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Straits Times
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Georgia sends another opposition politician to prison
Georgian opposition politician Giorgi Vashadze was sentenced to seven months in prison on Tuesday, the latest verdict in a crackdown that has placed nearly all of Georgia's major opposition figures behind bars. Authorities have clamped down on leading figures of the pro-European Union opposition after weathering major protests last year over a disputed October election and a subsequent government decision to halt talks on joining the EU. Vashadze, a 43-year-old career politician, was found guilty of refusing to testify to a parliamentary commission investigating alleged wrongdoing under jailed ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili, who led the South Caucasus country from 2004 to 2012. On Tuesday, three other Georgian opposition figures were jailed on the same charge. Vashadze, like the others, was also barred from holding public office for two years. Vashadze is a leader of Strategy Builder, a party that is part of a wider opposition coalition that came third in last year's election. The Georgian Dream party, which won a fourth term in power, has rejected allegations of vote-rigging. "We are fighting for the liberation of Georgia," Vashadze was quoted as saying by the Interpress news agency ahead of the court's verdict. "The main thing is to be united; the imprisonment of me and those people is nothing," he said, referring to the other jailed politicians. Traditionally one of the most pro-Western countries to emerge from the Soviet Union, Georgia has taken a sharply authoritarian turn in recent years, critics say, pivoting away from the West and back towards Russia. Separately, Georgian poet Zviad Ratiani, a prominent figure at street protests, was arrested in Tbilisi on Monday night on charges of assaulting a police officer, Interpress reported. The demonstrations have continued nightly for over 200 days but the number of protesters has diminished considerably in recent months. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia jails three opposition politicians, including bank founder
By Lucy Papachristou (Reuters) -Three Georgian opposition politicians were sentenced to months in prison on Monday, the first to be convicted in a series of prosecutions targeting government critics who refused to give evidence to lawmakers. Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, leading figures in the opposition Lelo for Georgia party, were both sentenced to eight months, while Zurab Japaridze of the Coalition for Change bloc received seven months. Khazaradze is a co-founder of London-listed TBC Bank, one of Georgia's largest. Authorities have launched a string of cases against people accused of refusing to testify to a parliamentary commission investigating alleged wrongdoing under jailed ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili, who led the South Caucasus country from 2004 to 2012. Four other people are also being prosecuted. Georgian authorities have moved to clamp down on leading figures of the pro-European Union opposition as street protests continue over a disputed October election and a subsequent government decision to halt talks on joining the EU. Khazaradze and both Japaridzes, who are not related, were also banned from holding public office for two years, the Interpress news agency reported. Their parties rejected last year's election result and accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of rigging the poll in order to win a fourth term. The government denies that allegation, but two U.S. pollsters said there was evidence of manipulation. In a post on X, Khazaradze rejected the court's ruling, saying the parliamentary commission "has no real function" and pointing out he did not hold public office during the period the body is investigating. Spokespeople for the parties of the jailed politicians did not immediately reply to requests for comment. Traditionally one of the most pro-Western countries to emerge from the Soviet Union, Georgia has taken a sharply authoritarian turn in recent years, critics say. Georgian Dream has passed a slew of laws clamping down on foreign-funded organisations operating in the country, and on LGBT people. Georgian Dream says it still wants to join the EU but also wants to preserve the country's traditional values and keep peace with its huge northern neighbour, Russia.
