7th senator referred to court as citizenship crisis deepens

MELBOURNE: A crisis engulfing Xenophon said on Saturday he had Australia’s parliament has widened received advice from the UK Home after a key independent senator Office that, due to a “rare peculiarity”, became the seventh parliamentarian they considered him a British overseas referred to the High Court to citizen. determine if his dual citizenship makes The senator, who was born in him ineligible to sit in parliament. Adelaide, Australia, said his father,

Senator Nick Xenophon’s Theodoros Xenophou, was born in announcement on Saturday that he Cyprus and left there in 1951. Cyprus holds dual British citizenship comes remained a British colony until 1960 as the future of Prime Minister when it gained independence. Malcolm Turnbull’s government “The great irony here is that my hangs in the balance, with question father left Cyprus in order to escape marks surrounding the eligibility of British colonial rule,” the senator said.keymembersofhisgovernmentand crossbenchers threatening supply Xenophon had renounced Greek should it be stripped of its one-seat citizenship, which he received from majority. his mother, but had not been aware he

That majority was placed in held possible British citizenship. jeopardy earlier this week after Deputy On Friday a member of Xenophon’s Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said he eponymous party in the Lower House may be ineligible for parliament due to of Parliament, Rebekha Sharkie, New Zealand citizenship by descent. became the latest crossbencher

His father was born in New to withdraw her support for the Zealand. Joyce has since relinquished government on matters of confidence New Zealand citizenship, but is and supply. awaiting the High Court ruling, along with several other politicians who believe they may have dual citizenship.

The citizenship crisis, based on a 116-year-old law which demands an elected lawmaker only have Australian citizenship, has rocked the Australian parliament, ensnaring three government members, three Green party MPs and Xenophon.

— AFP A newly wed couple pass in front of The Saviour on Blood Cathedral in Yekaterinburg, Russia on Saturday.

— Reuters Freddy Guevara (C, with glasses), first vice-president of the National Assembly, looks on at a meeting with ambassadors and diplomatic members during a session of the National Assembly in Caracas.