insert_link World Political uncertainty in Japan after ruling party fails to win majority Japan has been plunged into political uncertainty after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP, and its coalition partner lost its majority in a general election that was called by the country's new prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba. The parties will now have to rely on the support of another party to form a government. Rebecca Bundhun reports from Tokyo. todayOctober 28, 2024 13
insert_link South Africa ActionSA launches government of national unity performance tracker ActionSA has launched the Government of National Unity's performance tracker to monitor the coalition government. At a media briefing, ActionSA's national chairperson Michael Beaumont says the tracker will empower citizens to assess the government's progress and failures and push for the necessary reforms. todayOctober 15, 2024 16
insert_link South Africa South Africa’s unity government could see a continuation of the ANC’s political dominance – and hurt the DA By Roger Southall, University of the Witwatersrand The ANC’s loss of its majority in the recent election, and President Cyril Ramaphosa’s formation of a government of national unity, have been interpreted by some commentators as indicating the end of the ANC as a “dominant party”. That is, one which recurrently wins elections and hence dominates a political system. Their argument, and it is not unconvincing, is […] todayJuly 30, 2024 22
insert_link South Africa South Africa’s 400 parliamentarians are about to get down to business: 4 essential reads By Caroline Southey, The Conversation; Jabulani Sikhakhane, The Conversation, and Thabo Leshilo, The Conversation On 29 May 2024 South Africans went to the polls and delivered a strong message to their political leaders: we’re tired of the “same old same old”. They slashed the governing African National Congress’s share of the vote to just over 40%. And put their crosses next to a host of […] todayJuly 17, 2024 13
insert_link World French PM urges united front to stop far-right takeover By Stuart Williams France's prime minister on Wednesday urged voters to form a united front to block the far right in legislative elections, warning the anti-immigration party of Marine Le Pen was the only faction capable of winning an absolute majority. With four days to go until the second round in the polls, France's political future remains up in the air as the far-right […] todayJuly 3, 2024 14
insert_link South Africa South Africa inaugurates unprecedented unity government South Africa's new unity government under President Cyril Ramaphosa was sworn in on Wednesday, the first of its kind in the country after 30 years of rule by the ANC. Ahead of the 32 ministers -- from six parties -- making up the cabinet, Paul Mashatile, who has been re-appointed deputy president, was the first to take the oath during the televised ceremony in Cape Town. […] todayJuly 3, 2024 21
insert_link South Africa S.Africa’s new centre-right government promises unity, action South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's new coalition government heralds a pragmatic centre-right shift as opposition parties take control of more than a third of ministries, bringing hope for better governance but also cohesion fears. The African National Congress (ANC), which has governed since the advent of democracy in 1994, keeps 20 of the 32 cabinet positions, including foreign affairs, finance, defence, justice and police. The historied party […] todayJuly 1, 2024 13
insert_link World The far-right has surged to the lead in France’s elections. But forming a government remains a tall order By Romain Fathi, Australian National University Exit polls after the first round of the French legislative elections indicate the far-right National Rally party leading with about 34% of the vote. The New Popular Front (a coalition of parties from the far left to the moderate left) was in second with about 28% and President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist coalition was a distant third with about […] todayJuly 1, 2024 20
insert_link Africa South Africa’s coalition government – making the case for hope By Brian Levy, Johns Hopkins University In the aftermath of South Africa’s recent election, renewed hope has made an unexpected appearance. In difficult times, even small gains can be valuable. But, on occasion, much more is possible. Small gains can feed on each other; momentum can build; a virtuous spiral can take hold. This may be such a moment. It’s not ordinarily a […] todayJune 26, 2024 14