THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020 12

French govt survives no-confidence EU unveils climate law as votes over pension reform unsatisfied Greta looks on AFP | Brussels

urope unveils a landmark law yesterday to achieve E“climate neutrality” by 2050, under the stern gaze of teenage activist Greta Thunberg who slammed it as meaningless. The Swedish eco-warrior French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe faced down two no-confidence votes was in the Belgian capital for in parliament on Wednesday over the pension reform a Friday protest, but first at- tended a meeting of European Trade unions and opposi- commissioners, the top EU of- Paris tion parties slammed the move ficials who will greenlight the as anti-democratic, but their draft law, that is rarely opened he French government calls for fresh protests against to outsiders. Tfaced down two no-confi- a bill that triggered the longest Thunberg was also to appear dence votes Wednesday over French transport strike in dec- before a an overhaul of the country’s ades fell largely on deaf ears. committee, a visit that has an- byzantine pensions system, a Critics say the introduction gered many MEPs who have key victory after fierce protests of a single, points-based sys- been told to ban other visitors and a massive transport strike tem will force people to work and key staff due to the corona- that brought to a stand- beyond the official retirement virus outbreak. still for weeks this winter. age of 62, or receive lower pen- According to a leaked draft, The bill’s passage in the low- sions. the proposed climate text aims er house of parliament clears a The government argues to enshrine into law the EU’s Greta Thunberg (R) calls the climate law championed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (L) major hurdle for one of Presi- that abolishing the country’s grand ambition of zero net car- insufficient, or in her words, “surrender” dent Emmanuel Macron’s sig- 42 separate pension regimes, bon emissions by mid-century. nature reforms, though the which offer early retirement It would give the EU executive current situation where climate utive arm, faces almost certain “Net zero emissions by 2050 text still faces opposition as it and other benefits mainly to new powers to impose emis- objectives are taken unanimous- opposition from the national for the EU equals surrender. It moves to the Senate. public-sector workers, will be sion targets on member state ly by the European Council” governments and the European means giving up,” the letter said. The law passed in the small fairer and end years of deficits. governments, a simple meas- which brings together heads Parliament which must ratify “We don’t just need goals for hours after the government Prime Minister Edouard ure welcomed b y of state and government, said the proposal. just 2030 or 2050. We, above all, survived two no-confidence Philippe hailed the text as a greens and French liberal MEP Pascal Can- “Member states and parlia- need them for 2020 and every votes introduced by the oppo- victory for “social justice”, say- activists. fin. ment will hate it,” said Quentin following month and year to sition against Macron’s cen- ing that “those who defend the “One Genard of climate think tank come,” it said. trist majority. status quo... too often are just of the A rocky road to neutrality E3G in a blog post. “Even the The must The attempt to topple the talking nonsense.” added But handing more power to more pro-European and pro-cli- stop “pretending that you can government came after it em- Damien Abad, head of the values is the commission, the EU’s exec- mate action countries want to be a climate leader and still go ployed a rare constitutional rightwing Republicans in the to get out keep oversight over climate on building and subsidising new measure to cut short a de - National Assembly, denounced of the policies.” fossil fuel infrastructure,” the bate that had become bogged “an unprecedented parliamen- The goal of climate neutrality Swedish activist told a com - down in a morass of opposition tary fiasco” to push through a was approved by EU leaders at mittee hearing at the European amendments, effectively forc- reform in which French work- Net zero emissions a rocky summit in June with Parliament. ing the bill through. ers will be “the biggest losers”. by 2050 for the EU coal-dependent Poland the only The 17-year-old said that de- equals surrender. It holdout. spite “disregarding” science, means giving up. We It would bind the EU’s 27 the EU was hoping its plan “will member states to balance pol- somehow solve the biggest crisis don’t just need goals luting emissions and removals humanity has ever faced”. US TV anchor retires on air for just 2030 or of greenhouse gases over the “This must come to an end,” 2050. We, above all, next thirty years. she said. after harassment claims need them for 2020 The commission, which pro- The law, once ratified, would