FRANCE : SHOULD MPs MANDATES BE LIMITED ?

After the many scandals in French political life, not to speak of those which were never discovered, President Macron wants to tighten the lax rules, to prevent repetitions in the future.

This is admirable and generally speaking everyone, particularly Electors, will salute his efforts.

However, one proposition is to limit MPs to three mandates !  Normally a mandate is for 5 years, but it could be shorter.  Even 15 years is a short professional life.

Some MPs devote their whole lives, 40 years, to politics.  But, to limit the age of candidates to stand for election would seem correct !  

Is it not later in political life that MPs possess the experience to avoid pitfalls for their countries ?  Limiting their longevity as MPs could be a costly mistake !

Finally, is it not the right of Electors to decide who they want or not want, as their MP ? 

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OPEC EXTENDS PREVIOUS AGREEMENT !

OPEC (Organisation of Petrol Exporting Countries) has simply extended its last deal until March 2018, but does this really change anything ? 

Market Oil Prices have been controled to a certain extent in the past by Saudi Arabia, but this is financially costly !  Another key factor is whether the volume of oil produced by the 12 member countries of OPEC, can and is effectively controled.   Have any sanctions ever been imposed, if the volume of oil production of a country has been too high ?    

There are also other non OPEC Oil Producing countries in South America, as well as Russia and the USA which produce Oil profitably. 

Added to this is the certainty, in the next 5 to 10 years, electric cars will be mass produced !  This will severely affect the sales of Oil and Petrol.  

One can therefore, also anticipate that Oil producing companies may well want to invest some of their billions of Dollars of oil sale profits, to become a part of the chain of future Electricity Suppliers !         

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TERRRORISM : WHEN WILL LEADERS ACT ?

Is the visit to Europe of the US President Trump, just after the Muslim Terrorist attack in Manchester, not the perfect occasion to discuss a realistic Plan of Attack, or Plan of Defence, on an international basis to counter World-wide Terrorism ?

Just talking, without realistic action afterwards, has never solved anything ! 

To be blunt, the problem the World faces is "Terrorist Attacks" which  destroy the Human Rights of innocent Citizens, their right to live ! 

The problem is NOT at all to ensure the Human Rights of Terrorists, whether they have killed or were only at the planning stage, to kill haphazardly !

When Terrorists are caught, should they not be locked-up in a secure, specialised Prison without any possible contact with other types of inmate ?   Reports exist of Muslim Terrorists who while in prison, have converted gullible inmates to their cause !

The next obstacle then becomes the lack of prison space to house "terrorists" apart from other inmates !  To solve this URGENT problem, should countries not relocate all the petty criminals from just one Prison, which could then be destined temporarily to house only Terrorists !

Too much "Soft Justice" is already dispensed in some countries just to prevent overcrowded prisons !  The only way to avoid overcrowding and to safeguard the rights of Electors, would seem to be for Politicians to order more prisons to be built ! 

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WHAT DO TURKEY + ERDOGAN WANT ?

Turkey, a member of the NATO Alliance, has vetoed an intention to permit Austria, which is not a member of NATO, to participate in NATO military exercices. 

Turkey has a pending application to join the EU, but will the recent diplomatic activity of the Dictator of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, not provoke a complete reassessment by the West to decide whether Turkey is still a valid Ally ?  

Is Turkey primarily interested and orientated by Russian objectives and policies, or those of the West ?   It should be noted that Turkey regularly purchases its military requirements from Russia. 

Would the possibility to dock Russian vessels in a Turkish port on the Mediterranean coast, not attract  Putin and Russia ?  Will that not be the next move ?

What is quite clear is that neither a Dictator, nor a Totalitarian country like Turkey, correspond with the ideals of European Union Treaties or with the aims of NATO.

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BRITAIN : TERRORIST ATTACK KILLS 22 !

Terrorists have once again struck:  22 people were killed and at least 50 others were injured at a packed pop concert by Ariana Grande in Manchester.

One cannot always deter terrorists, particularly  those who have the intention to die as "heroes of Islam" when they explode their bomb.

They are are generally part of an Extremist  Organisation which is at war with all countries.  They want to impose their extremist interpretation of Islam.  
  
Yet, many countries world-wide have abolished the Death Penalty, inluding all the Countries in the EU.  Alas, to introduce even an exception to EU rules is virtually impossible : the Unanimity of all EU countries is required for any change, even a small exception. 

This simply means there is no real deterrent left to dissuade Terrorists, or even recidivist killers !  Should surviving killers and those who have  aided them in their murderous enterprises, not be executed ?  

If Britain leaves the EU, after its "BREXIT", would it not be simple "Common Sense" for Britain to adopt the "Penalty of Death", for Terrorists and others who are guilty of aiding and abetting them in mass killings ?  

Would other countries not follow suit, to provide more security for their citizens ?
 
Finally, why should taxpayers be obliged to bear the cost of Terrorists, who then languish in Prison for the rest of their lives ?

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FRANCE : MACRON'S FIRST LAW, ON MPs MORALS

The first "Macron law" will introduce a moral code of conduct to be observed by MPs .  

The law will ensure a complete control of MPs' official Expense Allowances which previously were not subjected to any official scrutiny or anything like an independent "audit".

Other measures will ensure MP's probity : for example, employing family members will be forbidden.  That will avoid a repeat of the Fillon scandal recently.  This is, therefore, a "common sense" solution.

Further fine details of this projected law will become known soon. 

This Law will be one of the first votes in the next  National Assembly, after the Election on June 18 .      

The very fact that at last, MPs' expenses will be properly controled and justified, will certainly endear Macron to all right thinking electors !  This will also improve the chances of his "Republican En Marche" candidates !

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FRANCE : UNIONS READY TO FIGHT MACRON !

The way Trade Unions in France are now ready to judge any measures by the Macron Government, is strangely similar to what Margaret Thatcher faced when she was elected in 1980 !

Britain had been faced with a six month bus strike, which the Socialist Prime Minister, James Callaghan, was incapable of stopping !   His Government was defeated and Thatcher was later obliged to "clip" some Union Rights.

The French President may use edicts to impose certain changes quickly and Trade Union Leaders have already said this could lead to opposition from Unions.   Macron was the Minister of the Economy and also President Hollande's advisor : he thus already has front line experience of stubborn opposition from Unions. 

But, French Unions are quick to use Strikes and Marches to protect the Rights of Workers which sometimes were obtained many years ago. 

In a changing world such Rights sometimes can stifle Employers, just when they are expected to act, to make their companies more competitive, with the sole aim to avoid a Financial disaster like a Liquidation.

In such cases Trade Unions must also realise that they too, have obligations to help ensure the future of a business ! 

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