Jamhuriyar Nijar: Ina makomar ilimi? – DW – 06/03/2025
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
DW
5 hours ago
- DW
Shadow of dynastic politics shrouds Southeast Asia – DW – 06/05/2025
Political dynasties are stronger than ever in Southeast Asia, as the offspring of former leaders hold power in half of the region's countries. Brunei remains one of the world's last absolute monarchies. In the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — the son and namesake of the country's former dictator — occupies the presidential palace. At the same time, Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, serves as his second-in-command. Cambodia's premiership passed from Hun Sen to his son Hun Manet in mid-2023, ending Hun Sen's 38-year tenure. In Thailand, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, assumed office in August last year, bolstering the Shinawatra family's longstanding influence. Laos' head of government, Sonexay Siphandone, is the son of Khamtay Siphandone, a leading figure in Lao politics throughout the 1990s. In Indonesia, President Prabowo Subianto, once the former dictator Suharto's son-in-law, took office last year, alongside Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, son of former President Joko Widodo. And while Singapore's recent leadership change saw Lawrence Wong become prime minister, its governance has long been dominated by the Lee Kuan Yew family's legacy. Concerns in Malaysia Now, Malaysia's fragile coalition also faces accusations of dynastic creep. Last week, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, was elected deputy president of the ruling People's Justice Party (PKR), while his wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, leads the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition. Nurul's decisive victory over Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli — widely regarded as the party's reformist intellectual — prompted both Rafizi and Environment Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad to resign from the Cabinet. "Anwar's daughter has her own reform credentials, but the framing of nepotism undermines her role as a successor and cuts into the credibility of Anwar's government. It is no surprise that this has emerged as an opposition framing," Bridget Welsh, an honorary research associate at the University of Nottingham's Asia Research Institute Malaysia, told DW. "PKR as a party has become more centralized around the Anwar family and this weakens the party long term in terms of outreach and diversity of representation," she added. US-China tensions test ties between ASEAN members To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Dynastic influence extends beyond ruling parties. In Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of the country's founding father, has been a central figure in pro-democracy movements and served as de facto prime minister until being ousted by the military in 2021. "I don't think there will soon be any reduction in their power," Joshua Kurlantzick, senior fellow for Southeast Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations, told DW. "The countries where they are most prominent are all still continuing with political dynasties playing major roles, and there is a looming dynasty war in the Philippines," he added. Feuds in Manila The Philippines' midterm elections last month underscored this rivalry: former allies, Marcos and Duterte clans went head-to-head following the collapse of their alliance over policy and personal differences. In February, Sara Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives over alleged misuse of government funds. She is due for a Senate trial this month which could bar her from future office. Should she win, the 2029 presidential contest will likely pit her against Martin Romualdez, President Marcos Jr.'s cousin and current House speaker. "Even if she is convicted, it won't put a stop to dynastic persistence in Philippine politics, but it will be a fatal blow to the Duterte dynasty," Aries A. Arugay, visiting senior fellow at ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute, told DW. "This means that she won't be able to protect the interests of her dynasty and makes her vulnerable to more charges/persecution from her opponents. An acquittal is key to her political survival, but also reclaiming power that the Dutertes lost in 2022." In Laos, the ruling Lao People's Revolutionary Party will convene its National Congress next January to select leadership for the coming five years. Observers expect a dynastic struggle between Sonexay Siphandone, who is seeking a second term as prime minister, and National Assembly President Xaysomphone Phomvihane, the scion of an influential family. Vietnam stands out in the region: despite its communist one-party rule, no political family has yet dominated at the national level. Local politics, however, is another story. "Despite its authoritarian leanings, Vietnamese politics relies on a delicate balance of collective leadership within the one-party system," Khac Giang Nguyen, a visiting fellow at the ISEAS — Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, told DW. "Institutional checks are in place to prevent the extreme personalization of power, though it still happens from time to time. This makes it tough for princelings to gain real traction. Some have landed important posts, but none have managed to reach the very top," he added. Relief for wives of Duterte's drug war victims To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Fat and thin dynasties Zachary Abuza, professor at the National War College in Washington, told DW that one "concerning" trend is that political families are becoming "fat dynasties." Not only are elite positions passed from parent to child, but more family members are occupying posts across different government branches, he said. In the Philippines' latest midterms, for example, four pairs of siblings secured Senate seats — amounting to one-third of the chamber — and eighteen provinces now fall under "obese" dynastic control. In Cambodia, such entrenchment is perhaps most pronounced: the ruling party often arranges marriages among ministers' children. Hun Manet's wife is the daughter of a former Labour Ministry grandee; his brother Hun Many oversees the civil service as minister, while another brother, Hun Manith, commands the armed forces and military intelligence. Is this resurgence of familial rule harmful? Analysts point to deep-seated factors for the entrenchment of dynasties in Southeast Asia, from the region's pre-colonial history of local chieftains to the weakness of political parties over individual politicians and the inadequacy of anti-corruption efforts. Conventional wisdom holds that dynastic politics both cause and reflect shrinking democratic space. Over the past decade, most Southeast Asian countries have seen declines in Freedom in the World rankings by US-based NGO Freedom House. "The dynastic power transition represents authoritarian continuity rather than a democratic opening," researchers Andrea Haefner and Sovinda Po wrote in a February paper on Southeast Asian dynasties. New Thai prime minister third in family to hold office To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Yet, one unexpected effect has been the advancement of women. Maria Diana Belza of the University of the Philippines argues that dynastic openings have increased female representation: when male relatives reach term limits or fall from favor, women heirs often step in to preserve their family's political network. However, Belza cautions that the growing number of women in politics "does not necessarily lead to greater political participation for women outside of dynastic circles." To date, only seven women have held Southeast Asia's top offices: Corazon Aquino, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Megawati Sukarnoputri, Yingluck Shinawatra, Aung San Suu Kyi, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and Halimah Yacob. Except for the current Singaporean President Halimah, all were daughters, wives, or sisters of former male leaders. As dynasties consolidate power, it's uncertain whether Southeast Asia's political landscape can steer toward broader participation. For now, family ties remain deeply woven into the region's ruling structures, raising vital questions about governance, accountability and the future of democracy. Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru
DW
9 hours ago
- DW
Burundi votes in election with opposition sidelined – DW – 06/05/2025
Burundi is heading to the polls in a tightly controlled vote expected to favor the ruling party. The opposition has been blocked as the country faces deepening economic crisis. Voters in Burundi went to the polls to vote for a new parliament on Thursday, with the outcome almost predetermined after the main opposition was effectively blocked from competing. The ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) party, led by President Evariste Ndayishimiye, faces little electoral threat after a series of moves neutralized its primary rival, the National Freedom Council (CNL). What do we know about the Burundi election? The CNL, which placed second in the 2020 election amid alleged widespread fraud, was suspended in 2023 by the Interior Ministry over alleged "irregularities" in how it held meetings. Later that year, while party leader Agathon Rwasa was abroad, the CNL ousted him in a move widely seen as orchestrated by the government. He was replaced by Nestor Girukwishaka — a former minister and executive at a state-owned company with close ties to the ruling party — prompting accusations of a government-backed internal coup. Rwasa and his allies have since been barred from joining other opposition groups or standing as independents, effectively shutting them out of Thursday's vote. One Burundian political analyst, speaking anonymouslyto the AFP news agency because of security fears, told the CNDD-FDD was leaving nothing to chance amid "a very deep socio-economic crisis." Burundi: Students boost food security with AI To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Burundi, a former German colony, faces poverty and economic crisis The country, already one of the poorest in the world, is grappling with widespread shortages, soaring inflation—reportedly exceeding 40% monthly—and rising public anger. Burundi, a former German colony, has a long history of ethnic conflict, civil war, and authoritarian rule. Thursday's vote, observers say, will likely reinforce the ruling party's grip on power as it faces mounting internal pressure over economic mismanagement and political repression. Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher
DW
9 hours ago
- DW
How the fragile US-China trade truce is unraveling – DW – 06/05/2025
Donald Trump has accused Beijing of breaching last month's deal to cut steep tit-for-tat tariffs. Could a much-awaited call between the US and Chinese presidents break the deadlock? The world exhaled when the United States and China unveiled a 90-day tariff truce last month, pausing the escalating trade war between the globe's largest and second-largest economies, which had rattled businesses and investors. The deal, after tense negotiations in Geneva, slashed US tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% to 30% and China's retaliatory levies on US goods from 125% to 10%. Just three weeks later, however, US President Donald Trump reignited tensions, saying that China had "totally violated" the truce deal, without providing further details. Trump later said his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, was "extremely hard to make a deal with." China swiftly countered, asserting that Washington had imposed "discriminatory and restrictive measures" since the Geneva talks, pointing to US curbs on chip design software and warnings about artificial intelligence (AI) chips produced by Chinese tech giant Huawei. Deal stalled over US access to rare earths US policymakers have voiced frustration at China's stalling on export license approvals for rare earths