Publications on the topic of “Democracy needs Participation” - Security – Innovation – Democracy
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Publications on the topic of “Democracy needs Participation”
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IMAGO / Xinhua
Presidential Elections in Algeria
Former President Tebboune for a second mandat reelected
On September 7, 2024, 24.3 million people, almost every second Algerian, were called to vote the next president for the years 2024 to 2029. The presidential elections ended with the expected success of incumbent President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in the first round of voting.
The conduct of the Algerian electoral authority was the subject of debate and led to a call to the Algerian Constitutional Court which established by decision both, the results (85 % for the confirmed President Tebboune) and the voter turnout of 46%.
However, the level of voter turnout continues to rise speculation. According to the first data published by the electoral authority, it can be estimated with 23 %, which would be the lowest in Algeria's history. Although President Tebboune can undoubtedly rely on support in Algeria, his mandate will be characterised by multiple challenges.
Matthias Schäfer, Adel Ourabah
October 7, 2024
Country Reports
Key regional players in the new global order
India, Kenya, Columbia, Turkey
In times of global power shifts and geopolitical fragmentation, it is a challenge for Germany and the European Union to build stable and mutually attractive partnerships. The perspective of the (potential) partner countries is rarely taken into account. What are their central interests, what specific dependencies characterise their foreign policy decisions, in which regional orders are they integrated? And what determines their view of Germany and the EU? This project is dedicated to these and other questions. With India, Kenya, Colombia and Turkey, four countries from four regions of the world were analysed and their foreign policy positions examined more closely. The result is an attempt to draw conclusions for the (foreign) policy of Germany and the European Union in dealing with these and other countries with which strategic partnerships are to be intensified and expanded.
Magdalena Jetschgo-Morcillo, Lewe Paul
October 4, 2024
Single title
UN Photo / Loey Felipe
UN Pact for the Future
Multilateral reform plan without guarantee of success
UN Member States adopted the Pact for the Future in New York and committed themselves to reform a multilateral system which falls short in delivering solutions in certain areas. However, words alone will not save multilateralism.
Thomas Tödtling, Dr. Mónica Castillejos-Aragón, Erica Mumford, Teresa Val
October 2, 2024
Country Reports
IMAGO / ABACAPRESS
Trump's Team: The People Behind the Candidate
An Overview of Advisors Supporting Donald Trump’s Presidential Candidacy
Donald Trump is the Republican candidate for the upcoming presidential election. He hopes to move into the White House for a second term. He is supported by numerous advisors, some of whom have been at his side for years, as well as by members of his family. Trump repeatedly emphasizes the importance of personal loyalty. At the same time, he and his team aim to ensure that a potential second Trump administration has sufficient staff to fill all key positions.
Dr. Hardy Ostry, Jan Bösche
September 26, 2024
Country Reports
IMAGO / Xinhua
Azerbaijan - Election without a choice
Aliyev has a new Azerbaijani parliament elected: The voter turnout of 37% speaks for itself
In the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, which were moved up due to the COP 29, President Ilham Aliyev's ‘New Azerbaijan’ party, which has been in power since 1995, won on paper. Although it only won 67 out of 125 seats, there will de facto be no independent representatives in the new Azerbaijani parliament.
Stephan Malerius, Florian Binder
September 9, 2024
Country Reports
Imago / Xinhua
Daring More Democracy in Jordan
In the Shadow of the War in Gaza, the Hashemite Kingdom Elects a New Parliament
Jordan seems more than ever committed to encourage its citizens to participate in politics – although in a carefully crafted way and under strict state supervision. The parliamentary elections on September 10 are a milestone in the “political modernization” that King Abdullah initiated three years ago – and a sparkle of hope for more democracy.
Dr. Edmund Ratka
September 4, 2024
Country Reports
IMAGO / NurPhoto
Georgia Meloni caught in the middle
The positioning of the governing party ‘Fratelli d'Italia’ between the far-right and the bourgeois centre
‘Montagna Russa’ is what they call the rollercoaster in Italy. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has had a political rollercoaster ride before she soon starts her summer holiday. Between the glamour of the summit and the pitfalls of Brussels, she tried to send out signals, for example with the surprising vote of her MEPs against Ursula von der Leyen. Has the head of government overplayed her hand? Where does she want to go strategically with her right-wing conservative party, which has become the dominant force in the centre-right camp in the third-largest EU member state? Many things seem confused at this point, the gun smoke has yet to clear. We try to reconstruct the events and look to the future.
Michael Feth, Dr. Nino Galetti
July 29, 2024
Country Reports
IMAGO / Petr Stojanovski
Presidential and parliamentary elections in North Macedonia: victory for the opposition VMRO-DPMNE
VMRO-DPMNE returns to government after seven years
This may in the Republic of North Macedonia presidential- and parliamentary elections took place. The EPP-party VMRO-DPMNE could celebrate an outstanding victory in both elections. The president of VMRO-DPMNE Hristijan Mickoski becomes new primeminister and Gordana Siljanovska Davkova was elected as first woman as president of the country. The main topics of the elections were the dysfunctionality of the state, corruption and the dramatic situation in the healthcare and education system. The EU accession was not an important topic during the electoral campaigns. The ruling social democrats suffered a devastating defeat. The future government will be coalition of VMRO-DPMNE, Albania opposition alliance and the small party ZNAM of former social democrats. The new government will face a lot of challenges in the country but also on international level. The unsolved identity issues with Bulgaria and new discussions about the Prespes-agreement may continue to obstacle the path towards EU. The new government has to act wisely and less emotionally. Indeed at the moment there are more opposite moves. Domestically the new government will focus on economic development and attract foreign investments.
Daniel Braun
July 12, 2024
Country Reports
KAS RP Parteiendialog und Demokratie in LA
Primaries in Uruguay
Starting signal for the hot election campaign phase
The primaries on June 30 marked the beginning of an intense campaign season leading up to the parliamentary and presidential elections in Uruguay this autumn. As anticipated, Alvaro Delgado secured a decisive victory in the Partido Nacional. However, the unexpected selection of Valeria Ripoll as his running mate sparked considerable discontent within the party. Meanwhile, the Partido Colorado witnessed a generational shift with the election of Andrés Ojeda. Although, the opposition left-wing Frente Amplio has started strongly with a united front, early signs of fractures are already apparent. The race in October promises to be thrilling.
Jonathan Neu, Sebastian Grundberger
July 10, 2024
Country Reports
i.Law TH
Thailand's Quest for Democracy and the Rule of Law
Trials and setbacks since the formation of the government in 2023
After a decade under a military junta (2014-2019) and a military-dominated government (2019-2023), Thailand held a successful general election in May 2023. The results signaled a rejection of pro-military and conservative factions. The Pheu Thai Party (PTP), which came second in the election, formed a coalition government with eleven other parties, including conservative and military-aligned factions such as the United Thai Nation (UTN) led by former Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who had ousted a PTP government in the 2014 coup. Meanwhile, the election winner, the progressive and reform-oriented Move Forward Party (MFP), remains in opposition despite winning 14 million out of around 39 million votes nationwide, making it the largest faction in the National Assembly with 151 MPs. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his ministers have emphasized Thailand’s commitment to democratic principles. However, in its annual report on political rights and civil liberties published in March 2024, Freedom House rated Thailand as only "partly free", giving the country a score of 36 out of 100.1 This Country Report presents Thailand’s challenges and efforts in pursuing democracy, human rights, and the rule of law since the 2023 government formation.
