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IMAGO / Le Pictorium

Georgia votes: Calm before the storm?

Georgians will vote for a new parliament on 26 October. It is a directional election, Europe is in demand

For the first time since 2012, the opposition in Georgia appears to have a serious chance of replacing the government of pro-Russian oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili. Many observers are talking about a mood for change in the country. Although the ruling Georgian Dream party is likely to become the strongest political force again, it will fall short of the necessary majority. There have been no widespread protests during the election campaign so far, but that could change. The current relative calm seems deceptive and a major confrontation could be imminent. Will the government try to manipulate the elections? How will Ivanishvili behave? How will the transfer of power proceed if the opposition wins? What role will the president play? It is an election with many unknowns.

Florian Binder, Stephan Malerius
October 21, 2024
Country reports
Adobe Stock / Bigc Studio

Is China's Stimulus Package Delivering?

A Closer Look at Economic Revival Efforts

After initial market optimism, uncertainty is rising as China's stimulus measures lack clarity. While economic indicators showed a promising start, vague policy details are putting pressure on investor confidence. Is Beijing's strategy enough to deliver sustainable growth?

Johann C. Fuhrmann
October 17, 2024
Country reports

The Republic of Moldova ahead of the presidential election and the EU referendum

Will Moldova choose Optimism?

On October 20, Moldovans will decide on the person in the presidential palace and their country's accession to the EU. Both elections are about Moldova's fundamental political direction. Will the country remain on a pro-European and reform-oriented course, which continues to be supported by a majority of the population, or will the country - as has often happened in the past - fall back into a gray zone in which Russia and a few oligarchs can expand their influence on politics and society and necessary reforms, especially in the judiciary? A victory for the president and a clear yes from Moldovans to EU accession would also send a signal to Moscow that a Moldova controlled by Russia will only be possible with massive resistance from the population.

Brigitta Triebel
October 16, 2024
Country reports
KAS

Namibia on the eve of decisive elections

After decades in power, the ruling party SWAPO has to strive more fiercely to stay on top.

A record number of voters has registered to cast their ballots for the presidential and parliamentary elections, which are taking place on 27 November. One and a half million voters want to decide the political future of their country. Will they punish the governing SWAPO, in power since independence in 1990, just like voters did for the ANC in neighbouring South Africa?

Natalie Russmann
October 16, 2024
Country reports
Adobe Stock /Shozib

Tools for ‘smart’ urban development: Urban Digital Twins

Organising Smart City as a platform: realistic digital images of a ‘city section’, for the evaluation and simulation of urban situations or processes

Cities are complex and multifunctional network structures. Smart tools are needed to operate in this complexity: Depending on the available data, Urban Digital Twins can represent a realistic digital image of a ‘city section’. This allows complex interrelationships, specific urban constellations or processes to be visualised for evaluation and simulation. They can support administration, business and urban society as well in better solving real problems in a city.

Tobias Wangermann
October 15, 2024
Facts and Findings
IMAGO / photonews.at

After the national elections, Austria faces a long and difficult process of forming a government

Decision on direction postponed

What had been predicted in all opinion polls since 2023 has now become reality in figures: The right-wing populist Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) has emerged victorious from the election on September 29 with 28.8%, making it the strongest force in a National Council election for the first time ever in its approximately seventy-year history. While the FPÖ was still relatively close to first place in the European elections in June – for the first time in a nationwide election – this time it was two and a half percent behind the ruling Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), which lost around eleven percentage points of votes with a result of 26.3 percent.

Sebastian Enskat, M.A., Johannes Spreitz, Michael Stellwag
October 15, 2024
Country reports
IMAGO / Newscom World

Central America: Russia on course for expansion

Ortega regime is the driving force behind the Parlacen expansion

With its admission as a "permanent observer" in the Central American Parliament PARLACEN, Russia has achieved an important long-term success for its geopolitical positioning. The democracies and their parliaments should see this as a wake-up call and a warning call.

Prof. Dr. Stefan Jost
October 9, 2024
Country reports
IMAGO / Xinhua

Presidential Elections in Algeria

Former President Tebboune for a second mandat reelected

On September 7, 2024, 24.3 million people, almost every second Algerian, were called to vote the next president for the years 2024 to 2029. The presidential elections ended with the expected success of incumbent President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in the first round of voting. The conduct of the Algerian electoral authority was the subject of debate and led to a call to the Algerian Constitutional Court which established by decision both, the results (85 % for the confirmed President Tebboune) and the voter turnout of 46%. However, the level of voter turnout continues to rise speculation. According to the first data published by the electoral authority, it can be estimated with 23 %, which would be the lowest in Algeria's history. Although President Tebboune can undoubtedly rely on support in Algeria, his mandate will be characterised by multiple challenges.

Matthias Schäfer, Adel Ourabah
October 7, 2024
Country reports
Yossipik, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Israel one year after the Hamas terror attack

One war, multiple fronts

October 7th, 2024 marks the first anniversary of Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel and the war the country has been forced to fight on several fronts ever since. There are still 101 Israelis hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The security situation in the country has repeatedly changed and intensified over the past year. In particular in the north, the conflict with Hezbollah has escalated further and further over the summer months. Israel has already deployed significant forces to the north in recent months. Following the killing of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah, Israel began a ground offensive in southern Lebanon. However, the front with Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the one with Hezbollah in the north are not the only ones Israel had to deal with in the last year. On October 1st, Israel was (once again) directly attacked by Iran with a large number of ballistic missiles. An Israeli response to this attack is still pending but is to be expected. One year after the Hamas terror attack, the (security) situation in Israel and the current escalation can be analyzed and understood along the various fronts and conflict hotspots.

Dr. Michael Rimmel, Johannes Sosada
October 7, 2024
Country reports
Adobe Stock / Feodora

From protection seekers to skilled workers

Factors influencing the labour market integration of Ukrainian refugees

Many Ukrainians who have fled to Germany are highly educated, with a significant proportion holding vocational or university degrees. However, their employment rate remains lower than that of many other European countries. What are the reasons for this and what role do demographic factors play? An examination of institutional structural barriers and the socio-demographic composition of Ukrainian refugees in Germany sheds light on the factors influencing their entry into the labour market.

Natalie Klauser
October 4, 2024
Facts and Findings
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