May 5 – Latin America: PANAMA
Panama’s Vice President and opposition leader Juan Carlos Varela scores a surprising victory over President Ricardo Martinelli in the country’s presidential elections. Once Martinelli’s ally, Varela became his fierce critic, accusing him of corruption. As the leader of the conservative Panamenista Party, Varela promised to promote free trade. He will oversee a $5.3 billion expansion of the Panama Canal that is scheduled to complete in 2014.
May 7 – East Asia: THAILAND
Thailand’s Constitutional Court orders Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and several of her ministers to step down, saying she acted illegally when appointing her security adviser. A caretaker government is established. Anti-government groups have been protesting since November 2013 in an effort to oust her. (May 10): Thousands of supporters of ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra hold rallies across the country. (May 22): Thailand’s military seizes power in a coup and suspends the constitution. It says the move was necessary to stop the violence in Bangkok and many other cities across the country.
May 9 – Africa: SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) wins a sweeping victory in the country’s parliamentary elections, gathering 62 percent of the vote and leaving the Democratic Alliance (DA) behind with only 22 percent. It is expected that after such an impressive win, the ANC will focus on implementing its National Development Plan that seeks to cut unemployment rate to 14 percent by 2020 from 25 percent, and eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030.
May 11 – Europe / Former Soviet Republics: UKRAINE
Pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine’s eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk declare independence after referendums. The European Union, the United States, and the Ukrainian government say they will not recognize the outcome. Russia has mobilized tens of thousands of troops on its western border with Ukraine. (May 25): Ukrainian businessman and a billionaire Petro Poroshenko wins the country’s presidential elections on the promises to resolve the crisis and bring peace to Ukraine.
May 12 – South Asia: INDIA
India ends its 36-day, nine-phase parliamentary elections that began on April 7. More than 500 million people voted, breaking the record turnout of 66.5 percent. The main contest was between the Congress Party and the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). After a decade of rule by the Congress, the Hindu BJP won by a landslide gaining the majority in the parliament, while for the Congress, this was its worst performance ever. BJP’s Narendra Modi will become India’s next prime minister. Indian voters punished Congress for its inability to fight corruption and control inflation, bringing in the BJP that has promised development and good governance.
May 14 – Europe / Middle East: TURKEY
Angry crowds of demonstrators in Turkey protest the country’s worst ever mine disaster in western town of Soma, which killed at least 301 miners. People blame the government for poor safety regulations and demand the resignation of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He is also criticized for insensitive comments, while trying to defend the Turkish government. But Turkey’s mine safety record is bleak; since 2000, Turkey has suffered more than 1,300 fatal accidents in the mining industry.
May 19 – Middle East: IRAQ
Prime Minister Nouri Maliki’s alliance, State of Law, wins Iraq’s last month parliamentary elections, remaining Maliki in his position for the next term. This was the first election since the U.S. troops left the country in 2011. Maliki faces many challenges, including rising sectarian violence that killed several thousand of people just this year. He also faces opposition to his premiership being accused of inability to stabilize and unite the country. Rather than making new compromises with Iraqi Sunnis, Maliki is accused of trying to monopolize power among his Shia allies.
May 21 – Europe / East Asia: RUSSIA / CHINA
Russia concludes an agreement on the delivery of natural gas to China for the next 30 years for an estimated $400 billion. The two countries have been negotiating the deal for the last 10 years, but it is believed that the recent threat of European sanctions on Russia as a result of the crisis in Ukraine and Russia’s efforts to look for other markets sped up the process. China also purchases its gas supplies from Turkmenistan and Myanmar.
May 25 – Europe: EUROPEAN UNION
The European Union members conclude elections to the European Parliament (EP) during which they elected 751 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to represent their interests over the next five years. The turnout was 43.1 percent, slightly higher than in previous elections. The European People’s Party (EEP) – the group of center-right Christian Democrats – won the most votes getting 221 seats followed by the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) with 191 seats. Additionally, far-left, eurosceptic conservative, and nationalist right-wing factions gained ground at the expense of more centrist groups and those promoting European integration. The EP is the only directly elected EU body that represents 500 million citizens in 28 states. The EP plays a key role in electing the President of the European Commission, the EU’s executive body, and shares powers over EU budget and legislation with the Council of the European Union.
May 29 – Africa: EGYPT
Former army chief Abdul Fattah al-Sisi wins Egypt’s presidential election, gaining more than 93 percent of the vote, but with the voter turnout below 50 percent. Some groups boycotted the election, including the now banned Muslim Brotherhood that won the previous elections. The new president faces many challenges, including Egypt’s weak economy, security problems, and social issues.
May 29 – Europe / Former Soviet Republics:
RUSSIA / BELARUS / KAZAKHSTAN
Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus sign an agreement creating the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) effective January 1, 2015. The EEU integrates economic policies and will guarantee the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people. In 2013, a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of the three countries amounted to $2.4 trillion.