EIU Economic Overview
Hungary Economic Overviews
Hungary Economic Overviews POLITICAL STABILITY: The centre-right Fidesz-Hungarian Civic Union (Fidesz) has the strongest mandate of any government since the end of communism. Fidesz holds 263 of the 386 seats in parliament. The government has pursued a populist and nationalist agenda that satisfies its domestic supporters with little regard for international opinion. After a public [...]
Côte d’Ivoire Economic Overviews
Côte d’Ivoire Economic Overviews POLITICAL STABILITY: The legislative election held in December 2011 has bolstered the president, Alassane Ouattara, delivering a sizeable parliamentary majority to his party, the Rassemblement des républicains (RDR). The party’s long-standing ally, the Parti démocratique de Côte d’Ivoire-Rassemblement démocratique africain (PDCI), also fared strongly in the polls, and as a reward [...]
Switzerland Economic Overviews
Switzerland Economic Overviews POLITICAL STABILITY: The outlook for political stability in Switzerland remains favourable, following the general election in October 2011. One of the major trends to emerge from the election is expected to contribute to improved political stability in the forecast period, namely the reversal of the long-lasting rise of the right-wing Swiss People’s [...]
Equatorial Guinea: Economic Overviews
Equatorial Guinea: Economic Overviews POLITICAL STABILITY: After 32 years in office, the president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, is expected to retain his grip on power throughout the forecast period. Parliamentary scrutiny of the executive will remain lacking, while repression by the security services, including the harassment of opposition leaders, will prevent the extra-parliamentary opposition from [...]
Russia Economic Overviews
Russia: Economic Overviews POLITICAL STABILITY: Even allowing for some electoral irregularities, Vladimir Putin achieved a resounding victory over his lacklustre opponents in the presidential election on March 4th. His opponents were led by Gennady Zyuganov, a perennial also-ran and the leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF). The post-election protests in Moscow [...]
South Africa Economic Overviews
South Africa: Economic Overviews POLITICAL STABILITY: The ruling African National Congress (ANC) started celebrating its 100th anniversary in January 2012–and will remain the dominant political force during the forecast period–but the party will face several significant challenges that could threaten its unity in the build-up to a key, five-yearly electoral conference in December 2012 and [...]
Greece Economic Overviews
Greece: Economic Overviews POLITICAL STABILITY: Greece is going through a brief interlude of “unity” government led by Lucas Papademos, the non-party former governor of the Bank of Greece (the central bank). The government is supported, with reservations, by the two traditional leading parties that have governed Greece since 1974, the centre-right New Democracy (ND) and [...]
New Zealand: Economic Overviews 12 MAR 2012
New Zealand: Economic Overviews 12 MAR 2012 POLITICAL STABILITY: New Zealand will benefit from a stable political environment during the forecast period, aided by a well-established and transparent political process. General elections are held fairly frequently (a typical parliamentary term lasts between two and three years), but changes of government are smooth. The most recent [...]
Colombia: Economic Overviews 12 MAR 2012
Colombia: Economic Overviews 12 MAR 2012 POLITICAL STABILITY: The president, Juan Manuel Santos, of the centre-right Partido Social de Unidad Nacional (Partido de la U), will continue to push forward with his ambitious reform agenda, bolstered by his “National Unity” coalition–which also includes the centre-right Partido Conservador (PC), the centrist Cambio Radical (CR), the centre-left [...]
Saudi Arabia: Economic Overviews 12 MAR 2012
Saudi Arabia: Economic Overviews 12 MAR 2012 POLITICAL STABILITY: The rule of the Al Saud family is expected to remain secure in 2012-16, and thus far the kingdom has remained largely untouched by the so-called Arab Spring. Arguably the greatest challenge confronting the Al Saud will be managing the succession, following the death of the [...]
