Since 2022, Hungary can no longer be considered a full-fledged democracy. The political and economic development in the country has meant that many young and highly educated people choose to leave. Photo: Agnes Fältman.
Of: Agnes Fältman
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Fidesz, the nationalist ruling party, has over the past decade systematically dismantled the country's democratic institutions. In an increasingly harsh economic and political climatemany young and highly educated Hungarians choose to move abroad. What can attract them back? Can liberal winds blowing across former nationalist ally Poland bring hope for change?
February 26, 2024, FUF-correspondents, Report
Poland is facing a change of government - but the road there is not entirely easy. Pictured: The leaders from the Citizens' Coalition are presented by Donald Tusk, former Prime Minister and President of the European Council (second person from the right). Photo: Club Lewisy. Source: Flickr.
Of: Edwin Borg
In October, the people of Poland voted for the Citizens' Coalition as the winning party. Now the parties, under the leadership of Donald Tusk, aim to end a dark chapter of gradual erosion of the country's democracy. But even if the majority is secured, a complex road ahead awaits with political uncertainty and a struggle for government power against the ruling Law and Justice party.
December 4, 2023, Development magazine explains
In the spring, millions of people in France protested against Macron's presidential reform - despite the fact that the new retirement age in the country, 64, is still lower than the global average. Pictured: Police officers prepare for the arrival of the demonstration train in Bordeaux. Photo: Vendela Hammarbäck.
Of: Vendela Permat's Hammarbäck
Since January of this year, the French population has protested against a political reform that raises the retirement age in the country from 62 to 64 years, despite the fact that the global average retirement age is 65 years. However, it was want to themselves the increase of pensionsthe age that most angered the French population, but the way the bill passed—by the French government bypassed the French Assemblée Nationale to get the proposal through.
May 10, 2023, Report
20-year-old Amapola Manquehual in Chile continues to participate in the protests for abortion rights and social reforms that have swept Latin America in recent years. This despite the fact that Chile last autumn voted no to a constitutional proposal that would legalize abortion in the country. Photo: Vilma Ellemark/Amapola Manquehual.
Of: Vilma Ellemark
In September 2022, Chile voted no to a historic constitutional proposal that, among other things, included gender quotas in public bodies and the right to abortion. This after several years of protests for social reforms and women's rights. - I cried when I saw the result, but I still have hope, says women's rights activist Amapola Manquehual.
April 5, 2023, FUF-correspondents, Interview
In November, the International Center for Local Democracy (ICLD) concluded the 2022 round of the Women's Leadership Program. The final workshop was held in Kigali, Rwanda. In the picture, this year's participants can be seen together with the Swedish politicians who through Sweden's Municipalities and Regions (SKR) are mentors in the program, as well as Rwanda's Minister for Gender Equality Jeannette Bayisenge and Sweden's ambassador to Rwanda Johanna Teague. Photo: ICLD.
Of: Agnes Durbeej-Hjalt
Every year, the International Center for Local Democracy (ICLD) organizes a leadership program for women in local political positions of power in low- and middle-income countries. The aim is to strengthen women in their leadership role to contribute to the development of local democracy. Development magazine has interviewed Anne Scheffer Leander, responsible for the program, about how the promotion of local democracy actually works in practice.
January 23, 2023, Interview
Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M) received sharp criticism during last week's debate - among other things for having called Turkey a democracy. Photo: Reinis Inkēns, Saeima's Administration. Source: Wikimedia commons.
Of: Elianne Kjellman and Ella Sjöbeck
Foreign Minister Tobias Billström's (M) statements about Turkey have stirred emotions during the past week's debate. The new government's aid and climate policy has also been debated.
November 7, 2022, Current debate
Brazil uses electronic ballot boxes and technological solutions to identify voters in political elections. But this technology has been both praised and criticized. Pictured: Brazil's newly elected president - the left-wing leader Lula da Silva. Photo: Alexander Bonilla. Source: Flickr.
Of: Fredrik Govenius
Brazil is one of the few countries in the world that uses electronic ballot boxes and technology to identify the voter. The electoral authority in the country considers the system to be secure, while critics say it is vulnerable to hackers and that the lack of physical evidence of votes is problematic.
November 1, 2022, Development magazine explains
September 11 is election day in Sweden, and even more people should show their commitment to global development issues on the ballot. That is what FUF member Marcus Karlén writes in a column. Photo: Jens OZ Ehrs/Southerly Clubs. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Of: Marcus Karlén
Election day is a day of celebration for Swedish democracy, freedom of expression, freedom of association and political equality. And even more should demonstrate their commitment to global development issues on the ballot and through political engagement. That's what Marcus Karlén, non-profit active within FUF, writes in a column about the parliamentary election on 11 September.
September 9, 2022, Chronicle
Maidan Square where the 2014 riots launched Ukraine's quiet revolution. The silence refers to the engine of democracy that decentralization has been in Ukraine. Photo: Juan Antonio Segal. Source: Wikimedia commons.
Of: Andreas Klawitter
The decentralization reform which has ongoing in Ukraine since 2014 has been described as one of the main reasons for the country's valiant resistance in the war against Russia - which was not included on the spreadsheets of analysts around the world. Sweden has a decisive importance for the continued survival of the reform.
July 28, 2022, Almedalen - article, Report
In Johan Perhrson's (L) party leadership speech during Almedalen Week, he raised several foreign policy issues - including the EU, NATO and Swedish democracy assistance.
Of: Julia Lundén Azzeddine, Andreas Klawitter and Elin Malmqvist
"The school's biggest champion". This is how the Liberals' party leader Johan Pehrson was introduced at Tuesday's second party leadership speech during Almedalen Week 2022. When Pehrson left Sweden and the school world for a while, he highlighted, among other things, the security policy situation in the world and Swedish democracy assistance.
July 6, 2022, Almedalen - article, News
