Author(s): Bartosz Bieliszczuk / Language(s): English
Keywords: PGNIG; Victory; Gazprom; Arbitration;
On 30 March, PGNiG reported it had won its arbitration case against Gazprom at the arbitral tribunal in Stockholm. The ruling concerns gas prices under a long-term supply contract. For PGNiG, this means a significant financial award, while on the political level it supports Poland’s arguments that Gazprom engages in anti-competitive practices.
The EU’s criticism of the Brazilian government’s climate policy and handling of the extensive Amazon fires has resulted in increased tensions in mutual relations. For the Union, for which combating climate change is a priority, Brazil’s ineffectiveness in protecting the Amazon may give it a reason to block the adoption of an agreement with Mercosur.
The Knesset elections held on 17 September did not reveal a clear winner, as none of the blocs formed around the largest parties - Likud and Blue and White - won a parliamentary majority. The parties’ readiness for compromise over the idea of a national unity government or internal splits may prove to be key in the formation of the future coalition.
Launch of an Impeachment Inquiry into U.S. President Donald Trump’s Actions
Author(s): Andrzej Dąbrowski,Mateusz Piotrowski / Language(s): English
Keywords: USA; Donald Trump; Impeachment; Inquiry;
The Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives have launched an impeachment inquiry regarding President Trump. The decision by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is related to a complaint by a “whistleblower” from the Trump administration who was concerned by a conversation the American president had with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in which Trump was alleged to have pressured Zelensky to investigate the son of former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who is running for president in 2020. The Democrats are convinced that these actions were aimed at discrediting Biden and reducing his chances of getting his party’s nomination or forcing him to end his presidential bid.
Author(s): Veronika Jóźwiak / Language(s): English
Keywords: Hungary; local elections; 2019; Fidesz;
Local elections held on 13 October in Hungary were won mostly by the ruling party Fidesz. At the same time, the results represent the greatest success for the opposition parties since 2010.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Receives Nobel Peace Prize
Author(s): Jędrzej Czerep / Language(s): English
Keywords: Ethiopia; Prime Minister; Nobel Peace Prize; Abiy Ahmed;
On 11 October, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced its 100th Peace Prize has been awarded to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. He was honoured for his efforts to make peace on the Horn of Africa, particularly for his country’s ground-breaking reconciliation with neighbouring Eritrea. The pace, however, of both the political liberalisation of Ethiopia and the implementation of the agreement with Eritrea have slowed.
On 13 October, the second round of presidential elections was held in Tunisia. It was preceded by parliamentary elections on 6 October. Kais Said, an independent conservative lawyer, was elected president. The democratisation of the state is endangered by political fragmentation and the erosion of cross-party compromise.
Author(s): Rafał Tarnogórski / Language(s): English
Keywords: Poland; Human Rights Council; HRC; membership;
On 17 October, Poland was elected by the UN General Assembly as a member of the Human Rights Council (HRC) for the term 2020–2022, receiving 124 votes in support (out of 193 possible). Poland’s election and the high support indicates a positive assessment of Poland’s term, now ending, as a non-permanent member of the Security Council (UNSC).
Uyghur Dissident Ilham Tohti Awarded Sakharov Prize
Author(s): Marcin Przychodniak / Language(s): English
Keywords: Ilham Tohti; Sakharov Prize;
This year, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was awarded by the European Parliament to Uyghur dissident Ilham Tohti. The award symbolises objections to the increased repression of Uyghurs - a Turkic ethnic minority, many of whom are Muslim - in China. It also represents support for Ilham’s concept of peaceful coexistence with native Chinese. The prize is unlikely to change Chinese policy on the Uyghurs but shows that human rights will remain an important part of the EU’s policy towards China.
On 30 October, President Sebastián Piñera announced Chile’s withdrawal from hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) in November and the COP25 climate summit in December. This decision results from his government’s failure to tackle the internal crisis caused by violent social protests. Chile’s withdrawal will cause delay in global climate negotiations and in the anticipated trade deal between the U.S. and China. It also means Poland will continue its presidency of COP24.