New York and every following poses EU law, has hailed the also give the EU executive new month and year to draft has the cornerstone of a powers to impose emission tar- eteran US television an- come European Green New Deal that gets on member state govern- Vchor Chris Matthews an- also envisages a major invest- ments. nounced his retirement live ment drive to decarbonise the “When your house is on fire, on air and apologized for his THUNBERG SAID IN A LETTER WITH European economy. you don’t wait a few more years conduct after sexual harass- OTHER YOUNG ACTIVISTS to start putting it out,” said ment claims and a public back- stop ‘pretending’ on climate Thunberg. lash sparked by his election But on Tuesday Thunberg “When the EU presents this coverage. said the widely leaked proposal climate law and net zero by Matthews spent decades does “absolutely nothing” for 2050 you indirectly admit sur- grilling political leaders on the climate emergency, in a joint render, that you are giving up,” his nightly political talk show letter with other young activists. she said. “Hardball” but found himself in the spotlight after a former guest accused him of regular- ly making inappropriate re- marks. Matthews spent decades grilling The host’s behavior had “un- politicial leaders but found himself Princess Anne kidnap hero’s gallantry dermined” political columnist in the spotlight after a former guest Laura Bassett’s ability to do accused him of regularly making inappropriate remarks her job, she wrote in a GQ mag- medal sold for £50,000 azine article last week. London Bassett chronicled several He had already been plan- Webb. But a private collector the evening of March 20, 1974. harassment allegations leveled ning to retire but “events of the bought it for £50,000. He fired shots through the at Matthews over the years, past few weeks” had brought medal awarded to a for - “For something I thought back window. Russell rushed to including a reprimand issued forward the host’s departure, Amer heavyweight boxer for that I would never sell, I never help when he realised what was by his employer MSNBC three the Wall Street Journal report- helping to thwart the attempt- believed it would sell for this happening. years ago for inappropriate ed. ed kidnapping of Queen Eliza- amount,” Russell said after the He recalled the princess tell- comments about a female col- The anchor was forced to beth II’s daughter Anne sold for sale. ing Ball, “Just go away and don’t league in 1999. apologize in recent days after £50,000 ($64,000, 57,900 euros) “I am absolutely blown away be such a silly man” as he tried “I decided tonight will be my comparing a recent primary at auction on Wednesday. with this price and it gives me to drag her from the vehicle, last Hardball,” Matthews said victory by Democratic presi- Ronnie Russell was given the opportunities to do things that which was also carrying her in a monologue that opened dential candidate frontrunner George Medal -- Britain’s high- I never thought we could.” then-husband Mark Phillips. his program Monday. Bernie Sanders to the Nazi in- est civilian award for bravery -- The queen told Russell when Former boxer Ronnie Russell with “I hit him (Ball) as hard as I “Compliments on a wom- vasion of France during World for punching assailant Ian Bell he received the award: “The the George Medal awarded to him for could -- if he had been a tree he an’s appearance some men, War II. twice in the head when he tried medal is from the Queen but defending the life of Britain’s Princess would have fallen over -- and he including me, might have once He was also criticized last Anne during a kidnap attempt in to seize Princess Anne in 1974. I want to thank you as Anne’s was flat on the floor face down,” incorrectly thought were okay, week for asking Elizabeth 1974. The medal sold Wednesday for The burly former fighter, 72, mother.” Russell said. were never okay... For making £50,000 Warren why she believed a put the award up for sale to pay The medal was sold with oth- Neither Anne or her husband such comments in the past, I’m woman who had accused fel- for funeral costs after falling ill. er items, including a letter from Russell was working at a cen- were injured were injured but sorry,” the 74-year-old added. low presidential candidate The medal had been expected Downing Street and the head of tral London cleaning company her personal detective, chauf- Matthews departed the set Mike Bloomberg of pressur- to fetch up to £20,000 when it the Metropolitan Police, and a when Ball blocked the princess’ feur, a police officer and a jour- during a commercial break, ing her to seek an abortion. went under the hammer at Lon- telegram from Anne, who was car as it drove along the Mall nalist were shot by Ball, who leaving a colleague to anchor Bloomberg has denied the al- don auction house Dix Noonan aged 23 at the time. towards Buckingham Palace on was carrying two pistols. the rest of the show. legation.