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IMAGO / NurPhoto

Parliamentary elections in Portugal

Continuity and turning point

Portugal has voted for the third time in just three years. Although the Portuguese were tired of voting, voter turnout only fell by 1.6%, probably also thanks to repeated appeals from President Rebelo de Sousa for voting. The moderate center-right alliance Aliança Democrática under the leadership of Prime Minister Luis Montenegro won the elections with a relative majority, which makes the continuation of his minority government likely. In this respect, there is continuity. However, the collapse of the Socialist Party PS and the strong rise of the right-wing populist party Chega must be seen as a turning point. Chega even moved into second place. Nevertheless, Portugal will remain a stable political EU partner.

Dr. Ludger Gruber, Martin Friedek, Clarissa Hofer Périssé, Moritz Justin
May 30, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / NurPhoto

Just How American Is the American Pope?

U.S. Reactions to the Election of Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV.

The election was a surprise: for the first time in the history of the Catholic Church, there is a Pope from the USA. Leo XIV was born in Chicago, lived in Peru for a long time and most recently worked in Rome. For Catholics in the USA, his election is a gift - and a challenge.

Dr. Hardy Ostry
May 29, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / photothek

Third EU-AU ministerial meeting in Brussels

New impetus for the anniversary?

On May 21, the foreign ministers of the European Union and the African Union met for the third time in Brussels. The aim of the meeting was to take stock of the progress made since the sixth EU-AU summit in February 2022 [1] . Both sides also wanted to explore how the partnership can be further deepened in the face of global challenges. The adopted declaration gives an idea of the potential for cooperation. However, it cannot hide existing differences on key issues such as migration. To ensure that cooperation is not limited to solemn declarations and ambitious announcements at summit meetings, it was agreed to set up a monitoring mechanism.

Dr. Olaf Wientzek, Lukas Kupfernagel, Jonas Nitschke
May 28, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

The security situation in Lithuania in spring 2025: threat and response on NATO's eastern flank

Lithuania relies on deterrence, armament and close partnerships

Lithuania is at the center of European security debates in spring 2025: in the face of the ongoing threat from Russia, the country is relying on deterrence, armament and close partnerships. With the Bundeswehr brigade officially inaugurated on May 22, Germany is sending a strong signal of solidarity and leadership responsibility. The geopolitical tensions between Russia and the USA, Donald Trump's return to the White House and Lithuania's ambitious defense plans are shaping the new security policy reality. Today, Europe's security is also being defended on Lithuania's eastern flank.

Oliver Morwinsky
May 23, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / Agencia EFE

OAS: New Secretary General caught between political polarisation and financial hardship

Albert Ramdin, Foreign Minister of Suriname, is the new Secretary General of the Organisation of American States

On 10 March 2025, Albert Ramdin, Foreign Minister of Suriname, was elected as the new Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS). His election marks the first time that a representative of the Caribbean states has held this office, which is considered a historic step for the OAS. Until now, the Caribbean was unable to assert itself among the politically much stronger states of the mainland with its candidate proposals. Ramdin will take over from Uruguay's Luis Almagro on 25 May 2025 and will hold the office until 2030. With a view to his upcoming term of office, three points are likely to become more relevant: Firstly, dealing with the ideological dichotomy between a left-wing and a market-liberal camp within the OAS; secondly, stabilising the organisation's finances; and thirdly, focusing more attention on the Caribbean.

Henning Suhr
May 23, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / Avalon.red

The Art of the Deal: The Brexit Reset is taking shape

A new chapter in the Euro-British partnership

Almost ten years ago, Prime Minister David Cameron called for the Brexit referendum. In June 2016, a narrow majority (51.9%) of the British population voted in favor of exiting the EU. Cameron's resignation was followed by five prime ministers who had to deal with the consequences of this historic vote. On Monday 19 May 2025, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, together with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Antonio Costa, finally hosted the first official EU-UK summit after Brexit to announce a new strategic partnership between the UK and the EU.

Dr. Canan Atilgan, Sebastian Schnorrenberg
May 22, 2025
Country reports
KAS Auslandsbüro Mongolei / Lukas Smith

Like clockwork, a new Government Crisis in Mongolia

National Unity Coalition Collapses

The MVP, which has held a comfortable majority on its own since the parliamentary elections in June 2024, declared the alliance with the DP to be over during the night of May 21 to 22, 2025. A decision that appears to be strategically motivated.

Viktor Frank, Lukas Smith
May 22, 2025
Country reports
Sebastián Fernández Aebert, Auslandsbüro Argentinien / Offizielle Wahlwerbung von La Libertad Avanza

Mood Check for the Nation: Milei’s Libertarian Party Takes Buenos Aires by Storm

La Libertad Avanza Triumphs in Buenos Aires Legislative Elections

On Sunday 18 May 2025, mid-term parliamentary elections were held in the city of Buenos Aires, in which half of the 60 local parliamentary seats were renewed. Although the capital's head of government, Jorge Macri, is still in office until 2027, the elections were stylised in advance by both President Javier Milei and his entourage as well as the Propuesta Republicana (PRO), which is governing Buenos Aires since 2007, as a directional election for the entire nation. The election can be seen as a barometer for the national parliamentary mid-term elections in October, in which the ruling party, currently in a very weak position in the National Congress, wants to massively increase its representation. The election campaign was accordingly fierce. The PRO's weak election result is a consequence of both the fragmentation of the electoral offer in the capital and the party's unclear stance towards the national government. The Peronists, who were ahead in the polls, also fell short of expectations.

Susanne Käss
May 20, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

Chequebooks and Flattery

Lessons for Europe from Trump’s Gulf Visit

President Trump's visit to the Gulf States illustrated how close his personal ties are to its rulers. Beyond trillion-dollar deals, the trip showcased how the Gulf is leveraging its privileged access to advance its interest in Washington – something that Europe might have to take note of.

Philipp Dienstbier
May 19, 2025
Country reports
PantherMedia /Joerg Hackemann

A new approach to combating anti-Semitism

Plea for the inclusion of the fight against anti-Semitism in the Basic Law

Since the coronavirus pandemic, the associated conspiracy myths and the pogrom of 7 October 2023, antisemitism has posed a permanent challenge to the state. A major problem in the fight against antisemitism is not the lack of laws and state objectives, but the lack of law enforcement. For this reason, the office of the Federal Government Commissioner for Anti-Semitism should be replaced by that of the Bundestag Commissioner for Anti-Semitism, modelled on the Bundestag Commissioner for the Armed Forces and enshrined in the constitution.

Dr Angelika Günzel
May 19, 2025
Facts and Findings

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