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IMAGO / SNA

“Georgian Dream” turns into a nightmare

The Georgian government is rapidly turning away from the Euro-Atlantic course. But civil society and the opposition are not giving up.

“Foreign Agents Law”, “Offshore Law” and intensified cooperation with China - fundamental political changes are emerging in Georgia. The ruling party “Georgian Dream” has taken the West by surprise with its rapid autocratization. The overwhelmingly pro-European population has been taking to the streets on a historic scale for weeks to protest against these developments. However, the government remains unimpressed and continues the confrontation. The developments are not just about the much-cited “Foreign Agents Law”, but about larger geopolitical shifts in the region. The stakes are high for the West.

Matthias Hespe, Stephan Malerius
June 3, 2024
Country reports
IMAGO / ANP

The Netherlands on the way to forming a government

Extra-parliamentary experiment in The Hague

Six months after the snap elections in the Netherlands, four parties have agreed to work together and put forward Dick Schoof, former head of the secret service AIVD and highest-ranking civil servant in the Ministry of Justice, as a candidate for the office of Prime Minister. The fact that he previously held no political office is symbolic of the desired form of cooperation in the new government – an extra-parliamentary cabinet is to be formed comprising 50 per cent representatives of the parties supporting it and 50 per cent politically independent experts. The reason for this decision is the complicated election result in November 2023 and the strong polarisation around the right-wing populist election winner Geert Wilders. The new cabinet is to be sworn in by King Willem-Alexander at the beginning of July.

Dr. Beatrice Gorawantschy, Kai Gläser
May 31, 2024
Country reports
KAS Mongolia

Mongolian parliamentary election 2024: new rules, old style of play

Enlargement of parliament from 76 to 126 seats

Mongolia is electing a new parliament for the ninth time since the democratic transition in 1990. The election date is June 28, 2024, and once again, the rules for the election have been changed in the run-up. However, the massive use of administrative resources by the ruling party, the distribution of election gifts, and the disagreements within the largest opposition party have remained. One question is whether Mongolia's years-long slide down the democracy, media freedom, and corruption rankings can be halted. It is unlikely that democracy as a whole could be at risk.

Viktor Frank
May 31, 2024
Country reports
IMAGO / Wassilis Aswestopoulos

Greece ahead of the European elections

Nea Demokratia favored despite crises, national issues dominate, EU issues such as defense and labor shortage in the background

The upcoming European elections in Greece on 9 June are being influenced by growing discontent and concern in the government camp. The rise of far-right parties, persistent inflation, a train accident in Tempi and a bugging scandal have put the governing party Nea Dimokratia (ND) in a defensive position. A few weeks before the European elections, a clear favourite is emerging: Nea Demokratia (ND) is expected to come first. The opposition party SYRIZA has secured second place, while PASOK, the socialist party, is in third place. The Greek European elections are centred around national issues. But the debate neglects critical EU issues such as defence, agricultural policy, an ageing population and labour shortages.

Marian Wendt, Vasilis Karydas-Yfantis
May 31, 2024
Country reports
Adobe Stocke / niyazz

Cyprus ahead of the European elections

DISY and AKEL in close competition, key issues of natural gas, migration and the war in Ukraine, worrying entry of the far-right ELAM into the European Parliament

On 9 June, over 700,000 Cypriots will vote for the European Parliament and local representatives. Key issues are the unresolved Cyprus question, natural gas reserves, migration and the impact of the war in Ukraine. Cyprus' relations with Greece, Israel and Egypt are intensifying. Forecasts and polls ahead of the European elections show intense competition for first place between the right-wing DISY party and the left-wing AKEL party. In the run-up to the European elections, DISY has set out its positions on six key issues, while it appears to agree with AKEL on only a few issues relating to Cyprus. Worryingly, the far-right ELAM is considered certain to enter the European Parliament.

