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Monday, May 4, 2026
News and Views from the Global South
POLAND: Uncertain Steps Towards a New Government
With this Sunday's early general elections, Poles will give a verdict on whether they approve of Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski's "Fourth Polish Republic", as the present term of government has been called.SLOVAKIA: Playing the Anti-Hungarian Card
Following months of strained ties with Hungary, Slovakia's government looks increasingly isolated after parliament approved a resolution hostile to the country's Hungarian minority.POLAND-RUSSIA: Once an Enemy, Always an Enemy
Poland remains Russia's most staunch enemy in the Central European region. But besides history, ideology and energy are playing a key role in the diplomatic impasse.HUNGARY: Debate on Fascist Danger Resurfaces
The ghost of fascism has resurfaced in Hungary following the set up of a paramilitary organisation promising to "protect the homeland". But the organisation's minuscule size made many critics wonder why so much attention was devoted to it.UKRAINE: ‘Just Start Governing, Please’
An exhausted public waits as Ukrainian political parties work out a coalition agreement following last week's parliamentary elections. The governing Party of the Regions won the greatest share of the vote, but most likely the pro-Western opposition will outplay it.POLAND: Populism Seen behind Death Penalty Talk
Warsaw's head-on clash with the European Union by vetoing a symbolic day against the death penalty is being interpreted here as a pre-electoral attempt to win domestic support for the so-called "Fourth Polish Republic" - a vision of a nation with a far wider sense of morality and democracy than existed under any past government.CLIMATE CHANGE: Czech President Clashes with Environmentalists after UN Speech
"The recent rise in global temperatures has been very small in historical comparison, and its impact on man and his activities are basically negligible," Czech President Vaclav Klaus told a United Nations conference on global warming last week, causing domestic uproar.POLAND: ‘Fight against Corruption’ Leads to Early Vote
As Poland prepares for early elections Oct. 21, the corruption scandal that brought down the government still poses serious questions on the state of the country's democracy.UKRAINE: Divided as Ever as Elections Approach
Ukraine is again heading for parliamentary elections after months of power infighting.EUROPE: Slovaks and Hungarians Clash over Xenophobia
The case of an ethnic Hungarian student who claims to have been attacked by Slovak xenophobes has come to symbolise the persistent clashes that strain relations between two of the EU (European Union)'s most unfriendly neighbours.EUROPE: U.S. Visa Puts Allies at Odds
Negotiations for a new visa regime between the United States and the European Union (EU) have driven another wedge between the EU's older, Western members and the Eastern European countries that recently joined.ALBANIA: Civil Society Far from Local Needs
Achieving environmentally sustainable tourism in Albania will also be up to the efforts of communities and civil society organisations, but as in much of the post-socialist world, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and their donors will have to clean up their act first.EUROPE: Russian Gas May Escape Politics
Many European politicians look desperately for alternatives to Russian gas, but while concerns over excessive dependency on one source are legitimate, many have missed the point that in the big energy game economic considerations weigh more heavily than political ideology.POLAND: Not Done With Fighting the Past
After a tough decision by Poland's constitutional court, and with early elections looming, it remains unclear how the country will deal with its government's attempt to expose former communist collaborators.UKRAINE: Election Set to Bring Another Crisis
The political crisis that has ravaged Ukraine since President Viktor Yushchenko decided to dissolve parliament is not likely to end with the early elections scheduled for Sep. 30.EUROPE: Reform Tastes an Eastern Flavour
The European Union has agreed on a document to reform itself institutionally, but Brussels is beginning to understand it will have to get used to tough opposition from some of its Eastern European member states.ALBANIA: Forget Communism…or Sell It
Bunkers? Underground catacombs? Submarine bases? Albania has been shaped by one of the most bizarre communist regimes ever and the potential to exploit it for tourism is inestimable.HUNGARY: No Way Around Gas, for Now
With reliable alternatives remaining a relatively distant dream, Hungary, one of the most gas-dependent countries in Europe, will have to rely on Russian sources in the foreseeable future.ALBANIA: UNESCO Not a Life Saver
Good looks have not sufficed to make Gjirokaster, a picturesque historical city in Southern Albania, the wealthy and successful tourist destination it aspires to be.RIGHTS: Who Protects Hungarians from the Police?
In a year rich in riots and police violence, the Hungarian police have now completely lost the trust of the public after a group of policemen allegedly raped a 21-year-old woman.ALBANIA: Environment and Tourism Can Hold Hands
A pleasant hilly town of narrow, winding streets, Berat has survived the chaotic urban development of central Albania and hopes to grasp a unique opportunity in tourism. But it is also threatened by the unavoidable environmental and urban perils of a transition economy.« Previous Page — Next Page »
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