"Partygate" in the United Kingdom: Boris Johnson is fined, the opposition calls for his resignation
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaving 10 Downing Street on March 9, 2022. AP - Matt Dunham
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
The British Prime Minister, who received a fine for non-compliance with confinement during the Covid-19 pandemic, published a video on the evening of Tuesday April 12 in which he apologizes.
The Labor opposition is calling for his resignation.
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With our correspondent in London
,
Laura Kalmus
Forgotten for a time with
the war in Ukraine
, the "partygate" is resurfacing and a new twist is making, this Wednesday morning, April 13, the front page of all the British press.
After receiving a fine, Boris Johnson
apologized
while seeking to justify himself on his birthday party, celebrated on June 19, 2020.
“
Shortly after 2pm there was a brief meeting which lasted less than 10 minutes, the people I work with kindly conveyed their wishes to me.
And I must say, in all honesty, that at the time it did not occur to me that this could have constituted a violation of the regulations
, ”he believes.
The Prime Minister
was sentenced to a fine amounting to only sixty euros, but this sanction could have far more serious consequences.
Especially since last December, Boris Johnson assured Parliament that he had complied with all the restrictive measures.
“
We are ruled by liars and outlaws
,” headlines the
Daily Mirror.
"He must go
"
Leaving parties, aperitifs in the sun and birthday parties were organized at the Prime Minister's residence, both outdoors and indoors, in 2020 and 2021, when gatherings were prohibited.
Boris Johnson was reportedly present at six of a dozen events investigated by investigators.
The leader of the Labor Party calls for the resignation of the Prime Minister.
“
This is the first time in the history of our country that a sitting prime minister has been sanctioned for breaking the law.
And then he lied to the public several times.
The British deserve better than that, he must go
, ”says Keir Strarmer.
In his video, the Prime Minister brushes off the request.
“
I now want to continue and fulfill the mandate that is mine
,” he explained.
The prime minister's wife, Carrie Symonds, and his finance minister, Rishi Sunak, were also fined and also apologised.
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To read also: United Kingdom: the Chancellor of the Exchequer weakened by the tax situation of his wife
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