Country Reports

UN Pact for the Future

Multilateral reform plan without guarantee of success

UN Member States adopted the Pact for the Future in New York and committed themselves to reform a multilateral system which falls short in delivering solutions in certain areas. However, words alone will not save multilateralism.

Pope Francis visits Luxembourg and Belgium

Between criticism and confidence

To mark the 600th anniversary of the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, Pope Francis embarked on a three-day visit to Luxembourg and Belgium on September 26. The last time a Pope visited Belgium was under Pope John Paul II in 1995. Pope John Paul II's visit to Luxembourg dates back four decades. Under the motto “to serve” in Luxembourg and the theme “On the road full of hope” in Belgium, Pope Francis addressed the challenges facing the Church in the 21st century. In secular Luxembourg, he encouraged people to find confidence in their faith. In Belgium, the Pope's visit revealed ambivalence in the public's attitude: on the one hand, encouragement from the faithful - on the other, the deep-rooted tensions in society and the Catholic Church, or between the two, came to light. Sexual abuse, the role of women and the process of beatification for King Baudouin dominated the public debate and provoked massive criticism.

Shigeru Ishiba – The LDP Reformer?

A Portrait of Japan’s New Prime Minister

Shigeru Ishiba will become Japan's next Prime Minister. In a dramatic final round of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership election, Shigeru Ishiba emerged victorious over Sanae Takaichi. With this win, it is now certain: Ishiba will become Japan's next Prime Minister.

Geneva Telegram on the 11th meeting of the intergovernmental negotiating body on the pandemic agreement

The "Geneva Telegram" deals with events in Geneva's multilateral organizations on a current topic, this time the 11th meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on the Pandemic Agreement (INB11), which met in Geneva from 9 to 20 September 2024.

This round of negotiations marked another crucial step in the process of finalizing the pandemic agreement. However, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed his disappointment at the lack of significant progress: “Progress has been made, but not to the extent we had hoped for.” The urgency of a binding pandemic agreement has further increased after the WHO Director-General declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on August 14, 2024, due to the ongoing Mpox outbreak on the African continent. This escalation underscores the importance of globally coordinated pandemic preparedness and response measures and shows that a pandemic will not wait for negotiations to be concluded.

Trump's Team: The People Behind the Candidate

An Overview of Advisors Supporting Donald Trump’s Presidential Candidacy

Donald Trump is the Republican candidate for the upcoming presidential election. He hopes to move into the White House for a second term. He is supported by numerous advisors, some of whom have been at his side for years, as well as by members of his family. Trump repeatedly emphasizes the importance of personal loyalty. At the same time, he and his team aim to ensure that a potential second Trump administration has sufficient staff to fill all key positions.

Klare Absage an Reform der Pensionskassen und an Biodiversitätsinitiative

Am Sonntag, den 22.09.2024 wurden die Schweizerinnen und Schweizer zur Urne gebeten, um über eine Reform der beruflichen Altersvorsorge (BVG) sowie eine Volksinitiative zum Schutz der Biodiversität abzustimmen. Der Reformvorschlag des bürgerlichen Lagers über die BVG-Reform wurde mit 67,12% Nein-Stimmen abgelehnt. Auch die Biodiversitätsinitiative fiel mit 63,03% der Stimmen deutlich bei den Wählerinnen und Wählern durch. Die Stimmbeteiligung für beide Vorlagen lag bei etwa 45%. Im Vergleich zur letzten Abstimmung im Juni hat sich die Beteiligung nicht verändert und reiht sich damit knapp unter dem Durchschnitt der letzten Jahre ein.

France has a new government

Fragile centre-right Alliance faces major challenges

Two weeks after the nomination of Michel Barnier as Prime Minister, the composition of his government was announced on 21 September 2024. The thirty-nine-strong government team with a clear conservative bent, consisting of numerous ministers from Macron's Renaissance party and Les Républicains, includes only a few political heavyweights and now faces major challenges. On the one hand, it is important to find common positions on the political issues of the budget, education, health and migration in the unity of purpose imposed by the new parliamentary elections. Prime Minister Michel Barnier will certainly need a great deal of diplomatic skill to find common ground on socio-political issues in particular. On the other hand, the other two blocs in the National Assembly, the New Popular Front and the right-wing populist Rassemblement National, are warming up for a tough opposition. As a minority government, the conservative Républicains and the Macron camp must also win votes from the opposition in order to push through legislative projects. The government has the support of 212 MPs and therefore a relative majority, but this is a far cry from the absolute majority of 289 MPs. While the government is already being denied legitimacy by numerous voices on the basis of the latest election results [1], there is a threat of a vote of no confidence in the National Assembly, which could once again bring the country to a political impasse.

Olaf Scholz in Uzbekistan

Tailwind for German-Uzbek relations?

: For the first time in his chancellorship, Olaf Scholz visited Central Asia from 15 to 17 September 2024. A large number of agreements, such as a migration agreement, were concluded during bilateral talks in Uzbekistan. Abstract: As part of his first trip to Central Asia from 15-17 September 2024, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Uzbekistan accompanied by a large business delegation. Bilateral talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev were followed by participation in the C5+1 summit in Kazakhstan. A large number of agreements were concluded in Uzbekistan, such as a migration agreement.

Is Thailand navigating in or out of a Political Crisis?

Power, Courts, and Dynasties

The Kingdom of Thailand has experienced significant political shifts in recent months. Following the 2023 election, the country has seen the dissolution of a major political party and the removal of its Prime Minister, both by the Constitutional Court. These events have raised serious questions about democratic accountability and the influence of unelected bodies in Thailand's political landscape.

Where does Japan stand at the end of the Kishida government?

A security and economic policy assessment after three years in office

Alongside the U.S., Japan will soon also be led by a new head of government. The two economic heavyweights are more closely intertwined than ever in terms of economic and security policy. The challenges facing the island nation therefore not only affect Japanese domestic policy.