Marian Wendt, Vasilis Karydas-Yfantis
May 31, 2024
Country reports
IMAGO / Photoshot/Construction Photography

Nigeria's uncertain economic future

Opportunities and risks for the country's economy following the opening of the new oil refinery

Nigeria's economy is facing a major upheaval. With the opening of the world's largest oil refinery and the new government's economic policy measures, the Nigerian state is creating new financial leeway. This will give Africa's largest economy greater scope for action. Whether this leads to economic diversification in the country is in the hands of the decision-makers: will the newly gained room for maneuver be used to invest further in the oil sector, which is profitable in the short term? Or will medium and long-term measures be taken to exploit the great potential of the Nigerian economy outside of the oil sector through a diversification strategy?

Lukas Laible
May 29, 2024
Country reports
IMAGO / Xinhua

How the Constitutional Council saved democracy in Senegal

A landmark judgement for democracy and the rule of law in West Africa

Democracy in Senegal has been increasingly jeopardised in recent years by power plays against the opposition, violent demonstrations, and the prosecution of numerous opposition politicians. Recently, the Senegalese Constitutional Council issued a groundbreaking judgement by declaring the planned postponement of the Senegalese presidential elections to December 2024 as unconstitutional. In doing so, it has not only saved Senegal from a deep political crisis, but also paved the way at the last moment for a constitutional and democratic transfer of power. This transfer now took place on 2 April 2024 to the newly elected President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

May 29, 2024
Country reports
IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

Presidential elections in Lithuania

Great support for the incumbent president Gitanas Nausėda

The renewed victory of incumbent President Nausėda came as no surprise: Nausėda received the highest level of support in the history of presidential elections to date. There were two established politicians in the run-off, both of whom achieved their goal: Šimonytė managed to reach the run-off round, and Nausėda improved on his result. In addition to the established candidates, several newcomers also took to the political stage in the elections, while the results of the openly pro-Russian candidates shook up the country. Given the upcoming parliamentary elections, the result should not be overestimated, but initial conclusions can still be drawn about the mood of the population.

Loibl Julian, Fausta Simaityte, Oliver Morwinsky
May 27, 2024
Country reports
IMAGO / Pond5 Images

Italian refugee reception centre in Albania

Planned opening of the first extraterritorial refugee camp in an EU country

The increasing migratory pressure on Europe is shaping the current discourse. Italy, which is experiencing a significant change in its migration policy under the leadership of the movement led by Giorgia Meloni, is particularly prominent. At the same time, Albania is positioning itself as a reliable partner on the path to EU membership. In light of these developments, innovative solutions are being sought. One notable example is the planned opening of the first extraterritorial refugee camp in an EU country: an Italian camp on Albanian soil, which is triggering both ethical and political discussions.

Dr. Thomas Kunze, Christopher Hess
May 27, 2024
Country reports
IMAGO / Pond5 Images

Ghana's parliament passes anti-LGBTQ+ law

After more than 2½ years of deliberation, Ghana's parliament voted in favor of a new anti-LGBTQ+ law, dramatically worsening the situation for homosexuals and sexual minorities.

On January 31, 2021, supporters of the LGBTQ+ community opened an office in Ghana's capital Accra. The office was intended to be both a meeting place and a retreat. The opening, which was accompanied by media attention and a number of foreign ambassadors, quickly attracted a great deal of attention in Ghanaian society. The fierce criticism that followed not only led to the rapid closure of the center, but also to the introduction of a radical anti-LGBTQ+ bill in parliament. It was signed by eight MPs: seven from the opposition NDC (National Democratic Congress) and one from the ruling NPP (National Patriotic Party). Hon. Samuel Nartey George (NDC), who was a close advisor to former President John Mahama before his election as a Member of Parliament, is regarded as the initiator and main proponent of the bill. He classifies homosexuality as a "perversion" that must be severely punished.

Dr. Arne Wulff
May 23, 2024
Country reports
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