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Publications on the topic of “Democracy needs Participation”

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IMAGO/AAP

Australia is heading to the polls

Between everyday worries and global pressure, Australia is facing important decisions

On March 28, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that the federal election would be held on May 3rd, after three years under the government led by the Australian Labor Party (ALP). The Prime Minister is being challenged by Peter Dutton, leader of the Liberal-National Coalition, who is currently polling behind in several opinion polls. As of April 23, the ALP held a 55.5 percent to 44.5 percent lead over the Coalition in the two-party preferred polls, favored to again lead the next government. 1

Chhayheng Soth
April 25, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / Agencia Prensa-Independiente

Clear Victory for President Noboa

Ecuador shows the red card to a possible return of Correísmo

Daniel Noboa remains president of Ecuador. With a surprisingly clear result of more than eleven percent ahead, the young head of state was able to win the run-off election for the highest office against his left-wing populist challenger Luisa González. The loser's refusal to acknowledge her defeat once again proves the great polarization in the country. After a peaceful election, this division into two camps, along with the containment of organized crime and the difficult economic situation, are the biggest challenges for the election winner.

Johannes Hügel
April 14, 2025
Country reports
Toshe Ognjanov

The fire disaster in Kočani: Shock for state and society in North Macedonia

Investigations uncover negligence and corruption behind the tragic incident

On March 16, 2025, 59 people died and 196 were injured in a fire disaster at the Pulse nightclub in Kočani - one of the worst tragedies in the country's history. The incident sparked nationwide outrage and led to calls for more rule of law and a reorganization of the system.

Daniel Braun, Davor Pasoski
April 2, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / NurPhoto

Political earthquake in France

How the court judgement against representatives of the Rassemblement National is being twisted by the right-wing populists as the end of the French constitutional state

On Monday, 31 March 2025, the former party leader and current parliamentary group leader of the right-wing populist party Rassemblement National (RN), Marine Le Pen, and eight of the party's MEPs were found guilty of embezzling public funds. The party representatives are alleged to have set up a ‘system of embezzlement’ of EU funds between 2004 and 2016 for the recruitment of parliamentary staff to finance the party's political activities. The damage was estimated by the European Parliament at almost 7 million euros. The twelve parliamentary assistants who also stood trial were found guilty of receiving stolen goods.

Anja Czymmeck, Max Willem Fricke, Nele Katharina Wissmann
April 2, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / photonews.at

Austria's political centre under pressure

The coalition of the last chance

After the longest government formation in the history of the Second Republic, Austria now has a new federal government. The process, which lasted more than five months, was characterized by two major ruptures: First, the negotiations for the so-called Zuckerl coalition of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), Social Democrats (SPÖ) and liberal NEOS failed. This led to the resignation of ÖVP leader and Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer at the beginning of 2025. The subsequent coalition negotiations with the right-wing populist Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) led by its future chancellor Herbert Kickl were therefore led by the previous Secretary General and interim party chairman of the ÖVP, Christian Stocker. These negotiations also failed, so that the party returned to the beginning and - this time doomed to success, so to speak - managed to form a coalition between the ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS after all. The more than 200-page program of the government led by Christian Stocker as Federal Chancellor is entitled “Doing the right thing now. For Austria”. It could be the last chance for the political center to prevent FPÖ chairman Kickl from becoming the next Chancellor.

Sebastian Enskat, M.A., Michael Stellwag, Johannes Spreitz
April 1, 2025
Country reports
KAS

Shaping Europe – Scenarios for the European Union in 2030

On the future of European security, economy and enlargement

The European Union faces growing geopolitical tensions, economic transformation, and the challenge of enlargement. How can the EU strengthen its security, maintain its competitiveness, and expand strategically? Six future scenarios illustrate possible developments up to 2030. Based on a scenario approach, the study provides strategic recommendations to enhance resilience, foster innovation, and ensure political cohesion. By making forward-looking decisions today, the EU can shape its role as a global leader in an increasingly uncertain world. 

Lolita Čigāne, Philipp Köbe, Marie-Sophie Lanig, Annabelle Livet, Felix Müller, Tim Peter, Samina Sultan
March 31, 2025
Single title
IMAGO / Xinhua

Consensus amid Chaos

Korean Parliament passes pension reform

On 20 March 2025 the Korean National Assembly passed a pension reform. This historic decision, which was passed by both major parties despite fierce political debate, ushers in a new chapter for the pension system after 18 years. Despite ongoing challenges, the course for solutions in the face of serious demographic developments is set. Above all, it provides a striking contrast to the enormous polarization that otherwise characterizes Korean politics and has led to the current crisis.

Thomas Yoshimura, Yu-Jin Song
March 25, 2025
Country reports

Voter Fluidity in the 2024 National Elections

Prof Carin Runciman and Prof Marcel Paret

The report focuses on two key dynamics that were influential in the 2024 elections, voter fluidity and voter abstention. The report provides a brief methodological note and examines voter trajectories and voter abstention.

March 20, 2025
Single title
Julian Tucker (KAS Regionalprojekt Nordische Länder)

Elections in Greenland

A Clear Signal Towards Independence

Greenlanders have elected a new parliament. The clear winner of the election is the liberal Demokraatit party (Democrats) with its leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen. They won by a surprisingly clear margin against the current left-wing coalition government of Siumut ( Forwards) and Inuit Ataqatigiit (Community of the Inuit). Nielsen's party pursues a conservative tax policy, is considered economically liberal and wants to achieve independence from Denmark in a step-by-step fashion. The second strongest party is the nationalist protest party Naleraq (Point of orientation). It was the only party to call for a swift exit from the Danish kingdom and rapprochement with the USA during the election campaign. The upcoming coalition negotiations could prove difficult in view of foreign policy upheavals. Nielson, former Minister for Industry and Minerals, announced his intention to talk to all parties. A broad-based alliance between Inuit Ataqatigiit, the party of previous Prime Minister Múte B. Egede and possibly with the Siumut party could form a stable government.

Larissa Stünkel, Christine Leuchtenmüller
March 18, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / Scanpix

Broken alliance in Estonia

The collapse of the coalition government

On 10 March 2025, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal announced the reshuffle of the Estonian coalition by dismissing the Social Democratic Party (SDE) from the coalition government. After this decision, the "Reform Party" and "Estonia200" have only a narrow majority with 52 out of 101 seats in the Riigikogu (parliament).

Oliver Morwinsky, Nikoloz Rogava
March 14, 2025
Country reports
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