Erdogan Claims Victory | Southern Syria Strikes | Venezuela Rule of Law
Council on Foreign Relations Newsletter If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view. June 25, 2018 Daily News Brief TOP OF THE AGENDA Erdogan’s Victory Sparks Warning of One-Man Rule Turkey’s main opposition candidate, Muharrem Ince, conceded defeat on Monday (Reuters) after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was reelected to a newly empowered presidency with 52.5 percent of the vote (Anadolu). In a victory address, Erdogan vowed to fight terrorist groups and “increase our country’s international reputation” (Hurriyet). The election grants Erdogan, who has dominated national politics since becoming prime minister in 2003, sweeping new powers (CNN) after a referendum last year changed Turkey from a parliamentary system to one with an executive presidency (AP). This election also marks the abolition of the office of prime minister. ANALYSIS "Turkey's election was held under a state of emergency, with media in the hands of state/majority control—so it can hardly be considered fair. It's important also not to discount legacy. The opposition put forward an excellent campaign—for the first time in decades," says Elmira Bayrasli. "Though the nation is split roughly between those who love and those who loathe the Turkish president, the anti-Erdogan half has always been splintered," Laura Pitel writes for the Financial Times. "In his effort to consolidate his personal grip on power, the Turkish president has alienated even political allies with his endless purge of opponents—real and imagined—leaving him with ever-smaller margins for error," CFR's Steven A. Cook writes for Foreign Policy. PACIFIC RIM Singapore Revises Trump-Kim Summit Cost Singapore picked up a tab of $12 million for hosting the June meeting between U.S. President Donald J. Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called the expense, mostly for security, “a cost we are willing to pay” for an event of “profound interest” (VOA). CAMBODIA: The United States and the European Union appear to be nearing punitive actions on Cambodia, including revoking tariff-free access to their markets (Nikkei), in response to Prime Minister Hun Sen's crackdown on the opposition ahead of July elections. CFR's Patricia M. Kim discusses managing U.S.-China competition. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA Kazakhstan Detains Dozens Ahead of Protests Police on Saturday arrested dozens across the country (RFE/RL) to head off unsanctioned demonstrations by the opposition Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan. The planned rallies were in support of a guarantee of free education. INDIA: The commercial capital Mumbai and neighboring district of Thane saw four deaths since Sunday evening (Hindustan Times) due to heavy rains. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Russia Strikes Southwestern Syria Despite Pact Washington had warned against violations of a cease-fire brokered by Russia, Jordan, and the United States (WSJ), but also reportedly told rebel groups that they should not base their battlefield decisions “on the assumption or expectation of a military intervention” (Reuters). SAUDI ARABIA: A decades-old ban on women driving was lifted (CNN) on Sunday, prompting more than 120,000 women to apply for a license, officials said. CFR’s Jamille Bigio writes that laws that discriminate against women cost the Middle East billions of dollars annually. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Zimbabwe Urges Political Participation After Attack Authorities will provide security to all candidates who request it (Herald) ahead of July elections, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga said at a rally Sunday, a day after a blast at a stadium where President Emmerson Mnangagwa was speaking left forty-nine people injured and one dead, according to state radio (Reuters). ETHIOPIA: A second person has died from wounds sustained during a grenade attack at a large political rally (Reuters) hosted by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa on Saturday, at which 156 were wounded. Police said that thirty suspects have been arrested. CFR’s Michelle D. Gavin looks at Ethiopia’s long political transition. EUROPE Nine EU Members Back Joint Intervention Force Germany and the United Kingdom are among the states expected to sign off on a French initiative to establish a European intervention force that can deploy rapidly (Guardian) around the world. Defense ministers meeting in Luxembourg are expected to sign a letter of intent on Monday. AMERICAS Mexican Police Detained After Candidate’s Murder The entire police force of the Michoacan town of Ocampo was arrested, suspected by federal agents in the murder of a mayoral candidate (BBC). More than one hundred politicians have been killed in Mexico ahead of general elections on July 1. VENEZUELA: UN human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein called the rule of law “virtually absent” in Venezuela (Reuters) after his office published a report saying security forces have faced no investigation or accountability for extrajudicial killings. UNITED STATES Trump Advocates Deporting Migrants Without Due Process President Trump called for immigrants who cross the U.S. border without permission to be deported without “Judges or Court Cases” (VOA) on Twitter on Sunday. The American Civil Liberties Union called the proposal “illegal and unconstitutional.” The Supreme Court will close out its term this week with a series of rulings, including one on the Trump administration’s travel ban on nationals of five Muslim-majority countries (Reuters). Council on Foreign Relations — 58 East 68th Street — New York, NY 10065 CFR does not share email addresses with third parties. Forward This Email | Subscribe to CFR Newsletters | Unsubscribe - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
From: dailybrief@e.cfr.org
Date: June 25, 2018 at 10:11PM