NDTV
04-06-2025
- Business
- NDTV
New Pro-Trump Poland President A Bad Omen For The EU, Ukraine And Women
Poland's presidential election runoff will be a bitter pill for pro-European Union democrats to swallow. The nationalist, Trumpian, historian Karol Nawrocki has narrowly defeated the liberal, pro-EU mayor of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski, 50.89 to 49.11%. The Polish president has few executive powers, though the office holder is able to veto legislation. This means the consequences of a Nawrocki victory will be felt keenly, both in Poland and across Europe. With this power, Nawrocki, backed by the conservative Law and Justice party, will no doubt stymie the ability of Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his Civic Platform-led coalition to enact democratic political reforms. This legislative gridlock could well see Law and Justice return to government in the 2027 general elections, which would lock in the anti-democratic changes the party made during their last term in office from 2015–2023. This included eroding Poland's judicial independence by effectively taking control of judicial appointments and the supreme court. Nawrocki's win has given pro-Donald Trump, anti-liberal, anti-EU forces across the continent a shot in the arm. It's bad news for the EU, Ukraine and women. A Rising Poland For much of the post-second world war era, Poland has had limited European influence. This is no longer the case. Poland's economy has boomed since it joined the EU in 2004. It spends almost 5% of its gross domestic product on defence, almost double what it spent in 2022 at the time of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Poland now has a bigger army than the United Kingdom, France and Germany. And living standards, adjusted for purchasing power, are about to eclipse Japan's. Along with Brexit, these changes have resulted in the EU's centre of gravity shifting eastwards towards Poland. As a rising military and economic power of 37 million people, what happens in Poland will help shape Europe's future. Impacts On Ukraine Poland's new position in Europe is most clearly demonstrated by its central role in the fight to defend Ukraine against Russia. This centrality was clearly demonstrated during the recent 'Coalition of the Willing' summit in Kyiv, where Tusk joined the leaders of Europe's major powers – France, Germany and the UK – to bolster support for Ukraine and its president, Volodymyr Zelensky. However, Poland's unqualified support for Ukraine will now be at risk because Nawrocki has demonised Ukrainian refugees in his country and opposed Ukrainian integration into European-oriented bodies, such as the EU and NATO. Nawrocki was also backed during his campaign by the Trump administration. Kristi Noem, the US secretary of homeland security, said at the recent Conservative Political Action Conference in Poland: Donald Trump is a strong leader for us, but you have an opportunity to have just as strong of a leader in Karol if you make him the leader of this country. Trump also hosted Nawrocki in the Oval Office when he was merely a candidate for office. This was a significant deviation from standard US diplomatic protocol to stay out of foreign elections. Nawrocki has not been as pro-Russia as some other global, MAGA-style politicians, but this is largely due to Poland's geography and its difficult history with Russia. It has been repeatedly invaded across its eastern plains by Russian or Soviet troops. And along with Ukraine, Poland shares borders with the Russian client state of Belarus and Russia itself in Kaliningrad, the heavily militarised enclave on the Baltic Sea. I experienced the proximity of these borders during fieldwork in Poland in 2023 when I travelled by car from Warsaw to Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, via the Suwalki Gap. This is the strategically important, 100-kilometre-long border between Poland and Lithuania, which connects the Baltic states to the rest of NATO and the EU to the south. It's seen as a potential flashpoint if Russia were ever to close the gap and isolate the Baltic states. Poland's conservative nationalist politicians are therefore less Russia-friendly than those in Hungary or Slovakia. Nawrocki, for instance, does not support cutting off weapons to Ukraine. However, a Nawrocki presidency will still be more hostile to Ukraine and its interests. During the campaign, Nawrocki said Zelensky 'treats Poland badly', echoing the type of language used by Trump himself. Poland Divided The high stakes in the election resulted in a record turnout of almost 73%. There was a stark choice in the election between Nawrocki and Trzaskowski. Trzaskowski supported the liberalisation of Poland's harsh abortion laws – abortion was effectively banned in Poland under the Law and Justice government – and the introduction of civil partnerships for LGBTQ+ couples. Nawrocki opposed these changes and will likely veto any attempt to implement them. While the polls for the presidential runoff election had consistently shown a tight race, an Ipsos exit poll published during the vote count demonstrated the social divisions now facing the country. As in other recent global elections, women and those with higher formal education voted for the progressive candidate (Trzaskowski), while men and those with less formal education voted for the conservative (Nawrocki). After the surprise success of the liberal, pro-EU presidential candidate in the Romanian elections a fortnight ago, pro-EU forces were hoping for a similar result in Poland, as well. That, for now, is a pipe dream and liberals across the continent will now need to negotiate a difficult relationship with a right-wing, Trumpian leader in the new beating heart of Europe.
