Bilingual information meeting : «What is the Breton Society ?»

«How will be Brittany saved ? Brittany will be saved the day when we will have created, in spite of, and against evreryone, a national life in Brittany. Brittany will be saved the day when we have taught our fellow countrymen and women how to read and write our language ; the day when we have improved our language, set up our schools with our schoolmasters and our books paid with our money ; the day when we have opened and raised enough our fellow countrymen and women's minds, to let them be a free people on every field of life, the life of the body or of the soul .»
Roparz Hemon, «Gwalarn e Breizh», Gwalarn issue 9, Spring 1927

How to set up a Breton autonomous society, in direct relationship with the other societies in the world, and at the same level as theirs ? Training learned people, organizing several oportunities (both intelectual and entertaining) intended to put together people until then scattered : here are our aims. which projects can be launched for performing such aims ? Yann-Vadezour ar Rouz’s directory, Kêrvrezhon project...

Bilingual information meeting : «What is the Breton Society ?»

(led by Rafael Urien; On Saturday 12 a viz Genver 2019, 2.30 pm, at the pub The Finnegans, 46 Aristide Briand Street, Kemper

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Alex Salmond wins sexual harassment inquiry case against Scottish government

The Scottish government has admitted acting unlawfully while investigating sexual harassment claims against Alex Salmond. Allegations against the former first minister, which he denies, were made to the Scottish government a year ago. The government has now admitted it breached its own guidelines by appointing an investigating officer who had "prior involvement" in the case.
As a result, it conceded defeat in its legal fight with Mr Salmond. Mr Salmond's case focused entirely on the fairness of the government's procedures and will have no bearing on a separate police inquiry into the allegations, which is still ongoing.

Speaking outside the Court of Session in Edinburgh, Mr Salmond said the case had resulted in "abject humiliation" for the Scottish government, which he led from 2007 until 2014.
He added: "The last time I was in that court was to be sworn in as first minister of Scotland. I never thought it possible that at any point I would be taking the Scottish government to court.
"Therefore while I am glad about the victory which has been achieved today, I am sad that it was necessary to take this action."

 Mr Salmond also repeated his calls for the Scottish government's most senior civil servant, Leslie Evans, to consider her position, and warned that the case could cost the public purse £500,000.
And he thanked the 4,000 people who contributed more than £100,000 to a crowdfunding appeal to help pay for his legal challenge to the government's handling of the case.
With the government agreeing to pay his legal costs, he said the money will go to good causes in Scotland and elsewhere.

The government's admission that it had not followed the correct procedures came during a hearing at the Court of Session on Tuesday morning.
Judge Lord Pentland subsequently said that the government's actions had been "unlawful in respect that they were procedurally unfair" and had been "tainted with apparent bias".
The Scottish government's admission centred on an official it appointed to investigate the complaints against Mr Salmond, which were made by two women.
Its lawyer, Roddy Dunlop QC, told the court that the investigating officer was a "dedicated HR professional" who acted in good faith, but did have some contact with the complainers before being appointed to the case.
 
Mr Dunlop said this had led the government to accept there had been a "failure" in one aspect of the investigation, which could have given the impression that they were not acting impartially.
But he said the government did not accept a claim by Mr Salmond's legal team that the investigating officer had effectively been "assisting the complainers" and "giving them encouragement".
He also said there was "no question of an individual being held up as a sacrifice", and that the government had a "duty to investigate the serious complaints" that had been made.

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Bart De Wever, N-VA: “The solution is to be found in confederalism”

N-VA chairman Bart De Wever provided an overview of the political situation in Belgium. While doing so, he came back to the collapse of the federal government as a result of the Marrakesh Compact and looked forward to the coming days and weeks. What’s more, one week after the N-VA Ministers decided to leave the federal government, N-VA chairman Bart De Wever was constructive. “We are prepared to approach the discussion in a serious manner.”
With regard to early elections

“Di Rupo didn’t have a majority in Flanders, Michel didn’t have one in Wallonia, and now we have a government that no longer has a majority anywhere. And yet everyone is assuming that after elections, things can only get worse. Well, if that’s the case, then the system is broken and unhealthy.”

“The prime minister has to find a majority in order to make the country governable. If that doesn’t work, we have to come up with a different solution. A government that doesn’t have a majority and continues to remain in government is the theatre of anti-politics.”
Regarding the possibility that Charles Michel will take care of current affairs until 26 May

“Current affairs is something for the election campaign and for the period following the elections for as long as there is no government. Current affairs is not a form of government.”
Regarding the governability of the country

“A government without a majority in Flanders, like back in the day with the government of Di Rupo, is unacceptable for me. A government without a majority in Wallonia is just as much of a democratic problem. A centre-right policy for Belgium is good, but it is not a structural solution. The solution is to be found in confederalism . Flanders has to get self-government.”

Regarding the accusation that the term “Marrakesh coalition” is cheap political framing

 

“If the prime minister, via a non-unanimous majority of two thirds of the Parliament, heads out to that city to say there that he is on the right side of history, why is that an insult? And who is actually the racist if you say things like that. It says a lot about your view of humanity if you have negative feelings about Marrakesh.”

Regarding parliamentary support for Michel II

“I am still open to cooperating in a formula. A country has to be governed. I am expecting the government to come and tell me what it still intends to do and then I will say what I want it not to do. Not to implement a Marrakesh policy for example.”

