EU Parliament Calls for Boycott of Georgia’s Ruling Elite and New Parliamentary Elections
The European Parliament has reiterated its refusal to recognize the self-proclaimed authorities of Georgia
Greece’s parliament was formally dissolved Wednesday by a decree, officially marking the start of a monthlong election campaign, reports The Wall Street Journal.
The decree, cosigned by President Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, sets January 25 as the date for new elections and announced that parliament would reconvene on February 5 following those elections.
On Tuesday Samaras had asked the president to dissolve the legislature after it failed to elect a new head of state for Greece.
On Monday the Greek Parliament failed to approve former European Commissioner Stavros Dimas, the presidential candidate nominated by Samaras, in the third and last round of voting on Monday.
The previous two rounds were also unsuccessful and by constitution, after three unsuccessful attempts, the Parliament has to be dissolved and early parliamentary elections have to be called.
Later Wednesday, Greece is due to swear in caretaker interior and justice ministers, who will preside over the election process.
The elections, coming some 18 months ahead of schedule, are expected to pit the governing New Democracy party of Samaras against rival left-wing Syriza, which firmly opposes the austerity measures in Greece.
A boycott of major retail chains in Croatia has led to an estimated loss of 80 million euros
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik has once again called for Republika Srpska to separate from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski raised questions in parliament about the inclusion of Bulgarians in North Macedonia's constitution while there is no similar requirement for Albania
Konstantinos Tasoulas has been elected as the new president of Greece
Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis announced his resignation on Monday, February 10, stating that he was stepping down to prevent the political crisis that would follow his possible suspension by Parliament
Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti, leading the Self-Determination Movement (Vetevendosje), has secured a victory in the country's recent parliamentary election.
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