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Short political reports of the KAS offices abroad

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17 October: France’s Outburst of Anger

Violence, the State, and the Election Campaign

The events of 17 October 2026 mark a turning point in France’s political debate just months ahead of the 2027 presidential election. While the protests were originally intended to draw attention to social and economic grievances, the riots and their consequences have since come to dominate the political discourse. At the centre of the debate are three closely interconnected issues: the causes of the violence and the actors responsible for it; the shortcomings in anticipation and crowd-control management that have been acknowledged by the government and security authorities themselves; and the political instrumentalisation of the events in the run-up to the presidential election. The discussion is therefore no longer focused solely on the responsibility of the perpetrators of violence, but increasingly also on the state's capacity to act and on the competing political interpretations of the crisis.

Anja Czymmeck, Max Willem Fricke, Nele Katharina Wissmann
October 22, 2026
Country reports
IMAGO / CTK Photo

Eelections in Czech

The municipal and Senate elections in the Czech Republic on October 9 - 10 and 16 - 17, 2026: a success for the centrist parties

One year after the parliamentary election, the municipal and Senate elections served as the first statewide test of public sentiment for Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s government. However, the prime minister’s party, ANO, was unable to replicate its success in the municipal and Senate elections. These elections were shaped less by foreign policy or social issues - which had dominated the parliamentary election - and more by individual candidates, local alliances, and local concerns, as well as by the concrete work of parties and politicians on the ground.

Dr. Marco Arndt, Lenka Longuemart
October 20, 2026
Country reports
IMAGO / Richard Wareham

New Zealand Ahead of the 2026 Election

Political Fragmentation and Coalition Prospects

On 21 January 2026, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced New Zealand’s general election would be held on 7 November, after three years under the National Party-led government in coalition with the ACT New Zealand Party led by Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour, and the New Zealand First Party led by Foreign Minister Winston Peters.[i]

Kieran Heid
October 20, 2026
Country reports

Trust and Transformation: A Tall Order for the UN in its 81st Year

Country Report

In an era marked by geopolitical rivalry and fragmentation, can the United Nations rebuild the necessary trust and legitimacy to meet its potential?

Thomas Tödtling, Dr. Mónica Castillejos-Aragón, Juan Salcedo, Teresa Val
October 19, 2026
Country reports
Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0

Bosnia and Herzegovina has voted and remains trapped in the status quo

The party-political power structure was confirmed, albeit with some shifts

On October 4, 2026, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) held its regular elections, which take place every four years. Voters elected the members of the tripartite state presidency, the parliaments at the state level, in the country's two entities - the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska (RS) - and in the Federation's ten cantons, as well as the President of the RS.

Stephan Georg Raabe
October 16, 2026
Country reports
IMAGO / Winfried Rothermel

Where America Really Decides

The Political Geography of the 2026 U.S. Midterms

435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 Senate elections, and numerous additional state and local contests will be on the ballot. Yet control of Congress on November 3 is likely to be decided in only a handful of states and congressional districts. The 2026 midterm elections will be shaped by national issues, but their effects will appear very differently across the American electoral map. While a small group of states will determine the balance of power in the Senate, competition in the House of Representatives will be concentrated in just a few dozen congressional districts. At the same time, the country's political geography continues to evolve: formerly Democratic-leaning industrial regions are voting more Republican, growing suburban areas are in some cases becoming more Democratic, and Donald Trump's much-discussed gains among Hispanic and previously disengaged voters in 2024 have not proven equally durable everywhere. Anyone seeking to understand who will control Congress in the years ahead must therefore look not only at how America votes, but above all at where it votes.

