World

Finnish PM grilled by progressive MEPs over far-right alliance

Published

2 years ago

March 17, 2024

Finnish PM grilled by progressive MEPs over far-right alliance

Finland’s prime minister addressed on Wednesday the European Parliament and outlined his political priorities for the next legislature.

“My government is committed to a strong European Union. An EU that acts not only reacts. We want to build a Union that takes care of our common security and works for our economy,” Petteri Orpo told lawmakers.

But the premier’s speech quickly descended into finger-pointing and recriminations over his alliance with the Finns Party, a populist, Eurosceptic party that has been plagued by racism, anti-Semitism and neo-Nazism scandals.

The Finns Party sits with the hard-right European Conservatives and Reformists group (ECR) in the Strasbourg hemicycle, while Orpo’s National Coalition belongs to the European People’s Party (EPP), the centre-right formation that holds the largest share of seats. Orpo’s cabinet also features members from the Swedish People’s Party of Finland (Renew Europe) and Christian Democrats (EPP).

Last year, one of the Finns Party’s ministers, Vilhelm Junnila, resigned after it was revealed he had made jokes about “Heil Hitler” and promoted abortions in Africa as a method to combat climate change. The party’s leader, Riikka Purra, was forced to apologise for making racist remarks about Turkish and Somali immigrants in the past.

Progressive forces see the Helsinki government as evidence of the increasingly blurred line between the traditional right and the extreme right, a phenomenon they say is spreading fast across the bloc and threatens the viability of European integration.

Iratxe García Pérez, the leader of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), led the charge against the guest of honour, telling him: “Your only enemy is the far right.” The Spaniard also name-checked EPP President Manfred Weber, whom she considers to be the mastermind behind the ideological rapprochement.

“Your alliance with the far right is the real threat to our democracy and to the European project. This is why the future of the European Union is at stake,” García Pérez said.

“In times of uncertainty and great transformation, it is not enough to simply try to resist the reactionary wave. We have to move forward,” she went on.

“Mr Orpo, Mr Weber: put an end to your alliance with those who want to destroy Europe.”

Another point of contention was Orpo’s proposal for a Green Deal rethink after the elections to the European Parliament, scheduled to take place between 6 and 9 June. The Finnish PM urged the bloc to “recalibrate our climate policy and shift away from overly detailed regulation to fostering innovation.”

“We need carrots and incentives, not sticks and bureaucracy,” he said, prompting applause from EPP lawmakers, who have adopted a more critical stance on the Green Deal spearheaded by Ursula von der Leyen, the party’s most prominent politician.

Philippe Lamberts, co-chair of the Greens, took exception to Orpo’s pitch and argued Finland’s frugal stance on public spending was in “contradiction” with the goals of deploying renewable energy, as this entails significant expenses for all member states.

“Regulation sets ourselves targets and creates markets. So we need regulation,” Lamberts told him. “You cannot at the same time say we need more carrots, but then we don’t want to spend money on it. I mean, what are the carrots if it’s not public money?”

Lamberts also denounced Orpo’s cabinet, saying “people like us should never, never go into alliance with people who de facto consider some human beings as inferior.”

“That’s what you did in Finland. And I’m glad, Manfred (Weber), that your colleagues in Portugal are not going to do that,” he said, referring to the recent outcome of the legislative elections in Portugal, where the victorious conservatives have ruled out entering into a coalition with the far-right Chega party.

The criticism against Orpo, his political alliances and his economic reforms was extensively echoed by other progressive MEPs during the hour-long debate in Strasbourg, even if occasionally interrupted by expressions of support from right-wing and hard-right lawmakers.

Nicola Procaccini, co-chair of the ECR group, warmly welcomed the Finnish PM and said his electoral victory was “more important than you can ever imagine.”

“And even more significant was your choice to govern alongside the Finns Party. A notable member of our political family. You managed to resist the pressure of those who didn’t want a coalition between the EPP and the ECR,” Procaccini said. “If the centre right is united, it wins everywhere in Europe and the left knows this all too well.”

The ECR group is considered more ideologically tolerable for the EPP than the other Eurosceptic formation in the parliament, Identity and Democracy (ID), which encompasses the likes of National Rally (France), Alternative für Deutschland (Germany), Flemish Interest (Belgium) and the Freedom Party of Austria.

