Photo : Lisi Niesner/Reuters
22 November 2024, Friday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #992
By Neha Tresa George
GERMANY
SPD confirms the nomination of Scholz for the 2025 federal elections
On 22 November, Deutsche Welle reported that the Social Democrats (SPD) were set to confirm the nomination of Olaf Scholz as the lead Chancellor candidate in 2025 federal elections. The party's co-leader Lars Klingbeil said: "We want to go into the next election campaign with Olaf Scholz.” This announcement came after Defence Minister Boris Pistorius informed the SPD that he would not stand for the position of chancellor. He said that it was entirely his decision. He also praised Scholz for being the Chancellor with “reason and prudence” and managing the coalition through the biggest crisis in decades. The other party members have also welcomed this decision and expressed their support for Scholz in the upcoming elections. (Germany: Olaf Scholz to be nominated as SPD candidate,” Deutsche Welle, 22 November 2024)
GREECE
Prime Minister Mitsotakis faces criticism over attempt to normalise relations with Turkey
On 21 November Politico reported on the rows within the ruling conservative New Democracy party over the betterment of relations with Turkey. Both Greece and Turkey had tensions over “Cyprus, maritime boundaries and overlapping claims to the continental shelf” since decades. They were at the verge of starting a war in 1987 and 1996. The now ruling government led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ made several attempts to improve the relations between the countries. However, he was facing criticism from within the nationalist factions of his own party. It reached its peak when Mitsotakis dismissed one of his predecessors, Antonis Samaras, from the party. Samaras constantly criticised the diplomacy carried out with Turkey. He condemned and called for the dismissal of Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis for allegedly giving in to the Turkish demands in ongoing bilateral talks. He also said that Mitsotakis was leading a party that did not associate with the principles of the New Democracy party. Mitsotakis is now faced to appease the right-wing nationalist faction of the New Democracy Party. (Turkey rapprochement sparks rift in Greece’s ruling party,” Politico, 21 November 2024)
HUNGARY
Shenzhen Airport opened in Budapest
On 21 November, Hungary Today reported that the Shenzhen Airport had opened its second European air cargo handling centre known as the Budapest Exclusive Overseas Terminal at Budapest. It is operated by the China-Europe Trade and Logistics Cooperation Park and has 11,000 square meters of warehouse space with the capability of handling 40000 tons of goods per year. This represented 20 per cent of the air cargo handled by the Budapest airport in 2023. It was reported that the Shenzhen Airport intended to help the companies’ operations in catchment areas to enter the central and Eastern European markets. (“Shenzhen Airport Opens Cargo Terminal in Budapest,” Hungary Today, 21 November 2024)
ROMANIA
Gears up for the presidential elections
On 22 November, Politico reported on the Presidential elections in Romania scheduled on 24 November and 08 December. In the first round, the people had to choose two from 13 candidates who would then go to the second round. The top five candidates are Marcel Ciolacu, Romania’s current prime minister and leader of the centre-left Social Democratic Party (PSD). George Simion was the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians and a first-time member of the parliament. Elena Lasconi, the leader of the centrist liberal Save Romania Union. Mircea Geoană, a former NATO deputy secretary-general and a former PSD leader, running as an independent and Nicolae Ciucă, a retired general and former center-right prime minister, leading the Romanian Senate. The primary question was whether the right-wing candidate George Simion would win. He has vowed to take a stronger stance to protect Romania’s national interest. The relations with Moldova and Ukraine would also come to a standstill. He was expected to shift the country’s policies to more conservative and right-leaning. The other candidates would continue the same foreign policy itself. (Victor Jack and Carmen Paun, “How to watch the Romanian election like a pro,” Politico, 22 November 2024)
RUSSIA
Supplies North Korea with million barrels of oil since March 2024 says BBC
On 21 November, BBC reported on the alleged supply of Russian oil tankers to North Korea. According to an analysis from the Open-Source Centre, a non-profit research group based in the UK, Russia has supplied North Korea with more than a million barrels of oil since March 2024. UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy claimed that the oil was the payment for the weapons supplied by North Korea. He said: “To keep fighting in Ukraine, Russia has become increasingly reliant on North Korea for troops and weapons in exchange for oil." He further said that this was having an impact on the security in the Korean peninsula, Europe and the Indo-Pacific. The satellite images shared with BBC showed several North Korean oil tankers reaching an oil terminal in Russia’s Vostochny Port over 43 times since March. This alleged move violates the UN sanctions as the countries were banned from providing oil to North Korea. This was to prevent North Korea from developing more nuclear weapons. Russia’s foreign ministry has not yet responded to these allegations. (Jean Mackenzie, “Russia gives North Korea a million barrels of oil, report finds,” BBC, 21 November 2024)
SERBIA
Arrests begin after the protests over the partial collapse of Novi Sad station
On 22 November, the BBC reported on the arrests that followed the protests in Serbia over the collapse of a part of the railway station in Serbia, Novi Sad. The Prosecutors have called for the questioning of 11 people in connection with the collapse of the facility. It happened at the beginning of November leading to the death of 15 people. As a response, 20,000 people started protesting marking the biggest protest in the city in decades. They protested with the slogan “corruption kills.” They condemned the government’s policies which favoured a few contractors while leaving the people’s lives at risk. Serbia's former construction minister Goran Vesic was also arrested. However, he denied his involvement in the case. He said: "I cannot accept guilt for the deaths.” Following the arrests, Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vucic announced warnings against the people responsible for the disaster. His flagship infrastructure project at this railway station was also at stake. Vucic had declared this as the “way to modern Europe” with the “high-speed line from Belgrade to Budapest.” Meanwhile the opposition parties in Serbia argued that “nepotism and a culture of impunity” were the reasons behind the collapse. They said that his policies were invalid as it was unsafe for people. (Guy Delauney, “Fury over Serbia station tragedy prompts first arrests,” BBC, 22 November 2024)