We all remember the image of the two lonely dictators at the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Putin was the only international leader to attend, and he was courted accordingly. In return, he was allowed to take back home with him new trade contracts and the promise of ‘unlimited friendship’. Nevertheless, China cannot have been enthusiastic […]
Challenges
In the shadow of the war in Ukraine and the French presidential election, the Slovene parliamentary election took place on Sunday 24 April. The outcome of the election in Slovenia was important primarily for reinvigorating democracy in Slovenia. But it was also important for the future of democracy in Europe. The resounding electoral ‘no’ to […]
The tiny Alpine country of Slovenia faced two important geopolitical shifts during the last two years. After two years of an unnatural alliance of Slovenia with the illiberal block, in the elections of last Sunday, the Slovenian voters decisively supported a return to a democratic and European track. However, the struggle for Slovenia’s future is […]
Even though the general election in Malta brought an excellent result for Labour, with an overwhelming majority, it was an eye-opener for both major parties. Despite the very high voter turn-out by European standards (85.5 per cent), in Malta’s democratic past it was a historical low: a 60-year low, to be exact. For comparison: our […]
The Covid-19 pandemic has widened the North-South divide. The poorest countries and the poorest people are always paying the highest price. Rich countries’ response is not up to the challenge: donations of vaccines are not enough – radical changes need to be undertaken! Covid-19 has demonstrated how deeply a crisis can affect and threaten lives […]
After a decade and a half in the political wilderness, German Social Democrats (the SPD) made a dramatic comeback in Sunday’s election and have the opportunity to define Social Democracy for the 21st century. Now the largest party in the Bundestag, they are strongly favoured by voters to form the next government. Their resurgence is […]
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