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The mere observation of the international scene conveys a perplexing picture regarding both international political stability and domestic political evolutions. The parliamentary elections in France, the late European elections, and the incoming presidential elections in the US are challenging on multiple accounts: the sociology of the political ...

Reactions to French Legislative Elections Results
Reactions to French Legislative Elections Results

According to initial figures, none of the political blocs has won a majority in the French parliamentary elections. The New Popular Front came out on top in the second round of legislative elections on Sunday July 7, ahead of Ensemble-Renaissance and Rassemblement National. Turnout for this second round was 67.1%, the highest since ...

France Says No to Far-Right, Which Ends Up Third
France Says No to Far-Right, Which Ends Up Third

A loose alliance of French left-wing parties thrown together for snap elections was on course Sunday to become the biggest parliamentary bloc and beat the far -right, according to shock projected results. The New Popular Front (NFP) was formed last month after President Emmanuel Macron called snap elections, bringing together socialists, greens, ...

French Voters Turn Out in Number as Far Right Eyes Power
French Voters Turn Out in Number as Far Right Eyes Power

French voters turned out in number on Sunday for the second round of a historic election that is expected to leave the far right as the biggest force in a deeply divided parliament. At midday, according to interior ministry figures, some 26.63% of voters had turned out for the high-stakes poll — the highest number at that time since 1981. At ...

Erdogan Says May Invite Assad, a Sign of Reconciliation
Erdogan Says May Invite Assad, a Sign of Reconciliation

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that he might invite his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad to Turkey "at any moment," in a sign of reconciliation after the 2011 war broke ties between Ankara and Damascus. "We may send an invitation (to Assad) at any moment," Erdogan told journalists aboard a plane from Berlin, where he watched Euro ...

Editorial – Pezeshkian's Election: A Mere Facade?
Editorial – Pezeshkian's Election: A Mere Facade?

  The election of the so-called “moderate” candidate Massoud Pezeshkian to the presidency of Iran on Friday is not a major surprise. The fact that his candidacy was approved this time by the central authorities, after being rejected in the 2021 presidential election, suggested that the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ali ...

NATO at 75: a Tumultuous Odyssey
NATO at 75: a Tumultuous Odyssey

It was supposed to be a grand celebration of the 75th anniversary of a strengthened alliance. Instead, this week's NATO summit in Washington is likely to be overshadowed by uncertainties over Ukraine and political turbulence on both sides of the Atlantic. From Tuesday to Thursday, a strange atmosphere will hang over the US capital as Joe Biden ...

Polls Open in Pivotal Second Round of French Vote
Polls Open in Pivotal Second Round of French Vote

French voters began casting their ballots on Sunday for the second round of the country's legislative elections, a historic vote in which the National Rally (RN) could emerge victorious, although there is still considerable uncertainty as to whether it will be able to secure an absolute majority in the parliament and form a government. Voters can ...

Iran: Pezeshkian's Victory, a Hope for Nuclear Negotiations
Iran: Pezeshkian's Victory, a Hope for Nuclear Negotiations

Masoud Pezeshkian's victory in Iran's presidential elections has given a rare boost to efforts for scaling down years of tensions over Tehran's nuclear program, even with no indication of any upcoming breakthrough in the crisis. Pezeshkian's defeat of ultra-conservative Saeed Jalili, a former chief nuclear negotiator whose intransigence and style ...

Gaza: Despite Ceasefire Efforts, Bombardments Continue
Gaza: Despite Ceasefire Efforts, Bombardments Continue

The war continued unabated on Saturday, with Israel's military saying it had conducted operations across much of the Gaza Strip, including Shujaiya in the north, Deir al-Balah in central Gaza and Rafah in the south. Shujaiya is among the areas the military had previously declared to be cleared of Hamas, but where fighting is again taking ...

New UK PM Starmer 'Restless for Change'
New UK PM Starmer 'Restless for Change'

Newly elected United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday began his first full day in office by declaring himself "restless for change" and pledging that growth would be his Labour government's "number one mission." Starmer also confirmed his previously declared intention to end the outgoing Conservative government's flagship scheme to ...

Biden Refuses Calls to Quit in TV Interview
Biden Refuses Calls to Quit in TV Interview

Joe Biden fended off questions about his mental fitness and electability on Friday in a TV interview meant to draw a line under a disastrous debate performance that triggered calls for him to quit his re-election bid. With rebellion brewing among some nervous Democratic voters, lawmakers and donors, the one-to-one with the ABC network was hyped ...