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IMAGO / CTK Photo

Fico pushes through controversial criminal law reform - and thus unites the opposition

The fight for the rule of law characterises the first months of the legislative period. Presidential elections in March will also be essential for the country's further development.

Although the result of the parliamentary elections in Sept. 2023 also allowed for other constellations, SMER-SD formed the government for the fourth time with Robert Fico at the lead. Coalition partners are Peter Pellegrini's HLAS-SD and Andrej Danko's National Party SNS.

One of the first things the Fico government did was to abolish the special anti-corruption prosecutor's office and shorten the statute of limitations and prison sentences in a shortened legislative procedure. Experts warned, the opposition held firm against this, as coalition MPs and former SMER-SD ministers would also benefit directly from this. Tens of thousands of people demonstrated across the country week after week - a testament to how divided the country is and a sign of how tough the upcoming election campaign for the direct presidential elections in March will be. In the run-off, the Social Democrat Pellegrini is expected to face off against the civic candidate and former foreign minister Ivan Korčok.

In terms of foreign policy, Fico is still using harsh rhetoric against Ukraine, but he is not blocking the EU's joint decisions in this regard. Commercial arms exports as well as humanitarian and technical support for Ukraine will continue under Fico, but bilateral military aid will not.

KAS Genf

The E-Commerce Moratorium: 404 Not Found

The "Geneva Telegram" explores events in Geneva-based multilateral organizations on a current topic. This time, we focus on the E-Commerce negotiations ahead of the 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, which will take place from 26-29 February in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

Senegal's democracy passes the stress test

The Constitutional Council has repealed Macky Salls' decree of 03.02.24 annulling the elections

There was much commotion in the country after President Macky Sall canceled the election date set for 25.02.2024 just a few hours before the start of the campaign. Senegalese civil society and the international community reacted with bewilderment and interpreted the annulment as an attempt by Macky Sall to extend his mandate indefinitely. Now, in a historic decision, the Constitutional Council has annulled the presidential decree.

IMAGO / Pond5 Images

Why the European elections could be decided in Italy

Movement in the Italian party system reaches as far as Strasbourg and Brussels

2024 will be a real stress test for Italy's party landscape. European elections, regional elections, local elections - a super election year has begun. For some party leaders, political survival is at stake. And some groupings may no longer exist afterwards. Only Giorgia Meloni and her Fratelli d'Italia can look to the future with relative calm when looking at the demoscopic data. The election to the European Parliament could even make the Italian head of government a key figure in Brussels when it comes to appointing new EU leaders. And surprises cannot be ruled out on the Tiber either.

IMAGO / SNA

Nothing new in Baku

Incumbent Ilham Aliyev was declared the winner of the presidential elections in Azerbaijan with an overwhelming result. Only the president's vote itself caused a stir.

The start of the "super election year" 2024 had hardly any surprises in store. According to the official results, the incumbent Ilham Aliyev emerged as the clear winner of the early presidential elections in Azerbaijan on February 7. With this election victory, Aliyev has further consolidated his power and will remain in office for another seven years. Even before the election, his fifth re-election was considered a mere formality, as it was a rehearsed simulation of democracy in a state that has been firmly ruled by an authoritarian regime for three decades. Beyond the expected course of events, the president's own vote was of extraordinary symbolic value.

U.S. Mission / Eric Bridiers / flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0

The 154th Meeting of the WHO Executive Board

The "Geneva Telegram" explores events in Geneva-based multilateral organizations on a current topic. This time, we focus on the 154th meeting of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO), which met in Geneva from 22 to 27 January 2024.

Significant progress was made at the 154th meeting of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO). A decisive milestone was the design of the WHO strategy for the period 2025-2028, which will be submitted to the World Health Assembly (WHA) for approval in May. Member states signalled broad support for the comprehensive plan of the first round of investment, which is supposed to take place in November 2024. This was a crucial step for sustainable financing and strengthening of the WHO. The session comprehensively covered health priorities, including universal health coverage, noncommunicable diseases, immunization, maternal and child health, neglected tropical diseases, antibiotic resistance, polio, emergencies, and health and peace. Progress has also been made on organisational and governance reform.

www.sobranie.mk

Technical government in Skopje: Kick-off to the super election year in North Macedonia

The technical government begins its work

The super election year in North Macedonia was heralded with the swearing-in of the technical government on January 28, 2024, which had to be formed 100 days before the election date. The basis for this is the so-called Przino Agreement of 2015, which ended a serious domestic political emergency through the intervention of the EU and the USA. Talat Xhaferi is the first member of the Albanian population group to assume the office of Prime Minister. The government's main task is to organize the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Senegal fights for its reputation - and its democracy

The region's democratic anchor of stability caught between a domestic political crisis and growing damage to its image among its international partners

The presidential elections in the West African country, which has been regarded by many as an anchor of democratic stability in the region, were due to take place on 25.02.2024. However, this was then canceled by presidential decree just a few hours before the election campaign was due to open. The country is now plunged into a domestic political crisis - and at the same time is fighting against a growing damage to its image among its international partners.

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e. V.

New York City – Barrierefreiheit bitte warten!

Inklusion weltweit – Aktueller Stand aus New York, USA

Kaum eine andere Stadt auf der Welt ist so oft Gegenstand von Büchern, Liedern oder Filmen wie New York. Sie steht für ein einzigartiges Lebensgefühl und zieht jedes Jahr Millionen von Menschen an, die nur für einige Tage dieses Gefühl greifen möchten oder die hier auf Dauer ihr Glück versuchen. Abseits all dieser Dinge sind wir in unserem Länderbericht einer ganz anderen Frage nachgegangen: Wie ist es eigentlich um die Inklusion von Menschen mit Behinderung bestellt? Wir haben uns dazu den öffentlichen Ver-kehr und den Bildungsbereich im Empire State genauer angesehen.

IMAGO / Pond5 Images

New geopolitical alliances in the Sahel region

The geopolitical balances are shifting in the Sahel region.

Europe and France are losing massive support from Niger to Mali via Chad, while Russia, Iran, Turkey and Arab countries are filling the vacuum left involuntarily by the West. Now Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso are also withdrawing from the West African community of states ECOWAS.