Spain's Government
As of now, Spain has no government. However, it doesn’t seem to have much of an issue on their economy as of yet. Spain has not been able to elect a prime minister for over 9 months now. In the short term, the lack of the government is not affecting the economic boom in Spain, continued lack of government will not provide Spain’s economy the support it needs. The reason the current prime minister is not being reelected is the fact that he has the most votes, but not a majority as the Socialist party refuses to vote for him.
Italian Leadership Crisis
Matteo Renzi, the PM of Italy, is resigning. He is the head of Italy’s center-left Democratic Party, known as the PD, and his recent attempt at enacting constitutional reforms failed; there was a vast margin of opposition. He stated that he would resign after this defeat. Italy is forecasted to be left without a prime minister at least until February; until then, it will be almost impossible to make any significant changes to the government, or to the electoral college system (Italcum), which many Italians currently find to be dissatisfactory.
As of now, Spain has no government. However, it doesn’t seem to have much of an issue on their economy as of yet. Spain has not been able to elect a prime minister for over 9 months now. In the short term, the lack of the government is not affecting the economic boom in Spain, continued lack of government will not provide Spain’s economy the support it needs. The reason the current prime minister is not being reelected is the fact that he has the most votes, but not a majority as the Socialist party refuses to vote for him.
Italian Leadership Crisis
Matteo Renzi, the PM of Italy, is resigning. He is the head of Italy’s center-left Democratic Party, known as the PD, and his recent attempt at enacting constitutional reforms failed; there was a vast margin of opposition. He stated that he would resign after this defeat. Italy is forecasted to be left without a prime minister at least until February; until then, it will be almost impossible to make any significant changes to the government, or to the electoral college system (Italcum), which many Italians currently find to be dissatisfactory.
Kosovan Independence
Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, and this declaration was recognized as valid by the United Nations in 2010. However, even now, Serbia does not recognize Kosovo’s independence from them and still considers it to be under their jurisdiction (most countries do not recognize the independence of former territories or areas until many years thereafter). There are a lot of tensions between these two Balkan states (as well as their neighbors) concerning this conflict. Additionally, as five of twenty-eight European Union countries, mostly those allied with Serbia, do not recognize its independence, Kosovo is having difficulties entering the European Union.
Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, and this declaration was recognized as valid by the United Nations in 2010. However, even now, Serbia does not recognize Kosovo’s independence from them and still considers it to be under their jurisdiction (most countries do not recognize the independence of former territories or areas until many years thereafter). There are a lot of tensions between these two Balkan states (as well as their neighbors) concerning this conflict. Additionally, as five of twenty-eight European Union countries, mostly those allied with Serbia, do not recognize its independence, Kosovo is having difficulties entering the European Union.
Western Balkans Corruption
The political tension in the Western Balkans is mainly due to the amount of wars, as well as the overlap of various groups as shown by the historical contest over the area (Ottomans vs. Hapsburgs, western bloc vs. Soviet bloc, etc). Even though the EU is providing them with a lot of financial support, these nations still have are very politically unstable and corrupt. For example, According to Transparency International, Albania for example has a score of 36 (out of 100), making it more corrupt than many sub-Saharan countries such as Senegal and Ghana. This corruption has many consequences including lack of admission into the EU, less press freedom, and generally less government accountability.
The political tension in the Western Balkans is mainly due to the amount of wars, as well as the overlap of various groups as shown by the historical contest over the area (Ottomans vs. Hapsburgs, western bloc vs. Soviet bloc, etc). Even though the EU is providing them with a lot of financial support, these nations still have are very politically unstable and corrupt. For example, According to Transparency International, Albania for example has a score of 36 (out of 100), making it more corrupt than many sub-Saharan countries such as Senegal and Ghana. This corruption has many consequences including lack of admission into the EU, less press freedom, and generally less government accountability.