Spain faces political uncertainty after new movements Podemos and Ciudadanos won nearly a third of the seats in the country’s election. Anti-austerity Podemos and liberal Ciudadanos made big gains as the conservative Popular Party (PP) lost its majority. “Spain is not going to be the same anymore and we are very happy,” said Podemos leader… Continue reading Spain Elections 2015: Podemos and Ciudadanos Win a Third of Seats
Category: Economy & Politics
Economy and Politics news articles.
Spain Elections 2015: More than Two Parties Compete for Power for First Time in Decades
Spanish voters are to go to the polls in a landmark election that will see more than two parties compete for power for the first time in decades. Newcomers Podemos, an anti-austerity party, and Citizens, a liberal party, are challenging the ruling Popular Party (PP) and the Socialists. Opinion polls have put PM Mariano Rajoy’s… Continue reading Spain Elections 2015: More than Two Parties Compete for Power for First Time in Decades
Democratic Debate: Bernie Sanders Apologizes to Hillary Clinton
Democrat presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has apologized to fellow candidate Hillary Clinton after his staff stole valuable voting data from her campaign. “This is not the type of campaign that we run,” Bernie Sanders said during Abc New debate on December 19. The candidates criticized Republican frontrunner Donald Trump for his call to ban Muslims… Continue reading Democratic Debate: Bernie Sanders Apologizes to Hillary Clinton
Brazil’s Pro-Austerity Finance Minister Joaquim Levy Quits
Brazil’s Finance Minister Joaquim Levy has resigned as Latin America’s largest economy struggles to recover from recession. Joaquim Levy has decided to leave after disagreements with President Dilma Rousseff and the governing Worker’s Party over his austerity policies. He is being replaced by a close ally of Dilma Rousseff, the current Planning Minister Nelson Barbosa.… Continue reading Brazil’s Pro-Austerity Finance Minister Joaquim Levy Quits
Rwanda Referendum: Paul Kagame Allowed to Extend Term in Office
The majority of Rwandans have voted to allow President Paul Kagame to extend his term in office, initial referendum results show. Some 98% of voters support changing the constitution to allow Paul Kagame to run again in 2017 after his second term ends, the National Electoral Commission said. Paul Kagame, 58, could remain in power… Continue reading Rwanda Referendum: Paul Kagame Allowed to Extend Term in Office
Rwanda Referendum 2015: President Paul Kagame Seeks Third Term
Rwanda is voting in a referendum on a constitutional amendment to allow President Paul Kagame to seek a third term in office. Most voters, some 6.4 million, are eligible to vote on December 18, but around 37,000 Rwandans living overseas were able to have their say on December 17. The change would allow Paul Kagame… Continue reading Rwanda Referendum 2015: President Paul Kagame Seeks Third Term
Argentina Announces Relaxation of Forex Controls
Argentina’s government has announced a relaxation of currency controls. According to experts, the move is likely to weaken the local currency, peso. President Mauricio Macri hopes the move will boost exports and spark economic growth. Farmers in Argentina have been waiting for the currency to fall before selling stockpiles of soybeans. The official exchange rate… Continue reading Argentina Announces Relaxation of Forex Controls
Federal Reserve Raises Interest Rates by 0.25 Percentage Points
The Federal Reserve has announced it is raising interest rates by 0.25 percentage points. This is the US rate’s first increase since 2006. The move takes the range of rates banks offer to lend to each other overnight – the Federal Funds rate – to between 0.25% and 0.5%. The move is likely to cause… Continue reading Federal Reserve Raises Interest Rates by 0.25 Percentage Points
Stock Markets Rise Ahead of Fed Interest Rate Decision
Shares and bond markets have climbed on what is expected to be the first rise in US interest rates in nearly a decade. The Federal Reserve is expected to announce the start of the gradual rate rise process at 19:00 GMT. US markets opened higher, but lost ground as oil prices slumped. A US rate… Continue reading Stock Markets Rise Ahead of Fed Interest Rate Decision
GOP Debate 2015: Candidates Clash over How to Stop ISIS
GOP presidential candidates sparred over how to stop ISIS, in the first debate since attacks in San Bernardino and Paris. The national security focus yielded heated exchanges between Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio who clashed on surveillance and immigration policy. Jeb Bush also sought to revive his struggling campaign by forcefully attacking front-runner Donald… Continue reading GOP Debate 2015: Candidates Clash over How to Stop ISIS
Syria’s President Does Not Want To Negotiate With The Armed Groups In The Region
Bashar al-Assad had declared recently that he will not be negotiating with the armed groups. Stratfor is a leading news platform breaking all kinds of news to you firsthand. The platform had reported about an agreement that was reached by the various opposition parties and rebel fighting groups in Syria. This was done mainly due… Continue reading Syria’s President Does Not Want To Negotiate With The Armed Groups In The Region
South Africa: Jacob Zuma Names Third Finance Minister in a Week
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has announced he is replacing newly appointed Finance Minister David van Rooyen with Pravin Gordhan. On December 9, Jacob Zuma sacked Nhlanhla Nene in a move that sent the rand to record lows and sparked a sell-off in bank shares. Nhlanhla Nene’s replacement for less than a week, David van… Continue reading South Africa: Jacob Zuma Names Third Finance Minister in a Week
France Elections 2015: Front National Fails to Win a Single Region in Second Round
Marine Le Pen’s far-right Front National (National Front) has failed to win a single region in the second round of elections, exit polls indicate. According to early, the FN has been beaten into third place, despite leading in six of 13 regions in the first round of votes a week ago. The polls predict Nicolas… Continue reading France Elections 2015: Front National Fails to Win a Single Region in Second Round
Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi Becomes First Saudi Woman Elected
Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi has become the first woman politician elected in Saudi Arabia. She has won a seat on a municipal council for the first time in the country, after the kingdom lifted its ban on women taking part in elections. Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi won a seat in Mecca province in December 12… Continue reading Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi Becomes First Saudi Woman Elected
France Regional Elections: Marine Le Pen’s FN Seeks to Consolidate First Round Gains
Marine Le Pen’s National Front (FN) is seeking to consolidate its last week’s gains in France’s second round of regional elections. The far-right FN is leading in six of 13 regions in mainland France. However, opinion polls indicate that the centre-right Republican opposition of Nicolas Sarkozy has gained ground since then. The Republicans pushed the… Continue reading France Regional Elections: Marine Le Pen’s FN Seeks to Consolidate First Round Gains
Saudi Women Allowed to Vote for First Time
Saudi women are allowed to vote for the first time in the kingdom’s municipal elections. Women are also standing as candidates, another first, despite the conservative kingdom being the only nation where women are not allowed to drive. A total of 978 women have registered as candidates, alongside 5,938 men. Female candidates have had to… Continue reading Saudi Women Allowed to Vote for First Time
Mauricio Macri Sworn in as Argentina’s President
Mauricio Macri has been sworn in as Argentina’s president in a Buenos Aires ceremony. The newly-elected president vowed to unite the nation and revive the economy. The center-right Mauricio Macri took the oath of office in Congress but his inauguration was boycotted by his predecessor, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, in a row over the venue.… Continue reading Mauricio Macri Sworn in as Argentina’s President
Argentina Elections 2015: Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Delivers Emotional Farewell Speech
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has made an emotional farewell speech to supporters in the capital, Buenos Aires. The outgoing president urged people to take to the streets if they feel betrayed by the new center-right government. Conservative Mauricio Macri, who won a run-off election last month, is due to be sworn in as… Continue reading Argentina Elections 2015: Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Delivers Emotional Farewell Speech
Donald Trump Will Not Leave White House Race despite Criticism
Donald Trump has said he will never leave the 2016 White House race despite increasing calls for him to step aside. The Republican presidential hopeful told the Washington Post he would not step aside, no matter what. The White House had said Donald Trump was “disqualified” from running after he said the US should ban… Continue reading Donald Trump Will Not Leave White House Race despite Criticism
Venezuela Elections 2015: Electoral Authority Confirms Opposition’s Super-Majority
Venezuela’s electoral authority has confirmed that the opposition has won a key two-thirds majority, enabling it to challenge President Nicolas Maduro. The opposition said it would work to release jailed opposition leaders and address the country’s economic crisis. Nicolas Maduro has announced a cabinet reshuffle but vowed to veto any amnesty law for jailed politicians.… Continue reading Venezuela Elections 2015: Electoral Authority Confirms Opposition’s Super-Majority
Venezuela Elections 2015: Opposition Wins Majority in National Assembly
Venezuela’s opposition coalition has won a majority of seats in the National Assembly, overturning nearly two decades of dominance by the Socialists of President Nicolas Maduro. Five hours after polling ended, the National Electoral Council announced the opposition had won 99 seats. President Nicolas Maduro has admitted defeat, recognizing “these adverse results”. It is the… Continue reading Venezuela Elections 2015: Opposition Wins Majority in National Assembly
France Regional Elections 2015: Marine Le Pen’s Front National Leads First Round
Marine Le Pen’s Front National (National Front) appears to have made big gains in France’s first round of regional elections, estimates show. They put the far-right National Front ahead in at least six of 13 regions in mainland France. The elections are the first electoral test since last month’s Paris attacks, in which 130 people… Continue reading France Regional Elections 2015: Marine Le Pen’s Front National Leads First Round
Venezuela Elections 2015: First Serious Challenge to Governing Socialists
Venezuelans are voting in congressional elections that are seen as the first serious challenge to the governing socialists in 17 years. According to opinion polls, a broad opposition coalition could capitalize on widespread frustration over food shortages, inflation and crime. Nicolas Maduro’s governing PSUV, however, retains wide support in rural areas, and will continue to… Continue reading Venezuela Elections 2015: First Serious Challenge to Governing Socialists
France Regional Elections 2015: First Major Polls since Paris Attacks
France is voting in regional elections, the first electoral test since last month’s Paris attacks, in which 130 people were killed. According to opinion polls, there will be a strong showing for the far-right National Front (FN). The center-right led by former President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to win in most regions at the expense… Continue reading France Regional Elections 2015: First Major Polls since Paris Attacks
Greece Crisis: Parliament Passes Austere 2016 Budget
Greek parliament has approved the 2016 budget that includes sharp spending cuts and some tax increases amid economic recession. The austere budget was passed with a majority of only eight votes – 153 to 145. “This budget is a difficult task for a government that wants to leave its mark with social justice,” PM Alexis… Continue reading Greece Crisis: Parliament Passes Austere 2016 Budget