“Partygate”: Boris Johnson renews his apologies to the British Parliament
Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street to speak in front of Parliament on April 19, 2022. AP - Alastair Grant
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized "unreservedly" to Parliament on Tuesday, April 19, after being fined for breaking anti-Covid restrictions, without convincing the opposition who once again demanded his resignation.
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With our correspondent in London,
Émeline Vin
It was the first sitting since Boris Johnson was fined for attending a party in Downing Street in June 2020. “
I want to take this opportunity to repeat my sincere apologies to this chamber.
As soon as I received
this fine,
I said that I took note of the pain and the anger.
I said that the British were entitled to expect more from their Prime Minister
, ”he told the deputies.
In December, the Prime Minister had however assured that he had broken no rules – but lying in the House of Commons is punishable by resignation.
MPs will vote Thursday on opening an investigation.
The Conservative leader justified himself in advance.
“
Allow me to add, not to clear myself or justify myself, but to explain the words that were mine here.
It did not occur to me, then and since, that a gathering in the ministers' meeting room, just before a crucial council on Covid-19, violated the rules
, ”Boris continued. Johnson.
► To read also: "Partygate" in the United Kingdom: Boris Johnson challenged within his own government
An excuse described as a vast joke by opposition leader Keir Starmer, who describes Boris Johnson's refusal to resign as "
profound disrespect
" for the victims of Covid-19.
Several deputies, including tenors from the Conservative Party, have called on the Prime Minister to resign.
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