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NL Will you become one of our new interns?
The FMS, in cooperation with the European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity and Building Change, is looking for four interns for the period from January (/February) to June!
Gender training in Serbia brings progressives together
On the weekend of 26-28 October, Foundation Max van der Stoel, in cooperation with the Center of Modern Skills (CMV), organised a gender training for progressive parties and movements in Serbia that are part of the Alliance for Serbia, a new opposition movement. FMS trainers Jamila Aanzi and Sonja Lokar travelled to Vojvodina province to deliver the training.
Same-sex marriage ban not included in Romanian constitution after all
In a country where an overwhelming majority is conservative Christian and the churches are full, same-sex marriage has little support. Yet it failed to get a ban in the constitution.
Future at stake in historic referendum Macedonia
This article previously appeared in the Volkskrant
The referendum next Sunday is a historic moment for Macedonia itself but a positive outcome also offers hope for democratic forces in south-eastern and eastern Europe, which are increasingly weighed down by authoritarian regimes, argues Danijel Tadic, south-eastern Europe expert at the Max van der Stoel Foundation.
First test for new government in Armenia
Last Sunday, local elections took place in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. This would not normally be big news, were it not for the fact that these were the first elections since the peaceful revolution in the country earlier this year. AND the fact that some 40% of all voters live in the capital. This election was therefore seen as a first real test for the post-revolutionary government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinjan. Especially since after taking office in May, following massive protests led by him, he set early parliamentary elections as one of his priorities. These, he said, will take place before May 2019. The Yerevan elections were thus a milestone because they would provide preliminary answers to two crucial questions: is the country indeed freer and more democratic than before, and can the newly-elected Prime Minister still count on the massive support of his people in the early parliamentary elections?
Worries for the Kremlin?
In the past weeks, thousands of people have protested in different cities across Russia against the pension reform plans announced by the Kremlin. The protests climaxed on September 9, the day of the regional elections, with nationwide rallies called for by opposition leader Alexey Navalny, who himself had been put in jail just two weeks beforehand. Protesters at the rallies, held in 33 cities, shouted slogans like 'Putin is a thief' and 'Away with the tsar.' State police arrested, sometimes violently, and jailed more than 1,000 people, of whom 452 in St Petersburg alone. While protests in Russia are not uncommon, it seems that this time they have the Kremlin worried and looking for ways to win the public back.
Political temperature rises in Romania
Summers regularly reach 40 degrees in Bucharest. Tempers are also heating up in politics just as cucumber time is approaching.
To Censor or Not to Censor, That is the Question
In his annual Direct Line on Thursday, June 7th, Russia's President Vladimir Putin dedicated four hours to addressing complaints, questions and concerns by Russian citizens on live television. The questions were submitted on a rolling basis per text message, through the website moskva-putinu.ru or on live video call, and were aired on screen. As opposed to the previous years, the Kremlin decided not to include a live audience, but instead to expand in regards to ministers and governors who were put on conference call in relevant matters. The Direct Line is a carefully mapped out event, allowing no room for improvisation, and every step is carefully staged to achieve a goal. Thus, certain aspects that may seem unpredicted to viewers serve a clear purpose. Overall, various aspects of the Direct Line formidably show that Putin is pursuing a new strategy to place himself at the front of his government, and the format of the show is arguably a tool to achieve the goal of both uniting his people and improving his image among youth and critics.
#TAMAM - Turkey's Social Media Stays Strong
Turkey's President Erdoğan was re-elected as head of government for the next five years, and his next term is bound to continue the streak of limiting the freedom of press and prosecuting opponents. Throughout the election campaigns, opposition parties were seriously limited by the ongoing state of emergency, and had to resort to creative methods to attract voters. In fact, oppositional parties expressed such energy that, until the results of the elections rolled in on Monday, June 25th, observers speculated that there was a real chance of challenging Erdoğan's majority rule. Although Turkey remains a polarised country, social media has become the go-to approach for change-makers.
Zimbabwe chooses: fair elections, transformation or back to square one?
When Emmerson Mnangagwa took office as Zimbabwe's new president, on 24 November 2017, he promised to call new, fair and transparent elections. Mnangagwa appears to be fulfilling this promise, at least in part. Presidential and parliamentary elections will take place in the country on 30 July. For the first time in three decades, the political playing field during the elections will look different. Because Robert Mugabe, who was in power for 37 years, was sidelined by the army last November, the battle will be mainly between Mnangagwa and Nelson Chamisa (MDC-T). These elections are essential for Zimbabwe's democratic, economic, political and social transformation.
