France’s newly elected MPs have re-elected Yaël Braun-Pivet, a member of President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist bloc, as the president of the National Assembly. This appointment comes amid a political deadlock following snap elections that resulted in a hung parliament, with no single party or alliance holding a majority. Braun-Pivet’s re-election is seen as a potential step towards breaking the impasse and forming a working government.
In a surprise move, French President Emmanuel Macron has dissolved the National Assembly and called for snap legislative elections following his party’s defeat in the European Parliament elections. The elections will be held on 30 June and 7 July, just weeks before the Paris Olympics begin. The move has raised concerns about potential instability affecting the Games’ preparations, but the International Olympic Committee and French officials have assured that the Olympics will remain unaffected. Security concerns have also been raised, as the elections will take place during a crucial period for the Olympics’ preparations.
In a dramatic shift, Pakistan’s right-wing Islamic leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman has come out in support of his former rival, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Speaking in the National Assembly, Rehman slammed the establishment for allegedly rigging the political system and urged the ruling coalition to allow PTI to form the government if they have a majority. Rehman’s remarks have sparked speculations that he is putting pressure on the establishment and the government to gain a bigger share in the political arena.
Vietnam’s National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue has resigned amid an ongoing anti-corruption campaign. Hue’s resignation follows the arrest of his assistant on charges of power abuse. The move marks the latest in a series of high-level resignations in Vietnam, including that of former President Vo Van Thuong.
Following discussions between opposition and treasury benches, an agreement has been reached to allocate chairmanships of National Assembly standing committees based on party representation. The meeting, led by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, included representatives from various parties, including PML-N, PPP, PTI, MQM-P, IPP, and PML-Q. The final decision will be announced next week after opposition parties consult on committee selections. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairmanship is expected to go to the opposition, while the parliamentary committee on Kashmir will be led by the treasury benches. The meeting also established rules for parliamentary proceedings, including the allocation of days for the motion of thanks on presidential speech, budget session, and parliamentary year calendar.
