Smaller, bourgeois-conservative, constant

France has a new government.

President Emmanuel Macron and the new Prime Minister Gabriel Attal presented a streamlined and largely conservative government on 11 January, which is characterized by the retention of several political heavyweights and the unexpected arrival of former Sarkozy minister Rachida Dati in the culture portfolio.

Grupo Generación de Diálogo Chile-Perú presentó nuevo libro de jóvenes investigadores

La publicación, editada por Paz Milet y Fabián Novak, es parte de la beca Buena Vecindad, con la que jóvenes de Chile y Perú realizan una pasantía en la nación vecina.

El proyecto Generación de Diálogo Chile-Perú, Perú-Chile, trabaja hace ya catorce años.

Towards Reiwa Political Reform

Analysis: Consequences of Political Funding Issue, Prospects for Political Reform

At the end of 2023, Japanese politics were thrown into upheaval by a political funding scandal involving the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)’s Seiwakai (hereafter, the Abe faction) and Shisuikai (hereafter, the Nikai faction). The authorities suspect that both factions failed to appropriately declare income from fundraising events (政治資金パーティー) and expenditures (donations to some MPs) in the relevant political fund reports (政治資金収支報告書). Diet members who sold tickets exceeding their allotted quotas for the political fundraisers organized by their respective factions supposedly received the excess funds generated as kickbacks without proper settlements of accounts. In addition, those under investigation in the Abe faction allegedly did not declare the amount of money donated by the faction in their own political fund reports, either. The prosecutors are currently undertaking a full-scale investigation into this matter.

Belgien übernimmt Ratspräsidentschaft

Belgien bis 30. Juni am Steuer des Europäischen Rates

Das Europabüro meldet sich nun auch ganz offiziell aus der Winterpause zurück. Wir wünschen an der Stelle ein gutes und gesundes neues Jahr. In der Zwischenzeit hat Belgien die Präsidentschaft des Europäischen Rates übernommen und wird hier für die nächsten sechs Monate für Ordnung und Initiative sorgen. Die belgischen Prioritäten bis zum 30. Juni 2024 sind auf sechs Schwerpunkte verteilt:

Political panorama in Panama four months before the general elections

On 5 May 2024, general elections will be held in Panama every five years.

It is already clear that the population is anxiously and impatiently awaiting these elections, which will be very different from those held in previous years. Their uniqueness lies in the participation of two former presidents of Panama, who are competing for the presidency with six other candidates, regardless of the parties they belonged to during their previous terms in office.

President Emmanuel Macron prepares for the European elections with new prime minister

Gabriel Attal succeeds Élisabeth Borne.

There had been rumors in Paris for several weeks that there could be a government reshuffle and on 8 January the time had come. Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne submitted the resignation of her government to President Emmanuel Macron. In a message published on X, he thanked the outgoing prime minister and spoke of her "exemplary" work, which had been carried out with "courage". In her letter of resignation, Borne explained that she was not resigning on her own initiative, but had been asked to do so by the President of the Republic. Emmanuel Macron then appointed Gabriel Attal, the former education minister and Macronist from the very beginning, on January 9. At the age of 34, he is the youngest prime minister of the Fifth Republic, having recently been named the most popular politician in French opinion polls and having previously been Macron's government spokesman and education minister in the Borne cabinet.

Government reshuffles are not unusual in France. In his first term of office (2017 - 2022), two prime ministers served under President Emmanuel Macron. After the tense end to 2023 surrounding the reform of the immigration law, Macron wants to calm the political waters within his own majority by appointing Prime Minister Gabriel Attal in the 2024 European election year, which will once again be characterized by a duel between the liberals and the right-wing populist camp in France.

Kuwait Before a Generational Change

A new era might dawn after the death of Emir Nawaf

Following the death of the Emir of Kuwait, a new ruler of almost the same age takes power in the Gulf emirate. The late Sheikh Nawaf ruled only briefly and will go down in history for his reconciliatory efforts with the opposition. The term of his successor Mishal is slated to mark a transition. After it, Kuwait will see a shift that could overcome years of political standstill: the passing of power to a new, younger generation of rulers, which has already taken place elsewhere in the Gulf. Thus, all eyes are already on the selection of the next crown prince. With the sons of the former and new emirs, two promising candidates are in the starting blocks - or will a third one win the race in the end?

2024: Leaders for Justice

Call for the second Crew of the Leadership Program for Junior Jurists

The Rule of Law Programme Middle East and North Africa of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) proudly announces the launch of the second edition of its Leaders for Justice program.

To My Future Self

The KAS scholarship Programme; Facilitator for Female Empowerment

In order to mitigate and learning all the progress and move forward it is imperative that stakeholders work together for the promotion of women’s active participation in state and society. Women’s qualifications and self-confidence are necessities for them to be competitive and to take over leadership in politics and the economy.

Nachruf auf Wolfgang Schäuble

Wir trauern um den ehemaligen Bundestagspräsidenten und CDU-Vorsitzenden Wolfgang Schäuble, der im Alter von 81 Jahren gestorben ist. Ein Nachruf vom Vorsitzenden der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Prof. Dr. Norbert Lammert