Dr. Hardy Ostry, Chiara Stäbler
October 16, 2026
Country reports
IMAGO / Pond5 Images

Mongolian President Khurelsukh To Visit Germany

An Attempt to Reinvigorate a Long-Distance Relationship

The President of Mongolia, Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, will visit Germany from 19 to 22 October. Although Mongolia is a geographically distant and relatively small country in terms of population, this visit is important for both sides. Mongolia regards Germany as a preferred partner in helping to preserve its room for manoeuvre between its two powerful neighbours, Russia and China. Germany, for its part, is also seeking to gain and maintain global partners in an increasingly uncertain international environment who share our values and interests. Mongolia is such a partner. The two countries share common interests, particularly with regard to a rules-based international order and cooperation in the field of raw materials. In practice, however, significant challenges remain in the latter area. Domestically, Mongolia is approaching a presidential election in 2027 and parliamentary elections in 2028, the outcomes of which remain uncertain.

Dr. Sören Soika
October 13, 2026
Country reports
IMAGO / MAXPPP

Brazil shifts to the right

Flávio Bolsonaro is narrowly ahead of President Lula in the first round of voting, whilst conservative forces in parliament and in the regions will be calling the shots

The first round of the Brazilian presidential election produced a surprise: contrary to the latest polls, Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro and candidate for the Partido Liberal (PL), is just under two percentage points ahead of President Lula da Silva. At the same time, the PL is significantly expanding its influence in the federal states and in Congress, particularly in the Senate. This could have made Lula’s re-election in the run-off on 25 October less likely. Regardless of the outcome, a Congress that has shifted significantly to the right will be a key factor in future governance.

Vanessa Pinilla Fernandes
October 6, 2026
Country reports
IMAGO / Xinhua

Parliamentary elections in Latvia 2026

Centre-right parties are given the mandate to govern, right-wing populists are strengthened

On 3 October, Latvia elected the 15th Saeima, the country's parliament. In total, over 1.5 million people were eligible to vote in Latvia's five constituencies of Riga, Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme and Zemgale. Fourteen party lists ran for 100 seats with 1,428 candidates. The election result produced a clear winner: Andris Kulbergs' United List (APVIENOTAIS SARAKSTS) received 35.3% of the vote, or 41 seats – a significant increase from the 15 seats it won in 2022. They were followed by the right-wing populists Latvia First (LATVIJA PIRMAJĀ VIETĀ) with 13.1% and Sovereign Power / Alliance of Young Latvians (Suverēnā Vara / Apvienība Jaunlatvieši, SV / AJ) with 11.7%, the national-conservative National Alliance (Nacionālā apvienība) with 8.9%, the (social democratic) Progressives (PROGRESĪVIE) with 7.9% and the EPP party New Unity (Jaunā VIENOTĪBA) with 6.5%. This means that six political forces are moving into the new Saeima. The election took place against a tense international and domestic political backdrop. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine continues. At the same time, Latvia is facing hybrid pressures ranging from the instrumentalization of migration on the border with Belarus to cyber threats and repeated violations of Latvian airspace by drones. During the 14th legislative period after 2022, the country had three governments under Prime Ministers Krišjānis Kariņš, Evika Siliņa, and Andris Kulbergs since May 2026. The latter thus took office a few months before the election.

Gabriele Baumann, Visvaldis Knuts Bērziņš, Daria Korastyleva
October 6, 2026
Country reports
IMAGO / Anadolu Agency

The Final Stretch to the 2026 Midterms

Where America Stands Before Election Day

“Pretend that I’m on the ballot.” With this appeal, Donald Trump is seeking to mobilize his supporters for the midterm elections on November 3, even though he himself is not on the ballot. Voters will elect the entire House of Representatives, a portion of the Senate, as well as numerous state-level offices. Just under seven weeks before Election Day, the campaign is being shaped primarily by economic conditions, the political record of the Trump administration, and the question of future majorities in Washington. Following the summer recess, both parties have intensified their campaign efforts. While Republicans are focusing on voter mobilization and support from President Donald Trump, Democrats are emphasizing the rising cost of living and the consequences of the administration’s policies. The political mood after the summer break offers an indication of the issues currently driving the campaign and the challenges both parties face as the election approaches.

Dr. Hardy Ostry, Chiara Stäbler
October 1, 2026
Country reports

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About this series

The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is a political foundation. Our offices abroad are in charge of over 200 projects in more than 120 countries. The country reports offer current analyses, exclusive evaluations, background information and forecasts - provided by our international staff.

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