Facing international competition to attract people, jobs and firms, cities are branding themselves. But to succeed they must identify key values and address the question of identity.
Both Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron have gained from the very deep disaffection of the French electorate with its traditional political representatives.
France must now choose between two candidates with strongly opposing visions. The outcome of the May 7 run-off could radically alter France, as well as its position in Europe and in the world.
Europe has had a number of important elections over the past year, but for the EU none is as significant – or as potentially grave – as France’s upcoming presidential election.
Behind the judicial turmoils of some of the candidates, it is becoming increasingly clear that the French presidential campaign is about two significantly opposed visions of the future.
Mikayel Zolyan, Yerevan State University of Languages and Social Sciences
Armenia’s upcoming election should advance the country’s transition from presidential to parliamentary system. But President Serzh Sargsyan may have a hidden agenda to retain power beyond his term’s end.