and other elements needed in the high-tech, defense, and clean energy sectors. China, which dominates global rare-earth production with over two-thirds of supply and 90% of processing capacity, has imposed export restrictions on several key minerals. The US, lacking domestic rare-earth processing capacity, remains highly vulnerable to Beijing's restrictions. Confusion remains over what was agreed on rare earths in Geneva. In an interview with news agency Bloomberg on Wednesday, Cory Combs, head of critical-mineral supply chain research at Trivium China, said Washington believed that Beijing would "completely remove the requirement of an approval [for export licenses]," which Beijing said it did not agree to. Michael Hart, AmCham China president, told the Financial Times on Monday that China has now stepped up approvals to ship rare earths to several US carmakers, noting how "only a handful" of officials are handling thousands of applications. Trump's economic philosophy: A real plan or simply chaos? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Penny Naas, a distinguished fellow at the US-based German Marshal Fund think tank, thinks the rare earths are "China's biggest card," telling DW that "a key part of the negotiation will be when and how they liberalize the trade in those products." Naas expressed little surprise at the renewed war of words between Washington and Beijing, noting that, "You often see these highs and lows and even near-death experiences before deals are reached." But with the clock ticking until August 12 — when the 90-day pause expires — and both sides accusing the other of violations, the prospects for a lasting ceasefire and a long-term deal remain uncertain. Trump uses tariffs for maximum leverage Beyond securing access to China's rare minerals, the US seeks to cut its trade deficit with China, which was $295 billion (€259 billion) in 2024 — up nearly 6% on the previous year. The Trump administration has urged Beijing to boost purchases of American goods and eliminate non-tariff barriers, such as anti-monopoly probes targeting US companies and the designation of certain American firms as "unreliable entities." Washington has also demanded further economic reforms and an end to the manipulation of the Chinese yuan, which is kept artificially low to help boost exports. In April, when Trump announced his unprecedented tariffs, the yuan hit a 20-month low of 7.2038 against the dollar and is expected to weaken further if the higher US levies are reinstated. Trump has also pressed China to strengthen efforts to curb illegal immigration and halt exports of precursor chemicals used to produce fentanyl, an opioid fueling a public health crisis in the US. Will Trump-Xi call break the impasse? With US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledging last week that negotiations have "stalled," all eyes are on whether a call between Trump and Xi will break the tariff deadlock. The US president has said for months that the two leaders were due to speak and even spoke of traveling to China for talks, without a public response from Beijing. US President Donald Trump said his Chinese counterpart is 'extremely hard' to make a deal with Image: Francis Chung/Imago The White House said Monday that a Trump-Xi call was "likely" to take place this week, a development that Antonio Fatas, an economics professor at INSEAD business school, said the US president would see as "his victory." "Trump's typically the one who calls people and tells them what to do," Fatas told DW. "But with a powerful player like China, that's not going to work. I wouldn't be surprised if China postpones the call." Although Trump will get the chance to talk to other world leaders on the sidelines of the upcoming G7 and NATO summits, the US and Chinese presidents aren't likely to meet in person until later in the year, signaling a protracted tussle that could last several more months. Tariff court battle plays into China's hands Another boon to China could be the lack of clarity over Trump's unprecedented tariffs after a US trade court last week ruled they were illegal. Although a higher court temporarily reinstated the levies, the White House has threatened to go to the Supreme Court for the ultimate ruling. "There may be a hesitancy to go all in on an offer at this moment when there's a large lack of clarity about the US position," the German Marshall Fund's Naas told DW. INSEAD's Fatas, meanwhile, predicted that the truce would be extended beyond the 90 days, adding: "Until I see the possibility of a real compromise on both sides, I'll remain very cautious and uncertainty remains incredibly high." Tariffs distract from US-China tech battle Both the Trump and Biden administrations have prioritized maintaining the US's technological edge over China, but there are growing concerns that the tariff policies are diverting resources and focus from US firms' ability to achieve this goal. Investor nervousness that the tariffs could cause a US recession has intensified. The tariffs have already increased costs and strained budgets for American tech firms, limiting their capacity to invest in research and development (R&D) at a critical time. With tariffs consuming significant attention among US policymakers, initiatives to bolster domestic innovation risk being sidelined. NVIDIA profits up, despite trade war challenges To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Beijing, meanwhile, has doubled down on the need to reduce its dependence on US technology. Through substantial state subsidies, China has advanced its capabilities in AI, quantum computing, advanced chip production, and 6G telecommunications, narrowing the technological gap with the US. Naas thinks that China has now caught up on "most of the technological advantage the US thought it had" and that US companies say they're "falling behind while spending all their time on reorienting their supply chains." "Is that the best use of their time when we're in hand-to-hand combat on the future of technology?" she asks. Edited by: Uwe Hessler
