TURKEY: Erdogan’s pyrrhic victory?
Even though the meeting of the Turkish cabinet is still ongoing (a press conference is expected at around 7pm local time), it seems that President Tayyip Erdogan will not follow through on his previous threat to declare ten Western Ambassadors “personae non gratae.” The pro-Justice and Development (AKP) media in Turkey has been in full […]
TURKEY: Expulsion of ten ambassadors not a given despite Erdogan’s threat
President Tayyip Erdogan stated on 23 October that he ordered to declare “persona non grata” the ambassadors of ten Western allies for seeking philanthropist Osman Kavala’s release from prison. Erdogan made these remarks during a rally in the western city of Eskisehir, while speaking without the support of a teleprompter to the supporters of his […]
CEE: Economic and political challenges resurface with pandemic resurgence
Countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) are struggling to cope with the resurging pandemic amid low vaccination rates and widespread prevalence of the Delta strain. The inevitable return of tough restrictions will hamper economic recovery and could delay fiscal consolidation plans. Pandemic management will require unpopular political decisions, which could heighten social tensions and […]
GERMANY: Weidmann’s resignation and the euro dilemma of the political right
Regardless of who gets to succeed Jens Weidmann as Bundesbank president, it is important to recall that even conservative policymakers like him have not stopped the ECB’s unconventional approach. In contrast with previous resignations, Weidmann did not step down during but ahead of the likely inflation and bond-buying debates ahead in the coming months. The […]
EUROPE: Managing the pandemic – what we are watching
This updated weekly piece provides snapshots of how selected European governments are dealing with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you want to discuss any of the countries mentioned in more detail. United Kingdom – The seven-day average of new infections is now on a clear upwards trajectory again, […]
GERMANY: More substance, less lingo is needed as coalition talks begin
The center-right Liberals (FDP) were the last party to agree to formal coalition talks on 18 October, but it is not yet clear on which exact date these will begin this week. The conclusions of the exploratory talks point to the climate transition as the center of political ambition, while tax and welfare policies will […]
HUNGARY: Primaries bolster opposition, but challenges remain
Primaries gave the opposition bloc an early boost ahead of the general election scheduled for spring 2022. The newly elected opposition leader Peter Marki-Zay poses a formidable challenge to incumbent Viktor Orban. Both opposition and the ruling Fidesz still face multiple hurdles that could tilt voter preferences to either side. An independent small-town mayor, Marki-Zay […]
ITALY: Draghi’s “Black Friday”?
All workers will be required to show a Covid-19 health pass from 15 October, one of the world’s toughest anti-Covid regimes that has already sparked riots and which may cause chaos in the days ahead. Around 2.2-2.5 million of the country’s 23 million workers are unvaccinated, and risk being denied access to the workplace. Road […]
EUROPE: Managing the pandemic – what we are watching
This updated weekly piece provides snapshots of how selected European governments are dealing with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you want to discuss any of the countries mentioned in more detail. United Kingdom – The seven-day average of new infections is increasing slightly again, rising above the mark […]
EUROPE: CEE PULSE
Bulgaria‘s National Recovery and Resilience Plan is ready for submission to the European Commission. In the Czech Republic, the newly elected Chamber of Deputies is scheduled to hold its first sitting on 8 November. On 16 October, Hungary‘s opposition will conclude primary elections to select its leader for the 2022 parliamentary elections. In Romania, Dacian […]
