Conservative

Merkel's conservatives meet to prepare for 'toughest' election | Reuters

By Paul Carrel | ESSEN, Germany ESSEN, Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel will rally her conservatives at a party conference on Tuesday to gird for a German election next year that she expects to be "tough like no other".Seeking a fourth term in office, Merkel must unite her Christian Democrats (CDU) and try to recapture some of her personal popularity, undermined by the crises that have rocked Europe.Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's referendum defeat on Sunday and the impending departure of French President Francois Hollande underline Merkel's status as Europe's most experienced leader, but she needs to win back disgruntled voters at home.The CDU has seen its support eroded by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has profited from popular concern about the influx into Germany last year of around a million migrants, many fleeing war in the Middle East."We know our world is changing. It always has been. Anyone who promises to be able to stop that isn't being honest," said CDU Secretary General Peter Tauber

Germany's Merkel opposes new talks with Turkey on EU accession - Bild | Reuters

BERLIN German Chancellor Angela Merkel told parliamentary members of her conservative Christian Democrats on Tuesday that she opposed opening new negotiations with Turkey as part of its quest to join the European Union, the Bild newspaper reported.That means the discussions are effectively over, the newspaper reported in Wednesday editions, citing sources who participated in the party meeting.Merkel recommended spelling that out to voters who asked about the party's position on Turkey, the newspaper said.Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday said his country has not yet "closed the book" on the EU after the European Parliament recommended freezing accession talks last week, but said Ankara had other options with other partners. The European Parliament last week voted 479 to 37 for a non-binding motion to temporarily halt membership talks with Turkey because of its "disproportionate" reaction to the failed July 15 coup.German officials have been critical of Erdogan's crackdown on dissidents and journalists after the coup attempt, although Merkel - mindful of the millions of refugees still living in Turkey - on Friday underscored the need for both Turkey and the EU to honour their commitments to each other.

Frances' Juppe sets battle lines with 'brutal' Fillon before primary runoff | Reuters

By John Irish | PARIS PARIS Former French prime minister Alain Juppe sought to regain momentum on Monday in the battle for the centre-right's presidential nomination, accusing his rival Francois Fillon of pushing a "brutal" economic programme that would break France. Fillon, prime minister between 2007 to 2012 under Nicolas Sarkozy, won 44 percent of votes in the first-round of the centre-right's nomination race, some 15 percent more than Juppe, whom he now faces in the second-round runoff."On the economic front, his programme is of a very big social brutality. Cutting 500,000 civil servant jobs, taking working hours to 39 hours (from 35 hours), increasing VAT by 16 billion euros are measures of a certain brutality and which some can't be implemented," Juppe told France 2's evening news bulletin

France's Sarkozy steps up attacks on Juppe, lags in polls | Reuters

PARIS France's ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy and his camp on Wednesday stepped up attacks on his rival Alain Juppe and a centrist ally they said could not be trusted, in a sign of growing tensions within their conservative Les Republicains (LR) party.Sarkozy is lagging in opinion polls behind Juppe ahead of a Nov. 20 first round of voting in a primary contest that will decide who wins the LR nomination for next year's French presidential election.Sarkozy is unhappy about a rule that allows anybody willing to pay two euros and sign a declaration that they share centre-right values to take part in the primaries, which many see as effectively a first round of the presidential election itself.The rule is widely viewed as favouring Juppe, a former prime minister, as the much more abrasive Sarkozy is unpopular among left-wing voters

South Korea's ruling party in turmoil ahead of election | Reuters

By Christine Kim | SEOUL SEOUL The scandal engulfing South Korean President Park Geun-hye has plunged her conservative Saenuri Party into turmoil and cast the country's political landscape into disarray as it heads into an election year.Park's approval rating has been dragged to an all-time low of just 17.5 percent in a Realmeter poll as prosecutors investigate whether an old acquaintance exerted inappropriate influence over state affairs and gained personally from their friendship.The opposition has been moving carefully since the crisis involving Park's friend Choi Soon-sil erupted, refraining from demanding the president step down or raising the idea of impeachment.If Park gives up her position, the law requires that an election be held in 60 days. Analysts say the opposition is unprepared to take on the ruling party in such a high stakes contest so soon. The winner of such an election would be entitled to serve a full five-year term.The presidential election is due in December 2017."If Park steps down, this will drive everyone mad as they have been preparing with a full year to campaign in mind," said Kim Man-heum, head of the Korea Academy of Politics and Leadership.BAN KI-MOON The Saenuri Party, which unexpectedly lost its parliamentary majority in April, had already split into two factions as many senior members had sought to distance themselves from the unpopular Park even before the recent scandal.United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who has long led opinion polls to be his country's next president, even though he has not said whether he will enter the race, had been expected to join Saenuri if he runs.The damaged Saenuri would be a less attractive home for Ban, potentially compelling him to opt for a new party if he runs.South Korean political parties often dissolve and re-form under new names."It will be difficult for the Saenuri Party to regain the support they once had if they do not disband and form a new party," said Rhee Jong-hoon, a commentator who runs Political Management Consulting Inc.

