Further publications

Schweizer Wählerinnen und Wähler lehnen Krankenkassenreform-Vorschläge ab

Am vergangenen Sonntag wurde in der Schweiz über zwei Initiativen zur Senkung der Gesundheitskosten abgestimmt. Trotz großer Sorgen über die steigenden Kosten im Gesundheitssystem scheiterten die Vorlagen der Sozialdemokratischen Partei (SP) - die Prämien- Entlastungs-Initiative - und der Partei Die Mitte - die Kostenbremse-Initiative - mit jeweils 44,5% und 37,2% Zustimmung. Die Vorlage der Schweizer Impfgegner „Für Freiheit und körperliche Unversehrtheit“ erfuhr mit lediglich 26,3% der Stimmen eine klare Absage. Als einzig erfolgreiche Vorlage des Wahlabends wurde das „Bundesgesetz über eine sichere Stromversorgung mit erneuerbaren Energien“ mit 68,7% der Stimmen angenommen. Die Wahlbeteiligung lag bei 45,4% und somit knapp unter dem Durchschnitt der letzten Volksabstimmungen.

The dawn of the gods in India?

An analysis of the Indian parliamentary elections

India has voted and the Prime Minister is called Narendra Damodardas Modi once again. Contrary to the latest election forecasts, however, Prime Minister Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suffered significant seat losses. While the BJP had won a landslide victory in 2019 with 303 seats, this time it won 240 seats. This means that the BJP can no longer rule alone in the 543-seat lower house, the Lok Sabha. For the first time, Modi will now have to rely on his coalition partners from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to form a government. The party alliance received a total of 292 votes. India is now returning to a coalition government after a decade-long hiatus - a phenomenon that Modi did not experience during his three terms as chief minister of the state of Gujarat or during his two terms as prime minister.

Surprising Election Results in Belgium

Victory of the "lesser evil" confirms Belgium's Shift to the Right

The Resultate of the Belgian elections surprised everyone - including the winners themselves. The N-VA, which became the strongest force at federal and Flemish level, is celebrating its victory - with its leader Bart de Wever at its centre. Despite this surprise, the election in Belgium confirmed the country's shift to the right - led by the nationalist N-VA and followed by the right-wing populist Vlaams Belang. The polarisation between the regions - albeit slightly weakened – remains lasting and will make it difficult to form a government at national level.

Romania has voted

Cementing the status quo

2024 is also a super election year in Romania. The European and local elections kicked off on June 9, 2024. These showed: the status quo got cemented with the elections. Despite a very high level of political frustration in the country, the major parties in the Romanian ruling coalition managed to secure a clear majority of almost 50% for their joint electoral list in the European elections. The coalition parties also clearly win the local elections. However, it is also clear that the decisive position of power in the country will not be at stake until the presidential elections in September.

Eternal friendship and a billion-dollar visit

Vladimir Putin in Uzbekistan

Russian President Vladimir Putin paid an official visit to Uzbekistan from May 26 to 28, 2024. Numerous documents were signed to further develop bilateral relations.

The Pope at the G7 summit

How to tame artificial intelligence?

It is a strong message: Pope Francis will be the first pontiff in history to attend a G7 summit on June 14, 2024. His visit will be about nothing less than the future of humanity. How will artificial intelligence change our world? Where are the opportunities, where are the risks? Are we even equipped for this quantum leap in civilization? The heads of state and government will address these questions in depth. In their talks with the Pope, everything will revolve around the ethical and moral aspects. Basically, everyone agrees in advance that binding international rules are needed. The Holy See has made considerable preparations for this in recent years. What does Francis have to say to the G7? An analysis.

European elections 2024

Barrier-free?

The lack of equality for people with disabilities is still omnipresent in the European Union. For the 2019 European elections, a report by the European Economic and Social Committee showed that around 800,000 EU citizens from 16 member states were excluded from the right to vote in European elections due to national regulations because of their disabilities or mental illness. The European elections in June 2024 brought the issue back to the fore, as it is also about a lack of political participation. Here you will find a brief assessment by our KAS colleagues who have looked at the current conditions in their countries of assignment.

After the elections is before the elections

France is in crisis after the European elections

The European elections set an important course for the European Union in the coming years. At stake are the framework conditions for democracy, prosperity and security against the backdrop of a changing geopolitical world, but in France the national perspective dominated, and this election was framed as a mid-term election for the Macron government. The European elections in France ended with a bang. The overwhelming victory of the Rassemblement National and the fact that the ruling Renaissance party received only half as many votes as the right-wing populists led President Emmanuel Macron to dissolve the National Assembly on the evening of the election and announce new elections to be held on 30 June and 7 July.

Poland as a strong security guarantor on NATO’s eastern flank

What can a successful modernization of the Polish armed forces mean for Europe and Germany?

Core elements of Polish security and defense policy are a strong perception of the threat posed by Russia, strong ties to NATO and intensive bilateral relations with the USA. A hallmark of Polish defense policy is a strengthening of security resilience, which is being consistently pursued despite the change of government. The radical modernization of the armed forces is being achieved through increased funding (3.9 percent of GDP), a new concept of general defense, a planned increase in troops and new purchases of mostly US equipment. The Republic of Poland will not become a security guarantor for Eastern Europe in the medium term without foreign arms imports. This requires European and American support, coordination and scaling. If this succeeds, the eastern flank would be more secure than ever in history.

Geneva Telegram on the 77th World Health Assembly

The "Geneva Telegram" deals with events in Geneva's multilateral organizations, this time the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA), which met in Geneva from May 27 to June 1, 2024.

The 77th session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) marked significant progress in the global health agenda. A milestone was the adoption of the 14th General Programme of Work (GPW14) 2025-2028, which defines the future priorities and strategies of the World Health Organization (WHO). Another key topic was the launch of the investment round, which is expected to culminate in November at the G20 summit in Brasília, to make WHO's financing more predictable, flexible, and resilient.