Domestic Politics

In a recent wide-ranging interview Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, appeared to be reinterpreting – if not exactly redefining – the relationship between state and religion in the Kingdom. This is highly dangerous and uncharted territory for a Saudi leader, but something that is absolutely necessary if the Kingdom is to reinvent itself as a modern progressive state, whilst respecting the religious foundations which are part of its legacy and legitimacy.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has dissolved the country's parliament and called snap elections for July 11, shortly after the Constitutional Court canceled a state of emergency that lawmakers had approved.

The election of the new Speaker of the Georgian parliament coincides with a thaw in the political crisis as a number of opposition MPs return to parliament following intensive mediation efforts conducted by the European Union.

Chad's new military transitional government rejected any negotiations with the rebels who are held responsible for killing the country's former president, Idris Deby, last week.  “Faced with this situation that endangers Chad and the stability of the entire sub-region, this is not the time for mediation or negotiation with outlaws,” a Chadian government official insisted 

EU said that "Friday’s votes and declarations constitute a blatant attack on the constitutional order of the Republic of Moldova and are an attempt to undermine the rule of law."

Tunisian politics are in stalemate following the president's continued refusal to formalise a ministerial reshuffle in the cabinet of the prime minister, Hichem Mechichi. According to the Ennahda movement, Tunisia’s President Kais Saied refused a proposal for a roundtable talk with Ennahda leader and the speaker of the parliament, Rashid Ghannouchi, and Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi. 

The situation in Chad remains tense following the shock announcement of the death of President Idriss Déby on Tuesday (20 April). He was reported killed while fighting against rebels who have been on the move since in the last days. Déby was a close ally for France and had ruled the country for around 30 years. Déby was heading for his sixth term as president after leading in the presidential elections held earlier this month. 

Georgia’s government and the majority of its opposition parties have signed an EU-brokered agreement to end the political crisis that has been ongoing since the country’s October-November parliamentary elections last year. The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, was in Tbilisi to meet with the leaders and parties that signed his proposal.