As the center-left Social Democrats narrowly beat Merkel's center-right Union bloc, winning party's Olaf Scholz & Armin Laschet from losing camp laid claim to leading the next govt.
What gives Italian PM Mario Draghi so much authority is in part his technocratic and diplomatic manner. But it’s also his prior career as an economist.
Challenge for Armin Laschet, who takes over as head of Merkel's party, will be to offer continuity while carving his own path with an eye on the September elections.
The German leader’s stance was echoed by French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, who said that the state and not 'the digital oligarchy' is responsible for regulations.
The tighter restrictions – including a ban on gatherings over the New Year – will last until 10 January after a less stringent lockdown failed to halt a surge in Covid infections and deaths.
The issue of the Muslim quota has the potential to polarise SCs, STs, and OBCs along religious lines in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. It benefits the BJP.
Germany’s erstwhile Christian Democratic Union govt, led by Angela Merkel, prevented sale of small arms to police forces in states they perceived had ‘bad human rights record’.
A theme has not yet emerged for BJP & people see lack of a contest, which makes it unexciting. For all these reasons, 2024 is turning out to be an unexpectedly theme-less election.
COMMENTS