Country Reports

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.

Azerbaijan - Election without a choice

Aliyev has a new Azerbaijani parliament elected: The voter turnout of 37% speaks for itself

In the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, which were moved up due to the COP 29, President Ilham Aliyev's ‘New Azerbaijan’ party, which has been in power since 1995, won on paper. Although it only won 67 out of 125 seats, there will de facto be no independent representatives in the new Azerbaijani parliament.

Daring More Democracy in Jordan

In the Shadow of the War in Gaza, the Hashemite Kingdom Elects a New Parliament

Jordan seems more than ever committed to encourage its citizens to participate in politics – although in a carefully crafted way and under strict state supervision. The parliamentary elections on September 10 are a milestone in the “political modernization” that King Abdullah initiated three years ago – and a sparkle of hope for more democracy.

Escalation in the Middle East intensifies

Is a regional war inevitable?

• In just over a month, we will mark the first anniversary of the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Since then, Israel has been at war with attacks from several fronts.
• The situation dramatically peaked over the summer months. Twelve children were killed in a Hezbollah rocket attack. The Israeli army (IDF) then took out a high-ranking Hezbollah commander in Beirut with a targeted airstrike. A few hours later, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyya was killed in Tehran. Although not officially confirmed, the attack is attributed to Israel.
• Iran and its proxies vowed retaliation and announced to attack Israel. The IDF and Israeli security services have been on high alert ever since. On August 25, 2024, an imminent Hezbollah attack was repelled by a pre-emptive strike. Over 100 Israeli fighter jets attacked numerous targets in Lebanon and destroyed over 6,000 Hezbollah missiles and drones.
• At the end of August representatives of the Israeli government announced that the war aims will be extended so that the evacuated inhabitants of northern Israel could return to their homes.
• Negotiations on an agreement between Israel and Hamas to free the Israeli hostages abducted on October 7th and a ceasefire appear to have reached an impasse. Since August 28, 2024, Israel has also been conducting a major military operation in the West Bank with the aim of preventing further attacks from there.

Democratic National Convention Seals Change of Candidates

New Start, New Momentum

The Democratic National Convention has officially confirmed Kamala Harris as the party’s candidate for the presidential election. This marks the first time since 1968 that the candidacy has not been decided by voters in the primaries, following President Biden’s announcement of his withdrawal after the primaries. Just over a week after the convention in Chicago, polls indicate that Harris is gaining momentum and has shifted public opinion in favor of the Democrats in many states. Whether this will last until November depends on various factors. It is already clear that the race for the White House will be close.

Mexico's democracy at a crossroads

Change of government with turbulences

The elections of last June 2 have produced a clear result and give the election winner Claudia Sheinbaum an extensive mandate for her six-year term of office, which begins on October 1. However, this does not seem to be accompanied by a strengthening of democracy in Mexico, but rather reminiscent of the times of de facto one-party rule by the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) in the 1970s and 80s, which Mario Vargas Llosa described as the "perfect dictatorship" at the time. The majority in Congress with the possibility of constitutional amendments, the drastic judicial reform that calls into question the independence of the judiciary, and the abolition of state control institutions are just some of the aspects that provoke the question of whether Mexican democracy is in a dangerous downward spiral after the correct and important developments since 2000.