Series:PISM Spotlight

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The Government Reshuffle in Ukraine

The Government Reshuffle in Ukraine

Author(s): Daniel Szeligowski / Language(s): English

Keywords: Ukraine; government; change; economy;

On 4 March, the Ukrainian parliament accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk and approved a new government led by Denys Shmyhal. The government reshuffle came in response to the deepening crisis of confidence in the Ukrainian authorities, partly because of the public’s overstated expectations of President Volodymyr Zelensky, especially for the rapid improvement of the economic situation.

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Slovakia Establishes Right-Wing Coalition Government amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Slovakia Establishes Right-Wing Coalition Government amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Author(s): Łukasz Ogrodnik / Language(s): English

Keywords: Slovakia; COVID-19; pandemic; right-wing; coalition;

The swearing-in to office of Igor Matovič on 21 March ends the many years of rule by Smer-Social Democracy (Smer). As a result of the last parliamentary elections in Europe (29 February) before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the new government was formed by four right-wing parties: Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO), Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), We Are Family, and For People.

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Legal Changes in Hungary Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic

Legal Changes in Hungary Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic

Author(s): Veronika Jóźwiak / Language(s): English

Keywords: Coronavirus; pandemic; COVID-19; Hungary; legal changes;

In connection with the coronavirus pandemic, the Hungarian government intends to extend indefinitely regulations adopted under a “state of danger” declared on 11 March. The bill authorising it to do so would give the government unprecedented powers, including limiting constitutional freedoms. The vote on the bill is scheduled for 31 March. Adoption requires a two-thirds majority, which means that the ruling party can adopt it alone.

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PGNiG’s Victory in Arbitration with Gazprom

PGNiG’s Victory in Arbitration with Gazprom

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.

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Judgment of the EU General Court Regarding The OPAL Gas Pipeline

Wyrok Sądu UE w sprawie gazociągu OPAL

Author(s): Bartosz Bieliszczuk / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: EU; General Court; OPAL; Gas; Pipeline; Judgment;

Wyrok Sądu UE z 10 września br. przywraca sytuację prawną gazociągu OPAL - lądowej odnogi Nord Stream - do stanu z 2009 r. Oznacza to konieczność ograniczenia przez Gazprom wykorzystania OPAL o ponad 12 mld m3 gazu rocznie. Aby utrzymać poziom eksportu do UE, koncern będzie musiał zwiększyć przesył przez Ukrainę, mimo że jej ominięcie jako kraju tranzytowego jest od lat strategicznym celem Rosji. Chociaż wyrok opiera się na traktatowej zasadzie solidarności energetycznej, Rosjanie będą przekonywać, że ma charakter polityczny, m.in. dlatego, że został wydany na krótko przed zimowym sezonem grzewczym i wygaśnięciem z końcem 2019 r. kontraktu na przesył gazu przez Ukrainę.

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Climate Action Summit in New York - A Political Blockade of Ambition

Szczyt działań klimatycznych w Nowym Jorku - polityczna blokada ambicji

Author(s): Marek Wąsiński / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: New York; political blockade; climate change;

Sekretarz generalny ONZ António Guterres wzywał, by zaplanowany na 23 września br. szczyt klimatyczny ONZ w Nowym Jorku nie był szczytem przemów, ale konkretnych działań na rzecz walki z globalnym ociepleniem. Jego apel nie odniósł jednak pożądanych rezultatów. Państwa odpowiedzialne za największe emisje gazów cieplarnianych nie przedstawiły nowych daleko idących planów ograniczenia emisji. Najistotniejsze były nowe zobowiązania finansowe i inicjatywy ze strony korporacji.

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Boris Johnson's "Last Chance" Proposal to Resolve The Brexit Impasse

Propozycja „ostatniej szansy” Borisa Johnsona ws. rozwiązania impasu na tle brexitu

Author(s): Przemysław Biskup / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: Boris Johnson; Last Chance; Brexit; Impasse; Resolution;

2 października brytyjski premier Boris Johnson ogłosił propozycję zmian w porozumieniu o wyjściu z UE z listopada ub.r., które miałyby pozwolić na uzyskanie poparcia Izby Gmin. Propozycja ta ma jednak ograniczone szanse na akceptację.

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Tensions Increase in Brazil-EU Relations

Tensions Increase in Brazil-EU Relations

Author(s): Marek Wąsiński,Bartłomiej Znojek / Language(s): English

Keywords: EU; Brazil; foreign policy; relations; tensions; climate policy;

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.

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Post-Election Situation in Israel

Post-Election Situation in Israel

Author(s): Michał Wojnarowicz / Language(s): English

Keywords: Israel; post-election; situation; foreign policy;

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.

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Launch of an Impeachment Inquiry into U.S. President Donald Trump’s Actions

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.

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Local Elections in Hungary

Local Elections in Hungary

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.

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Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Receives Nobel Peace Prize

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.

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Tunisia after the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections

Tunisia after the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections

Author(s): Sara Nowacka / Language(s): English

Keywords: Tunisia; presidential elections; parliamentary election;

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.

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Poland Joins the Human Rights Council

Poland Joins the Human Rights Council

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).

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Uyghur Dissident Ilham Tohti Awarded Sakharov Prize

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.

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Chile’s Withdrawal from Hosting APEC and COP-25 Summits

Chile’s Withdrawal from Hosting APEC and COP-25 Summits

Author(s): Marek Wąsiński,Damian Wnukowski,Bartłomiej Znojek / Language(s): English

Keywords: Chile; APEC; COP-25; withdrawal; climate; economy;

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.

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The ICJ Judgment on Preliminary Objections in Ukraine v. Russia

The ICJ Judgment on Preliminary Objections in Ukraine v. Russia

Author(s): Szymon Zaręba / Language(s): English

Keywords: ICJ; judgement; Ukraine; Russia; Crimea; annexation;

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.

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Collapse of the “Grand Coalition” in Moldova

Collapse of the “Grand Coalition” in Moldova

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.

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Parliamentary Elections in Belarus

Parliamentary Elections in Belarus

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.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Indicted

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.

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