World in Brief - The Economist Roundup

 

World in Brief

The Economist Roundup

Constitutional crisis in Ankara

Turkey’s main opposition, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), cancelled a rally, originally scheduled to take place on Sunday in Ankara, intended to show support for the country’s constitutional court. The court is fending off challenges from both another branch of the judiciary and the government. The CHP said its decision was made out of respect for the nine Turkish soldiers killed in a cross-border operation against Kurdish insurgents.

The rally has been called off, but the judicial crisis remains. On two occasions, most recently on December 21st, the constitutional court ordered the release of one of Turkey’s best-known political prisoners, Can Atalay, only for the Supreme Court of Cassation, a lower court, to refuse to comply. Mr Atalay, an MP from a small hard-left opposition party, was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment on trumped-up charges of plotting a coup over his involvement in protests a decade ago. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president, called him a “terrorist” and accused the top court of making “many mistakes”.

The CHP’s new leader, Ozgur Ozel, has warned of a “coup attempt”. Mr Erdogan, in power since 2003, has already hobbled Turkey’s judiciary, including the constitutional court. The standoff over Mr Atalay will weaken it further.

Guatemala gets news president

Bernardo Arévalo will be sworn in as Guatemala’s new president on Sunday. The 65-year-old former diplomat has run a gauntlet to get there. After a surprise win in an election last year, a group of elites known as the “pact of the corrupt” tried to stop him from taking power. They insisted that ballots be reviewed, and tried to suspend his party, Semilla.

Widely regarded as competent and clean, Mr Arévalo offers Guatemalans hope for change. But bringing it about will be difficult. With only 23 of 160 seats in the congress, Semilla will have to find ways to convince lawmakers to support its plans—without offering the usual incentive of lucrative contracts. Attempts to undermine the president and his government are likely to continue. But Mr Arévalo has appointed a balanced cabinet, mixing politicians and technocrats. The country’s health care, education and infrastructure are in a dire state. Any improvement will be noticeable.

Denmark’s king is crowned

On Sunday northern Europe will lose its last female monarch when Margrethe of Denmark steps down after 52 years. Her son, Frederik, will appear on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen to be proclaimed king, before touring the capital in the royal coach to wave at his shivering subjects.

Margrethe’s abdication surprised many Danes—reportedly including Frederik, who was informed just a few days before it was announced. The state gives the monarch a monthly stipend of about $1m, including travel expenses and palace upkeep; the budget is set to rise. But that is hardly extravagant by British standards (the British royal family’s annual “sovereign grant” is nearly $110m). And 78% of Danes approve of the monarchy, up from 42% when Margrethe acceded. Before long, queens may be back in Europe: Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden is 77, and his heir is his daughter Victoria.

Chasing records at the Australian Open

As he enters the 22nd year of his professional tennis career, Novak Djokovic has more records in his sights. He has already won more Grand Slam singles titles than any other man. But if he wins the Australian Open, which begins on Sunday in Melbourne, he would surpass Margaret Court’s tally of 24 to become the most successful singles player of either gender. A sweep of all four Grand Slams in a calendar year would also remain in his grasp; no man has managed that in the Open era, which began in 1968. Standing in Mr Djokovic’s way will be his main rivals, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, along with Italy’s fast-improving Jannik Sinner.

However, Mr Djokovic is unlikely to win the adulation of the Melbourne crowds. His refusal to abide by Australia’s covid protocols in 2022 caused a diplomatic incident and his eventual deportation. When he returned last year, Mr Djokovic complained to umpires about his rough treatment from members of the crowd. Nonetheless, he still rallied to win the title.

 

Foreign governments, including those of America, Britain and Japan, and the European Union, congratulated William Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party on winning Taiwan’s presidential election on Saturday. In simultaneous legislative elections, the DPP lost its parliamentary majority. A Chinese spokesman said the election results showed the DPP “does not represent mainstream public opinion”, and that China remains set on “national unification”. Taiwan’s foreign ministry called on China to “face reality”.

 

Thousands of Israelis, including relatives of those still being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, gathered in Tel Aviv to mark the 100th day since October 7th, when Hamas militants killed 1,200 Israelis. Around 130 hostages are still unaccounted for; 110 were released in November. Elsewhere, large pro-Palestinian rallies took place in cities including London and Washington on Saturday.

 

President Joe Biden said America sent a “private message” to Iran about the Houthis, an Iran-backed Yemeni militant group. On Saturday America launched further strikes against the rebels, which have been attacking cargo ships in the Red Sea. The Houthis said that the strikes had been ineffective and vowed a “strong and effective response”.

 

Donald Trump is heading into the Iowa caucuses as the first choice of 48% of probable Republican caucus goers, according to a poll from NBC News and the Des Moines Register. Nikki Haley is the favourite for 20% of them. Ms Haley overtook Ron DeSantis, Florida’s governor, who came second in December’s poll. Mr Trump is the firm favourite to win the Republican presidential nomination.

 

Turkey said it had “neutralised” 45 members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), an armed Kurdish group, and destroyed 29 “targets” with a series of air strikes in northern Syria. The attacks come after nine Turkish soldiers were killed in a clash with the PKK—which first launched an insurgency against the Turkish state in 1984—in northern Iraq on Friday.

 

America was beset by wintry conditions, with more than 30m people placed under cold-weather warnings. The freezing temperatures, caused by a blast of Arctic air, have resulted in two inches (5cm) of snowfall in New York since Friday, and some parts of the country are expecting 12 inches. It is an abrupt end to what has so far been a mild winter for the country.