WELLINGTON: New Zealand parliamentarian Chloe Swarbrick was ordered to leave parliament on Tuesday during a heated debate over the government’s response to Palestine.
An urgent debate was called after the center-right government said on Monday it was weighing up its position on whether to recognize a Palestinian state.
Close ally Australia on Monday joined Canada, the UK and France in announcing it would recognize a Palestinian state at a UN conference in September.
Swarbrick, who is co-leader of the Green Party, said New Zealand was a “laggard” and an “outlier” and the lack of decision was appalling before calling on some government members to support a bill to “sanction Israel for its war crimes.” The bill was proposed by her party in March and is supported by all opposition parties.
“If we find six of 68 Government MPs with a spine, we can stand on the right side of history,” said Swarbrick.
Speaker Gerry Brownlee said that statement was “completely unacceptable” and she had to withdraw it and apologize. When she refused, Swarbrick was ordered to leave parliament.
Brownlee later clarified Swarbrick could return on Wednesday but if she still refused to apologize she would again be removed from parliament.
New Zealand has said it will make a decision in September about whether it would recognize Palestine as a state.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters told parliament that over the next month the government would gather information and talk to partners, which would inform cabinet’s decision.
“We’ll be weighing this decision carefully rather than rushing to judgment,” Peters said.
Along with the Green Party, opposition parties Labour and Te Pati Maori support recognition of a Palestinian state.
Labour parliamentarian Peeni Henare said New Zealand had a history of standing strong on its principles and values and in this case “was being left behind.”
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New Zealand politician removed from parliament following comments in Palestinian debate
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New Zealand politician removed from parliament following comments in Palestinian debate
- Swarbrick, who is co leader of the Green Party, said New Zealand was a “laggard” and an “outlier” and the lack of decision was appalling before calling on some government members to support a bill to “sanction Israel for its war crimes”
In Puerto Rico, fans thrilled with Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show
- In the town square in Vega Baja, a small municipality near Puerto Rico’s capital San Juan, retired teacher Madeline Miranda was bubbling with excitement after watching Bad Bunny perform at the Super
VEGA BAJA: In the town square in Vega Baja, a small municipality near Puerto Rico’s capital San Juan, retired teacher Madeline Miranda was bubbling with excitement after watching Bad Bunny perform at the Super Bowl.
After all, Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio was once one of her former students, and years away from becoming a global superstar.
“I danced, I screamed, I swore and I gave it my all,” said the 75-year-old Miranda, who joined about 100 other people to watch the performance by Vega Baja’s most famous native son.
People of all ages turned out, many of them bringing beach chairs — and drinks — to wait for the big moment.
Vega Baja is not exactly a place where American football is all that popular, and few of those present really paid attention to the game, which the Seattle Seahawks won over the New England Patriots.
Bad Bunny was the only show in town.
When he finally appeared on screen singing one of his biggest hits, “Titi Me Pregunto,” the crowd shrieked with joy. Some waved Puerto Rican flags and others clapped.
The party had begun.
“I feel so proud that someone from Vega Baja has reached such heights. This shows that our presence is growing stronger in the United States and around the world,” David Fontanez, a 66-year-old retiree, told AFP.
Other watch parties took place in Old San Juan.
’Great inspiration’
Bad Bunny’s performance celebrated Puerto Rico, a US island territory in the Caribbean — from the lyrics of his songs to his set design featuring sugar cane and his salmon-colored “La Casita” (little house). Fans cheered each reference.
He also made history as the first Super Bowl headliner to sing entirely in Spanish. A week ago, he became the first performer to win the Grammy for Album of the Year for a Spanish-language work.
For 14-year-old Pedro Melendez Barrio, the singer is a “great inspiration” for those who live in Vega Baja.
“He makes me feel very proud and also very happy. I think that if he has achieved all this, I can achieve this too. That really motivates me.”
Many said they were grateful to the 31-year-old Bad Bunny for championing his homeland.
Last year, he completed a wildly successful concert residency in San Juan, giving the island a major economic boost as fans flocked to see him.
“He brought to the Super Bowl the essence of what we, Puerto Ricans, are,” said Miranda, who remembers young Benito as a “very quiet and disciplined” child.
“He’s a great ambassador for this community.”
Some Puerto Ricans made mention of the conservative backlash that Bad Bunny faced after he was named as the halftime show headliner, largely due to the fact that he sings in Spanish.
Indeed, after the show, US President Donald Trump suggested that “nobody understands a word this guy is saying.”
But most said what was more important was Bad Bunny’s ability to amplify the voice of Puerto Ricans, who are US citizens but do not have the right to vote for president.
“He has reflected a lot of our culture (in his work), what’s happening in Puerto Rico, and the situation of immigrants,” Madeline Garcia, 31, said after the show.
“We ignore the controversy because, whether they like it or not, we’re also part of the United States. And even if our language is Spanish, most Puerto Ricans speak English.”
After all, Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio was once one of her former students, and years away from becoming a global superstar.
“I danced, I screamed, I swore and I gave it my all,” said the 75-year-old Miranda, who joined about 100 other people to watch the performance by Vega Baja’s most famous native son.
People of all ages turned out, many of them bringing beach chairs — and drinks — to wait for the big moment.
Vega Baja is not exactly a place where American football is all that popular, and few of those present really paid attention to the game, which the Seattle Seahawks won over the New England Patriots.
Bad Bunny was the only show in town.
When he finally appeared on screen singing one of his biggest hits, “Titi Me Pregunto,” the crowd shrieked with joy. Some waved Puerto Rican flags and others clapped.
The party had begun.
“I feel so proud that someone from Vega Baja has reached such heights. This shows that our presence is growing stronger in the United States and around the world,” David Fontanez, a 66-year-old retiree, told AFP.
Other watch parties took place in Old San Juan.
’Great inspiration’
Bad Bunny’s performance celebrated Puerto Rico, a US island territory in the Caribbean — from the lyrics of his songs to his set design featuring sugar cane and his salmon-colored “La Casita” (little house). Fans cheered each reference.
He also made history as the first Super Bowl headliner to sing entirely in Spanish. A week ago, he became the first performer to win the Grammy for Album of the Year for a Spanish-language work.
For 14-year-old Pedro Melendez Barrio, the singer is a “great inspiration” for those who live in Vega Baja.
“He makes me feel very proud and also very happy. I think that if he has achieved all this, I can achieve this too. That really motivates me.”
Many said they were grateful to the 31-year-old Bad Bunny for championing his homeland.
Last year, he completed a wildly successful concert residency in San Juan, giving the island a major economic boost as fans flocked to see him.
“He brought to the Super Bowl the essence of what we, Puerto Ricans, are,” said Miranda, who remembers young Benito as a “very quiet and disciplined” child.
“He’s a great ambassador for this community.”
Some Puerto Ricans made mention of the conservative backlash that Bad Bunny faced after he was named as the halftime show headliner, largely due to the fact that he sings in Spanish.
Indeed, after the show, US President Donald Trump suggested that “nobody understands a word this guy is saying.”
But most said what was more important was Bad Bunny’s ability to amplify the voice of Puerto Ricans, who are US citizens but do not have the right to vote for president.
“He has reflected a lot of our culture (in his work), what’s happening in Puerto Rico, and the situation of immigrants,” Madeline Garcia, 31, said after the show.
“We ignore the controversy because, whether they like it or not, we’re also part of the United States. And even if our language is Spanish, most Puerto Ricans speak English.”
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