Speaker of Irish parliament to resign rather than face no-confidence vote in expenses scandal

October 3rd, 2009 Comments on Irish 'yes' to Lisbon TreatyReaction to Ireland's 'yes' vote to the Lisbon Treaty: __ Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country holds the EU presidency: "Today is a good day for Europe. It has been a long journey." __ Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt: This is "an important victory for Ireland — and for all of Europe!" __ Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin, who directed the 'yes' campaign: "I'm absolutely delighted for the country.

October 1st, 2009 Finnish government faces no-confidence voteHELSINKI — Finland's government faced a motion of no-confidence in Parliament on Thursday over election and party funding, and Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen's Cabinet was expected to survive the vote with the support of his four-party governing coalition. However, Vanhanen also was facing a separate allegation in a television program on Monday that accused him of accepting free building materials for the construction of his house.

August 28th, 2009 Moldova's Parliament elects new speakerCHISINAU, Moldova — Moldova's pro-Western coalition government has chosen a new parliament speaker in a vote that was boycotted by the Communist legislators. Last month, the four-party coalition won a narrow victory in a national election in Moldova, a former Soviet republic.

June 23rd, 2009 LONDON - The son of a taxi driver has been elected the new speaker of the British House of Commons, the world's oldest parliament. John Bercow, an opposition Tory MP who is said to be more popular among the ruling Labour benches than among his own party members, topped three secret ballots held in the House of Commons Monday.

June 22nd, 2009 UK lawmakers elect new speaker of House of CommonsLONDON — British lawmakers elected a new speaker of the House of Commons on Monday, part of a bid to put the political storm over their lavish taxpayer-funded expenses behind them. Opposition lawmaker John Bercow was elected to replace former speaker Michael Martin, the first presiding officer forced out in more than 300 years.

June 19th, 2009 Bermuda premier won't resign over Gitmo fightHAMILTON, Bermuda — Bermuda Premier Ewart Brown said Thursday he expects to weather a looming no-confidence vote over his decision to accept four Guantanamo prisoners as refugees in the British territory. Brown said his opponents viewed him as "somewhat vulnerable," but he still has the support of his Progressive Labor Party, which holds an eight-seat margin in the British territory's Parliament.

June 18th, 2009 LONDON - Details of expenses claims by British members of parliament (MPs) were officially published online Thursday after their leak to a newspaper caused a political storm that threatened the very survival of the government of Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Claims made between 2004 and 2008 were made accessible to everyone following a High Court ruling demanding transparency under the Freedom of Information Act a year ago.

June 15th, 2009 UK lawmakers jostle for Speaker's chairLONDON — British lawmakers are jostling over the best seat in the House. Ten candidates are vying for the prestigious 600-year-old position as Speaker of the House of Commons, each pledging sweeping reforms following a damaging scandal over legislators' expenses claims.

June 11th, 2009 LONDON - Indian-origin MP and former minister Parmjit Dhanda has joined the race to become the next speaker of the House of Commons, warning that the British parliament "is in crisis." Dhanda, a 37-year-old clean shaven Sikh, threw his hat in the ring to succeed Michael Martin, who will step down June 21 after a controversial intervention last month in favour of disgraced MPs found to be claiming dubious parliamentary expenses. If successful, he would be the first British Speaker - a centuries-old office - from an ethnic minority brackground.

June 8th, 2009 LONDON - Britain's ruling Labour Party appeared Sunday to be heading for a mauling in the elections for the European Parliament as first results showed a sharp fall in support compared with 2004. Results in the North-East region, a Labour stronghold, were down by nine percent, compared with 2004.

June 2nd, 2009 LONDON - The scandal over the abuse of parliamentary expenses moved closer to the core of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government Tuesday amid reports of an expected ministerial resignation and the admission of "errors" by two cabinet ministers. Unconfirmed reports said Home Secretary Jacqui Smith would step down from her post in a reshuffle expected to be undertaken by Brown in the wake of elections to the European parliament and local elections in Britain later this week.

June 1st, 2009 UK Chancellor caught up in expense disputeLONDON — British Treasury chief Alastair Darling is the latest lawmaker to be accused of misusing public expenses. The Daily Telegraph reports that Darling filed claims for costs on an apartment he rented out while also claiming expenses for another home.

May 23rd, 2009 KATHMANDU - Almost three weeks deadlock over the formation of a new government, Nepal lawmakers will vote today to elect a new Prime Minister. Former chief of the CPN (UML) Madhav Kumar Nepal, who has been supported by 22 parties in the parliament, is almost certain to become the next Prime Minister.

May 10th, 2009 UK politicians face curb on expenses after scandalLONDON — A senior British lawmaker says Parliament will set up an independent body to oversee legislators' expenses following a series of damaging revelations. The Telegraph newspaper has been publishing leaked details of expense claims by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and other politicians.

May 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - After bitterly campaigning against each other, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Leader of the Opposition L K Advani on Wednesday came face-to-face in Parliament at a function.