Austria may struggle to find a stable government

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Far Right ◽  
Green Party ◽  
Social Democrats ◽  
Content Type ◽  
People's Party ◽  
Fast Tracking ◽  
Illegal Migrants ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
Intelligence Services ◽  
The Social

Subject Austria's election implications. Significance The Austrian People’s Party (OVP) will stay in power after winning 37.54% of the vote in the September 29 snap elections -- a gain of over 5 percentage points from the 2017 election. Its objective is now to form a coalition. It could either renew the centre-right alliance with the Freedom Party (FPO), or realign itself towards the centre by going into government with the Social Democrats (SPO) or the Green Party. Finding a coalition that provides a balance between stability and policy cohesion will be difficult. Impacts Foreign intelligence services may remain sceptical about cooperating with Austria if the far-right FPO returns to government. The rise of the Green Party will put pressure on the OVP to pay more attention to popular climate and environmental policies. Austria will continue to support the strengthening of the EU’s external borders and fast-tracking the repatriation of illegal migrants.

Immigration policy could topple Swedish government

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Green Party ◽  
Social Democrats ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Minority Government ◽  
Budget Proposal ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Government ◽  
Immigration Issue ◽  
Clear Majority

Significance This is a lower forecast than the 170,000 the agency predicted in October, before Sweden reimposed controls at its border with Denmark. The immigration issue is causing strains within the minority two-party coalition government. The junior Green Party has lost several key battles in the last couple of months and is said to be questioning its participation in the government. Some scepticism has crept into the ranks of the Social Democrats as well, with several senior members encouraging the leadership to form a new government with the Moderate Party. Impacts With so many asylum seekers already in the country, Sweden's infrastructure will be pushed to the limit. Every misstep will cause further problems for the government. The Greens will either be allowed to push their own agenda within the government, or will break away. With polls showing a clear majority for the opposition, the temptation to bring down the government may prove too hard to resist. If the opposition joins forces to submit a budget proposal in the autumn, the current minority government must resign.

Austria’s Kurz will win election but has hard choices

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
National Interest ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Far Right ◽  
Social Democrats ◽  
Content Type ◽  
People's Party ◽  
Foreign Ministry

Subject Austria's election outlook. Significance Austria will hold early elections in September, with an interim technocratic government, after former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz lost a no-confidence vote tabled by the opposition Social Democrats (SPO). The vote came after a video emerged showing Heinz-Christian Strache, leader of the far-right Freedom Party (FPO), which was in government with Kurz’s People’s Party (OVP), allegedly discussing bribes. The OVP will likely gain from the no-confidence vote, which many voters see as political manoeuvring to oust Kurz rather than as prioritising political stability and the national interest. Impacts An interim government may hamper Austria's ability to negotiate with full authority in talks regarding candidates for key EU jobs. Austria will adopt a more reserved stance on Russia now that the FPO does not run the foreign ministry. Kurz's main threat until September will be the FPO, which may use evidence from its time in government to undermine him.

Danish government plans are largely aspirational

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Welfare Reform ◽  
Immigration Policy ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Social Democrats ◽  
Population Forecast ◽  
Content Type ◽  
People's Party ◽  
Minority Government ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Government

Subject Denmark's new government. Significance On June 26, Denmark’s Social Democrats (SD) led by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen formed a single-party minority government with the support of the Social Liberals, the Socialist People’s Party and the Red-Green Alliance, its three allies in the centre-left 'red bloc'. The government's plans primarily focus on ambitious climate reform, welfare reform and a broad continuation of Denmark’s strict immigration policy. Impacts Immigration will remain a top electoral concern for decades, with the immigrant population forecast to grow faster than the national one. In order to reclaim lost support, the anti-immigrant Danish People’s Party (DPP) will need to adopt a pro-environmental policy. Even if relations within the red bloc worsen, the parties that support the SD will be reluctant to collapse the government.

Party preferences and political participation: the emergence of the Turkish-origin German voter

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-40
Author(s):  
Vera Eccarius-Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Political Participation ◽  
Voting Behavior ◽  
Green Party ◽  
Missed Opportunities ◽  
Social Democrats ◽  
Political Landscape ◽  
Turkish Origin ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Future ◽  
Specific Interests

The article examines trends in voting preferences and voting behavior of Turkish-origin German voters. Despite only representing a small percentage of the total German electorate, Turkish-origin voters are gaining an opportunity to shape the future political landscape. While the Social Democrats have benefited most directly from the minority constituency so far, this author suggests that the Green Party is poised to attract the younger, better educated, and German-born segment of the Turkish-origin voters. All other dominant national parties have ignored this emerging voting bloc, and missed opportunities to appeal to Turkish-origin voters by disregarding community-specific interests. 

