Reformists move against veiled representative
"Sparks are likely to fly when the Brussels Regional Parliament reconvenes on 23 June. The inaugural session will be co-presided by feminist campaigner Antoinette Spaak of the French-speaking liberal Reformist Movement (MR), and Mahinur Özdemir of the Humanist Democratic Centre (CDH), Belgium's and mainland Europe's first ever veiled elected representative," reports Le Soir. At age 26, Mahinur Özdemir has been at the centre of controversy prompted by an MR member's proposal "to prevent elected representatives from wearing philosophical and religious symbols." Le Soir further reports that Mahinur Özdemir, who won her seat at regional elections in June, has worn a veil "on her own initiative since the age of 14 – unlike her sister, who does not wear one." For the daily, the MR member's proposal amounts to an attack on "the very foundation of universal suffrage."
Two camps, two theories, and two visions of France: 18 years after the massacre of 800,000 Tutsis, the precise role played by Paris is still the subject of heated debate, fueled by the findings of successive criminal investigations.
Agree to new austerity measures or risk being kicked out of the eurozone: that’s the alternative presented to Athens on the day the euro group is meeting. It’s a situation Greek politicians have failed to avoid, regrets To Vima.
At a time when Athens is still involved in debt restructuring negotiations with its private creditors, Neelie Kroes’ recent allusions to a Greek exit from the euro are a sign that European leaders are intent on preparing the terrain for such an eventuality.