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Pays d'Aoste Souverain calls for a single autonomous candidate for the European elections

The political movement Pays d'Aoste Souverain published its appeal to the autonomous Valdostan parties in view of the European elections. The text recalls what happened during the regional elections of May 2018:

"In the month of May we asked Autonomists to present themselves under a single banner, we presented a document that was not shared, we made a round table without any result. We abstained, we did not go to vote. After eight months the Valle d'Aosta has another chance, yet another opportunity to make Europe aware of the value and identity of a people, a people that has centuries of history, a people with a language of their own, a people that does not look at the color of their skin or family surname, a people that loves and respects its own land ". So Pays d'Aoste Souverain asks for "A single candidate, a candidate of the people who bear testimony in Brussels of a Valle d'Aosta that aspires to total sovereignty, a vehicle of freedom for any man born free.".

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Frisian National Party presents new logo

In a meeting in Bolsward on January 5th, FNP party leader Johannes Kramer takes the national energy course under fire.The billions of euros in the national energy pot must become available to citizens and farmers, according to the FNP, Frisian National Party (Fryske Nasjonale Partij).

The account of the Climate Agreement is disproportionately heavy with the ordinary man and woman, he says. Just like in recent years, the FNP does not want any new windmills on the Frisian mainland. Replacement is allowed, but only within the limits of applicable zoning plans. Friesland can meet its energy requirements with offshore wind and geothermal energy, supplemented with, among other things, paneling on roofs.

The SDE + scheme (Stimulation Sustainable Energy Production) of the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate must partly be used differently, according to the FNP. There are billions of euros in it.

Kramer presented the new logo of the party in Bolsward. It will be used in the campaign towards provincial and watership elections in March, 20th. The slogan was also presented and it will be 'Foar de stim fan Fryslân' (For the voice of Friesland).

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South Tyrol: SVP blocks negotitations after the cancellation of a Senate seat in South Tyrol

South Tyrolean People's Party and Lega have agreed on a state government. But only when the autonomy conflict with Rome is resolved, it will come to forming a government. Arno Kompatscher has already made it clear: The government negotiations with the Lega are one thing: a party-internal matter of the South Tyrol People's Party (SVP).

The autonomous attitude of Rome with the cancellation of a Senate seat in South Tyrol - from three to two - without prior consultation with Bolzano and Vienna, as provided in the Statute of Autonomy, is a question of South Tyrol. But that also has implications for a coalition and could overturn successful government talks with the Lega.

The proportionality of the language groups must also be ensured with a comprehensible reduction of Senate seats from 315 to 200. Possibly South Tyrol will retain its three seats - two for German-speaking senators and one for an Italian mandator - and Trentino will receive two in the future. This is also the preferred variant of Arno Kompatscher. Only when this question is satisfactorily clarified, the SVP gives the green light. Both Kompatscher and Achammer were satisfied with the government program.

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Vlaams Belang ousted from the municipal coalition in Ninove despite getting most votes in last October's local elections

Last October 14th the Flemish MP Guy D'haeseleer (Vlaams Belang) and his local slate "Forza Ninove" collected 40 percent of the votes in Ninove. However, he was two seats short of an absolute majority and needed to seek collaboration from other parties to install a local coalition. The rest of the Flemish parties have a long-time deal to never include far-right politicians in any coalition, the so-called "cordon sanitaire".

Political pundits were following the situation in Ninove, as they were curious how the issue would be solved. The Flemish nationalists of N-VA (New Flemish Alliance) had decided to sit on the opposition benches, which meant that all the other parties together would also fail to get a majority.   N-VA politician Joost Arents is leaving the N-VA to help out a local slate S.A.M.E.N. and the Flemish liberals of Open VLD to get a majority. He told the VRT "I didn't want to leave Ninove in a political stalemate." It is said that Mr Arents took the decision against the will of his party's national cabinet and he has been thrown out of the party. The news means that Forza Ninove, who clearly won the elections, could be ousted after all. Yesterday a rally was held in Ninove to dennounce it under he slogan 'Sos Democracy'.

Guy D'haeseleer is angry: "This is a slap in the face of many Ninove residents, and of Flemish-minded voters in general", he wrote on his Facebook account. "This is a black day for democracy in general and for the city in particular." He also lashes out against Joost Arents, calling him "a hypocrite".

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FNP to launch campaign

The campaign launch of the Staleek elections of March 20, 2019 will be on Saturday 5 January in Bolsward. The Frisian National Party has announced a programm including the annual newsletter package, the department of South-West Friesland and a campaign session.

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Cardigan Town Council cheque rejected by Lloyds Bank 'for being written in Welsh'

The town council paid a contractor by cheque but when he presented it to a branch of Lloyds Bank in England, it was refused.The contractor got in touch with the town council and said: “I apologise for having to contact you about this as I find the whole situation embarrassing.“Earlier today we received a cheque from Cardigan Town Council and similar to last time, the area where you write the amount is written in Welsh.

“I previously attempted to pay your cheque into our local Lloyds branch and it was refused. Today, I attempted to take alternative action and contacted the business section of the bank before it was paid in and again I was informed that the cheque would be returned back to me.
“I even tried to contact Lloyds Bank, Cardigan to speak with them and although I was guaranteed that a call would be returned in three hours, they have still not been in touch.”
Eventually, the cheque was honoured but not before a stinging response from Cardigan town clerk Wynford Jones.

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Basque marches to the prisons of Basauri and Martutene

Kalera Kalera yesterday marched to the prisons of Basauri and Martutene. The civical movement demanded to the Spanish government "political courage". Hundreds of  marchers stressed that, after the repeal of instruction 3/2017, they have "less excuses" for not releasing seriously ill prisoners.

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