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European elections 2024

Barrier-free?

The lack of equality for people with disabilities is still omnipresent in the European Union. For the 2019 European elections, a report by the European Economic and Social Committee showed that around 800,000 EU citizens from 16 member states were excluded from the right to vote in European elections due to national regulations because of their disabilities or mental illness. The European elections in June 2024 brought the issue back to the fore, as it is also about a lack of political participation. Here you will find a brief assessment by our KAS colleagues who have looked at the current conditions in their countries of assignment.

June 11, 2024
Country reports with a difference
IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

Presidential elections in Lithuania

Great support for the incumbent president Gitanas Nausėda

The renewed victory of incumbent President Nausėda came as no surprise: Nausėda received the highest level of support in the history of presidential elections to date. There were two established politicians in the run-off, both of whom achieved their goal: Šimonytė managed to reach the run-off round, and Nausėda improved on his result. In addition to the established candidates, several newcomers also took to the political stage in the elections, while the results of the openly pro-Russian candidates shook up the country. Given the upcoming parliamentary elections, the result should not be overestimated, but initial conclusions can still be drawn about the mood of the population.

Loibl Julian, Fausta Simaityte, Oliver Morwinsky
May 27, 2024
Country Reports
IMAGO / Pond5 Images

New defence strategies for Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia

Baltic Bastions

"[...] they will be treated like pigs in their own country". This sentence comes at the end of a long series of blatant threats by Russian President Putin against the three Baltic States, in this case Latvia. The statement was made in response to the alleged mistreatment of Latvia's Russian-speaking population. Such statements cause great fear of attack in these states, which had to fight hard for their independence from Russia. Faced with the feared reduction of Western support for Ukraine and the resulting sharp increase in the potential threat from Russia, the three Baltic States published new defence strategies in 2023. But how do the Baltic States intend to secure their independence, and are these concepts a blueprint for other states?

Oliver Morwinsky, Alexandra Clobes, Fausta Šimaitytė
January 29, 2024
Country Reports
IMAGO / Scanpix

"Swish and Vote" in Estonia

Voting via smartphone soon?

After five years, the European Parliament elections will be held again in 2024. From June 6th to June 9th, 2024, over 448 million Europeans will be asked to cast their votes for various parties. People in Estonia are waiting with anticipation for the next European elections. If the current Estonian government of the Kallas III cabinet (centre-left coalition) is successful, Estonians will be able to cast their votes via smartphone for the first time in this election. Is this the next step in the progressive digitalisation of the country, or a neck-breaking move at the expense of democracy?

Oliver Morwinsky, Alexandra Clobes
December 11, 2023
Country Reports
IMAGO / Scanpix

Crisis Cabinet Kallas III

Government Standstill in Estonia

With a "landslide victory," internationally popular Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas secured a third term in March. But Estonia's growing national debt is forcing the ruling center-left coalition to take unpopular measures. The resulting dispute between the government and the opposition has already paralyzed parliamentary work to such an extent that the government can only get laws through the Riigikogu (Estonian parliament) by means of votes of no confidence. Just when mediation seems possible, it becomes public that the husband of the "Russia hardliner" Kallas maintains business relations with Russia. The Estonian parliament is stuck in a deadlock with unattractive ways out. The Christian conservative Isamaa benefits from strength of content and is at an eight-year high.

Oliver Morwinsky, Andreas Geyer
October 5, 2023
Country Reports
IMAGO / Xinhua

First center-left government in Latvia

A change of government with shaky foundations

The new government is in place - albeit with a narrow majority. After the presidential elections in May of this year, a political reshuffle of the government was inevitable. The new president was elected with the votes of the largest opposition party, the Union of Greens and Peasants (ZZS). The fact that a major oligarch is behind the ZZS made the new coalition formation difficult and also poses major challenges for the strongest party, New Unity (JV). In practical terms, this has already become clear in the election of the new speaker of parliament. But this constellation also holds explosive potential politically.

Oliver Morwinsky, Daiga Krieva
September 22, 2023
Country Reports
Adobe Stock / vladimirfloyd

A lot of news in the East: NATO combat brigades for the Baltic States

6 countries - 2 ways - 1 common purpose: Scaling the trip wire to heavy ordnance

Russia's expanded and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine since February 2022 continues to determine NATO's course. While the response to the vaguely formulated Ukrainian membership perspective in NATO varied widely after the recent summit in Vilnius, the allies' positioning against Russia's aggression is supported by a broad consensus. Both, the measures agreed upon by the allies in the summits' communiqué and further bilateral agreements reached in recent months, leave no doubt: NATO partners stand together.

Andreas Geyer, Oliver Morwinsky
August 21, 2023
Country Reports
Reuters / Ints Kalnins

Presidential Elections in Latvia

A Choice for Unity

On May 31, 2023, the Latvian Saeima elected Edgars Rinkēvičs, a long-time minister The election required at least 51 of the 100 votes cast by Saeima deputies.

Oliver Morwinsky, Daiga Krieva
June 5, 2023
Country Reports
IMAGO / Scanpix

Forming a government in Estonia

Difficult start for cabinet Kallas III

On April 10, the newly elected parliament (XV Riigikogu) in Estonia convened for the first time. The 13 ministries are divided between Reform Party (7 ministries), Estonia 200 (3 ministries) and the Social Democratic Party (3 ministries). In the process, 7 ministers from the previous government will accompany a ministerial post. Five ministries will be headed by women, eight by men.

Oliver Morwinsky, Sveta Pääru, Emely Keyn
April 19, 2023
Country Reports
Unsplash / Mantas Bytautas

Local elections in Lithuania

Success in the capital, loss in the countryside

Local elections were held in Lithuania on March 5, 2023. The final runoff elections were held on March 19, 2023. Sixteen political parties and 32 political committees participated in the voting. Their representatives competed for the 1,498 municipal council seats and 60 mayoral seats. Voter turnout was 48.97 percent, a slight increase. The Lithuanian Social Democratic Party emerged as the winner of the local elections. The capital Vilnius was won by the Christian Democrats. Party leader Landsbergis is no longer running for party chairman.

Oliver Morwinsky, Fausta Šimaitytė, Emely Keyn
April 5, 2023
Country Reports
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