Quebec premier announces resignation after electoral defeat

Quebec's outgoing Premier Jean Charest

Source: Press TV

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/09/07/260220/quebec-premier-announces-resignation/

Jean Charest has announced his resignation as the head of Quebec's ruling Liberal Party and consequently the province’s premier, a day after the party suffered a humiliating defeat in the provincial elections.

Charest, who has been the premier of the majority French-speaking province for nine years, said on Wednesday that he had decided to leave politics in the coming days after consulting with his family.

"The decision was unanimous. I will leave my post as leader of the Liberal Party of Quebec in a few days, once a new government is formed," he told reporters at a news conference at the National Assembly in Quebec City.

Charest said he was stepping down without regrets. “I'm going home now. I thank you for the privilege that you gave me to enable me to be your premier."

On Tuesday, the 54-year-old lost his seat to Pauline Marois of the Parti Quebecois (PQ), who will become the province's first woman premier.

The PQ formed a minority government by winning 54 of the provincial legislature’s 125 seats. With 50 seats, the Liberal Party was relegated to the opposition.

The liberals started losing popularity after proposing a university tuition fee hike, which sparked months of massive street protests across the province.

The newly-elected prime minister has promised to revoke the controversial tuition hike.

During the electoral campaigns, Marois also promised that if elected, she would call for a referendum on the separation of Quebec from Canada.

Italian prime minister steps down

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/209754.html

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has resigned after 17 years of domination in Italy's political scene, as thousands of people gathered in center of the capital to celebrate his departure.

Berlusconi handed his resignation to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on Saturday night after Italy's lower house of parliament approved a package of austerity measures demanded by the European Union, Reuters reported.

Former European Commissioner Mario Monti is expected to replace Berlusconi.

Berlusconi, 75, has been under immense pressure to step down over a series of scandals as well as for mishandling the country's economy.

Berlusconi's popularity rating recently slipped to a record low of 22 percent as his government was unable to address the financial crisis that has engulfed the eurozone. He also faced legal battles over bribery, tax fraud and abuse of power.

Italy's debt is 120 percent of its gross domestic product. In August the country passed a 60-billion-euro austerity package to balance the budget by 2013.

There is growing fear among the EU leaders that Italy might be drawn into the crisis that has already claimed Greece, Ireland and Portugal.

Berlusconi announces resignation

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/209097.html

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said that he intends to resign after key economic reforms have been approved.

Berlusconi made the announcement on Tuesday, following a key parliamentary vote on public finance that he won without gaining the absolute majority of 316 seats, which is a precondition for the approval of future budgets, the state-run BBC reported.

In the budget vote, 308 MPs supported Berlusconi and one abstained, but 320 others - the entire opposition - did not vote.

The European Union has been putting pressure on Italy to carry out long-promised major economic reforms in order to improve its financial situation.

There is growing fear among EU leaders that Italy might be drawn into the crisis that has already claimed Greece, Ireland, and Portugal.

Italy faces a nearly two-trillion-euro debt that is 120 percent of its Gross Domestic Product. A 60-billion-euro austerity package to balance the budget by 2013 was passed in August.

“Once this engagement is fulfilled, the prime minister will hand in his mandate to the head of state, who will proceed with appropriate consultations, paying close attention to the positions and proposals of all political forces,” President Giorgio Napolitano said in a statement.

Berlusconi had shown “his awareness of the implications of the results of today's vote” as well as “concern for the urgent need to give prompt answers to the expectations of European partners,” Napolitano added.

The 75-year-old prime minister's popularity rating recently slipped to a record low of 22 percent as his team was unable to address the fiscal crisis and he faced legal battles over bribery, tax fraud, abuse of power, and sexual relations with a 17-year-old prostitute.

Japan's premier to resign by August 30

Japan's outgoing Prime Minister Naoto Kan says he will resign by August 30. (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/195300.html

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan has announced his resignation, saying that his successor will take over by August 30 amid criticism over his handling of the nation's March 11 quake.

In an informal meeting with his ministers on Tuesday, Kan said his successor will be in office once parliament passes two key bills this week, AFP reported on Tuesday.

''I believe a new prime minister will be decided on August 30,'' he said.

Japan's centre-left ruling party will choose the new premier on August 29 on the condition that two key bills pass this week, said Secretary General of Japan's Democratic Party (DPJ) Katsuya Okada.

The DPJ's board members also agreed on the date for the party meeting to allow for the timely passage of a third extra budget to finance disaster reconstruction and for steps to tackle the strong yen, Okada said.

Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda, Trade Minister Banri Kaieda, former Transport Minister Sumio Mabuchi and several others are expected to run for the position.

On March 11, a destructive 9.0-magnitude earthquake and an ensuing tsunami struck Japan's northern coasts, setting off a nuclear crisis by knocking out power to cooling systems of reactors at the Fukushima plant and causing a radiation leak.

The devastating quake and tsunami also killed about 24,000 people and ravaged the Fukushima plant. The crisis has displaced about 80,000 residents from around the plant as well.