Introducing the 34th edition of The PEP Weekly Digest, where we present to you the most recent updates and news on the global political stage.

Recent and upcoming elections influence the worldwide political landscape in eight nations, slated between January 14, 2024 and February 25, 2024. These elections hold significant importance, as they will determine the direction and governance of each respective country’s future.

One noteworthy event has occurred in Canada, a Nunavut minister has resigned from the territorial government’s cabinet after being on the job for 116 days. Premier P.J. Akeeagok said in a statement that Joelie Kaernerk resigned voluntarily after Akeeagok stripped him of his cabinet portfolios for violating MLA’s code of conduct. “Violations of our code of conduct are taken very seriously,” Akeeagok said. In his statement, the premier did not elaborate on how Kaernerk violated the code of conduct. Kaernerk was minister of Culture and Heritage, Languages, and was responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation. Kaernerk was sworn into cabinet on September 23, 2023 after both Joanna Quassa and Craig Simailak resigned from cabinet for personal reasons. He is the fourth cabinet minister to resign since the 2021 territorial election. Kaernerk, who is still an MLA in Nunavut’s Legislative Assembly, represents the electoral district of Amittuq. He was first elected in 2017. He previously worked for Nunavut’s Department of Justice and Baffinland Iron Mines, and was a Sanirajak municipal councillor.

Shifting our focus to Fiji, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says the decision to terminate Education Minister Aseri Radrodro was not made lightly and was taken only after due process was followed. Rabuka highlighted this in his address this afternoon while clarifying Radrodro’s dismissal. Rabuka says Radrodro terminated the appointment of the chairperson and three members of the Fiji National University Council, in May last year. He says Radrodro was advised via a legal opinion by the Solicitor General that the decision was unlawful and must be withdrawn.

In India, Alok Mehta took charge as the state’s education minister and praised the department’s officials for improving the attendance of teachers and students in schools and recruitment of new teachers. Without naming the department’s additional chief secretary, KK Pathak, and his strict approach towards improving the education system in the state, Mehta said, “Sometimes bitter pills help in fighting the disease.” Pathak appraised Mehta about different directorates, units and their functioning during an hour-long meeting with the officials. Later, while interacting with the media, Mehta said, I am grateful to former minister Chandra Shekhar Ji, KK Pathak Ji and other officials of the department who have changed its face. Very soon this department will set an example across the country. It is under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar and deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav that so many new teachers have been recruited in Bihar.

In the realm of regulatory affairs, Canada’s TD Bank faces a significant monetary penalty after an examination by the financial crimes watchdog found faulty anti-money laundering controls, the Globe and Mail reported. The Globe reported the monetary penalty is expected to exceed C$10 million ($7.44 million), which could be the biggest ever penalty slapped on a Canadian financial institution by the country’s anti-money laundering agency. The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), which is preparing to impose the penalty, completed an assessment of the lender in late 2023 and deemed its anti-money laundering compliance to be unsatisfactory, the report said, citing five people familiar with the matter. TD Bank said it was improving its anti-money laundering (AML) program and had appointed new executives and advisers to head those efforts.

Shifting our attention to legal advancements, in the United States, Former Los Angeles City Councilmember José Luis Huizar was sentenced today to 156 months in federal prison for using his powerful position at City Hall to enrich himself and his associates, as well as for cheating on his taxes. Huizar, 55, of Boyle Heights, was sentenced by United States District Judge John F. Walter, who also ordered him to pay $443,905 in restitution to the City of Los Angeles and $38,792 in restitution to the IRS. Judge Walter ordered Huizar to surrender to federal authorities no later than April 30.