14 Friday International Friday, January 25, 2019 Far out from 2020, progressive Democratic bench takes shape From high-flying female US senators to charismatic military veterans

WASHINGTON: From a young gay mayor who dacy this week on a day honoring slain civil rights launched his candidacy Wednesday, to high-flying fe- icon Martin Luther King, Jr. The daughter of an In- male US senators and charismatic military veterans, a dian immigrant medical researcher mother and Ja- crowded field of Democrats jockeying to challenge maican economist father, Harris, 54, began her in 2020 has already emerged — and is career as a district attorney in San Francisco before sure to grow. All told it will likely be the largest and most serving as ’s attorney general. diverse coterie of candidates ever, with the potential for dozens of current and former lawmakers, governors, mayors, and businessmen to throw their hat in the ulti- A cabinet member in the Obama era and grand- mate political ring. Here are the first politicos to enter son of a Mexican immigrant, Castro announced his the presidential race, 21 months before the election. candidacy in English and Spanish on January 12 in the heat of debate on immigration and border se- curity. At 44, the former mayor of San Antonio, At 69, the US Senate’s consumer protection cham- Texas hopes to become the nation’s first Hispanic pion from Massachusetts became the most high-pro- president. file Democrat to enter the race when she announced a presidential exploratory committee on December 31. Warren is on the party’s left flank, and built her repu- At just 37, this congresswoman from Hawaii WASHINGTON: US Senator from California, , addresses the media January 21, 2019 at Howard tation by holding Wall Street accountable for its mis- would be the first Hindu president if elected. A sup- University in Washington, DC after announcing earlier in the day that she is seeking to become the first steps. Trump has already taken aim at Warren, mocking porter of liberal in the 2016 race, African American woman to hold the office of US president, joining an already-crowded field of Democrats her for her proclamation of Native American heritage. military veteran Gabbard was criticized for meeting lining up to take on Donald Trump. —AFP with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad during that country’s civil war, and for anti-gay positions that Richard Ojeda campaign with little fanfare in late 2017, warning This senator from New York cut her teeth on the she has since retracted and apologized for. This tattooed, blunt-talking retired US Army para- against the dangers that automation presents to US battle to end sexual assault, especially in the military, trooper rose to prominence last year during his unsuc- workers. He has advocated for a form of universal basic before the #MeToo movement gained national promi- cessful bid for a US congressional seat deep in Trump income as a way to reduce inequality. nence. The 52-year-old fierce Trump critic is making Nine months younger than Gabbard is the South country. Ojeda voted for Trump in 2016 but feels the gender and women’s issues a hallmark of her campaign. Bend, Indiana mayor who joined the race Wednes- president has failed to meet his economic promises. He John Delaney day, unveiling a resolutely future-looking and opti- seeks to return the Democratic Party to its roots as a A wealthy businessman who served three terms in Kamala Harris mistic message to counter Trump’s darker vision. A champion of working class Americans. Congress, Delaney was the earliest Democrat to offi- The barrier-breaking senator from California US Navy veteran who put his mayoral duties on hold cially launch a bid, back in July 2017. He has criss- who aspires to be the nation’s first black female and to serve in Afghanistan, Buttigieg would become the crossed the early-voting state of Iowa seeking to boost Indian-American president announced her candi- first openly gay nominee of any major party. This 44-year-old tech entrepreneur launched his his name recognition.—AFP DR Congo set the constitutional limit on his term in office. Turbulence Angola’s criminal code since it gained inde- A country the size of continental western Angola decriminalizes pendence from Portugal in 1975. The new law for historic Europe, DR Congo has lived through two re- also aims to shore up protection against sex- gional wars in 1996-97 and 1998-2003. The homosexuality in ual discrimination. Anyone who refuses to transition last two presidential elections, in 2006 and employ individuals or provide services to 2011 — both of which were won by Kabila — landmark reform them on the grounds of sexual orientation will KINSHASA: Felix Tshisekedi was to be sworn were marred by bloody clashes. The ballot, be liable to a jail term of up to two years. “The in yesterday as president of Democratic Re- which took place on December 30 after being LUANDA: Angola’s parliament has decrimi- 69 other countries around the world that still public of Congo, marking the country’s first- delayed three times, surprised many by the nalized homosexuality, removing a notorious criminalize consensual same-sex conduct ever peaceful handover of power after chaotic lack of violence, but a political storm swiftly “vices against nature” provision in its penal should follow its (Angola’s) lead,” HRW said. and bitterly-disputed elections. At 55, oppo- brewed over the count. code and banning discrimination against sex- In a historic moment last year, Angola sition leader Tshisekedi takes over from Tshisekedi was declared winner with 38.5 ual orientation, in a reform hailed by rights gave legal recognition to a gay rights lobby Joseph Kabila who is stepping aside after 18 percent of the vote, over his opposition rival watchdogs. On Wednesday, 155 parliamentar- group called Iris Angola, marking a major years at the helm of sub-Saharan Africa’s Martin Fayulu, who was credited with 34.8 ians voted for Angola’s first overhaul of the breakthrough in a closed and conservative biggest country. percent. Fayulu branded the result a fix but lost criminal statute books since independence, society. Angola has been led since Septem- At least 2,000 Tshisekedi supporters, many a challenge to the Constitutional Court and while seven abstained and one voted against. ber 2017 by President Joao Lourenco, who of them dressed in white, gathered outside the foreign support for his position ebbed as coun- “Angola has finally shed the divisive ‘vices succeeded Jose Eduardo dos Santos, the Palace of the Nation, the seat of the presi- tries took comfort in a peaceful transition. against nature’ provision in its law,” Human country’s ruler for almost four decades. dency, to celebrate the historic event. Among foreign nations attending the cer- Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement. “In Lourenco has sought in several ways to dis- “We hope that this will be a real change, emony, Kenya and Zambia were represented casting aside this archaic and insidious relic tance himself from his predecessor. He has especially as he has taken power without by their presidents and Tanzania by its vice of the colonial past, Angola has eschewed launched a campaign against corruption that bloodshed,” said Saddam Kongolo, a member presidents, according to the RTNC state tel- discrimination and embraced equality.” has netted several top officials from the last of Tshisekedi’s Union for Democracy and So- evision, while China, France, Japan and the While Angola had no known prosecutions government. He has also sought to mend cial Progress (UDPS). One of Tshisekedi’s first sent their ambassadors, AFP under the old law, HRW said the contested fences with the international community, tasks will be to appoint a prime minister in a journalists saw. “The opposition has run out provision harmed the rights of gay, bisexual which has long been critical of Angola’s move which will see him sharing power with of recourse to challenge the election results and transgender people and exposed their human rights record, and expressed interest Kabila’s supporters, who hold an overwhelm- and the threat of widespread post-election lives to painful scrutiny. in joining the Commonwealth and interna- ing majority in parliament. The ceremony caps violence is gradually subsiding,” said Robert The new legislation is the first overhaul of tional francophone community. —AFP more than two years of turmoil sparked by Besseling of EXX Africa, a business risk con- Kabila’s refusal to step down when he reached sultancy. —AFP