Von der Leyen and Weber have dismissed ID as “Putin’s friends” and rejected any possible cooperation with them. However, some members of the ECR, like Fratelli d’Italia (Italy), Civic Democratic Party (Czech Republic) and Sweden Democrats (Sweden) are seen as more suitable partners for the mainstream conservatives, as demonstrated by Orpo’s working arrangement with the Finns Party.

Opinion polls project a substantial increase in seats for both the ECR and the ID groups, which would weaken the grand coalition between conservatives, socialists and liberals.

At the end of the debate, the premier took the floor again to defend his coalition and double down on his political agenda, particularly on support for Ukraine, an issue that the EPP uses as a yardstick to distinguish palatable from unpalatable parties.

“Madame García Pérez and for many others: there (are) no far-right parties in my government,” Orpo told the hemicycle. “(The) Finnish government is pro-rule of law. It’s pro-democracy. It’s pro-equal gender rights. It’s pro-Ukraine. Pro-European Union. “

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World

Brawl breaks out between Braves pitcher Reynaldo López and Angels slugger Jorge Soler

Published

7 hours ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

Brawl breaks out between Braves pitcher Reynaldo López and Angels slugger Jorge Soler

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López and Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler were ejected after getting into a brawl Tuesday night.

Soler homered off López in the first inning, then was hit by a 96 mph fastball from the right-hander his next time up. In the fifth, Soler charged the mound after López threw a high-and-inside wild pitch that tipped off catcher Jonah Heim’s mitt.

At first, López held up his hands as the two glared at each other before both started throwing punches.

“I asked him if everything was OK and the answer he gave me, I didn’t like it,” Soler said through a translator, according to MLB.com. “That’s why I went out there.”

The benches and bullpens emptied as players from both teams tried to separate the two. Atlanta manager Walt Weiss was among those who tackled Soler, the 2021 World Series MVP with the Braves.

“I love Soler. We were teammates here,” Weiss said. “But that’s a big man, and so I just felt I’ve gotta get him off his feet because he’s gonna hurt somebody. And so that was my instinct, just to get in there and get Jorge off his feet, yeah, because he was on a warpath.”

López was still holding the baseball when he landed a punch on Soler’s batting helmet.

The two were teammates in Atlanta during the second half of the 2024 season.

“It’s just a shame, the situation and how things unfolded,” López said through a translator, according to MLB.com. “On my part, there was never any intent to hit him at any point. So, again, it’s just a shame.”

Atlanta led 4-2 when the fight occurred and went on to a 7-2 victory.

Soler’s two-run shot in the first made him 14 for 23 with five homers and three doubles against López.

“Obviously, I have good numbers against him,” Soler said. “After the home run and getting hit by a pitch after that, and then he missed way too high and close to my head. At this level, you can’t miss like that.”

Weiss understood why Soler was mad.

“I know it didn’t look good because of Soler’s numbers against Lópey, and he hit a homer, he hit him. It didn’t look good,” Weiss said. “Lópey’s not throwing at him. I don’t allow our pitchers to throw at people just because they can’t get ’em out. Our job is to get ’em out. But I understand why Soler got angry. And he’s a really mild-mannered guy. So, I think the switch flipped for him.

“There was no intent there. I just think that Lópey’s just overthrowing, because he’s had a hard time getting him out. But he’s certainly not trying to hit him,” Weiss added.

López pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing three hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.

“Obviously, guy’s got good numbers off López, and hits a homer his first at-bat. Gets drilled up high in the wrist his second at-bat and then third one takes a good swing and then throws the next one head-high. It wasn’t over his head but it was head-high coming in,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said.

“I don’t blame Jorge one bit. He went out there and words were exchanged and Jorge went out,” Suzuki added. “You get thrown at your head, you have a family, your career, you know, it’s dangerous. I know it’s part of the game. I know it happens.”

The Angels won 6-2 on Monday in the opener of the three-game series. Tuesday night’s game was more eventful, to say the least.

“It gets your juices flowing a little bit, on both teams I’m sure,” Weiss said. “So, as long as nobody gets hurt, it’s kind of a good time. But as long as nobody gets hurt. But yeah, I was proud of our guys the way we handled everything tonight.”

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

World

Iran’s UN ambassador takes swipe at Trump in final hours before Strait of Hormuz deadline

Published

9 hours ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

Iran’s UN ambassador takes swipe at Trump in final hours before Strait of Hormuz deadline

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Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations took a swipe at President Donald Trump on Tuesday hours before Trump’s deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, calling one of the president’s posts on Truth Social “deeply irresponsible” and “profoundly alarming.”

