Reforms will strengthen Singapore opposition

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Presidential Elections ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Local Politics ◽  
Constitutional Reform ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Constitutional Changes ◽  
Opposition Parties

Subject Constitutional reform in Singapore. Significance Parliament is expected in August to receive recommendations on electoral and constitutional changes that will affect opposition politics and executive powers. The government raised the initiatives in parliament in January; Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said they would be beneficial to Singapore and its government. However, the measures are also likely to benefit the People's Action Party (PAP), which has ruled Singapore since independence in 1965. Impacts Presidential elections are unlikely to become more competitive. Opposition parties would gain parliamentary exposure if the reform recommendations are enacted. Government scrutiny of corporations' activities in the community and local politics will intensify.

Nicaragua pandemic downplaying is a political gamble

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Presidential Elections ◽  
Social Impacts ◽  
Political Support ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Government ◽  
Trade And Investment ◽  
Economic And Social Impacts ◽  
Opposition Parties

Significance Some initiatives have been introduced to help counter the economic and social impacts of the pandemic, but the government’s actions appear to be driven less by the need to address the health crisis than by a desire to shore up political support ahead of elections next year. Impacts Opposition parties are beginning to forge electoral alliances in the hope of benefitting from popular frustration with the government. Trade and investment into Nicaragua will remain minimal, with external firms wary about the potential prevalence of COVID-19. The outcome of the US presidential elections in November will affect the potential for US aid and investment.

Burundian constitutional reform will deepen crisis

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Presidential Election ◽  
Basic Needs ◽  
Constitutional Reform ◽  
Refugee Crisis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Donors ◽  
The Government ◽  
Extrajudicial Killings ◽  
Ruling Party ◽  
Constitutional Changes

Subject Burundi constitutional reform Significance President Pierre Nkurunziza's third term has been marred by accusations of state-sponsored extrajudicial killings, a regional refugee crisis and international ostracism. Recently, he has launched a campaign to amend the constitution to allow him to run for the presidency again. The government has also hinted at other significant constitutional changes and restructurings of laws governing parties and politics. This would further contract Burundi’s democratic space, already in peril since a 2015 coup attempt and contested presidential election. Impacts Nkurunziza’s plans will face little opposition either from non-partisans within the ruling party or from the formal opposition. Despite deteriorating conditions, most international donors will provide only minimal levels of aid to meet basic needs. Without significant intervention, assassinations and disappearances linked to the regime will likely continue.

Land sale scandal in Japan will have broader impact

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Private School ◽  
Civil Service ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Public Trust ◽  
The Political ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government ◽  
Land Sale ◽  
Political Scandal ◽  
Opposition Parties

Subject The 'Moritomo Gakuen' scandal. Significance A political scandal has re-emerged concerning the sale of government land at a heavy discount to a nationalist private school operator reportedly linked to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife, Akie. The latest revelation is that the finance ministry falsified documents to conceal Akie's involvement. The opposition parties are divided and weak in terms of their numbers in parliament, but they have managed to use the events of recent days to destabilise Abe. Impacts This and other cases of misrepresentation will further shake public trust in the government. Trust in the political impartiality of the civil service will also be damaged. Even if Abe survives and is re-elected, damage to his ‘brand’ could undermine his campaign to revise Japan's constitution.

Thai military will try to avoid launching a coup

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Prime Minister ◽  
Police Chief ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tourism Sector ◽  
The Government ◽  
Protest Activity ◽  
Opposition Parties

Significance Beyond calling for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s resignation, protesters have been challenging the military’s influence on politics and demanding reform of the monarchy. King Maha Vajiralongkorn and the army chief, Narongpan Jitkaewthae, have been silent on the protests since the decree was issued, while the police chief, Suwat Changyodsuk, has effectively been acting as a spokesman for the government. Impacts Continuing protests could set back plans to revive the tourism sector following its pandemic-related shutdown. Thai communities abroad will step up protest activity in solidarity with demonstrators in Thailand. Prayut will try to strengthen his governing coalition by encouraging defections from opposition parties.

