SOUTH KOREA: Democrats hope Moon’s crisis leadership yields electoral victory
● On 15 April, South Koreans will vote in quadrennial elections for the National Assembly, the unicameral legislature. ● President Moon Jae-in’s deft leadership in response to the Covid-19 outbreak has boosted his Democratic Party of Korea (DPK)’s chances of retaining its plur… Become a member to read the rest of this article Username […]
POLAND: PiS pushes ahead with the presidential poll despite Covid-19
Yesterday, 6 April, the lower house of parliament (Sejm) passed electoral code changes introducing universal postal vote in the May presidential election and allowing the speaker of the Sejm to postpone the date of the poll until 17 May. The legislation also introduces up to thre… Become a member to read the rest of […]
CHINA: Virus response reinforces Communist Party’s perceived legitimacy
● The Communist Party has shifted public attention away from early failures in Wuhan towards subsequent success in controlling the epidemic. ● Public cynicism towards the government co-exists alongside respect for its technocratic competence and ability to mobilize people and … Become a member to read the rest of this article
BRAZIL: Bolsonaro isolated, not ousted
● President Jair Bolsonaro has reached the highest level of isolation since his inauguration. ● His posture against popular Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta is a high-risk strategy. ● Four-star generals in the government have been a moderate force, ensuring the government… Become a member to read the rest of this article
EUROPE: The politics of coronavirus – Daily update
Below is the latest edition of our daily Europe coronavirus update. Today we include a table summarizing the exit strategies from lockdowns being discussed in selected European countries. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you want to discuss any of the countries mentioned i… Become a member to read the rest of […]
INDONESIA: Widodo’s gambit continues
● President Joko Widodo refuses to implement the more stringent quarantine measures imposed elsewhere in the region. ● With medical resource utilization possibly nearing capacity and local capabilities highly uneven across the archipelago, a miscalculation could have severe re… Become a member to read the rest of this article
SOUTH AFRICA: Double trouble
● South Africa’s currency and fiscal woes have taken another hit from Fitch’s 3 April downgrade of the sovereign’s long-term foreign and local currency credit ratings from BB+ to BB, with a negative outlook. ● Although President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decisive handling of the pande… Become a member to read the rest of this article
Macro Series – Postcard – Mexico: unprepared, and unable fully to respond
In this country of extremes, COVID-19 will likely hit hard. And many women stand to suffer hugely. With one family member in Hong Kong and the rest in the UK, I have been worrying about the coronavirus outbreak for much longer than have my Mexican friends. For weeks my ob… Become a member to […]