Publications

Presidential election in Romania: A neck-and-neck race

A decisive course will be set in Romania on 18 May 2025

George Simion (AUR) and Nicușor Dan (non-party), two candidates who are explicitly positioning themselves against the ‘system’ characterised by clientelism, corruption and impunity, are running in the run-off of the Romanian presidential election on 18 May 2025. The right-wing populist George Simion is an avowed fan of the MAGA policy concept and Donald Trump and is campaigning on isolationism, nationalism and territorial revanchism. The liberal Nicușor Dan represents the pro-European, moderate, pro-business and reform-oriented counter-image of a cosmopolitan Romania. Voters will decide on Sunday which of the two will be their next president.

The New Geopolitics and South Asia’s Trade Architecture – What Next?

This paper critically analyses South Asia’s trade architecture in the sluggish world economy in the 2020s and makes recommendations for closer regional economic integration.

Fight for Equal Rights and Participation

The inclusion of persons with disabilities in political processes

In the Palestinian Territories, persons with disabilities face political, social, and infrastructural barriers that make political participation difficult. At the same time, there is no shortage of inspiring individuals who raise their voices and fight for their rights.

Parliamentary elections in Albania

A predictable victory and unanswered questions

Parliamentary elections were held in Albania on 11 May 2025. The ruling Socialist Party (SP) under Prime Minister Edi Rama once again emerged as the strongest force with 52 per cent of the vote, winning the elections for the fourth time in a row. It was able to achieve an absolute majority again - as it did in 2021. It will now hold 83 of the 140 seats in parliament. The conservative Democratic Party (DP) under Sali Berisha won 34 per cent of the vote as part of the ‘Alliance for a Great Albania’ and thus won 50 of the seats. Four smaller parties also made it into parliament. For the first time, Albanians living abroad were able to take part in the parliamentary elections. Opposition leader Berisha does not want to accept the election results. He accused the ruling party of vote-buying and using state resources and called on his supporters to protest.

Digital First - The U.S. Election Campaign 2024

The 2024 US election was a neck-and-neck race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. We asked communications consultant Anja Gabriel to analyze the role of digital media in this election campaign and to point out parallels and differences to elections in Germany. (Study in German)

Formally still independent, but hardly sovereign

Belarus in Russia's wake

Russia is now driving the process towards a union state with Belarus, which has long been simmering on a low flame, at all levels and at high speed. Most recently, the pompous forum ‘Great Heritage - Common Future’ took place at the end of April in Volgograd, Russia, on the margins of the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Red Army in Stalingrad. What independent observers describe as Moscow's ‘victory hysteria’ surrounding the military parade on 9 May, is equally evident in official Belarusian rhetoric. The Russian narrative about the interpretation of the history of World War II is also actively employed in Belarus to justify aggression against Ukraine and to shape its stance toward Europe. Lukashenko has maintained his grip on power by making extensive concessions to the Kremlin, effectively trading Belarusian sovereignty for political survival. In terms of security policy, the ‘Agreement on Security Guarantees in the Union State’, ratified in Moscow at the beginning of the year, represents a further stage of escalation. Among other things, it enables military bases for Russian nuclear missiles, which can reach Vilnius in two minutes. Russia needs the regime in the neighboring country as a critical military ally, relying on its territory for missile deployment and as a strategic staging ground for troops near the borders of Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine. The upcoming Zapad 2025 military exercises, scheduled for September, evoke troubling memories of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which followed similar “training maneuvers.”

Gulf-Asia Cooperation

Prospects, Challenges, and Implications for Europe

This publication explores the deepening ties between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and key Asian powers—China, India, Japan, and South Korea—and their implications for Europe. While energy remains central, cooperation is expanding into technology, infrastructure, and diplomacy. As Asia becomes the Gulf’s primary partner, Europe risks being sidelined unless it engages more strategically. This publication calls for greater EU-GCC-Asia trilateral cooperation to address shared challenges and seize emerging opportunities.

100 Days Cabinet Zheljaskov

A positive interim assessment

On 16 January 2025, the Bulgarian Parliament (National Assembly) elected a coalition government consisting of the alliance “Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria - Union of Democratic Forces” (GERB-SDS, both EPP), the “Bulgarian Socialist Party - United Left” (BSP-OL), the “There is such a people” party (ITN) and the “Alliance for Rights and Freedoms” (APS). The cabinet has now been in office for 100 days and it can be concluded that it has succeeded in restoring political stability in the country and setting the course for the future. Bulgaria also remains a reliable and important partner for Germany.

New Faces and New Focus

Chancellor Friedrich Merz Leads New Government in Germany

Germany has a new government with Friedrich Merz from the CDU elected as Chancellor by the Bundestag. His cabinet consists of 17 ministers from the coalition parties CDU, CSU, and SPD. They aim to address the backlog of reforms in Germany and set new priorities in foreign policy.

Policy Paper - “México y Estados Unidos: Perspectivas para la Integración Regional”

Este documento de política es un análisis riguroso y actualizado sobre la relación económica bilateral en el contexto del nearshoring y la reconfiguración de las cadenas globales en México y Estados Unidos. La publicación examina comercio, inversión, T-MEC y retos geopolíticos, y propone recomendaciones estratégicas para fortalecer la competitividad de México en América del Norte, en línea con los principios de gobernanza, sostenibilidad y cooperación que impulsa la KAS.