Bookeristas In The News

France: Communist Politician Denounces Job Fair Organized By Rama Yade

Secretary of State for Sports Rama Yade's meeting tomorrow night in her hometown of Colombes (Hauts-de-Seine) with the youth wing of the center-right UMP party - which invites local residents to bring their resumes for an accompanying job fair - has invited charges by Communist Party parliamentarian Roland Muzeau that she is engaging in "cronyism" (article in French). The website Young People of Colombes has agreed to meet up at the job forum, which will be attended by Secretary of State for Employment Laurent Wauquiez, and several business leaders.

"Why the hell didn't I think of this great idea to serve my constituents, before this young Negro who plans to run against me in 2012 did? Why, she's out of order!" "This initiative, with its populist overtones, with its air of electoral patronage, is scandalous," said Mr. Muzeau in a statement, adding that Ms. Yade "will not wait long to start campaigning for the upcoming regional elections." He stated, "It is playing on the hopes of part of the population with small, poorly paid jobs," adding that the initiative is "a dangerous game in these suburbs."

Ms. Yade takes full responsibility for the initiative, saying that a similar meeting was first held in June with no reaction from Mr. Muzeau. "We don't promise employment. It is essentially a session giving personal advice," said Ms Yade. "If it turns out that the encounter between the youth and the company is positive, so much the better," she said, adding that this was the case for two attendees at the June session. "If a politician isn't helping people, then what good is he?", said Ms. Yade, who added that Mr. Muzeau "would do better to offer solutions, rather than denounce because unemployment has risen very rapidly in Colombes in the past year, under their [the local coalition of Left parties'] leadership."

Ms. Yade, who is an elected city councilwoman in Colombes and who has polled as France's most popular politician for months, is contesting the Hauts-de-Seine area in the March 2010 regional elections. According to the French media, one of her goals is to challenge Mr. Muzeau for his seat in the 2012 parliamentary elections.

Uganda: Lukyamuzi Battles His Own Daughter For Parliamentary Seat

John Ken Lukyamuzi, the Conservative Party chairman popularly known as "Ken The Man", having been hounded out of Parliament by former Inspector General of Government Faith Mwondha, now wants to reclaim his parliamentary seat in Lubaga South. His daughter Suzan Nampijja, whom he helped win the seat, has found it too rewarding and sweet to simply relinquish. Mr. Lukyamuzi left Parliament in 2005 and was blocked from contesting any elective office in 2006 for failing to declare his wealth as dictated by the Leadership Act 2002. The moderate-conservative politician petitioned against the move, and the matter is now before the Supreme Court.

While campaigning for Ms. Nampijja in 2006, Mr. Lukyamuzi told rallies that his 31-year-old daughter was a capable substitute. The 57-year-old Lukyamuzi is angry that his daughter wants to get re-elected in 2011, instead of returning the seat to her father who bestowed it on her. Mr Lukyamuzi has even stopped taking Nampijja to the Inter Party Cooperation talks, something he has religiously done for the past two years. Ms. Nampijja wants to keep the seat the same way that Mr. Lukyamuzi did when he effortlessly took it in 1996 from Damiano Lubega, after the latter's political party decided to boycott elections. Both father and daughter reportedly might pick nomination forms for Lubaga South for the 2011 race.