first Berlusconi now Livingstone

24.02.06, 20:18
don't these guys gave better tactics??
And why was Berlusconi not suspended, after all he has a more serious role
and the incident occured in the EU parliament...

uk.news.yahoo.com/24022006/325/livingstone-suspended-nazi-jibe.html

LONDON (Reuters) - Feisty London Mayor Ken Livingstone was suspended for a
month on Friday for comparing a Jewish reporter to a concentration camp
guard, a verdict the mayor said struck "at the heart of democracy".

A three-person panel which hears complaints against local authorities ruled
in a case brought by a Jewish group that Livingstone, 60, had brought his
office into disrepute.

It ordered him suspended for four weeks from March 1.
"Three members of a body that no one has ever elected should not be allowed
to overturn the votes of millions of Londoners," Livingstone said in a
statement.

"This decision strikes at the heart of democracy. Elected politicians should
only be able to be removed by the voters or for breaking the law."

He added he was discussing with lawyers whether to appeal.

The suspension came as a surprise: the mayor, one of the most colourful and
popular politicians, could have faced up to a five year ban on holding public
office, but media were expecting at most a public rebuke.

Livingstone's deputy Nicky Gavron said she would run the city in his absence,
and that services would not be interrupted.

"There's a very well oiled machine," she told Sky News. "If there's any
incidents in London, people know what to do."
    • usenetposts Re: first Berlusconi now Livingstone 24.02.06, 23:03
      The judge should not have banned Livingstone, he should have just invoked
      Godwin's law and handed the argument to Finegold.

      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_Law
      If these judges and people knew a bit more netiquette they would be in a fitter
      state to perform their work, and wouldn't hand over the management of a city of
      8 million people to a rooky like Nicky Gavron in a month when London is
      particularly threatened by bird flu.
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