Political parties
In a shocking move, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced his resignation last night, sparking a scramble for power as the Liberal Democrats weigh their options. Brown's surprise decision to step down as Labour leader by September has forced the Liberal Democrats to consider forming a coalition government
Prime ministers
Seven weeks after the Iraqi election, a special court disqualified a winning parliamentary candidate, leading to a possible reversal of the narrow defeat of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki's alliance. The candidate, Ibrahim al-Mutlaq, was accused of being a loyalist of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party, despite
Prime ministers
The upcoming general election in the UK is taking an unexpected turn as the Liberal Democrats have surged ahead in the polls, potentially forcing a coalition government. The contest is no longer a straightforward battle between Labour and Conservative parties. With 10 days left before the election, the talk is
Political parties
Japan's DPJ government, having secured a significant victory in the lower house election, faces numerous challenges in implementing its policy agenda amidst a fragile economic recovery. The government's attempt to reform the post-war economic model, characterized by export-led growth, will be hindered by deflation and a
Political parties
In 2010-11, Vanuatu's politics will remain volatile with Prime Minister Edward Natapei's coalition government facing no-confidence motions and a fragile parliamentary majority. The economy will begin to recover due to a pickup in global trade and investment flows, but financing the current-account deficit will be a
Prime ministers
The collapse of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's center-right government in the Czech Republic marks the fourth European government to fall in the wake of the global economic crisis. This development is set to complicate EU affairs, particularly as the 27-member bloc navigates the most severe economic crisis in
Prime ministers
The Czech government has collapsed after losing a vote of confidence, with the country's president, Václav Klaus, now set to name a caretaker administration. The coalition government of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, which has been struggling to cope with the economic crisis, suffered a crushing defeat in the
Political parties
The crisis in Japanese politics has led to a bizarre showdown between two dark-horse candidates, Toshiki Kaifu and Tomiichi Murayama, with the outcome of the vote for the country's next prime minister completely unpredictable. The wobbly eight-party coalition government, which has ruled Japan since displacing the Liberal Democratic
Political parties
Japan's opposition socialists, the Social Democratic Party, are torn between forming a government with the present ruling coalition of Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata or with its former arch-enemy, the Liberal Democratic Party. The SDP has formed a loose pact with the Sakigake party, but seems to be keeping
Prime ministers
Japan's politics have reached a new low as Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata announced his resignation after just 59 days in power, citing the need for a stable government. The country is now facing its third ineffective government in 10 months, with a caretaker cabinet unable to make decisions
Political parties
For the first time in Japan's modern history, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) have put aside their ideological differences and agreed to cooperate in bringing down the current coalition government. The unlikely alliance, forged in a surprise news conference, has sent shockwaves
Political parties
Tomiichi Murayama, leader of Japan's Social Democratic Party, cited the formation of a new coalition alliance, "Kaishin" (Innovation), as the reason for his party's breakaway from the governing coalition. The new group, formed by three larger parties and two small groups, has 130 members
