Dear readers, to all those who follow the news day and night, here is the summary of Sunday 9 February, always rich in major events, which each day continues to write our future.
France: adoption of the budget in a turbulent government
On February 6, 2025, the French Senate definitively adopted the Budget 2025, after a final vote of 219 in favor and 107 against. Indeed, despite the tense of political context, the State budget, as well as the first part of the Social Security budget, passed through the key legislative stages. When a bill is controversial and debated in the National Assembly, opposition MPs often table a large number of amendments and prolong discussions with the Senate. In other words, in France, opposition deputies seek to influence or slow down the passage of legislation by tabling amendments, thereby prolonging debates and complicating the legislative process. This enables the government to invoke article 49.3 of the Constitution, speeding the process by allowing the bill to be passed without a vote. Last week, in response to Minister François Bayrou's use of Article 49.3, the opposition party La France Insoumise tabled two motions of censure, both of which were rejected due to insufficient support.
Germany: Friedrich Merz hopes to form a government by April 2025
Following the dissolution of the Bundestag on December 27, 2024, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has set the date for new elections to be held on February 23th 2025. According to the latest survey, Friedrich Merz, leader of the CDU party and favourite to be Chancellor, will talk about his ambitions after the parliamentary elections scheduled for February 23, 2025. According to the polls, the CDU/CSU is leading with around 30% of the vote, followed by the far-right AfD with 20%. Mr. Merz has said he wants to form a government within two months of the election, to do so before the summer recess, i.e. before Easter on April 20. To realize it, one feasible approach is forming a grand coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SPD), which seems realistic. Hence, he acknowledged that this remains an ambitious challenge, especially with the rise of opposition parties and the difficulty of obtaining a stable majority.
Sweden's Worst Mass Shooting
Sweden experienced the deadliest fusillade in the country's history, on February the 4th. A gunman opened fire in an adult education center in Örebro, killing at least 10 people, and 6 injured. The attack took place at Campus Risbergska, a training institute. The shooter, who was not known to the authorities, died at the scene, presumed to have committed suicide.
School shootings are rare in Sweden, and this tragedy highlights the country's growing concern about gun violence.
Trump plans to turn Gaza into a “ French Riviera “ ?
Donald Trump has presented a bold and highly criticized vision for Gaza, imagining its transformation into an economically prosperous area, comparable to the Côte d'Azur. For him, peace in the region depends above all on concrete economic solutions, irrespective of human rights and considerations or international principles. According to geopolitical researcher Sébastien Boussois, Trump would adopt a “pragmatic” approach by deporting the population of Gaza to Egypt and Jordan, without much concern for the political implications, nor the consent of the countries . Hence, several countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, could support this project in exchange for economic agreements, although this vision remains widely contested on the world scene.
Russia claims capture of Toretsk, key Donbass city
After months of assaults, the mining town of Toretsk is in Russian hands. Although the Ukrainian authorities have not yet confirmed the full capture of the town, Russian forces continue to advance towards new strategic objectives in the region. On the one hand, this victory marks a key moment in the ongoing war. Indeed, analysts point out that Moscow is trying to create the illusion of continuous progress in order to demoralise Ukraine and its allies. On the other hand, this advance could be hampered by internal Russian difficulties, notably a lack of resources. As a result, calls for peace are multiplying, notably from Donald Trump, who has expressed his desire to negotiate a rapid end to the conflict.
Last, let’s try to give some hope in the writing of our history, which is fed mainly by conflict, war, violence and political stupidity. There's some more positive news too, such as the thousands of baby turtles released in Brazil on this 9th of February. The Federal University of Amazonas has been running projects aimed at boosting turtle numbers for a decade. This is a huge step forward in the environmental conservation of the Amazon. Indeed, let's remember that the conservation of our planet remains a major issue, and let's hope that our politicians don't forget it.
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