Gulf Today
04-06-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Right-wing Nawrocki wins Polish presidential poll by narrow margin
Every election in Europe is now turning out to be an existential battle between liberals and conservatives, between pro-European Union (EU) and Euro-sceptics. After the Romanian presidential election, where the pro-EU candidate Nicusor Dan clinched the election over the anti-EU conservative George Simion. Dan won a comfortable 54 per cent of the vote, though it was not overwhelming one in his support or for liberalism. The conservatives lost but they are in the field. In Poland, it was the turn of the conservative Karol Nawrocki who edged past his liberal rival, Rafal Trzaskowski, by a narrow margin. Nawrocki got 50.82 per cent of the vote. But the Euro-sceptics were happy. George Simion, who was the runner-up in the Romanian election, wrote on X, 'Poland WON'. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called Nawrocki's win a 'fantastic victory'. The political divisions are sharp across the national boundaries in Europe. Nawrocki is opposed to refugees, and in Poland the refugees are from Ukraine. Nawrocki will inevitably be at loggerheads with Prime Minister Donald Tusk's liberal Civic Coalition. Tusk has been trying to reverse the previous conservative government's judicial reforms which raised objections from the European Constitutional Court. It said the process of the appointment of judges does not ensure impartiality of the judges. The conservatives think it is interference from Europe. Nawrocki has already declared that he intends to protect Poland's sovereignty and support laws that favour the Polish. As president, Nawrocki has but little leeway in thwarting the liberal government. The presidential veto can be overturned by a specific majority rule of parliament. But Prime Minister Tusk does not command the required majority in parliament. It is because of the shortfall in the parliamentary numbers, that Nawrocki's predecessor, another conservative, Andrzej Duda, was able to block the reformist legislation of Prime Minister Tusk. The divisions seem to be almost evenly balanced, with conservatives accounting for half the electorate, and the liberals comprising the other half. A 32-year-old IT specialist, Patryk Marek, summed it up well: 'Everything was on a knife edge. Feelings are for sure mixed for this moment. But how small this margin was, it tells us how divided we are almost in half as voters.' European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she believed EU's cooperation with Poland will continue. She is a conservative herself but a nuanced one, and quite opposed to the right-wing nationalism dominating European politics. Krzysztof Izdebski, director of think-tank Batory Foundation commented, 'Trump will have more to say in Polish politics.' It is a reference to the fact that European nationalists and right-wingers are inspired by US President Donald Trump's worldview and his electoral success. European conservatives are indeed on the rise and riding a success wave in many countries in France, in Italy, Germany, and in many of the former Soviet satellite countries in Eastern Europe. The success of the right-wing parties is mainly due to the economic crunch that most European countries are witnessing, where lack of growth is affecting the job market and it is increasing the frustration of the people. The right-wing politicians are directing this frustration and anger on to the immigrants. Turning away the immigrants will not put Europe back on the path of economic growth. And the right-wing governments and leaders have no easy answers or plans to boost economic growth. It is the same problem that Trump is facing in America. With his tariff wars and his hostility towards immigrants, he is not able to turn around the American economy. And that is the reason that many of the Americans who had voted for Trump are disappointed with him. The same challenge awaits right-wing governments in Europe as well.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Revved-Up Polish Assets Dip as Election Erodes Pro-EU Tilt
