Mexico's Moreira will spur state duplicity accusations

Subject Renewed questions over corruption in Mexico. Significance On January 15, a former leader of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and governor of Coahuila state (2005-11), Humberto Moreira, was arrested in Spain, over allegations of corruption, embezzlement and money-laundering. Deemed a flight risk and held without bail, he was released a week later after a local magistrate concluded that there were no grounds for prosecution. He returned to Mexico. Although the case was provisionally dismissed on February 9, Spain's Financial Crimes Unit subsequently requested it be reopened after they were provided with information from US authorities also investigating Moreira. Impacts Investigations will centre on opposition politicians or 'priistas' deemed to be more a liability than an asset -- such as Veracruz's Duarte. The case will worsen frustration with the government, as it suggests that the PRI is failing to boost accountability and the rule of law. While the opposition will call publicly for greater transparency, parties may delay approval of any laws that could threaten their members.

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 87-113
Author(s):  
Lisdey Espinoza Pedraza

This paper will attempt to answer what the current state of contemporary democracy in Mexico is after the return of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) to the presidency by analysing the role of Civil Society, Political Society and the Rule of Law from 2012 to 2018. This paper will also explore if the party’s return was indeed a step backwards in the process of Mexican democratisation, or whether it was simply another step on a long road in which the various political parties alternate power. In 2018, Mexico elected its new president for the next consecutive 6 years along with a fair number of congressional seats and local gubernatorial posts, an election that again put Mexican democracy through a difficult test.


Subject European Commission concerns about the rule of law in Poland. Significance The Commission has sent a formal Opinion to the Polish government, activating the first stage in the EU's 'Rule of Law Framework'. It expresses concerns about respect for the rule of law in Poland (a fundamental founding value of the EU), and in particular about the Polish government's handling of the crisis over the Constitutional Tribunal (TK, for Trybunał Konstytucyjny) Impacts Poland's EU position is likely to suffer as a result of the dispute, making it more difficult for it to achieve other political goals. Polish politics will remain unsettled and polarised, with the opposition using the Commission's Opinion to challenge the government. Legal uncertainty may translate into lower investment by individuals and enterprises dampening economic growth in the medium-to-long term.


Significance The erosion of the rule of law and systemic corruption have not had a substantial impact on capital attraction. Despite occasional anti-capitalist rhetoric and measures to expel foreign companies in some sectors such as media, banking and energy, the government makes individual deals with multinational firms and tries to accommodate them into a 'new normal' based on loyalty to it. Impacts Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party has a slightly better chance of winning the elections than its main rival. Hungary would adopt a tough position towards China if the united opposition won the election. Germany’s pragmatic and economy-first approach to Hungary will not change following its own September 27 elections.


Subject The impact of the Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act. Significance In late September, the US House of Representatives approved a new legislative proposal called the Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act (NICA). The NICA is designed to prevent the government of President Daniel Ortega from gaining access to international financing until he introduces reforms "that promote democracy, strengthen the rule of law, respect human rights, and celebrate free, fair, and transparent elections supervised by electoral observers." Impacts US-Nicaragua relations will deteriorate further, particularly if Washington criticises an Ortega victory in November. The lack of international observers at the polls will exacerbate concerns, lending weight to US efforts to curtail international funding. Protests against the Nicaragua canal will increase, with many using them to express their general opposition to the Ortega government.


Subject The PiS government's first four months. Significance Politics is deeply polarised; the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) government's opponents accuse it of undermining democracy and the rule of law, concerns echoed by the European Commission. Its costly social spending pledges appeal to Poles frustrated that they have not shared in economic growth. Impacts PiS welfare policy will support low-income families, particularly those outside the large urban centres. With no elections due until 2018, the government's position is stable, and it should have no problems passing its legislative programme. The rule-of-law dispute with the Commission will cost the government time and political capital responding to international criticisms.


Significance The president’s statement reflects a widespread crisis of trust in the government a week after investigative journalist Jan Kuciak was found shot dead with his fiancee Martina Kusnirova. It was the first known murder of a journalist in Slovakia. While the opposition has demanded the resignation of Interior Minister Robert Kalinak and his police chief Tibor Gaspar, the coalition government’s stability is most severely threatened by resignations within its leading party, Direction-Social Democracy (Smer-SD), and its moderate coalition partner, Most-Hid. Impacts Relations between the government and the non-party president will deteriorate following the latter’s call for early elections. The international spotlight has again been thrown on the state of the rule of law and corruption in Slovakia. Despite concerns, Slovakia continues to attract FDI, particularly into the automotive sector. Slovakia’s continued fast GDP growth (the European Commission forecasts 4% for 2018) may buttress support for the government.


