Month: May 2016

VOD: Turkish Parliament Brawl

First the Japanese were at it, now it’s Turkey.

In the seat of power, where dialogue and reasoned argument are king, we have this video of a fist-fight.

Turkey gets stirred up

According to the article, there had been one the previous week concerning the draft of the European Union refugees bill.

If that stirred the Turks up, than this has done more.

Apparently, the Turks are attempting to draft in some draconian laws at present, similar to an autocracy with Erdogan as it’s head.

If that happens, the Kurds within the country have openly said that they will join the opposing side in overthrowing the government and seeking autonomy for themselves.

I suspect this is starting to play itself out in the Turkish houses of parliament.

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TTIP – Federal Europe vs United States hissy fit

The beginning of the end?

Or so it seems.

The bureaucrats are having difficulty ironing out who’ll be wearing the trousers, more specifically, provisions for the protection of EU citizens regarding dangerous products.

There’s been a leak “…the US is looking strongly to change regulation in Europe to lessen the protections on the environment, consumer rights and other positions that the EU affords to its citizens.”

Commentators claim these differences are “irreconcilable“.

A death knell for the TTIP?

Bear in mind that the US already signed the TPP last year, including countries in the Pacific ring, such as Vietnam,  Malaysia, Peru, Chile etc.

However, Europe, unlike TPP trading partners, already has it’s own set of laws enshrined both in the common law of the member countries, and the federal authority of the European Union.

It seems the US and the EU are having a battle over whose federalism is the federalism.

Personally, I don’t believe the deal will fall through.

On the back of the previous TPP deal, the US has a pretty strong carrot for negotiations to continue….

Article here.

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