The 8 November judgment by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the first one in a series of proceedings before major international tribunals initiated since 2014 by Ukraine against Russia. The proceedings are related to the Russian authorities’ support of illegal armed groups in eastern Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea.
Author(s): Jakub Pieńkowski / Language(s): English
Keywords: Moldova; Grand Coalition; Collapse;
On 14 November, the Moldovan parliament voted in the new cabinet of Ion Chicu, who is directed behind the scenes by President Igor Dodon, affiliated with the Socialists. It comes after the collapse of Maia Sandu’s government, led by the pro-European ACUM bloc, just two days earlier. The transition of the bloc to the opposition and takeover of power by an informal alliance of the Socialists and Democrats may result in delays or avoidance of pro-European reforms in Moldova.
Author(s): Anna Maria Dyner / Language(s): English
Keywords: Belarus; parliament; elections;
On 17 November, the elections to the House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament in Belarus, ended. The Central Election Commission of Belarus (CEC) said that the turnout exceeded 77%. No opposition representative was approved, which means that the president will retain full control over the political system in Belarus. The first sitting of the new parliament - its seventh term - will take place on 6 December.
Opposition Candidate Wins Presidential Election in Sri Lanka
Author(s): Patryk Kugiel / Language(s): English
Keywords: Sri Lanka; president; elections; opposition candidate; Gotabaya Rajapaksa;
Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s victory in the presidential election in Sri Lanka (16 November) could lead to an end to the political crisis and improvement in security. However, the likely withdrawal from cooperation with UN bodies seeking accountability for crimes committed during the civil war may worsen Sri Lanka’s relations with the EU and allow China to increase its influence there again.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Indicted
Author(s): Michał Wojnarowicz / Language(s): English
Keywords: Israel; prime minister; Benjamin Netanyahu; Indiction;
Israel’s Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit on 21 November charged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with corruption, breach of trust, and fraud. The indictments exacerbate the political crisis in Israel but do not necessarily mean the swift removal of Netanyahu from office.
Left-Wing Candidates Victorious in SPD Leadership Election
Author(s): Lidia Gibadło / Language(s): English
Keywords: Germany; SPD; Left-Wing; results;
Saskia Esken and Norbert Walter-Borjans won the leadership election of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). In the second round, the respective SPD deputy to the Bundestag and former finance minister of North Rhine-Westphalia won the support of 53,06% of the group’s members, beating the favourites, Olaf Scholz, the current finance minister of Germany and deputy chancellor, and the Klara Geywitz, a former member of the Brandenburg parliament. The election result is a signal that party members want the grouping to have a more left-wing profile.
The meeting of NATO heads of state and government in London on 3-4 December confirmed that on its 70th anniversary, the Alliance is still fundamentally important to its members. The Allies managed to overcome political tensions, related mostly to remarks by the presidents of the U.S., France, and Turkey, and adopt a joint declaration on further NATO adaptation to current threats and challenges. At the same time, divisions within the Alliance remain visible and may eventually weaken the implementation of the London decisions.
Author(s): Agnieszka Legucka,Daniel Szeligowski / Language(s): English
Keywords: Russia; Ukraine; Donbas; Normandy Format Summit;
The Normandy Format (Ukraine, Russia, Germany, France) summit, held in Paris on 9 December for the first time since 2016, did not bring any breakthrough in the negotiations regarding settling the situation in Donbas. The Russian authorities still lack the political will necessary to end the conflict.
Decisive Victory for the Conservatives in the 2019 UK General Election
Author(s): Przemysław Biskup / Language(s): English
Keywords: UK; General Election; Conservatives; Victory;
The Conservative Party won the 2019 general election with their strongest mandate to govern since Margaret Thatcher’s success in the 1980s and backed by the largest parliamentary majority since Tony Blair in 2001. The results should provide enough votes for the swift ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement and the opening of talks on the EU-UK future relationship in February. The Tories’ success was possible due to the fierce competition between Labour and the Liberal Democrats. The results also increase the likelihood of independence and unification referendums in Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively.
Despite the extension of negotiations, on 20 December in St. Petersburg, the presidents of Russia and Belarus did not sign documents deepening economic integration of the countries because of a lack of agreement on the prices for gas and oil and arrangements related to their tax codes.
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