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Short political reports of the KAS offices abroad

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IMAGO / ABACAPRESS

Pope Francis visits Luxembourg and Belgium

Between criticism and confidence

To mark the 600th anniversary of the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, Pope Francis embarked on a three-day visit to Luxembourg and Belgium on September 26. The last time a Pope visited Belgium was under Pope John Paul II in 1995. Pope John Paul II's visit to Luxembourg dates back four decades. Under the motto “to serve” in Luxembourg and the theme “On the road full of hope” in Belgium, Pope Francis addressed the challenges facing the Church in the 21st century. In secular Luxembourg, he encouraged people to find confidence in their faith. In Belgium, the Pope's visit revealed ambivalence in the public's attitude: on the one hand, encouragement from the faithful - on the other, the deep-rooted tensions in society and the Catholic Church, or between the two, came to light. Sexual abuse, the role of women and the process of beatification for King Baudouin dominated the public debate and provoked massive criticism.

Dr. Beatrice Gorawantschy, Domien te Riele, Meike Lenzner
October 2, 2024
Country reports
IMAGO / Panama Pictures

The election of Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission

An analysis after the 2024 European elections

The center holds” - this is what Ursula von der Leyen announced on the evening of June 9 after the first projections of the European election results from the 27 European member states came in. She was proved right - the center has held: Ursula von der Leyen was re-elected Commission President on July 18 with a comfortable majority of 401 votes, presumably made up of votes from the pro-European centrist groups, i.e. the European People's Party (EPP), the Social Democrats (S&D), the Liberals and also the Greens, in a secret ballot. Her “declaration” - a kind of candidacy speech to the plenary of the European Parliament - was based on political guidelines for the next European Commission 2024-2029, which had been published shortly before her speech

Dr. Beatrice Gorawantschy, Kai Gläser
July 25, 2024
Country reports

The European Elections from the Inside

Election coverage issued by the European Office of the Konrad- Adenauer-Stiftung on the 2024 European elections

The election report "European Elections from the Inside" presents the results of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament from a European and national perspective. Together with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung offices across Europe, a concise overview was compiled for each of the 27 member states of the European Union (EU), which analyses the results in the respective countries against the backdrop of current developments. The series of reports is intended to contribute to a deeper understanding of the overall outcome of the 2024 European elections.

Dr. Beatrice Gorawantschy, Kai Gläser, Domien te Riele, Meike Lenzner, Tom Körner
June 13, 2024
Country reports
IMAGO / Photo News

Surprising Election Results in Belgium

Victory of the "lesser evil" confirms Belgium's Shift to the Right

The Resultate of the Belgian elections surprised everyone - including the winners themselves. The N-VA, which became the strongest force at federal and Flemish level, is celebrating its victory - with its leader Bart de Wever at its centre. Despite this surprise, the election in Belgium confirmed the country's shift to the right - led by the nationalist N-VA and followed by the right-wing populist Vlaams Belang. The polarisation between the regions - albeit slightly weakened – remains lasting and will make it difficult to form a government at national level.

Dr. Beatrice Gorawantschy, Meike Lenzner
June 12, 2024
Country reports
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e. V.

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 / ANP

The Netherlands on the way to forming a government

Extra-parliamentary experiment in The Hague

Six months after the snap elections in the Netherlands, four parties have agreed to work together and put forward Dick Schoof, former head of the secret service AIVD and highest-ranking civil servant in the Ministry of Justice, as a candidate for the office of Prime Minister. The fact that he previously held no political office is symbolic of the desired form of cooperation in the new government – an extra-parliamentary cabinet is to be formed comprising 50 per cent representatives of the parties supporting it and 50 per cent politically independent experts. The reason for this decision is the complicated election result in November 2023 and the strong polarisation around the right-wing populist election winner Geert Wilders. The new cabinet is to be sworn in by King Willem-Alexander at the beginning of July.

Dr. Beatrice Gorawantschy, Kai Gläser
May 31, 2024
Country reports
IMAGO / Photo News

Political polarization characterizes Belgium ahead of the elections

Wahlkampf im Lichte der EU-Ratspräsidentschaft

Am 9. Juni 2024 wird in Belgien gewählt – und zwar auf drei Ebenen: europäisch, national und regional[1]. Vor dem Hintergrund der im Juni endenden belgischen EU-Ratspräsidentschaft stellt sich die Frage, wo das Land einen Monat vor diesem Wahlmarathon steht. Aktuelle Umfragen deuten auf eine Polarisierung der Wählerschaft hin, die Prognosen für eine Regierungsbildung erschweren.

Dr. Beatrice Gorawantschy, Meike Lenzner
May 14, 2024
Country reports

Länderbericht: Regierungswechsel in Luxemburg

CSV-DP-Regierung unter Luc Frieden vereidigt

Nach den Parlamentswahlen vom Oktober wurde die neue Regierung von Premierminister Luc Frieden (CSV) vereidigt. Das Bündnis aus Christlich-sozialer Volkspartei (CSV) und der liberalen Demokratischen Partei (DP) löst die bisherige Dreierkoalition aus liberaler DP, Arbeiterpartei LSAP und den Grünen ab. Der ehemalige Premierminister Xavier Bettel (DP) wird Außenminister.

Dr. Hardy Ostry, Domien te Riele
November 30, 2023
Country reports

Länderbericht: Paukenschlag in den Niederlanden

Rechtspopulisten erstmals stärkste Kraft im Land

Die Niederlande haben ein neues Parlament gewählt – das Ergebnis lässt aufhorchen und sorgt auf nationaler und europäischer Ebene für Diskussionen und Beunruhigung. Die rechtspopulistische Partij voor de Vrijheid (PVV) um Frontmann Geert Wilders wurde mit Abstand stärkste Kraft und verwies die bis kurz vor der Wahl favorisierten Konkurrenten aus dem Mitte-Rechts und Mitte-Links-Spektrum deutlich auf die Plätze zwei bis vier. Eine Regierungsbildung dürfte schwierig werden und viel Zeit in Anspruch nehmen. Bis in der politisch zersplitterten Zweiten Kammer der Generalstaaten (vergleichbar mit dem Deutschen Bundestag) eine neue Mehrheit gefunden ist, bleibt das vierte Kabinett von Langzeit-Premierminister Mark Rutte geschäftsführend im Amt.

Dr. Hardy Ostry, Kai Gläser
November 24, 2023
Country reports
EPA-EFE/Robin Utrecht

Erdrutschsieg und politische Fragmentierung

Die Niederlande nach den Provinzwahlen 2023

Erdrutschsieg und politische Fragmentierung – die Niederlande nach den Provinzwahlen 2023

Dr. Hardy Ostry, Kai Gläser
June 28, 2023
Country reports
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About this series

The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is a political foundation. Our offices abroad are in charge of over 200 projects in more than 120 countries. The country reports offer current analyses, exclusive evaluations, background information and forecasts - provided by our international staff.

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Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V.