Under fire, Carney to stay extra year at Bank of England | Reuters

By William James and William Schomberg | LONDON LONDON Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said on Monday he will stay in his job for an extra year until the end of June 2019 to help smooth Britain's departure from the European Union, but he will depart two years short of a full term.Carney, who has come under heavy criticism from pro-Brexit politicians for warning before June's referendum of the economic risks of voting to leave the EU, had the option to stay at the Bank until 2021.But the Canadian decided against serving the full eight years available to him."I would be honoured to extend my time of service as Governor for an additional year to the end of June 2019," he said in a letter to Chancellor Philip Hammond, which was published by the Bank."By taking my term in office beyond the expected period of the Article 50 process (for Britain to leave the EU), this should help contribute to securing an orderly transition to the UK's new relationship with Europe," he said.Prime Minister Theresa May, who has tried to dampen the pressure on the central bank chief, welcomed his announcement. Her spokeswoman said it would provide "continuity and stability" while Britain negotiates its EU exit.Sterling, which has slumped around 20 percent since the Brexit vote on worries about Britain's economic prospects, hit its highest level on Monday at $1.2240 on the news of Carney's extension.Elizabeth Martins, an economist with HSBC, said the announcement of a one-year extension appeared to be a "bit of a half-way house" that would help Britain get past the potential volatility of the Brexit negotiations."I guess that markets would have liked to see a 2021 extension, and expected it given indications in the media

New emails show how top Clinton foundation officials sought access to state department

A new set of 44 emails released by a conservative watch dog have thrown light on how top officials from the Clinton Foundation sought access to the State Department when Hillary Clinton served as the Secretary of State in the first term of the Obama Administration.

Rejecting Trump, Wall Street Republican donors scatter largesse| Reuters

By Lawrence Delevingne and Svea Herbst-Bayliss | NEW YORK/BOSTON NEW YORK/BOSTON Largely united in their dislike of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, some ultra-wealthy U.S. investors who play in conservative politics are warily weighing their choices, torn between third-party candidates, simply focusing on down-ballot contests or even voting for Democrat Hillary Clinton.As Clinton's lead over Trump has grown in opinion polls, some hedge fund managers who have traditionally donated big money to Republican presidential candidates see the congressional elections as their best hope.Stanley Druckenmiller, one of the best-performing hedge fund managers of all time, told Reuters he had recently given to Republican candidates for Congress in the hope of creating a “firewall” against Clinton’s economic policies, including more government control of healthcare and what he described as “astronomical disincentives” to invest.Druckenmiller, who invests privately since closing his hedge fund firm in 2010, said Trump had an “unstable personality” that ruled him out as a candidate.“I might just vote on the down ballot part of the ticket and not bother with the top,” he said.Public filings show Druckenmiller donated to U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida in August and the National Republican Congressional Committee in March.He disavowed long-shot Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, saying he was "out the window" after a couple of high-profile lapses on foreign affairs, including struggling to name an international leader he admired.

Former Alberta premier Prentice killed in plane crash - media | Reuters

By Nia Williams | CALGARY, Alberta CALGARY, Alberta Former Alberta premier and Canadian federal cabinet minister Jim Prentice has died in a plane crash in British Columbia, local media reported on Friday.Authorities could not immediately confirm the news. But Canada's Transportation Safety Board and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said they were investigating the wreckage of a downed aircraft that was traveling to Calgary, Alberta, which crashed shortly after its takeoff from Kelowna, British Columbia, on Thursday night.Local media reported the plane was a corporate jet and four people on board had died.

Cabinet missteps test Canadian PM Trudeau's teflon image | Reuters