Introducing the 32nd 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 09, 2024 and February 04, 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 Cyprus, having already served under two other presidents, Vasilis Palmas has been appointed as the new Defence Minister in the government’s reshuffle, replacing Michalis Giorgallas. Palmas, was born in Limassol in 1964. Having studied Political Science and Public Administration, he worked as a manager at Pharmaka Mining Group and was also a member of the state’s Tender Review Authority. Having led the Democratic Party (DIKO) youth section NEDIK, Palmas went on to become General Secretary of DIKO. He served as Press Director of the Office of the President of the Republic and Government Spokesperson in the Government of Tassos Papadopoulos. On 8 May, 2017, Palmas was appointed Deputy Minister to the President under Nicos Anastasiades, a position he held until February 2, 2022, when he resigned for personal reasons.

Shifting our focus to France, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has resigned, the French presidency said, as President Emmanuel Macron prepared to unveil a long-awaited cabinet reshuffle in an attempt to give a new impetus to his presidency. “Ms Elisabeth Borne today submitted the resignation of the government to the president, who accepted it,” the presidency said in a statement. Macron thanked Borne for “work in the service of our nation that has been exemplary every day”, in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Borne, appointed in May 2022, was only the second female prime minister in French history. She will act as caretaker until a new government is named. The president had fuelled speculation of a government reshuffle in December by promising a new political initiative. This came after the year 2023 was bookended by political crises prompted by highly contested reforms of the pension system and immigration laws. The move comes just five months before European Parliament elections, with Eurosceptics expected to make strong gains at a time of widespread public discontent over surging living costs and the difficulties European governments face in curbing migration flows. Opinion polls show Macron’s party is trailing that of far-right leader Marine Le Pen by around eight to 10 points ahead of the June vote.

In Grenada, the Grenada government appointed Phillip Telesford as the new Minister of Health. He was previously the Minister of Social and Community Development, Housing and Gender Affairs with responsibility for Community Development and Housing

In the realm of regulatory affairs, The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated two companies in Hong Kong (PRC) and the United Arab Emirates for shipping Iranian commodities on behalf of the network of Iran-based, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF)-backed Houthi financial facilitator Sa’id al-Jamal. OFAC is also identifying four vessels as blocked property in which these companies have an interest. The revenue from the commodity sales supports the Houthis and their continued attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. “The United States continues to take action against the illicit Iranian financial networks that fund the Houthis and facilitate their attacks,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. “Together with our allies and partners, we will take all available measures to stop the destabilizing activities of the Houthis and their threats to global commerce.” Today’s action is being taken under the counterterrorism authority in Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended. Sa’id al-Jamal was designated under E.O. 13224, as amended, on June 10, 2021, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the IRGC-QF. The IRGC-QF was designated under E.O. 13224 on October 25, 2007 for providing support to multiple terrorist groups.

Shifting our attention to legal advancements, Vietnam’s former health minister was sentenced to 18 years in prison Friday while dozens of other health officials and business people were handed jail terms for their roles in selling overpriced COVID-19 test kits. The Viet A scandal, named for the semi-private firm that made the kits, allegedly saw senior officials make multiple million-dollar deals to supply hospitals and local communities with testing equipment at vastly inflated prices. Vietnam initially stood out for its effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but officials were later caught pocketing money from companies organising repatriation flights and community testing. After a ten-day trial in Hanoi, a court found almost all of the 38 defendants guilty of bribery, abuse of power or other charges. Nguyen Thanh Long, health minister from 2020 to 2022, was sentenced to 18 years for taking bribes worth USD 2.25 million.