Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap from me, Jakub Krupa.
Three things to take away from today’s blog:
Irish parliament has failed to confirm Micheál Martin as the new taoiseach after chaotic protests over attempts by independent TDs propping up the government to remain on opposition benches and eat into opposition speaking time (17:51 and 17:03). Would-be taoiseach reacted angrily, telling a press conference that the crisis amounted to “a subversion of the Irish constitution” (18:35).
US president Donald Trump has warned Russia he would have “no choice but to put high levels of taxes, tariffs, and sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States” if Vladimir Putin does not move towards a negotiated peace deal in Ukraine (17:23).
Earlier during the day, European leaders rejected Trump’s criticism of some EU allies over defence spending (12;42), but also urged the bloc to move from producing documents to tanks (16:54).Polish prime minister Donald Tusk warned Europeans that “the time of comfort is over” in a wide-ranging speech urging the EU to stop looking up to the US for protection and focus on establishing itself as a global superpower. “Do not ask what America can do for Europe and its security; ask what ourselves we can do for our security,” he said. “If Europe is to survive, it needs to be armed”, he added.
He also spoke about the need to review some of the bloc’s climate policies in a bid to make it easier for European companies to compete with US and Chinese companies (11:28, 11:51, 12:01, 12:33)
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See you again tomorrow!
Updated
“This is the first time in 100 years the Dail has failed to elect a government to fulfill its constitutional obligation,” Martin said in a strongly worded statement outside government buildings.
Standing beside him, the outgoing taoiseach Simon Harris said it was an “utter disgrace” the house did not deliver on its duty to vote in the new government, especially with “so many pressing issues” facing the country.
But they faced an immediate backlash. Labour TD Alan Kelly said the words should “haunt” Martin for the rest of his career.
All opposition parties were trying to do was fight for the “principles of democracy” and ensure the “farce” of independent TDs who support the government were not on opposition benches, he said.
