Rishi Sunak to Become UK's First British Asian Prime Minister - BBC News

This is totally undemocratic, of course. What we need is a general election, not have all these prime ministers foisted upon us.

Naturally, I wish him all the best and he is probably the best of the bunch; but he is a staunch Brexiteer. So that makes me feel uneasy.

If Rishi Sunak wishes to succeed in this, he needs to find a way of convincing his Party and the country that Brexit needs urgently to be reversed. Unless Brexit is reversed, trying to "make Brexit work" will be as effective as trying to breathe life back into a dead parrot!

Remaining outside of the European Union will ensure that this country's economy underperforms; it will also ensure that we Brits will become ever poorer. – © Mark Alexander

Royaume-Uni : Rishi Sunak désigné par le Parti conservateur pour être le nouveau premier ministre : L’ex-ministre des finances deviendra le cinquième conservateur à prendre la tête du gouvernement depuis le référendum sur le Brexit en 2016, et le premier non-blanc à diriger le pays. »

Rishi Sunak wird britischer Premierminister: Das Vereinigte Königreich wird erstmals von einem indischstämmigen Premierminister regiert. Am Ende war keine Abstimmung in Fraktion oder Partei nötig: Es gab keine Konkurrenz mehr. »

It’s the beginning of the Sunak era – and the end of Britain’s Brexitist delusions: The new PM faces big challenges and will probably have diehard Brexiters in his cabinet. But as a realist, he will see the need to steer a new course »

Italy: President Names Paolo Gentiloni New Prime Minister

Italy's Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni has been named the country's new prime minister following Matteo Renzi's resignation in the wake of a referendum defeat.

Theresa May Makes First Speech As Prime Minister

Theresa May puts social justice at the heart of her first speech as Prime Minister

David Cameron's Final Speech As PM

David Cameron leaves Downing Street with his family for the last time

Theresa May to Become UK Prime Minister on Wednesday

David Cameron has announced he will resign as Britain's Prime Minister on Wednesday evening.

‪Theresa May Gives Statement: Together We Will Build a Better Britain‬

Hollande Names Longtime Ally Ayrault as Prime Minister
FRANCE 24: Jean-Marc Ayrault, the leader of the Socialist Party in parliament, was named as France's new prime minister by François Hollande on Tuesday. Ayrault is a longtime ally of the new president and a known moderate.

France’s new president, François Hollande, appointed veteran lawmaker Jean-Marc Ayrault as his prime minister on Tuesday, hours after being sworn in to the country's top job.

Ayrault, 62, is the mayor of the northwest city of Nantes and a longtime leader of the Socialist Party in parliament.

A close ally of newly elected French President François Hollande for the past 15 years, he was seen as more moderate in his views than other candidates for the post, including Socialist Party leader Martine Aubry.

In the French executive branch, which does not include a vice president, the prime minister heads all other government ministries, oversees domestic affairs and is second only to the president in importance. (+ video) » | Ségolène ALLEMANDOU | mardi 15 mai 2012

Jean-Marc Ayrault, Premier ministre "normal" de François Hollande : À peine investi président de la République, François Hollande a dévoilé le nom de son Premier ministre. Il s’agit de Jean-Marc Ayrault, un parlementaire chevronné réputé pour son sens du consensus et sa proximité avec le nouveau chef de l’État. » | Par FRANCE 24 | mardi 15 mai 2012

Jean-Marc Ayrault, the fluent German speaker »

Verwandt »

Palestinian Prime Minister Suffers Heart Attack

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad suffered a heart attack while visiting the U.S. and is recovering at a Texas hospital, a spokesman said on Monday.

Mr Fayyad, who was born in 1952, was in Austin to attend the college graduation of his son, Khaled, when he felt strong chest pains on Sunday, said the prime minister's spokesman, Jamal Zakout.

Mr Fayyad, a heavy smoker, underwent tests showing a blockage in a coronary artery, Mr Zakout said. Mr Fayyad suffered a heart attack while at the Seton Medical Center in Austin, the spokesman said. » | Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Egypt’s Prime Minister Resigns
Mar 3 - Amid protests and calls for his resignation prime minister Ahmed Shafiq steps down. Maryam Ishani reports

Local Elections 2009: The Nation Knows the Game Is Up
THE TELEGRAPH: What is happening to Gordon Brown now makes John Major's government look like a triumph, observes Simon Heffer.