Trump has given the Iranian regime until 8 p.m. ET to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — a key waterway — or face strikes against its power plants and bridges.

In a post Tuesday morning, Trump said, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” and, “I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”

“Today the President of the United States again resorted to language that is not only deeply irresponsible but profoundly alarming, declaring that, quote, ‘the whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back,’ unquote,” Amir-Saeid Iravani said at U.N. headquarters in New York on Tuesday afternoon.

RUSSIA, CHINA VETO UN RESOLUTION AIMED AT REOPENING STRAIT OF HORMUZ, HOURS BEFORE TRUMP DEADLINE

Amir-Saeid Iravani, Iran’s U.N. ambassador, left, and President Donald Trump. (Timothy Clary/AFP via Getty Images; Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

“It is regrettable and alarming that while in full view of the international community, the President of the United States shamelessly and brazenly issues threats to destroy all civilian infrastructure in Iran, including bridges, power plants and energy facilities, by setting a deadline and openly reveals this intent to commit vile crimes and crimes against humanity,” Iravani added.

The White House, when asked by Fox News Digital for reaction, said, “The Iranian regime has committed egregious human rights abuses against its own citizens for 47 years, just murdered tens of thousands of protestors in January, and has indiscriminately targeted civilians across the region in order to cause as much death as possible throughout this conflict.”

CHINA AIDING IRAN MISSILE PROGRAM AMID US-ISRAELI STRIKES, REPORTS SAY

A satellite image shows the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, vital for global energy supply. (Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)

“As President Trump said today, Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, and the Iranian people welcome the sound of bombs because it means their oppressors are losing. The President will always stand with innocent civilians while annihilating the terrorists responsible for threatening our country and the entire world with a nuclear weapon,” White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly added. “Greater destruction can be avoided if the regime understands the seriousness of this moment and makes a deal with the United States.”

Trump also said Tuesday, “now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?”

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“We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World,” the president added. “47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!”

Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital.

World

EU made ‘no diplomatic effort’ to end Iran war, says MEP Botenga

Published

10 hours ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

EU made ‘no diplomatic effort’ to end Iran war, says MEP Botenga

In an interview on Euronews’ flagship programme, MEP Marc Botenga (The Left, Belgium) welcomed the two-week ceasefire agreed between the US and Iran, following US President Donald Trump’s announcement mere hours before the expiration of his ultimatum to Tehran.

Yet Botenga was highly critical of the EU’s response to the crisis, telling Euronews’ flagship morning show Europe Today that the EU’s position had been “horrible”.

“The European Union has done nothing, no diplomatic efforts whatsoever for a crisis that not only is violating human rights, is violating international law, but was also violating our interests,” said Botenga.

The two-week ceasefire was announced by Trump on his Truth Social platform overnight on Wednesday. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said it has accepted the ceasefire and would negotiate with the US in Islamabad beginning Friday.

“They (the EU) should have condemned the war. They should have condemned the war crimes,” Botenga said.

The truce comes after Trump ramped up his threats on Tuesday, saying a “whole civilisation will die” if there was no deal with Iran.

According to Botenga, the EU should have condemned the “genocidal rhetoric” used by Trump and failed to identify the true victims of the conflict. “They’ve been speaking about Iran attacking its neighbours rather than Iran being a victim, so we’ve mixed this up,” said Botenga.

Iran has been launching daily barrages of missiles and drones on its neighbours since the beginning of the war on 28 February.

While Tehran claims it is targeting only US and Israeli-linked assets, official reports and Euronews reporters on the ground have shown Tehran has struck civilian targets across the Gulf, including hotels and energy and water-processing facilities.

The strongest response from an EU leader to Trump’s threats came from European Council President António Costa, who warned on Monday that striking civilian infrastructure, like energy facilities, would be “illegal and unacceptable”.

Meanwhile on Tuesday a spokesperson for the European Commission urged Trump to act with “maximum restraint”.

In a message on X after the announcement, the EU’s High Representative Kaja Kallas said this ceasefire is “a step back from the brink”.

The ceasefire does not include Lebanon, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed. For Botenga, Israel has been “ethnically cleansing the south of Lebanon”.

“Why are we silent? Why are our top officials not condemning this? Why we are not taking sanctions?” asked Botenga.

In Lebanon, Israel has been engaged in a campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, who launched what they said was a retaliatory campaign against Israel following the death of Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli bombardment on day one of the war.