NIAS Area Studies
PAKISTAN READER
Photo : Dato Parulava/POLITICO
By Advik S Mohan
GEORGIA
Violence sparks over vote rigging parliamentary elections; President calls for citizens to protest
On 27 October, Politico reported on Salome Zourabichvili, the President of Georgia calling on citizens to protest after the results of the parliamentary elections. Zourabichvili accused the Government of Georgia headed by the Georgian Dream Party of rigging the election. The President also stated the Georgian government stole the right to choice of Georgian citizens, and accepting the election results would mean accepting the subordination of Georgia to Russia. The demand for protests came after results showed Georgian Dream gathered 53 per cent of the vote in the parliamentary elections. Opposition groups informed their elected parliament members would not take up their parliamentary mandates, due to the fraudulent elections. Tina Bokuchava, an opposition politician stated the elections needed to be held again to represent the mandate of the citizens. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), an observer organization reported there were concerns over vote buying, imbalances in financial resources, a divisive campaign atmosphere and recent legislative amendments. Gela Mtivlishvili, an election observer informed a Georgian Dream party coordinator was seen giving money to a voter at a polling station. Ana Natsvlishvili, an opposition politician accused the Georgian government of allowing criminal gangs to undermine the voting process with aggression and intimidation, amidst reports of physical altercations at polling stations. A polling station in the town of Marneuli was closed down after a video showed a representative from Georgian Dream stuffing a ballot box with dozens of ballots. However, leaders from the ruling party such as Mamuka Mdinaradze, the leader of the Parliamentary majority, and Irakli Kobakhidze, the Prime Minister of Georgia have dismissed allegations of vote rigging and violence. Politicians from the EU also criticized the results, although Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary congratulated Georgian Dream on their victory. (Dato Parulava and Gabriel Gavin, “Georgia president calls for protests as opposition cries foul over election,” Politico, 27 October 2024; Dato Parulava, “Violence mars voting in Georgia’s pivotal election,” Politico, 26 October 2024)
THE EU
Arctic Reflections team aims to safeguard Arctic Sea ice
On 25 October, European Commission reported on the Arctic Reflections project from the Netherlands aimed at protecting ice in the Arctic Sea through a combination of smart technology, indigenous collaboration and a focus upon sustainability. In order to protect the sea ice from melting, Arctic Reflections and its partners BlueInvest pump seawater into the sea ice. This allows the sea ice to freeze rapidly, and create a thicker ice layer. The Arctic Reflections team uses a interdisciplinary approach, with collaborations from Cambridge University, Delft University of Technology, and the UNIS Research Centre at Svalbard. The partnership with BlueInvest was also beneficial, with a refined business model emphasizing government funding and new opportunities provided through the coach network of BlueInvest. The team is also using a science-driven approach, with field tests being conducted to ensure an effective solution with minimal damage caused to the local ecosystems. Additionally, the team is involving local indigenous voices in the climate dialogue. Tom Meijeraan, the co-founder of Arctic Reflections stated all the Arctic Reflections projects were rooted in science and all the data was made public to stimulate fact-based discussions. (“Protecting the Arctic sea ice with Arctic Reflections and BlueInvest ,” European Commission, 25 October 2024)
BULGARIA
Conservatives fall short of majority in general elections
On 27 October, Le Monde reported on the conservative GERB party led by Boyko Borisov, the former Prime Minister of Bulgaria had got the most votes in the general elections in Bulgaria. According to poll institute projections, GERB received 25 per cent of the vote, with 80 per cent of the polled votes counted. The reformist coalition PP-DB and the far-right Vazrazhdane party were set to finish second, receiving 13-15 per cent of the ballots. However, it remains to be seen whether the GERB will succeed in finding partners to govern. The recent election was the seventh general election held in Bulgaria since 2020, with no stable government formed since then. According to a recent opinion poll, around 60 per cent of Bulgarians viewed the political deadlock as alarming. The political instability also brought to a standstill anti-corruption reform and the energy transition in Bulgaria. Additionally, Vazrazhdane benefitted from the deadlock. Dobromir Zhivkov, the Director of the Market Links Institute informed that the growing influence of Vazrazhdane meant it was a likely partner for GERB. The relationship between the two parties also improved with the support of GERB for the controversial anti-LGBTQ bill. Zhivkov also informed that GERB could form a minority cabinet with Delyan Peevski, the business tycoon who formed a breakaway faction within the MRF party. According to Zhivkov, the probability of a coalition between GERB and Peevski depended upon whether Donald Trump who was more lenient towards corruption won the US presidential election. (“Conservatives top Bulgarian elections but fall short of majority,” Le Monde, 27 October 2024)
