has paved the way for sweeping changes to the 300-year-old law which prevents Roman Catholics ascending to the throne.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. Photograph: The Telegraph
Offensive, offensive, all these days is offensive! – © Mark
Mr Brown has made it clear he also wants to change the rule of primogeniture, which prevents women taking their place ahead of men in the line to the throne.

The Prime Minister will travel to a Commonwealth summit in Trinidad today and will raise the controversial issue fellow heads of government.

Last night he was urged to move now to stop discrimination against women and Catholics from becoming the monarch.

Evan Harris, a Liberal Democrat MP, said: “All parties in the House had agreed that discrimination against princesses and Catholic spouses is not justified, and that the language in the Act of Settlement is offensive. >>> Andrew Porter, Political Editor | Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Pakistan Suspended from the Commonwealth
Photo of Pervez Musharraf courtesy of the BBC
BBC: Pakistan has been suspended from the Commonwealth because of its imposition of emergency rule, the organisation has announced after a meeting in Uganda.

Secretary General Don McKinnon said Pakistan was being suspended "pending restoration of democracy and the rule of law".

Earlier Pakistan's Supreme Court dismissed a legal challenge to Pervez Musharraf's re-election as president.

The president has said he will now step down as head of the army.

Mr McKinnon said the 53-member Commonwealth had reached the decision by consensus.

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the "decision was taken in sorrow, not in anger", and that he hoped the group would be able to welcome Pakistan back soon.

"We're all clear that the choice is for Pakistan now, to make the changes that are in its interest nationally and internationally, and then to re-enter the Commonwealth as a proud and valued member," Mr Miliband added. Pakistan barred from Commonwealth (more)

NZZ:
Commonwealth beschliesst Aussetzung von Pakistans Mitgliedschaft: Bedingungen nicht erfüllt

Mark Alexander

Pakistan Faces Suspension Threat
BBC: Commonwealth foreign ministers have given Pakistan 10 days to lift its emergency rule or face suspension.

After an extraordinary session in London, they also said President Pervez Musharraf had to step down as army chief and release political detainees. Pakistan faces suspension threat (more)

WATCH BBC VIDEO:
Commonwealth warns Pakistan

Mark Alexander