2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amsalu Bedemo Beyene

PurposeThe main objective of this article is to analyze the role of governance quality in influencing the economic growth of 22 selected Sub-Saharan African Countries.Design/methodology/approachThe study applied the panel dynamic Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) to analyze the data obtained from the World Bank database over the period from 2002 to 2020.FindingsThe overall finding indicated that the composite governance index has a positive significant effect on the economic growth of the countries; where a unit improvement in the aggregate governance index leads to a 3.05% increase in GDP. The disaggregated result has shown that corruption control and government effectiveness have a negative significant effect on growth performance, whereas, the rule of law and regulatory quality showed a positive significant effect. Political stability and voice and accountability have an insignificant effect on economic growth.Research limitations/implicationsDue to data limitations, this study could not address the whole members of Sub Sahara African Countries and could not see the causal relationship.Practical implicationsThe study suggested a strong commitment to the implementation of policy and reform measures on all governance factors. This may add to the need to devise participatory corruption control mechanisms; to closely look at the proper implementation of policies and reforms that constitute the government effectiveness factors, and properly implement the rule of law at all levels of the government with a strong commitment to realizing it so that citizens at all levels can have full confidence in and abide by the rules of society.Originality/valueEven though there are some studies conducted using conventional methods of panel data analysis such as random effect or fixed effects, this empirical study used more advanced panel dynamic generalized moment of methods to examine the role of improvement in governance quality on economic growth.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-104
Author(s):  
Rustam Magun Pikahulan

Abstract: The Plato's conception of the rule of law states that good governance is based on good law. The organization also spreads to the world of Supreme Court justices, the election caused a decadence to the institutional status of the House of Representatives as a people's representative in the government whose implementation was not in line with the decision of the Constitutional Court. Based on the decision of the Constitutional Court No.27/PUU-XI/2013 explains that the House of Representatives no longer has the authority to conduct due diligence and suitability (elect) to prospective Supreme Judges proposed by the Judicial Commission. The House of Representatives can only approve or disapprove candidates for Supreme Court Justices that have been submitted by the Judicial Commission. In addition, the proportion of proposed Supreme Court Justices from the judicial commission to the House of Representatives (DPR) has changed, whereas previously the Judicial Commission had to propose 3 (three) of each vacancy for the Justices, now it is only one of each vacant for Supreme Court Judges. by the Supreme Court. The House of Representatives no longer has the authority to conduct due diligence and suitability (elect) to prospective Supreme Judges proposed by the Judicial Commission. The House of Representatives can only "approve" or "disagree" the Supreme Judge candidates nominated by the Judicial Commission.


Politeia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mbekezeli Comfort Mkhize ◽  
Kongko Louis Makau

This article argues that the 2015 xenophobic violence was allowed to spread due to persistent inaction by state officials. While the utterances of King Goodwill Zwelithini have in part fuelled the attacks, officials tend to perceive acts of xenophobia as ordinary crimes. This perception has resulted in ill-advised responses from the authorities, allowing this kind of hate crime against foreign nationals to engulf the whole country. In comparison with similar attacks in 2008, the violent spree in 2015 is characterised by a stronger surge in criminal activities. The militancy showcased fed a sense of insecurity amongst foreigners, creating a situation inconsistent with the country’s vaunted respect for human rights and the rule of law. Investors lost confidence in the country’s outlook, owing in part to determined denialism in government circles regarding the targeting of foreigners. While drawing from existing debates, the article’s principal objective is to critically examine the structural problems that enable xenophobia to proliferate and the (in)effectiveness of responses to the militancy involved in the 2015 attacks. Of particular interest are the suggested responses that could be effective in curbing future violence. The article concludes that xenophobia is systemic in post-apartheid South Africa. Strong cooperation between the government, national and international organisations could provide the basis for successful anti-xenophobia measures. The article further argues that the country is obliged to find a sustainable solution to the predicament for humanitarian reasons firstly, and in recognition of the support South Africans received from its African counterparts during the liberation struggle.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 142
Author(s):  
Saiful Kholik ◽  
Imas Khaeriyah

Inconsistency Regional Regulation No.14 of 2006 about marine conservation area of the island of Biawak, Gososng, which Cendekian provides protection but in fact failed to provide protection as evidenced by dredging island sandbar and cendekian conducted PT.Pertamina UP VI Balongan INDRAMAYU. The problem in this research How Formulation Policy Act No. 10 Year 2009 on the Indonesian Tourism with the Indramayu Regional Regulation No. 14 of 2006 regarding marine conservation area of the island of Biawak, Gososng, Cendekian And How Harmonization Act No. 10 of 2009 with the Indramayu Regional Regulation No. 14 of 2006 regarding formulation Act No. 10 Year 2009 on the Indonesian Tourism with the Indramayu Regional Regulation No. 14 of 2006 about marine conservation area of the island of Biawak, Gososng, Cendekian, the purpose of this research to understand and analyze the extent to which policy The findings of the community or field of law local governments about the environmental damage done by companies or individuals are not equal accordance with regional regulations in force, nor the Law in force so that the function of law in society indramayu not fit the mandate to establish a change and justice based Formulation public corporate criminal liability.Inskonsitensi happens to local regulation No.14 of 2006 makes no harmonized with the regulations of each other so that the impact of this inskonsistensi makes the sector particularly environmental law enforcement get uncertainties that result in coastal communities Indramayau.Conclusion Harmonization of regulations of the center and regions delivering the policy formulation of the rule of law area to comply with the regulations above in order to avoid inconsistency, the occurrence of this inconsistency resulted in the rule of law and justice for the indramayu, suggestion that the government should was nearly revise regulations related area, especially the government must dare to take action to give effect to the perpetrator deterrent effect rule-based running as well as possible.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document