DENMARK
Chennai climate tech start-up to represent India at Next Generation Digital Action Program 2024
On 27 October, Scrapify Ecotech, a climate tech startup from Chennai was one of the two companies chosen to represent India at the Next Generation Digital Action Program 2024 in Denmark. The startup will display EcoFloater, an innovative water drone that helps in the cleanup of water bodies. The drone uses advanced technology like a real-time water quality monitoring facility for its multiple uses such as the removal of plastics and other pollutants and providing live updates on cleaning progress and water quality. Additionally, the waste collected by EcoFloater is connected to a software platform to be sold as raw material to recyclers and manufacturers through a bidding system. Scrapify Ecotech has also been offered product development support, lab support, access to advanced laboratory facilities, software product development, and connections with investors providing required capital by iTNTHub which works under the Government of Tamil Nadu. (Sangeetha Kandavel, “Chennai’s Scrapify Ecotech to showcase EcoFloater Water Drone at Denmark,” The Hindu, 27 October 2024)
FINLAND
President begins visit to China to improve cooperation
On 27 October, Global Times reported on Alexander Stubb, the President of Finland schedule to visit China. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China informed Stubb is scheduled to meet Xi Jinping, the President of China, Li Qiang, the Premier of China, and Zhao Leji, the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress during the visit. Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry informed the visit by Stubb would mark the 74th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Finland. Lin informed the Government of the People’s Republic of China was willing to maintain high-level exchanges and the traditional friendship with Finland. Additionally, he stated the Chinese government was willing to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with Finland in areas like the economy, trade, investment. Cui Hongjian, a Professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University stated ties between China and Finland had remained stable despite tensions between Beijing and the EU, and the visit by Stubb would likely tap into new potentials for cooperation. Areas such as agriculture, forestry, sustainable development, green transformation, and technology will be discussed. Zhu Keli, the founding director of the China Institute of New Economy informed that the capabilities of Finland in technology research and development, alongside the vast market size and formidable manufacturing base of China created a dynamic landscape for economic cooperation and promoting growth and innovation between the two sides. (Fan Anqi, “Finnish President to start China visit; ‘move contributes to China-EU relations at time of turbulence’,” Global Times, 27 October 2024)
LITHUANIA
Social Democrats likely to top runoff election
On 27 October, the opposition Social Democratic Party was likely to get the most seats in the parliamentary elections in Lithuania, according to preliminary results. The party won 50 out of the 141 seats in the Lithuanian Parliament and won the most seats in the first round of parliamentary elections two weeks ago. The Social Democrats are expected to form a coalition government along with two other parties the Democratic Union "In the name of Lithuania" and the Lithuanian Popular Peasants Union. Rima Urbonaite, a political analyst stated that the Social Democrats benefitted from the perception that they would resolve crises like inflation which the current conservative government was blamed for. However, Urbonaite also informed that it might be difficult for the Social Democrats to form a coalition. Analysts are of the view it would be difficult for the Social Democrats to form a government without Nemunas Dawn, a new populist party. However, the Social Democrats have ruled out working with Nemunas Dawn. (“Lithuania votes in runoff election amid security concerns about Russia, center-left opposition leading,” Le Monde, 27 October 2024)
THE UK
Former British colonies urge dialogue on slave trade reparations
On 26 October, Politico reported on the former British colonies call to the UK Government to begin a dialogue on possible reparations for the slave trade. A communique from 55 Commonwealth countries after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit ended with the heads of government agreeing for a meaningful, truthful, and respectful conversation about reparatory justice with regard to the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans and chattel enslavement. The communique was released, despite the UK government having insisted earlier that reparations were not part of the summit agenda. The issue of reparations was also a part of the statement by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the UK towards the Commonwealth members. Starmer stated that while he understood the strong sentiments over the issue, he wanted to move forward not backwards, especially on issues like climate resilience, education, trade, and growth. ( Dan Bloom, “Commonwealth summit agreement raises slavery reparations after row with UK,” Politico, 26 October 2024)