Green Party's Chloe Swarbrick Ejected from NZ Parliament After Gaza Debate

Wellington, New Zealand, Aug 13 (AP) – Chloe Swarbrick, a New Zealand lawmaker and co-leader of the Green Party, was twice ejected from Parliament after she refused to apologize for labeling her opponents as "spineless" during a heated debate over the recognition of a Palestinian state. The incident occurred as tensions flared in the New Zealand Parliament, following Australia’s recent commitment to acknowledge an independent Palestine.

On Tuesday, Swarbrick was expelled from the parliamentary session after urging government members to "show some spine" and support her proposal to impose sanctions on Israel due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Her remarks came amid calls for New Zealand to join other countries, such as France, Britain, and Canada, in recognizing Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September.

Swarbrick’s comments were deemed unacceptable by Speaker Gerry Brownlee, who instructed her to withdraw her statement and apologize. Upon her refusal, she was banned from attending the parliament for the remainder of the week.

Undeterred, Swarbrick returned to Parliament the following day but was expelled again when she declined to offer an apology, this time leaving the chamber while exclaiming "free Palestine." As a result, Brownlee initiated a parliamentary vote to formally "name" her for misconduct, leading to her suspension and a reduction in her pay. All government lawmakers supported this measure.

The decision stirred further controversy with opposition politicians condemning the punishment's severity. They cited instances where government representatives faced lesser consequences for similar offenses. Opposition leader Chris Hipkins noted the rare occurrence of a lawmaker being ejected twice for the same offense, questioning the consistency of disciplinary actions in Parliament.

Despite these tensions, the New Zealand government continues to deliberate on officially recognizing an independent Palestinian state. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approach to the Gaza situation, describing it as excessively harsh. Luxon stated that recognition of Palestine was inevitable, although a final decision awaits further discussion in September.

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