World: The month ahead

Obama and the Queen on tour, civil unrest in South Africa, and electoral impasse in Canada
April 20, 2011
SPAIN

Austerity vote

Spain’s ruling Socialist party is expected to suffer in municipal and regional elections on 22nd May, after Prime Minister José Zapatero embraced a harsh austerity package earlier this year. His reforms, aimed at tackling a bloated deficit, 20 per cent unemployment (the eurozone’s highest) and the possible need for a European bailout, have been deeply unpopular, and he has already announced he will not seek a third term in next year’s general election. Opinion polls tip the right-of-centre Popular party to make big gains.

CANADA

Electoral impasse

Canadians go to the ballot box on 2nd May after Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s minority Conservative government was brought down by a no-confidence motion in parliament on 26th March. The vote came after opposition parties accused the government of failing to disclose the full financial details of its tougher crime legislation, corporate tax cuts and plans to buy stealth fighter jets. Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff accused the Conservatives of showing “disrespect for democracy” and “contempt for the Canadian people,” yet it is Harper’s party that is expected to retain power, and perhaps form a majority government, in Canada’s fourth general election in seven years.

US, JAPAN AND THE WORLD

Obama’s grand tour

In late May President Barack Obama will embark on five-day tour of Europe, visiting Poland, Ireland and Britain, and attending the G8 summit on 26th-27th May in Deauville, France. Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan has pledged to put international safety standards for nuclear energy at the top of the agenda, after being invited by this year’s chair, Nicolas Sarkozy, to open the summit.

IRELAND

The Queen’s visit

For the first time in its history, the Irish Republic will host a state visit from a British monarch. The Queen will arrive in Dublin on 17th May. Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has argued her presence will cause offence, but the recently-elected prime minister, Enda Kenny, has signalled his strong support, while President Mary McAleese has said it marks the “culmination of a huge investment in peace.”

SOUTH AFRICA

Civil unrest?

Widespread civil unrest is predicted ahead of municipal elections on 18th May. Opposition parties have accused the ANC of corruption, and March saw violent protests in Johannesburg over poverty, unemployment levels of 25 per cent, and the poor delivery of public services despite expansive government spending. Discontent is evident even among the ANC’s allies: Winnie Madikizela-Mandela bemoaned infighting and corruption in the party, while the leader of Cosatu, the labour federation and a key partner in government, said the election campaign has revealed the “rot and malaise” in the ANC.