France ahead of the European elections

Right-wing populists on the rise

On 9 March, President Macron's ruling Renaissance party officially launched its European election campaign. The election campaign kicked off under the impression of the current polls, which show significant gains for the right-wing populists in France. The question is whether this trend can still be reversed by the election date on 9 June 2024. Three months before the European elections, the French are particularly concerned about purchasing power and rising food prices. At 55% and 52% respectively, these two issues dominate the concerns of the French and will therefore be decisive for the 2024 European elections. This set of issues also includes the topic of agriculture, which has gained significant momentum with the farmers' protests at the beginning of 2024. Immigration and security are in third and fifth place respectively, which is likely to play into the hands of right-wing populist parties in particular. The war in Ukraine, which only concerned 18% of French people at the end of 2023, appears to have returned to the focus of the French population as a result of the Ukraine aid conference in Paris and the public disputes about France's involvement. In February 2024, 23% of respondents described the war in Ukraine as a key challenge and as significant for their own voting decision in the European elections.

Portugal faces difficult formation of government

Results of the early parliamentary elections in Portugal

Change of power in Portugal: the centre-right electoral alliance Aliança Democrática (AD) wins by a small margin ahead of the Socialists, who have not only lost their absolute majority after losing a third of their seats but are now only the second strongest force in the Assembleia da República. The weakness of the Socialists directly benefited the right-wing populist Chega party, which quadrupled its result compared to the 2024 elections. Neither the right-wing nor the left-wing camp can unite a majority. The most likely option at present is the formation of a minority government under PSD leader Luis Montenegro.

South African General Elections 2024

Find out further information about the General Elections taking place on May 29th, 2024.

This page spotlights reports and analysis as well as further information on the 2024 South African General Elections, carefully selected by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) in South Africa.

Towards inclusive and transparent environmental governance for critical minerals & metals in Africa

Overview of Critical Raw Minerals and Metals in Sub- Saharan Africa

Globally, humanity is currently contending with a triple planetary crisis: climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. For Africa, climate change has become a risk multiplier that threatens developmental gains and forces a rethink of the business-as-usual model in all sectors. At the core of finding opportunities and addressing the challenges posed by the impacts of climate change is coherent environmental governance. This is also one of the challenges that African countries contend with. Therefore, the rise of the importance of critical minerals and metals for the global energy transition presents an opportunity for African countries to address some of the shortcomings in environmental governance. This article argues that the rise in the importance of critical minerals and metals for the global energy transition presents a possible opportunity for improved environmental governance in the region. Further, the article observes that through export revenue, employment creation, supply chains, infrastructure development and other domestic linkages, these critical metals and minerals could be economic cornerstones of many African countries. However, this can be made possible only through robust governance frameworks. At its core, environmental governance comprises mechanisms, processes, and institutions, through which citizens and groups articulate their interests, exercise their legal rights, meet their obligations, and mediate their differences. Consequently, this paper concludes that the inclusive, transparent regulation of critical minerals and metals potentially improves socio-economic and environmental outcomes in the region. By neglecting these criteria, it is foreseeable, that the new demand for critical minerals and metals will not benefit the broader population but rather perpetuate existing inequalities.

March Briefing

In urgent need of reform - Canada's healthcare system in crisis

KAS Canada Briefings are monthly reports that cover important national issues.

NajGLASni! - annual award for high school participation

The Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Association Leaders for Education, Activism and Development with the support of the Union of High School Students and the Agency for Sport and Youth, as active supporters and promoters of student participation over the past years, are third year in a row giving the award for high school participation, in recognition of the activity and work of these student bodies aimed at improving the position of students in their schools, as well as their involvement in the school processes.

Title: Digitalization as an opportunity for development

Status of the digitalization of the Mongolian administration

Volker Wissing, German Federal Minister for Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV), visited Mongolia in early March 2024. It is noteworthy that Mr. Wissing is the first minister to prioritize digital over transport in his name. Although BMDV is not responsible for digitalization in Mongolia, the minister's trip presents an excellent opportunity to explore the topic of Mongolian administrative digitalization. Readers can decide for themselves whether the German administration has become "more digital and consistently citizen-oriented" since the government coalition took office.

Volksabstimmung zwingt die Regierung zum Ausbau des Schweizer Sozialstaats -

Die 13. Monatsrente wird kommen

Die Schweizer Wählerinnen und Wähler haben am vergangenen Sonntag, den 03. März, über zwei Volksinitiativen abgestimmt. Dabei hat das linke Lager mit ihrer Vorlage für eine 13. AHV-Rente einen bemerkenswert Sieg eingefahren und 58,2% der Ja-Stimmen erhalten. Die Vorlage der Jungfreisinnigen (FDP) über eine Koppelung des Renteneintrittsalters an die durchschnittliche Lebenserwartung wurde dagegen mit 74,7% der Stimmen abgeschmettert. Die klaren Wahlergebnisse zwingen die Regierung nun zum schnellen Handeln, da die Frage nach der Finanzierung der 13. Monatsrente nicht geklärt ist.

Formación Profesional Dual

Claves del éxito para generar Proporcionar formación por medio de empleos sostenibles y de calidad

Producto desarrollado bajo el Convenio de Formación Dual, suscrito por la Fundación Konrad Adenauer Costa Rica (KAS), el Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (INA), la Alianza Empresarial para el Desarrollo (AED) y la Cámara de Industrias de Costa Rica (CICR).

Biden and Trump: Unpopular and Unavoidable

The Trend of the U.S. Primaries Continues on “Super Tuesday”

The “Super Tuesday” of the U.S. primary elections is over: Party members and supporters in 16 states and one territory decided on their parties’ candidates for the presidential election. President Joe Biden and Donald Trump still have a good chance of becoming their parties’ candidates. But both have to deal with criticism from within the party - and poor poll ratings.