Malaysian opposition grouping unlikely to oust Najib

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
State Level ◽  
The State ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government ◽  
Opposition Parties

Subject Cooperative measures among Malaysian opposition parties and civil society groups. Significance A grouping of opposition critics of Prime Minister Najib Razak's government has announced a series of 'roadshow' protests including a public 'Save Malaysia' protest meeting on March 28, to be attended by various leading political figures. This follows the March 4 signing of the Citizens' Declaration, the latest challenge to Najib and his government in the wake of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) controversy. Impacts The government will probably permit protests for now, to gauge their degree of support. The Save Malaysia group will seek thousands of public signatories of the Declaration. Political proxy fighting at the state level could unnerve investors.

Rajapaksa dominance will grow in Sri Lanka

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Constitutional Changes ◽  
Opposition Parties

Significance With the support of the SLPP’s allies, the Rajapaksa administration now commands a two-thirds parliamentary majority, which is enough to make constitutional changes. The Rajapaksas want to repeal the 19th amendment to the constitution, which weakened the powers of the president and strengthened those of the prime minister. Impacts The Rajapaksas will come under pressure to increase government support for the economically important textiles and tourism sectors. Opposition parties will struggle to cooperate with each other. The SLPP will likely earn a sweeping victory in the next provincial council elections.

Turkey's election will be plebiscite on Erdogan

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Interest Rates ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Political Will ◽  
Content Type ◽  
National Assembly ◽  
The Government ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Intelligence Service ◽  
Political Figure ◽  
Constitutional Changes

Subject Early campaigning for the June 7 general election. Significance The election is turning into a plebiscite on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's highly personal style of government. At particular issue is whether he should be enabled to set up an executive presidency by winning the two-thirds majority in the next National Assembly that would allow constitutional changes. With no serious rivals inside or outside the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Erdogan's attempts to impose his political will regardless of consequences have triggered a slide in the value of the lira and a confrontation with the head of the country's intelligence service. Impacts Relations between Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu are uneasy, but Davutoglu is unlikely to be changed before the elections. Erdogan seems to have called a truce with the Central Bank, but this appears not to extend to allowing it to raise interest rates. This reflects a certain underlying pragmatism to the president's outlook, provided he has advisers around him who dare warn him of dangers. Ocalan is now a pivotal political figure in Turkey as the government has made some sort of settlement with the Kurds a key goal.

New Somali cabinet faces tough agenda pre-2016 polls

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Presidential Elections ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
National Government ◽  
African Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Legislative Activity ◽  
The Government ◽  
Security Operations

Significance The prime minister withdrew his first cabinet, proposed in early January, after opposition to the inclusion of figures from the outgoing government who were considered too closely aligned with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The government is the country's third under the provisional constitutional framework adopted in August 2012. It faces a daunting list of tasks to achieve before its mandate runs out in August 2016, including establishing a framework for relations between regional member states and the national government, building electoral architecture, finalising the constitution before a referendum, and holding national parliamentary and presidential elections. Impacts With the exception of al-Shabaab, all parties continue to work within the federal framework, despite its problems. Security operations led by African Union (AU) peacekeepers and assisted by Somali forces will continue to pressure al-Shabaab territorially. Clan-based haggling over this cabinet could lead to a burst of legislative activity, as government and clan interests align temporarily.

Sri Lanka constitutional reform will end in compromise

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Presidential Election ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Economic Reforms ◽  
Constitutional Reform ◽  
Special Committee ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fiscal Austerity ◽  
The Government

Subject Outlook for constitutional reform. Significance About 18 months after a presidential election and nine months after securing a parliamentary majority, the 'national unity government' of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe has begun the process of debating a potential new constitution. After some delay, a resolution in parliament was agreed upon by all parties, creating a special committee comprising all MPs to debate the reform. These sessions began in April, and reforms are expected to be agreed by year-end. Impacts The government is unlikely to push anti-graft probes aggressively, somewhat reducing the uncertainty surrounding China-funded projects. Failure to appease moderate Tamil leaders on devolution could embolden Tamil hardliners, sowing seeds for long-term political rifts. Economic reforms will be slow, especially those involving unpopular fiscal austerity measures.

Uganda’s opposition will gain ground despite poll loss

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Youth Unemployment ◽  
National Politics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Legal Challenges ◽  
The Government ◽  
Opposition Parties

Significance The opposition has rejected the results and is preparing legal challenges to Museveni’s victory. Impacts NRM internal cohesion will fray as Museveni becomes a more polarising figure in national politics. The NRM will increasingly try to co-opt opponents to neutralise the growing momentum and collaboration among opposition parties. The government will likely launch developmental efforts to tackle youth unemployment and thus avert unrest.

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