Pass him a bottle of Scotch: Gordon Brown leaving a press conference on Friday. Photo courtesy of The Telegraph
Watching an embalmed-looking and robotic-sounding Gordon Brown giving his press conference, one recognised one of the failings of our otherwise revered constitution: that it places no bar on a man who has taken leave of his senses still holding Her Majesty's commission as first minister. No government has had so bad a day since Black Wednesday, 17 years ago; and let us not forget the revenge the country took for that.

What is happening now makes John Major's government look like a triumph. We do not need to rehearse here the litany of disasters affecting Mr Brown and his administration, but let us anyway: the haemorrhaging of cabinet ministers, the demands from backbenchers that he go, the withering contempt of former colleagues, the abuse from the feminist "sisterhood", the inability to handle the expenses scandal, the shattered wreck of the British economy, the botched reshuffle, a backbencher walking out and forcing a by-election, a slaughter in the local elections and, on Sunday, the possibility of Labour's being beaten by both the Lib Dems and Ukip.

How much more proof of his utter unsuitability to lead a party or a government does Mr Brown need? And, now the momentum has started, how much more encouragement does his party need to boot him out, and to live up to their rhetoric of doing what is right for the country?

For most people in Mr Brown's position, just watching a recording of their own press conference would be enough to make them reach for the revolver and the bottle of Scotch. But Mr Brown isn't most people. He is never wrong – or at least, despite his hints about mistakes, can never admit he is, even to himself. Mistakes are things inevitably made by others. He has an entourage of oiling and greasing cronies, many of them mediocrities powered by rampant ambition, some of whom prospered in the reshuffle. Those who offer differing opinions are reviled, humiliated, and see the rough side of Mr Brown's occasionally infantile personality. That is why several politicians can no longer bear to work for him. However bad the public find him, the reality is even worse. >>> By Simon Heffer | Friday, June 05, 2009

Wilders’ Supporters - What Do They Want?
RADIO NETHERLANDS WORLDWIDE: "I want to become prime minister." That's what Geert Wilders said after a private meeting with 200 followers in his home town of Venlo on Monday. "One day my party will be the biggest, and then it will be an honour to accept the prime-ministership."

According to a recent poll, Geert Wilders' Freedom Party (PVV) is the most popular party in the Netherlands. But exactly who supports this party is unclear. Two Volkskrant journalists tried to find out.

If there were elections today, the right-wing populist PVV would get 27 of the 150 seats in the Dutch parliament. That, at least, was the outcome of a poll conducted by Dutch researcher Maurice de Hond a few weeks ago. This sudden rise of popularity is mainly due to the fact that party leader Geert Wilders was recently denied access to the UK.

But who really are the supporters of Geert Wilders? As the Freedom Party does not have members, the profile of his followers remains a bit unclear. The stereotype image is that of the low-paid and low-educated inhabitants of poor neighbourhoods who saw their familiar surroundings change beyond recognition by the coming of immigrants.

But a recent poll [TNS NIPO] reveals that the Freedom Party is also attracting increasing numbers of voters with a higher education. Thirteen percent of Mr Wilders' current followers have received higher education, in contrast to nine percent at the time of the elections of 2006. Also, it turns out that the average Freedom Party supporter is now earning more than before. >>> By Michael Hoebink | Tuesday, March 17, 2009

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback & Hardback – The Netherlands) >>>

Key Says NZ Election a ‘Vote for Change’
NZ HERALD: John Key has said the country has "voted for change" after his National Party won the election tonight.

He described the Labour term in government as "nine long years" and said: "New Zealand has so much more potential."

Key spoke at National Party headquarters after Helen Clark said she will stand down as Labour Party leader.

National won 45.5 per cent of the vote to Labour's 33.8 per cent, giving 
National 59 seats.

It will form a coalition of 65 MPs with Act's 5 seats and Peter Dunne from United Future.

Key said New Zealand had spoken. >>> November 9, 2008

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: New Zealand Changes Govt, Key New PM

New Zealand's incoming prime minister John Key says his party's decisive win over the ruling Labour Party shows his nation has voted for change.

Key's centre-right National Party defeated the Labour Party, winning more than 45 per cent of the primary vote, enough to govern with the support of minor parties.

"In their hundreds of thousands across the country they have voted for change," Key told supporters at a function in Auckland.
Key, 47, promised a government he led would herald a more ambitious future for the country, which is in a recession and has rising unemployment.

