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IMAGO / SNA

Surprising majority

Slovakian Parliament passes conservative constitutional amendment

On Friday, September 26, 2025, the National Council of the Slovak Republic passed an amendment to the constitution on cultural and ethical issues. The amendment introduces several conservative principles. This makes Slovakia the first EU country with a constitutional ban on surrogacy. The National Council also considered a controversial passage on the primacy of national law over EU law in matters of national identity. The decision came as a surprise after some opposition MPs voted for the amendments without prior notice. The amendment will enter into force on November 1, 2025.

Dr. Marco Arndt, Michal Petrík
October 21, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / AFLO

Double Turning Point

Japan’s Lower House Elects Sanae Takaichi as Prime Minister

For the first time in Japanese history, a woman is leading the government of the island nation. Takaichi is considered a conservative hardliner who, only in early October, was elected LDP party leader on her third attempt. Expectations within the party for her are as high as they are numerous. In addition, she must align the LDP after 26 years with a new coalition partner, the Innovation Party.

Paul Linnarz
October 21, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / epd

Transatlantic partnership taken further: Why now is the moment for German-Brazilian relations

In light of geopolitical tensions and a crumbling world order, Germany and Brazil are rediscovering their partnership – as equal democracies with shared interests

For decades, Germany and Brazil have enjoyed a close partnership based on economic cooperation, but which now extends far beyond this. Both countries share fundamental values: democracy, social responsibility, multilateral cooperation and the conviction that global challenges can only be overcome by working together. In a world increasingly characterised by geopolitical power shifts, threatening foreign economic policies and the erosion of international norms, German-Brazilian relations are gaining strategic depth.

Maximilian Hedrich, Philipp Gerhard
October 20, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / Anadolu Agency

Rodrigo Paz's election victory heralds a new era

At the height of the economic crisis, Bolivia decides on a change of course in domestic and foreign policy

After what seemed like an endless 150 days of campaigning, the outcome is now clear. Former opposition senator and mayor Rodrigo Paz will lead Bolivia as president from November 8 with a clear mandate from the voters. There is no time to lose. The Andean country's economy has collapsed, and the population is suffering from fuel shortages and skyrocketing food prices. The patience that the Bolivian electorate has shown until the conclusion of the presidential elections amid the dramatic economic crisis has now been exhausted, and quick solutions are expected. At the same time, there are already signs that governing could be difficult for the new president despite favourable majority conditions in parliament.

Dr. Christina Stolte
October 20, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / sepp spiegl (Montage)

Kenya mourns Raila Odinga

What does his death mean for political developments in Kenya?

„If you die, there is nothing to fear. Why? Because you either go to heaven or hell. If you go to heaven there is nothing to worry about. Even if you go to hell, there is nothing to worry about: you will find many of your friends there.“ (Raila Odinga on 10 November 2023 in his speech at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation's ‘Transforming a Nation’ conference in Nairobi, Kenya)

Mathias Kamp, Eva-Maria Okot
October 20, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / Bestimage

Political balancing act in France

Gaining time as a strategy of the Lecornu II government

France is experiencing a political state of emergency: within just a few days, Sébastien Lecornu was appointed Prime Minister, presented a cabinet, resigned – and was finally reappointed to form a government. Amid mass protests, internal party resistance and a deeply divided parliament, this political balancing act seems like an attempt to patch up a structural crisis with temporary solutions. What was intended to be an orderly transition following François Bayrou's resignation quickly became a symbol of the growing instability under President Emmanuel Macron. The new prime minister is now supposed to build bridges, secure budgetary majorities and calm the country – but instead, it is becoming clear how fragile the political foundations of the Fifth Republic have become. Lecornu II is less a new beginning than a tactical manoeuvre: a temporary government without solid backing.

Anja Czymmeck, Nele Katharina Wissmann
October 17, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / ABACAPRESS

U.S. Reactions to Trump’s Middle East Peace Plan

Celebrations and Questions after the Ceasefire

U.S. President Donald Trump has achieved a diplomatic breakthrough. Through a combination of negotiation skills, strategic pressure, and personal commitment, he has successfully persuaded Hamas and Israel to sign a peace agreement. As a result, hostilities have ceased, humanitarian aid has been delivered, and—most notably—Israeli hostages have been released. Following celebrations in the region and widespread praise for the president, American experts are now asking: What comes next?

Dr. Hardy Ostry, Jan Bösche
October 16, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / Anadolu Agency

Global Gateway Summit - New impetus for pragmatic partnerships

The second summit of the EU's Global Gateway infrastructure initiative courts partner countries and the private sector

The second Global Gateway Forum on 9/10 October provided the EU with an opportunity to publicly promote the infrastructure initiative “Global Gateway”, launched in December 2021, announce initial successes and unveil several new projects with various partner countries around the world (including in the areas of infrastructure, renewable energies and electricity grids). At the same time, the Commission wanted to address some of the criticisms that had been voiced since the initiative's inception, including through a demonstratively strong presence of the private sector, which had been less involved at the start of the initiative. Despite the initiative's bumpy start, the high-level participants from numerous third countries showed great interest in closer cooperation with the EU within the framework of the initiative. Other partner countries, however, were irritated by the rules for participation.

Dr. Olaf Wientzek, Sven Nicolay
October 16, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / ANP

The Netherlands before the elections

Current polls indicate difficulties in forming a majority

Early parliamentary elections for the Tweede Kamer will be held on 29 October. After Geert Wilders' right-wing populist Party for Freedom (PVV) left the governing coalition in June, bringing down Prime Minister Dick Schoof's government, a caretaker government remains in office. Two weeks before the election, the campaign to win voters' favour has reached its peak. Recent polls show that it will be difficult to form a majority. It remains to be seen whether the election results will lead to more stable political conditions. The following report outlines the background to the election, analyses campaign issues and tactics, and sketches out scenarios.

Dr. Beatrice Gorawantschy, Domien te Riele
October 15, 2025
Country reports
SmarterPix / symbiot

More flexibility, less control?

Reorientation of the financial instrument for the EU's future partnership policy

On July 16, the European Commission presented a first draft of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the seven-year EU budget for 2028-2034. The initial proposal allocates €1.98 trillion for the next seven years. The package also includes a first draft regulation for the so-called “Global Europe Instrument” : this is to become the central financial instrument in the new MFF for shaping the EU's relations with its global partners. In many respects, the regulation represents the paradigm shift in European development policy that has been gradually taking place over the past few years towards a partnership policy that places greater emphasis on the EU's own interests. At the same time, the first draft also reflects the awareness that the EU finds itself in a different geopolitical environment than it did at the beginning of the current MFF (2021). Accordingly, the draft contains numerous innovations that attempt to take these circumstances into account. Some of these are nevertheless controversial and are likely to meet with opposition in some cases, particularly regarding the European Parliament's (EP) and Member States' limited powers of oversight. In any case, the negotiations between the Commission, the EP, and the Member States on the MFF, which are expected to last another year and a half, are likely to result in a number of fundamental changes that will also affect the Global Europe Instrument.

Dr. Olaf Wientzek
October 13, 2025
Country reports

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