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NL Armenia's Velvet Revolution
On 8 May, after weeks of mass protests, a new prime minister was appointed in Armenia: Nikol Pashinjan, the leader of the Armenian Velvet Revolution. Driving the protests were students and other young activists. The FMS asked one of those activists, 20-year-old Ozheni Avetisyan, to write about her experience of this revolution. Want to read Avetisyan article? Then click on read more.
Majority for Hezbollah and allies in new Lebanese parliament
Lebanese had to wait almost nine years for it, but this month they were finally allowed to go to the polls to elect a new parliament. Years of struggle, a presidential vacuum, a new electoral law and the prime minister's announced-but-not-executed departure preceded it. The outcome seemed certain, but still delivers some big surprises. Hezbollah and allies win the majority and Prime Minister Hariri's Future Movement (FM) takes a big hit: from 26 to 19 seats. All parties want a cabinet to be formed soon to tackle the sky-high public debt and boost the economy, but at the same time one blockade after another is being put up. The winners smell their opportunity to bring in more ministries.
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Western Balkans expectations on eve of European summit
Will we ever be part of the European project? That is the question all Western Balkan leaders are asking as they prepare for the big summit. After French President Macron's statement, no enlargement until the EU itself puts its house in order, last month in Strasbourg, their dreams shattered.
In power since 1991: Djukanovic wins presidential election in Montenegro
On 15 April, Milo Djukanovic (Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS) won the presidential election in EU candidate Montenegro. A generation of Montenegrins grew up with Djukanovic as leader: since 1991, he has been prime minister six times and now, for the second time, president. His long rule is not uncontroversial. He allegedly enriched himself during Western sanctions against the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s by working closely with organised crime. In 2002, for instance, the prosecutor in the Italian city of Naples issued an arrest warrant for Djukanovic's alleged role in cigarette smuggling. Despite the EU perspective - Montenegro is currently negotiating accession - the democratic transition is stalled by authoritarian leadership of one of the longest-serving leaders in Europe.
Revolution in Armenia
After 11 days of mass protests in Armenia against Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan, the latter decided to resign on 23 April. After a brief euphoria and celebrations in the streets, however, it appeared that the ruling party had no intention of giving up power by doing so. Although it admitted not to put forward its own prime ministerial candidate, it would still consider which candidate it would support, although there was only one candidate: protest leader Nikol Pashinyan.
Ukraine: four years on
In 2014, the revolution, 'Euromaidan', took place in Ukraine against Russia's wishes. In response, Russia took Crimea and war broke out in eastern Ukraine. What has been achieved in the past four years since that revolution? Or is the country still at a standstill? The Euromaidan's aim was to democratise the country, fight corruption and implement reforms, but has it succeeded? What are the current problems and what is the country up against?
In Belarus, you can celebrate Independence Day in a police van
Around Minsk's national theatre on Sunday 25 March, everything you saw was red and white. There was no escaping the flags in the colours of the Belarusian People's Republic, which was founded exactly 100 years ago. That was reason for many people to celebrate with a big concert, but not for everyone.
Fake news in Romania
Spreading false messages to influence their recipients is as old as the road to Rome. The communists, whose legacy is still present in Eastern Europe, liked it. But what are the typically Romanian sides of this phenomenon?
The status of Jerusalem: a historical perspective
The status of Jerusalem is one of the most contentious issues in international relations. Different political and legal definitions make pronouncements on sovereignty over Jerusalem difficult. US President Donald Trump's decision has therefore not improved the situation, according to many analysts. The announcement that the US embassy is moving from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, with Washington officially recognising Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, caused a stir. Israel seems pleased, the Palestinians are furious and the international community is upset. But how much weight does this decision carry? Most events do not take place in a vacuum. They fit into a historical process. What about this for the recognition of Jerusalem?
