Democratic Party

Italy adopts electoral law that could hobble populists

Rome - Muslimchronicle

The Italian government adopted a new electoral law Thursday that is set to favour mainstream parties over the populist Five Star Movement (M5S) at general elections expected next year. The new law, which looks likely to land Italy with yet another coalition government at national elections due before May, was adopted by the Senate by 214 votes in favour toRead more

Abe's coalition to win two-thirds majority in Japan vote: NHK

Tokyo - Muslimchronicle

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling coalition will retain a two-thirds "super-majority" in national elections on Sunday, according to public broadcaster NHK. Abe's conservative Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito will jointly secure at least 310 of 465 seats in the vote, according to NHK figures based on available election returns as well as its own exitRead more

Obama slams 'politics of division' on return to campaign trail

Richmond - Muslimchronicle

Barack Obama returned to the campaign trail on Thursday, railing against the "politics of division" after keeping a low profile and avoiding direct confrontation with his White House successor since leaving office. Speaking at a rally in New Jersey to support the Democratic Party candidate for governor, the 56-year-old former president took aim at the fear and bitterness that markedRead more

Is there any chance for Italy's Five-Star Movement to win next election

Rome - ArabToday

Italy's Five-Star Movement, the political organization created eight years ago by comedian-turned-activist Beppe Grillo, may be poised for its best-ever election result the next time when Italians go to the polls nationally. It is, however, still anyone's guess what will happen if the party finishes ahead of all its rivals for the first time. There is still no firm dateRead more

Trump gets his own boulevard in Albania

Kamza - Arab Today

A town in central Albania has renamed a boulevard in honor of Donald Trump, calling the US president “a revolutionary model” for the world. Kamza, a few miles north of the capital, Tirana, had already made Trump an honorary citizen after his election victory last year. “Donald Trump is a revolutionary model of the new democratic order, a great leaderRead more

Italy scraps employment voucher system to avoid referendum showdown

Rome - Arab Today

Italy has abolished voucher payments for workers, which were highly popular with employers, to avoid a bruising referendum championed by the country's main union, Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said on Friday. Payment by vouchers was introduced in 2008 as an experiment for seasonal farm labourers. The flexible and unregulated form of payment was aimed at encouraging bosses to stop hiringRead more

Bernie Sanders leads union push at Nissan plant in US South

Washington - Arab Today

One-time US presidential contender Bernie Sanders spoke in favor of unionization at a largely African-American Mississippi Nissan plant, in an appearance that doubled as Democratic outreach in the wake of Donald Trump's election. Sanders, who was bested by Hillary Clinton during the Democratic Party's primary, was accompanied by actor Danny Glover and other officials from the NAACP, which is theRead more

Clooney blasts Trump as Huppert's 'Elle' wins

Paris - Arab Today

Isabelle Huppert and her hit thriller "Elle" were the big winners late Friday at the "French Oscars" -- the Cesars -- in a highly political ceremony marked by Hollywood star George Clooney warning that freedom had to be defended in the face of Donald Trump's US presidency. "Courage trumps fear. Right always trumps might," the American actor said before quotingRead more

Abe wife linked Japan school operator in tough spot

Tokyo - Arab Today

Japan's largest opposition Democratic Party has demanded that the head of a school operator with ties to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's wife, Akie, appear before parliament to explain its purchase of government-owned land, it said on Wednesday. The operator, Moritomo Gakuen, last year bought an 8,770-square-metre plot of government-owned land for 134 million yen ($1.2 million), or 14 per centRead more

Renzi set to trigger leadership race at ruling party meeting

Rome - Arab Today

Former Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi looks set to trigger a leadership contest at a meeting of his ruling Democratic Party (PD) on Monday which could delay the early election he has been pushing for since he was toppled as premier last year. Rising tensions in the PD have deflated Renzi's bid for an vote by June, around a yearRead more