“There’s no point in paying mosquito nets to protect Senegalese people from malaria. In our country tumours and other severe diseases are devastating. We have children suffering from autism that are forced to receive medical care in Belgium because we don’t have proper facilities. This is why, if I win, I will abolish any programme of international cooperation”. Signed, Marine Le Pen, the candidate for the presidency of the French region of Nord-Pas de Calais. In an interview to RMC Radio, she revealed her project, which has been already defined as “shameful” by Annick Girardin, Minister of State for Development.
Le Pen’s Party, the National Front, has registered a resounding hike in consensus during the first round of French regional elections, held on 6 December. The candidates of the right-wing movement won in 6 regions out of 13, waiting for the second round to be held on 13 December. On a national level, the victory was unprecedented: the National Front gained 27.73% of consensus across France, according to official data released by the Ministry of the Interior. This means over 6 million votes: the best result ever, making the Party led by Marine Le Pen France’s first.
In particular, the daughter of the historic leader Jean-Marie (the one who said that gas chambers used to execute Jewish people are “a detail of history”) gained over 40% of votes in France’s most northern region. Surveys concerning the second ballot show a delay compared to her rival, Xavier Bertrand, who will gain most of the votes to Socialists in the first round. Maybe this is one of the reasons that led Le Pen to overstate, directly attacking aids to the world’s poorest countries.
“Every euro should be spent for the region and its citizens,” explained Le Pen, announcing the elimination of cooperation programmes with the developing world. “It is an absurd proposal. Funds allocated to international aids allow tens of businesses to work and hundreds of young people to be trained in this sector,” said Girardin.
The region has launched a series of cooperation projects in Mali, Senegal, Madagascar, Poland, and Brazil. According to the news agency AFP, such projects require nearly 6 million euros, out of a total regional budget of 1.7 billion euros. It is thus not about finance, it’s all about a precise political choice.
The European Parliament has voted in favour of the European Citizens’ Initiative My Voice, My Choice, calling for safe and accessible abortion across Europe. The next step now lies with the European Commission, which is expected to develop concrete measures.
Montevideo’s Senate has passed a new law allowing ‘death with dignity’ (but not assisted suicide), with the procedure permitted even just a few days after the request.
As per tradition after 12 years India held Mahakumbh, the world’s largest spiritual congregation that has been attracting pilgrims from across the globe.
Workers in tea gardens of West Bengal, India, that produces Ctc tea for domestic consumption complain that they have been devoid of basic facilities while political parties make hollow promises during every elections which are never fulfilled.
India is in the middle of the elections, but sadly none of the politicians have uttered a word on man-animal conflict that has been devouring several lives every year.
Manipur, a state in north-east India, is still reeling under the tremors of violence that broke out last year devouring lives and paralyzing the economy.