Moldova’s High-Stakes Election Signals Clear Turn to the West
Parliamentary elections in Moldova took place on 28th September. To the surprise of many, the ruling pro-western party, Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) led by President Maia Sandu has secured over 50% of the vote as of Monday morning. This comes after Sandu had announced warnings that Russia had spent “hundreds of millions of euros” in a bid to sway the result, in an election so monumental for Moldova’s future and potential path to the European Union. With the Ukraine-Russo war raging one border away, this election has been marked with high levels of tension. Upon this election defeat, Igor Dodan, head of the Patriotic Bloc and former President called for protests to take place on Monday outside the parliament in the capital Chisinau, with the Moldovan authorities having been warned prior of the risk of disruption and street violence once polls closed. Sandu herself said there was ‘a lot at stake’ in this election, and with this new election victory under her belt, EU membership may be more firmly within Moldova’s sight, undermining the lucrative Russian attempts at interference in the former soviet state’s democracy. While Sandu was widely praised for securing EU candidate status for Moldova in 2023, some voters grew frustrated with the slow pace of reforms and soaring gas prices after Russia halted supplies, forcing the country to seek new procurement deals with Romania. However, it is important to note that with the threat posed by Russia for the future of many countries on the Ukrainian border, the victory of a party willing to stand up to Putin and far-right proxies across Europe is something that Moldova can today celebrate.
Mandatory Digital IDs to Be Rolled Out Across Britain Within the Decade
Kier Starmer has announced plans for the government to roll out mandatory digital ID cards for all UK citizens. With this law expected to be passed by the ‘end of this parliament’, Britons can expect to require this digital ID to work by August 2029 at the latest. These will take the form of an app-based system, providing proof of each person’s right to live and work in the UK. There are many potential advantages of these IDs, but the on the government has chosen to home in on the most unsurprisingly claims that it will keep UK borders safe, reducing the incentive of refugees and migrants to come over and work illegally. Digital IDs are a complex issue for the government politically. On the one hand, the framing of this to reduce ‘illegal migration’ has prompted some reluctant support from the Conservatives and some Reform circles. However, the principle of the population generally not wanting the government to hold too much information about them or influence their lives in personal ways makes this policy fairly contentious. The government has made some assurances that it will not operate as a conventional identity card, meaning people will not be obliged to carry it in public. Ministers have also confirmed it will not be needed to access healthcare or welfare benefits. However, with the ominous ‘Big Tech’ intruding more and more into people’s lives, it is unsurprising that, whilst many commentators accept that these cards make logistical sense in many ways, on principle, this may feel like another way for the government to survey and intrude into peoples lives.
Partisan Standoff Threatens to Paralyze U.S. Government
U.S. government funding is set to run out at 12:01am on Tuesday unless President Trump can reach a last minute agreement with the top four congressional leaders: Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer, Mike Johnson and John Thune. The standoff has become a battle of resolve between the two parties: Republicans, emboldened by their full control of government since last year, are eager to demonstrate their strength, while Democrats, pressured by an energized base, view this as a rare chance to push forward health care priorities such as extending key Obamacare subsidies. Just six months ago, Democrats conceded to a Republican-drafted funding bill, but they now insist they will not do so again unless they have influence over the final legislation. With less than 48 hours to go, the U.S. government is heading toward a shutdown unless one side yields or eases its demands. Senators are set to return to Washington on Monday evening without a clear path forward, while the House remains in recess. If a shutdown occurs, millions of federal employees would lose their pay checks, with hundreds of thousands facing furloughs. The White House had explored ways to ensure military personnel continued to be paid during the stoppage, according to a source familiar with the talks, but those efforts fell short, meaning service members would also go unpaid. The good news is that the organisation of this meeting on Monday displays both side’s will power to avoid a shutdown, with the potential for it to put huge strain on the economy. However, Trump remains as hostile as ever to compromise and nuance, telling NBC, “The problem we have with the shutdown is that Democrats want to do all health care for illegal immigrants ... many of whom are criminal and that we are removing from our country,” and “We’re not going to do that.” This is another remarkable footnote of Trump’s incredibly turbulent second presidency. The following week will reveal whether the US government can continue to function under this intense partisanship.
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