TUNISIA
Populist projection of President Saïed
Kaïs Saïed has endorsed the theory of the “great replacement”. In a conspiratorial speech, the head of state – who granted himself full powers in the summer of 2021 – castigated, on February 21, the arrival of “hordes of illegal migrants”. “A criminal enterprise” intended to “change the demographic composition of Tunisia”. These remarks sparked a wave of arbitrary arrests and racist attacks, according to several testimonies and NGOs. “The president creates a new enemy”, analyzes the information site Nawaatwho sees in this hateful rhetoric the way to seduce “a new popular reservoir”.
MEXICO
Mobilization against electoral reform
Tens of thousands of people marched through the streets of Mexico City on February 26 against President Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador’s electoral reform. The demonstrators were dressed in white and pink, the colors of the National Electoral Institute. Responsible for organizing the presidential election in 2024, this body will see its powers and its workforce reduced by the new law. For the opposition, this reform “opens the door to less reliable electoral processes and puts democracy in danger”, specifies the Mexico edition of the daily El País.
UNITED STATES
Biden candidate for 2024… but not right away
In an interview given on February 24 to the ABC News channel, the Democratic president said he was a candidate for a second term, while warning that it was too early to start his campaign. “There are too many other things to finish in the short term before,” he said. Aged 80, he will be 82 at the time of his inauguration if he wins the next presidential election. A factor that could explain his caution, especially since his age worries the Democratic electorate. “Recent polls show 60% of Democrats don’t want Biden running again,” relief The Atlantic.
ISRAEL
Authorities lose control in the West Bank
On February 26, two Israeli brothers were killed in their car by gunfire in the Palestinian city of Nablus. Their killing sparked riots by Israeli settlers, who torched dozens of vehicles and homes in the town of Huwara, “sending the West Bank to turmoil”, relates Haretz. “The Israeli army and the police lost control for several hours and were unable to stop the pogrom launched by the rioters, details the newspaper. A Palestinian was killed and dozens of others injured.” On the same day, the Israeli and Palestinian authorities had nevertheless pledged to work towards “de-escalation”…
UKRAINE
Arrival of the first Leopard 2 tanks
After several weeks of waiting, the first four Leopard 2 tanks arrived in Ukraine on February 24. Sent by Poland, these modern German-made armored vehicles will be joined “in a few days” by around sixty PT-91s, a modernized version of the Soviet T-72s, said Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, visiting Kiev. “The decision to deliver Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine stemmed from an intense lobbying campaign by Warsaw, which recently culminated in Germany agreeing to donate these state-of-the-art tanks to Kyiv,” retrace Politico.
CHINA
Beijing offers disputed peace plan
China released a 12-point plan on Feb. 24 aimed at finding a political solution to the conflict in Ukraine. Beijing calls in particular for the resumption of dialogue and opposes any recourse to nuclear weapons. Several Western countries have however expressed their “doubts” as to the real intentions of the Chinese regime. “Beijing’s claim to neutrality has been seriously undermined by its refusal to recognize the nature of the conflict – it has so far avoided labeling it an ‘invasion’ – and by its diplomatic and economic support for Moscow.” , summarizes the string CNN.
UNITED KINGDOM
London and Brussels finally agree
The “Northern Irish protocol” should soon no longer poison the relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union. All smiles, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on February 27 that they had found common ground on the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. “Sunak still has to sell the agreement to Eurosceptic Conservative MPs”, however points out the FinancialTimeswhile referring to “early signs” that he should not face “the great rebellion predicted by some”.