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Addisou Deresse

From Paralysis to Progress? Who will be the new face of the African Union?

A portrait of the candidates for the chairmanship of the AU Commission

The African heads of state will elect a new leadership on February 15th and 16th. Will the new chairman of the African Union Commission be able to tackle existing challenges that have been paralyzing the efficiency of the Union? Who are the candidates for the most powerful position within the AU and what do they stand for? Martino Faccenda and Lukas Kupfernagel have been taking a look behind the scenes to unpack the candidates and potential implications for the future EU-AU relations.

IMAGO / Everett Collection

Albania and religion – a globally unique case

The Konrad Adenauer Foundation commissioned a study on religious issues.

Albania is the only country in the world where religion has ever been banned by law. For nearly a quarter of a century, the communist dictator Enver Hoxha waged a war against religion. From 1967 until 1990, religious institutions were closed, the practice of religious rites was banned, and the mere expression of religious beliefs was considered a crime against the state. The latter was specifically included in an article of the penal code, which prescribed a prison sentence of three to ten years.

IMAGO / Herrmann Agenturfotografie

Rule of law in South-East Europe: Highlights in 2024

A review of developments in South-East Europe over the past year

In South-East Europe, some countries have made progress in the rule of law over the past year, while others have also experienced setbacks, which illustrates the many challenges in the region. The latest Rule of Law Index from the World Justice Project (WJP), among others, shows a mixed picture: Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Montenegro are characterised by improved scores, particularly in the fight against corruption. North Macedonia also recorded an increase in its overall score, which indicates positive developments in various areas. Croatia and Serbia, on the other hand, saw a decline in their rule of law scores, in particular due to the restriction of fundamental rights and the faltering fight against corruption. On their way into the European Union (EU), the candidate countries showed a commitment to harmonising with EU standards, but persistent problems in the judiciary, difficulties in the fight against corruption and political instability hindered development. The three South-East European EU member states faced similar challenges. Political polarisation, the independence and effectiveness of the judiciary and interference in media and press freedom remain a challenge in all South-East European countries.

IMAGO / Agencia Prensa-Independiente

No Clear Winner in Ecuador's Elections

Political Polarization Persists Ahead of Runoff

After the election is before the election – this could describe the political situation in Ecuador after the tight first round of the presidential election. President Daniel Noboa and his left-populist challenger Luisa González will face off once again on April 13, 2025, in an open runoff. In particular, two fundamentally opposing political projects are up for decision, not least in foreign policy. Whereas a Noboa government would further align Ecuador with the west, a victory for Luisa González would mean a strengthened alliance with the region´s left-wing regimes as well as with Russia and China.

IMAGO / NurPhoto

Georgian Knot: Local Repressions and International Isolation

For weeks, Georgia has been caught in a destructive cycle of protests and repression, isolating the country on the international stage.

Even after nearly 70 days of continuous protests, the de facto government of Georgia—controlled by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili—remains unyielding. However, instead of the brutal crackdowns seen at the start of the demonstrations, authorities are now resorting to targeted intimidation and repression against individuals. The cases of Msia Amaghlobeli and Giorgi Gacharia starkly illustrate how the rule of law in Georgia has collapsed in recent months. Internationally, the country is increasingly isolated. Recent diplomatic visits by the new government leadership to neighboring Azerbaijan and Armenia highlight that Georgia’s path to Europe remains blocked under the rule of the Georgian Dream party.

Imago / Belga

Belgium has a new government

A colourful coalition after 234 days of negotiations

“Alea iacta est - the die is cast” - announced Bart De Wever, the leader of the Flemish Nationalists (N-VA) and Belgium's new Prime Minister, on 31 January late in the evening on the platform X. The new government was thus sealed after months of tough negotiations. The former “Vivaldi” government was replaced by the “Arizona” coalition - named after the colours of the parties that make up the coalition. This is the first time in Belgium's history that a N-VA politician has taken on government responsibility, but in view of the coalition's composition, a dramatic shift to the right is not to be expected. The challenges for the new government are great.

PantherMedia / daniel0

Mexico: Turbulent start to a landmark year

An overview of current political events

The year 2025 in Mexico began with a series of notable events: In addition to an early first assessment of the new government of President Claudia Sheinbaum, who celebrated extensively after just 100 days in office, the highly optimistic economic development plan, Plan México, made headlines. Internationally, the (supposed?) breakthrough in the renewed EU-Mexico Global Agreement surprised observers, before the inauguration of Donald Trump in Washington and the hourly announced executive orders regarding migration, trade, and security dominated the political agenda. A considerable noise level at the beginning of the year. It remains to be seen what consequences will arise from this in the coming months.

IMAGO / Panthermedia

Between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean: Morocco's maritime security strategy

Complex transnational challenges for the country's maritime security

The geopolitical developments in the Red Sea and Morocco's geostrategic position as an interface between Africa, Europe and the Americas pose complex transnational challenges for the country's maritime security. While Morocco benefits economically from the emerging importance of its ports, Morocco's sea areas are threatened by illegal migration, terrorist activities and international drug trafficking. Through a strategy of regional cooperation, Morocco seeks to use its Atlantic and Mediterranean identity to lower trade barriers while protecting itself from dangers. However, measures taken by the Moroccan navy make it clear that cooperation with both European and African states is indispensable for an effective security strategy.

Courtesy of the Democratic Party for the People / https://new-kokumin.jp/news/policy/20241211_1 / schriftliche Freigabe für die Verwendung liegt dem Auslandsbüro vor

A New Reality in the Japanese Parliament

Transformation of LDP-Komeito Policy-Making Process After the 2024 General Election

In the 2024 general election, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior coalition partner, Komeito, lost their majority, which subsequently affected the policy-making process of the ruling bloc. The minority LDP-Komeito government was compelled to seek support from opposition parties to realize its policies, adopting a more humble approach. This paper reviews the results of the general election in brief and the consequent transformation of the LDP-Komeito policy-making process during the extraordinary Diet session in 2024 and offers reflections by the author.

IMAGO / Avalon.red

Trump’s Trade Warriors

Trade Experts Share Common Goals, Diverge on Methods

New and higher tariffs were a key campaign promise of Donald Trump. The president aims to eliminate perceived injustices and trade deficits while increasing government revenue. However, he has delayed their introduction for the time being. We analyze the advisors influencing Trump's trade policy and their impact.