"We need everybody pulling in the same direction. If we do that. If we work hard and if we remain determined we will make New Zealand as prosperous as we all know it can be," Key said.

"It will be a government that values individual achievement. It will be a government that supports those that cannot support themselves. And it will be a government we can all be part of," he said.

Key's defeat of the Labour government led by Prime Minister Helen Clark ends her nine-year reign as New Zealand's leader. >>> © 2008 AAP | November 8, 2008

DIE PRESSE: Neuseeland: Millionär mit Wiener Wurzeln als neuer Premier

Konservative Nationalpartei löst Sozialdemokraten ab. Der künftige Premier John Key hat österreichische Wurzeln: Seine Mutter Ruth stammt aus Wien

Wellington: Neuseelands Labour-Regierung ist eine der ersten, die im Strudel der weltweiten Finanzkrise an der Wahlurne gestrauchelt ist. Nach neun Jahren sozialdemokratischer Herrschaft entschieden sich die Wähler am Samstag für die rechts-liberale Nationalpartei und ihren politisch unerfahrenen früheren Investmentbanker John Key an der Spitze.

Der künftige Premier Neuseelands hat übrigens österreichische Wurzeln: Seine Mutter Ruth stammt aus Wien, musste aber als Jüdin 1939 nach London fliehen. Später emigrierte sie mit ihrem Mann George nach Neuseeland, wo ihr Sohn zur Welt kam.

Key hatte sich im Wahlkampf ganz auf die Wirtschaftskrise konzentriert: Explodierende Energiekosten und ein Einbruch am Immobilienmarkt hatten Neuseeland nach zehn Wachstumsjahren erstmals in eine Rezession gestürzt. Die Regierung musste das erste Haushaltsdefizit seit 1994 einräumen. Der künftige Premierminister Key versprach ein konservatives Programm: Steuersenkungen, Senkung der Lohnnebenkosten, weniger Regierungsbürokratie, härtere Strafen für Kriminelle. >>> ag. | 9. November 2008

LE MONDE: Les Néo-Zélandais ont élu un ex-banquier d'affaires conservateur pour faire face à la crise

Photo de John Key, ex-banquier, grâce au Monde
L'opposition conservatrice néo-zélandaise, représentée par le Parti national, a remporté, samedi 8 novembre, les élections législatives mettant fin à neuf ans de pouvoir travailliste dans ce pays.

Helen Clark, premier ministre sortant, qui a échoué à décrocher un quatrième mandat, a admis sa défaite depuis Auckland. "Je félicite John Key et le Parti national", a-t-elle déclaré. "Nous n'avons pas bénéficié ce soir de la faveur des électeurs, mais je respecte ce choix et en accepte la responsabilité", a-t-elle ajouté, annonçant qu'elle quittait la direction du parti qu'elle dirigeait depuis quinze ans.

Le Parti national a remporté 45,5 % des voix et aura 59 sièges au sein de la nouvelle Assemblée qui en compte 122. Le parti conservateur peut compter sur le soutien du parti de droite Act (5 sièges) et du parti Avenir uni (1 siège) pour dégager une majorité parlementaire. >>> | 10.11.08

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback – Australia) >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Hardback – Australia) >>>

Tsarkozy Marginalizes His Prime Minister
THE GUARDIAN: · Five-year programme seen as president's
· Fears of one-man rule sidelining parliament
The French prime minister, François Fillon, yesterday set out to answer the critics accusing him of acting as the puppet to the president, Nicolas Sarkozy, by outlining his roadmap for the nation.

Mr Fillon has been so overshadowed by Mr Sarkozy's omnipresent style that he has been dubbed "mini-me", someone happy to jog alongside the president for the cameras on morning runs, then step back into the shadows.

In a lengthy speech to parliament yesterday he set out five years of reforms to create a "new economy" and stem France's public debt. He promised to cut unemployment to 5% in five years, and to reform labour laws and overhaul France's struggling universities. But the symbolic address simply outlined Mr Sarkozy's programme, confirming Mr Fillon as a loyal lieutenant. "The president is the initiator, I'm the agent," he said.

Mr Fillon's speech came amid warnings from opposition politicians and the media that the "hyper-presidential" style of Mr Sarkozy, nicknamed "Tsarkozy" or "Emperor Sarko I", threatened to emasculate the prime minister's job, reducing it to a vice-presidential role. Emperor Sarko leaves PM to be just a messenger (more) By Angelique Chrisafis

Mark Alexander