Ein zunehmend bunter Freistaat: Die Analyse der bayerischen Kommunalwahlen im März 2020 unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der kreisfreien Städte

2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-94
Author(s):  
Jan Pollex ◽  
Sebastian Block ◽  
Martin Gross ◽  
Dominic Nyhuis ◽  
Jan A. Velimsky
Keyword(s):  
Political System ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Coalition Building ◽  
Local Elections ◽  
Special Role ◽  
Green Party ◽  
Social Democrats ◽  
The Social ◽  
Election Results

Despite their crucial role for democratic decision-making, local elections receive little atten­tion from political science research . To overcome this shortcoming, the article analyses the Bavarian local elections of 2020 . Although the CSU remains the strongest party in the Free State, the Green Party was able to make considerable gains, especially in larger cities . How­ever, the Greens could not gain any grounds in mayoral elections, whereas CSU and SPD competed for the win . In most of the cases, the Social Democrats won the posts in city halls . In addition to detailing election results, this article addresses the ballot lists, the com­position of local councils, and coalition building at the local level . Overall, this contribu­tion provides a comprehensive account of the elections, which are characterized by their unique ballot system and, thus, have a special role in the political system of Germany .

New Romanian coalition will retreat from reform

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Liberal Party ◽  
Social Democrats ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Government

Significance This autumn, bitter conflict between the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Save Romania Union (USR) ended a brief period of centre-right rule, after years of domination by the Social Democrats (PSD). Former army chief Nicolae Ciuca heads the government, which the PSD dominates alongside a much-weakened PNL. Impacts The government may struggle to persuade a suspicious populace to back vaccination, given previous PSD reluctance for anti-COVID-19 measures. The pandemic may deter civil society from mobilising against abuses of power to the extent it did during the last PSD government. The government's dilemma will be curbing the justice system's independence without provoking a strong EU reaction.

Denmark: The Rise of Fascism and the Decline of the Nordic Model

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasna Balorda
Keyword(s):  
Welfare State ◽  
Free Market ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Far Right ◽  
Social Democratic ◽  
People's Party ◽  
Social Sphere ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Agendas ◽  
The Welfare State

Contrary to its conventional image as a social-democratic paragon, the Danish welfare state has, in recent decades, been undergoing significant changes as a response to the intrusion into the social sphere by self-regulating markets and a final departure from Keynesian politics of universalism and solidarity. This article examines the evident decline of the Nordic model as a result of neoliberal globalisation and establishes an association between the erosion of the welfare state and the emergence of fascist political sentiment in Denmark. An analysis of the Danish People's party and its growing public support among the disenfranchised working class communities in Denmark demonstrates how those overlooked by the free market and unrepresented by the liberal left become increasingly more receptive to the proposed social agendas of the far right campaigns.

Kyrgyz referendum may be Pyrrhic victory

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Party ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
Local Elections ◽  
Social Democratic Party ◽  
Social Democrats ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
Pyrrhic Victory ◽  
Constitutional Changes

Subject Kyrgyzstan's constitutional referendum. Significance Now that President Almazbek Atambayev has secured the constitutional changes he wanted, it is unclear how he benefits. The December 11 referendum was a success in its own terms despite the dearth of public understanding of the issues, but was accompanied by an acrimonious divorce between the ruling Social Democratic Party and its long-term coalition partner, Ata-Meken. Impacts A weaker government and divided parliament will struggle to focus on chronic and serious economic problems. The Social Democrats are in a stronger position nationwide thanks to their strong showing in simultaneous local elections. Kyrgyz nationalist and conservative groups will feel emboldened as some of the amendments are seen as concessions to them.

Denmark's weak new government faces complex alliances

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
The Political ◽  
Political Strategy ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Social Democrats ◽  
Content Type ◽  
People's Party ◽  
Reform Agenda ◽  
The Government ◽  
Political Spectrum ◽  
The Right

Significance The new government will have only 34 of the 179 seats, because policy differences among the right-wing parties, and the political strategy of the electorally strengthened anti-immigration, Euro-sceptic Danish People's Party (DF), mean DF will remain outside. Policy-making will be difficult. The government will be more economically liberal and pro-EU than it would have been with DF, but to make policy it will rely on partners across the political spectrum, especially the ousted Social Democrats -- who remain the largest party -- and DF. Impacts If DF is seen as a welfarist protector of ordinary citizens, it is more likely to repeat, at least, its 22% vote in the next election. The much-tighter immigration regime which is in prospect could taint Denmark's image and make it less attractive to foreign investment. The new government is likely to be an ally for much of UK Prime Minister David Cameron's EU reform agenda.

Political restructuring is on the way in Brazil

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Presidential Elections ◽  
General Election ◽  
The Political ◽  
Liberal Party ◽  
Far Right ◽  
Social Democrats ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Protest Movements ◽  
Political Landscape ◽  
President Elect

Subject Changes to the political landscape. Significance This year’s general election has transformed the political landscape that prevailed for over two decades in Brazil. The centre-right Social Democrats (PSDB) were pushed away from the mainstream by a surging far-right led by President-elect Jair Bolsonaro. After winning four straight presidential elections, the Workers’ Party (PT) was defeated in the runoff. It retains some leverage, but now faces increasingly serious challenges to its hegemony on the centre-left. Impacts Ineffective management of relations with Congress could undermine Bolsonaro’s ability to pass key legislation. Protest movements not aligned to established parties could proliferate in the coming years. Bolsonaro’s Social Liberal Party (PSL) will fail to establish itself as a leading party in the longer term.

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