Pakistan goes to key elections
For the first time in Pakistan's 66-year-history, the South Asian nation which is a key ally in the US war on terror, goes to the polls to replace one democratically elected civilian government with another. The outgoing ruling coalition led by the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is the first government to have completed its five-year term. Pakistan's troubled history after it separated from India in 1947 has seen it being governed mostly by military dictatorships and elected governments have often been at the mercy of the all-powerful military establishment that has orchestrated coups to overthrow popularly elected governments.
The national elections on May 11 will see an electorate of 85...
As Syrian conflict continues, neighbors become increasingly involved
As the Syrian conflict continues to rage, international tension in the region is reaching yet another high point. Israel has been accused of actively contributing to the rebels' war efforts by attacking the military strongholds of Assad's forces. Another neighboring nation, Turkey, became involved when Syrian government forces shot down a Turkish fighter jet in June 2012. Turkey has been accused of supplying rebel forces with arms on multiple occasions, as well as Syria claiming to have arrested multiple Turkish fighter pilots in rebel stronghold Aleppo.
The international public eye has...
Bavarian parliament under pressure to cease nepotism
The Bavarian State Parliament is turning up the pressure on those accused of nepotism within the government branch.
Barbara Stamm has called for the names of all those politicians who have relatives under their personal employ to be published. Though it is technically legal for the politicians to have these relatives under their pay roll, the acceptability of the practice has been called into question recently in light.
In the year 2000, it was made illegal for Bavarian politicians to hire their relatives into their departments. A loophole in the rule was set up under which relatives already...
A vote for emigrants?
The right to vote is the fundamental tenet of democracy. Through one's ballot, a citizen is transformed into a politically relevant force. He or she is given the power to take charge of their own fate, to voice what they stand for, and to choose those who lead them.
It is a power held dear by many and which has been, and is being, fiercely fought for across the world. It is a right that seems inalienable, that seems to be imbued in us by the simple virtue that we are human, that seem impossible to justifiably take away from someone. The right to vote comes with birth and ends with death.
Or...
Or...
Germans and Climate Change
With its Energiewende (energy transition) Germany has, in the last decade, advanced policy initiatives that have shaken up the energy sector, and this has provoked a range of responses amongst the German populace. Whether it's their concern for their environment, their pocketbooks or their relations with neighboring countries and those around the world, this issue is one which strikes deep chords in the political consciousness of this country.
At issue in this debate is the relationship between the effect that the German government's policies have on climate change and the effect they on the...
At issue in this debate is the relationship between the effect that the German government's policies have on climate change and the effect they on the...
Gun Control Debate to Take A Backseat
The turbulent gun control debate in th US is nearing an end as the senate and lawmakers move on.
The broad spectrum of suggestions to handle gun control in the states was narrowed down to two amendments, one addressing mental health care and the other penalizing states that give out information about gun owners for anything other than a criminal investigation. Despite the desire for stricter gun control laws from opponents, the Senate's 60 vote threshold proved that more were in favor of loosening restrictions not tightening them.
A large majority of Senators voted to give back gun...
The broad spectrum of suggestions to handle gun control in the states was narrowed down to two amendments, one addressing mental health care and the other penalizing states that give out information about gun owners for anything other than a criminal investigation. Despite the desire for stricter gun control laws from opponents, the Senate's 60 vote threshold proved that more were in favor of loosening restrictions not tightening them.
A large majority of Senators voted to give back gun...
Anti-Euro Party Makes Its Official Debut
The Alternative For Germany party, which opposes the existence of the Euro currency, made its official opening debut over the weekend.
The party will compete in this September's federal elections. It is hoping to win enough votes from Chancelor Angela Merkel's CDU/CSU coalition to send a message to the government. Its message is straight forward- it wants the eurozone to be dissolved.
There have been anti-Euro parties in Germany before, but none with the potential and authority held by the AFG. The top names on the list include economics professors, senior economic advisors, and former bank...
French German Relations Under Strain
France and Germany, whose relationship lies at the core of the EU, have seen fraying diplomatic ties recently as policy differences between Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU and President Francois Hollande's Socialist Party have come to the fore.
With the publication of a draft party document, Hollande's Socialists have expressed a clear and pointed criticism of Mrs. Merkel and her austerity policies. These comments, along with the by now long-simmering resentment in the EU periphery against the German position on how to revive the euro, threaten not only to weaken the French-German relationship...
FDP Calls for More Security Following Boston Bombings
Once again a terroristic attack on American soil draws consequences around the world. Following the wake of the recent Boston bombings, which cost multiple lives, large scale injury and a state-wide manhunt for two young Americans of Chechen background, many organizations and nations are reassessing their security provisions. It seems this includes Germany.
The general secretary (Generalsekretär) of the Free Democrat party, Patrick Döring, has called for increased surveillance and security in train stations, to be modelled after the security camera visibly present in airports. He further holds...
Looking Back and Forth at Cyprus
As the Eurozone crisis widened to include Cyprus, it revealed Europe is not out of the woods yet.
Russia was quick to respond, though efforts did not proceed as planned when the crisis widened and Cyprus' rating was downgraded. Russia backpedaled as investors scrambled to recover their savings and a further deal was struck with the help of the ECB and IMF, making Cyprus the fifth European nation to receive money from the EU-IMF.
Austerity measures put in place with the second bailout deal have been unpopular in Cypriot politics as well as having caused uproar among the population, displaying...
Paraguay Goes to the Polls
Paraguay heads to the polls for presidential and parliamentary elections today, after five years of Leftist rule.
Bucking the trend in South America, this election has only two main contenders for the presidency and both are right wing. South America is traditionally left wing with strong socialist policies in Brazil, Argentina, and new member Venezuela. Only Colombia and Chile are now led by conservatives.
When Paraguay's former president Fernando Lugo was impeached, Paraguay was immediately suspended from the Union of South American Nations for "a rupture in the democratic process." Nearly...
Merkel Commits to a Women's Quota
After a significant internal dispute over the issue, the CDU is going to adopt a commitment to setting up quotas for women in the workplace.
The commitment, which is already backed by the CDU's opposition, would force all listed companies to hire women at a fixed rate of as at least 30% of their staff starting from 2020.
The proposal had been opposed by Chancelor Merkel originally, and is indeed very much out of step with the usual more liberal economic policies of the CDU. However, after an internal dispute over the issue threatened to split the ruling coalition in half, the Chancelor did a...
China and the U.S. to Work Together on Cyber Security
China and the United States have agreed to work together to ensure cyber security.
In a landmark move after months of tension on the issue, Secretary of State John Kerry has stated that the two countries will work together to prevent crime and hacking in the cyber world. Washington has described cyber security as its top national security concern. Kerry stated that cyber security affects every single citizen in the United States, not to mention "the financial sector and the banks."
Kerry made the announcement during a trip to Beijing. The statement is not one sided. The Chinese media had...
| Will the new Alternative for Germany party find significant backing? by Timothy | May 03, 2013, 01:44:04 PM |
| Should Turkey be allowed into the EU? by Timothy | May 03, 2013, 01:42:36 PM |
| Are Bavarian politicians overpaid? by Timothy | May 03, 2013, 01:41:42 PM |
| Should emigrants have a vote? by Timothy | May 03, 2013, 01:40:46 PM |
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