Economics
Chile Wanted a New Constitution. It Just Rejected the One It Was Given.
Two years ago, Chileans voted overwhelmingly to replace their constitution. Tonight, they have overwhelmingly rejected the constitution written to replace it. The margin is not close. With almost all polling stations counted, 61.86% have voted…
Pakistan Is Under Water. Who Is Responsible for a Disaster No One Government Caused?
Pakistan declared a national emergency this week as extraordinary monsoon rains and flooding continued across large parts of the country. More than a thousand people have reportedly died since the monsoon began, including hundreds of…
Kenya’s Election Is Disputed Again. This Time, the Most Important Battle May Happen in Court.
Kenya has a president-elect, at least according to the official result announced on Monday. William Ruto, the current deputy president, was declared the winner of the 9 August election with 50.49% of the vote, narrowly…
Pelosi Went to Taiwan. China Responded With Missiles. Was the Visit Worth It?
The Speaker of the US House of Representatives arrived in Taipei on Tuesday despite repeated warnings from Beijing that her visit would provoke a serious response. She met President Tsai Ing-wen, addressed Taiwanese officials and…
Iraq Held an Election Nine Months Ago. It Still Doesn’t Have a Government.
It was the second time this week that Sadr’s supporters had breached the heavily fortified area containing parliament, government buildings and foreign embassies. On Wednesday, demonstrators entered the parliamentary building before eventually withdrawing. Yesterday they…
Sri Lanka Has Chosen a New President. Almost Nobody Voted for Him.
On Wednesday, parliament elected Ranil Wickremesinghe to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidential term. Wickremesinghe received 134 votes, defeating Dullas Alahapperuma, who received 82, and Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who received three. Constitutionally, the process…
Sri Lanka Got Rid of Its President. Now Comes the Harder Question: Who Has the Right to Replace Him?
He flew to the Maldives on Wednesday as thousands of protesters returned to the streets, then travelled onwards to Singapore. On Thursday, he submitted his resignation. Parliament formally announced it on Friday. Sri Lanka no…
Sri Lanka’s Economy Collapsed. Yesterday, Its Government Nearly Did Too.
Videos showed people walking through the presidential complex, sitting inside rooms, gathering around the grounds and swimming in the president’s pool. Elsewhere in Colombo, protesters entered other government buildings. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that…
The G7 Still Has Enormous Power. It No Longer Represents Most of the World.
Seven of the world’s wealthiest democracies met in the Bavarian Alps this week trying to demonstrate that the Western coalition assembled after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine remains capable of shaping international politics. The leaders of…
France Re-elected Macron. Then It Took Away His Parliamentary Majority.
Two months ago, Emmanuel Macron won re-election with 58.55% of the valid vote. Last Sunday, French voters gave his political coalition only 245 of the 577 seats in the National Assembly, leaving it 44 seats…
France Elected Macron President. It May Not Want Him to Govern Alone.
Less than two months ago, Emmanuel Macron defeated Marine Le Pen by more than seventeen percentage points and became the first French president in twenty years to win re-election while still in office. Tonight, France…
Britain Is Celebrating 70 Years of a Queen Nobody Elected. Why Does That Still Work?
Queen Elizabeth II has now been monarch for seventy years. She inherited the throne in 1952 because her father was king. She has never faced an election, cannot be voted out and occupies an office…
