insert_link World Friedrich Merz sworn in as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was sworn in as Germany’s 10th postwar chancellor on 7 May 2025, following a tumultuous parliamentary process that underscored the fragility of his coalition government. After failing to secure a majority in the initial Bundestag vote—a first in modern German history—Merz clinched the chancellorship in a second round with 325 votes, narrowly surpassing the required 316. Merz leads a coalition comprising his conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), its […] today7 May, 2025
insert_link Business / Economics Business Leadership SA says only way forward is to reduce state expenditure BLSA CEO Busisiwe Mavuso at a press conference As South Africa awaits Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s re-tabling of the national budget on 21 May 2025, Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) has urged the government to make bold economic decisions that stimulate growth and enable sustainable public spending. According to eNCA, BLSA CEO Busisiwe Mavuso said the government must show “political courage” by making difficult and potentially unpopular spending cuts, particularly […] today6 May, 2025
insert_link World Germany’s CDU Wins Most Votes, Merz Likely Next Chancellor Exit polls indicate that Germany’s centre-right Christian Democratic Union won the most votes in the general elections, with Friedrich Merz most likely to be the next chancellor. The party claimed 28.8-percent of the vote in Sunday’s election, which is not a majority, meaning a coalition government will need to be formed. The far-right Alternative for Germany came in second, with a record 20.2-percent of the vote, and Chancellor Olaf […] today24 February, 2025
insert_link South Africa In S.A, Dali Mpofu Criticizes SABC’s Use of ‘Government of National Unity’ In South Africa, a lawyer representing former president Jacob Zuma and the MK Party, Dali Mpofu, argued that the SABC’s use of the term government of national unity promotes the political objectives of the coalition government. On Monday, the High Court in Johannesburg heard Zuma and MK’s challenge against the SABC over its use of the term GNU. Mpofu suggested the SABC is dancing to the tune of the […] today28 January, 2025
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. today28 October, 2024
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. today15 October, 2024
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 […] today30 July, 2024
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 […] today17 July, 2024
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 […] today3 July, 2024
