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IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

A new president for Lebanon in crisis

After more than two years of deadlock, the office of president has been filled again. The first step on a long road to state renewal?

Lebanon has a new president. With 99 out of 128 votes, Joseph Aoun, the former military commander-in-chief of the Lebanese army (LAF), was elected as the country's 14th president by the Lebanese parliament on 9 January. This was preceded by intensive international mediation efforts, diplomatic pressure and internal Lebanese debates on how and with whom the two-year-long vacancy in the presidential palace could be ended.

Michael Bauer
January 10, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / IP3press

Another new government in France: renewal through continuity?

On 23rd December 2024 the Prime Minister François Bayrou presented his government. After the Borne, Attal and Barnier governments, it was the fourth government in France in 2024.

On 13 December 2024, Emmanuel Macron appointed François Bayrou, the leader of the Mouvement Démocrate (MoDem) party, a loyal ally of the Macron governments, as the new Prime Minister to succeed Michel Barnier in a further attempt to restore political stability in France. Bayrou's government is relying on continuity with a bourgeois-conservative cabinet and experienced figures from previous governments, but this casts doubt on its capacity for political renewal. Bayrou's centrist legacy and controversial compromises also raise questions about the coherence and strategic direction of his team. Bayrou has not succeeded in integrating the left-wing camp into a government alliance during the nominations, and the influence of the Rassemblement National on political decisions still appears to be strong. Whether his government is therefore more capable of taking action than the Barnier government remains questionable.

Anja Czymmeck, Max Willem Fricke, Marine Vadelorge
January 6, 2025
Country reports
Flickr/UN Geneva/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Geneva Barometer

Developments among Geneva-based international organisations from September to December 2024

The ‘Geneva Barometer’ takes an occasional look at selected developments among international organizations based in Geneva.

Andrea Ellen Ostheimer, Sarah Ultes, Dr. Anja Maria Rittner, Cedric Amon
December 23, 2024
Country reports
panthermedia

International talent for the German middle class

Measures to improve skilled immigration

German small and medium-sized companies face challenges in attracting skilled labor from Non-EU-countries. Despite reforms in immigration law, skilled labor immigration to Germany remains low. What measures and policies are needed to strengthen international talent acquisition in German SMEs?

Caroline Schmidt
December 18, 2024
Facts and Findings
IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

South Africa's new government of national unity: progress or stagnation for the country?

An analysis of the first coalition in South Africa in almost thirty years

On 29 May 2024 historic elections took place in South Africa. The African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa’s former first democratically elected president Mandela, lost its absolute majority – for the first time since the end of apartheid thirty years ago. A coalition government had to be formed – a very unusual step in a country used to a previously dominating ANC. So how did the “Government of National Unity” come about and how can its work be judged until now? Is it functioning well or are the risks to this 10-party-coalition too great for the challenges facing the rainbow nation?

Gregor Jaecke, Dr. Christoph Wiedenroth
December 16, 2024
Country reports
IMAGO / NurPhoto

Government Formation in Lithuania

New Leadership Under Challenging Circumstances

After the parliamentary elections in Lithuania on October 13, forming a stable governing coalition turned out to be challenging. The Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) broke two of its campaign promises immediately after the elections, drawing significant criticism both domestically and internationally. The process of forming the cabinet was also fraught with difficulties. President Nausėda, through his increased involvement, has notably expanded his influence.

Oliver Morwinsky, Fausta Šimaitytė, Robert Kimmerling
December 16, 2024
Country reports
IMAGO / ABACAPRESS

France has a new Prime Minister

Political instability despite new appointment

On 13 December, Emmanuel Macron appointed the leader of the Mouvement Démocrate (MoDem), a loyal ally of the Macron governments, as the new prime minister. According to Le Monde, Macron had initially offered Bayrou the position of deputy in a government led by Roland Lescure of Macron's Renaissance party on Friday morning. François Bayrou declined and probably threatened to leave the president's coalition. Faced with the possibility of a deadlock and a break with an important ally, Emmanuel Macron finally changed his mind and decided in favour of appointing François Bayrou. He is the sixth prime minister under Emmanuel Macron's presidency. The new prime minister now has the task of appointing a government that, according to Emmanuel Macron, ‘is willing to commit to a period of thirty months and not to dissolve the National Assembly during this time’.

Anja Czymmeck, Max Fricke, Nele Katharina Wissmann
December 13, 2024
Country reports
IMAGO / ZUMA Press

The U.S. Elections and the End of Comfort for the Canadian Government

Just a few weeks before taking over the G7 presidency, the election campaign in Canada is already well underway

The presidential elections in the U.S. have triggered an unexpectedly hectic activity in Canadian government policy. For Justin Trudeau's minority government, which was almost written off, new opportunities have emerged—at least in the short term—to demonstrate its ability to act in challenging times. Just a few weeks before taking over the G7 presidency, the election campaign in Canada is already well underway. The Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, continue to lead decisively in all polls.

Dr. Bernd Althusmann
December 12, 2024
Country reports
IMAGO / Xinhua

Ghana has a "new old" president

John Mahama and the NDC emerge as the clear winners of the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections

This year's General elections in Ghana were a success for democracy: the West African country managed to hold fair, free and peaceful elections on Saturday. Even though the last constituencies are still counting votes, the winner is already clear: John Mahama (NDC) was elected the “new old” president of Ghana by a clear margin. The current ruling party, the NPP, on the other hand, received one of its worst election results to date with just 41.61% of the vote.

Anna Wasserfall
December 12, 2024
Country reports
IMAGO / Russian Look

Presidential elections annulled after hybrid attack

Romania is fighting for democracy on two fronts

Romania is fighting for democracy on two fronts. Firstly, against Russia's hybrid attack on the integrity of the presidential elections. And then on the familiar front against the system of clientelism and corruption, which is supported by forces that continue to prolong the power of the former communist elite. It does not help to ignore one problem in favour of the other. Romania needs a fundamentally different relationship between its institutions, politicians and citizens if it is to become a strong and resilient democracy.

Katja Christina Plate
December 11, 2024
Country reports
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