(Bloomberg) -- Polish stocks and bonds — among the world's stand-out performers of 2025 — dipped after a nationalist unexpectedly won the presidential election, dealing a blow to the government. Billionaire Steve Cohen Wants NY to Expand Taxpayer-Backed Ferry Where the Wild Children's Museums Are Now With Colorful Blocks, Tirana's Pyramid Represents a Changing Albania The Economic Benefits of Paying Workers to Move NYC Congestion Toll Brings In $216 Million in First Four Months Investors are concerned that the victory by the resurgent right, which has been emboldened by Donald Trump, may unravel Poland's pro-European Union tilt — impacting both fiscal and monetary policy and imperiling the rally in the nation's assets. Warsaw stocks slumped 3.4% on Monday before recouping about half of the losses, while the sovereign's dollar bonds were among the biggest losers in emerging markets. The zloty weakened 0.2% against the euro, trading in the middle of a pack of 31 major currencies. Now, traders will be watching how Prime Minister Donald Tusk works with incoming President Karol Nawrocki, which will dictate where the Polish 'risk premium lands,' according to Adnan El-Araby, a fund manager at Barings Emerging EMEA Opportunities. 'The outcome of the elections might harm the positive sentiment of this year, but there are always well managed companies that have the ability to grow earnings,' he said. 'We now have to be more selective.' Nawrocki, a conservative historian and former boxer, won 50.9% of Sunday's runoff ballot, while centrist Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski took 49.1%, according to unofficial tallies from the electoral commission. More Downside Henrik Gullberg, a macro strategist at Coex Partners, said the market-leading performances by Polish stocks and the zloty mean there's more downside to a Nawrocki win than upside had Trzaskowski come through. Poland's WIG20 equity index traded 2.1% lower as of 1 p.m. in Warsaw, with banks leading the selloff. The gauge was up 40% in dollar terms this year as of Friday's close, one of the strongest rallies globally. 'A Nawrocki win is thought to revive tensions with Brussels, stall judicial reforms, and therefore jeopardize access to over €130 billion ($148 billion) in crucial EU funding,' Gullberg said. The yield on benchmark 10-year local-currency government bonds increased 11 basis points to 5.47% on Monday. The asset class had returned nearly 16% in dollars since December — the best performance among developing markets after Brazil and Mexico until just before the ballot. Poland's fiscal deficit is front and center for investors. At more than 6% of economic output it's the largest in the EU after Romania's. Election-campaign promises risk further deepening the budget hole. The election 'will hinder the implementation of necessary reforms and may favor the maintenance of an excessively loose fiscal policy,' said Piotr Bujak, chief economist at PKO Bank Polski SA. This 'may worry foreign investors,' he said. Thwarted Agenda Tusk's agenda has been largely thwarted by the outgoing president, who, like Nawrocki, is backed by the opposition Law & Justice party. The election of a more radical successor could exacerbate the paralysis. 'It is feared that this stalemate will continue,' Commerzbank AG currency analysts Michael Pfister and Charlie Lay said. 'Similarly, the disbursement of EU funds, from which Poland has benefited significantly in recent years, is likely to be further delayed,' given the conflict between Law & Justice and the EU Commission. Piotr Matys, a strategist at In Touch Capital Markets Ltd., said the result creates the risk 'that Tusk's coalition may collapse, leading to early general elections,' which would otherwise be due in 2027. The premier, who will have a televised address at 8 p.m., may call a parliamentary vote of confidence in his cabinet, reported Monday. The ballot could also make Polish policymakers more reluctant to extend interest-rate cuts, according to economists at Morgan Stanley, Citigroup Inc. and Banco Santander SA. Derivatives used to wager on Polish interest rate levels ticked higher, signaling bets on less easing this year. State Assets Minister Jakub Jaworowski, who oversees the government's controlling stakes in seven of the companies in the WIG20 index, said Nawrocki's victory will prolong a period of 'elevated instability.' 'It has been difficult, but it will be now even harder,' he told a financial congress in Sopot, northern Poland, on Monday. He vowed to continue with the government's agenda focused on improving corporate governance and building shareholder value. --With assistance from Matthew Burgess, Joanna Ossinger, Maciej Martewicz, Andras Gergely, Peter Laca, Piotr Bujnicki and Agnieszka Barteczko. (Updates with new comments and market moves and political developments throughout.) 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