Top Political Events of 2016

• 01.03.2017, 17:34
•  Europe,  EEU,  America,  Region,  Near East,  World

2016 was full of unexpected and interesting political events over the world. "Armedia" IAA presents the ones, that according to us, were the most significant ones in the world: 

Developments in Syria

Five years since the conflict began, more than 450,000 Syrians have been killed in the fighting, more than a million injured and over 12 million Syrians - half the country's prewar population - have been displaced from their homes.

The Syrian city of Aleppo liberated at the end of 2016 after nearly five years of war marked its newly-found secular freedom by erecting Christmas trees in public squares and reopening its Christian churches for services. All around the city, Syrians, dressed as Santa Claus and marching in brass bands, could be seen singing, dancing.

 

Reconciliation with Turkey

Relations between Turkey and Russia began to improve after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan apologized to Vladimir Putin on July 28 for Turkey’s downing of a Russian fighter jet in November 2015. Russia reestablished charter flights to Turkey and removed some of the economic sanctions it had imposed after the incident. Russian tourists returned to Turkey, and in October, the countries signed a long-awaited agreement on the construction of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline. And though the snow in Turkish-Russian relations had just started to melt,  the assassination of Russian Ambassador to Turkey could not become another reason for the two countries to freeze their relations. 

 

The highest point of Tension in US-Russia Relations

For the first half of the year, relations between Moscow and Washington could be described as something between relative calm and harsh rhetoric. The countries faced off repeatedly over the war in Syria: Russia accused America of supporting terrorists while the White House and the State Department claimed that Russia was targeting civilians to protect Assad. In October, Putin ordered Russia’s withdrawal from an agreement with the U.S. over the joint disposal of weapons-grade plutonium, freezing cooperation in the sphere of nuclear disarmament.

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev warned on October 14 that tensions between Russia and the United States have reached a “dangerous point.” The former leader told that he did not have any specific advice for either country. “I think the world has reached a dangerous point,” But I do want to say that this needs to stop. We need to renew dialogue. Stopping it was the biggest mistake.”

The U.S. presidential elections, however, brought changes in the relationship. On many occasions during the campaign, US president Republican Donald Trump,  emphasized the importance of friendly relations between Russia and the United States. He also repeatedly stated his respect for Putin as a strong leader.

 

US Presidential Elections

The United States presidential elections of 2016 was the 58th quadrennial American presidential election. The Republican candidate, businessman Donald Trump won the former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. On January 20, 2017, Trump is expected to take office as the 45th President.

Donald Trump has defied all expectations from the very start of his presidential campaign more than a year ago.Very few people thought he would actually run, then he did. They thought he wouldn't climb in the polls, then he did. They said he wouldn't win any primaries, then he did. They said he wouldn't win the Republican nomination, then he did.

 

 

EU Brexit

The United Kingdom's European Union membership referendum, also known as the EU referendum and the Brexit referendum, took place on June 23, 2016 in the United Kingdom.  The referendum resulted in 51.9% of voters voting in favor of leaving the European Union, on a national turnout of 72%, the highest ever for a UK-wide referendum and the highest for any national vote since the 1992 General Election.

The next crucial step for UK was David Cameron’s resignation. In his final appearance in Parliament as Prime Minister, Cameron said: "I have addressed 5,500 questions from this dispatch box -- I'll leave it to others to decide how many I've answered….It's not been an easy journey, and of course we've not got every decision right, but I do believe that today our country is much stronger."

Theresa May is Britain's second female prime minister after Margaret Thatcher, who held office from 1979 to 1990. 

 

Political Developments in Armenia

Considering the recent  political developments in Armenia, there is a need to mention about newly formed government heading by Karen Karapetyan. In April 2017 parliamentary elections will be held.  These  will be the first elections after the Constitutional Referendum in 2015 according to which the Republic of Armenia is passing from semi-presidential to parliamentary system of governance. Current political changes aim to create a new political culture and to bring a constructive dialogue between the state and the society. At the first session of the newly formed government, president Serzh Sargsyan met with the prime minister and the newly appointed ministers.

In his speech he emphasized that the transition from the semi-presidential system of governance to the parliamentary model changes not only the model of governance but first of all the collective mentality and solves the problem of the collective change of perception. "Probably, people do not see quite clearly how the constitutional reforms will change our reality and the fact of the transition to a new model of governance. You will become the pioneers of this transition period, and I believe in your abilities; I believe that this government of the Republic of Armenia can do things that other governments were not able to do. Of course, you will not be alone in this work; all state structures of our country will be working in harmony. I promise you that. You will get support, assistance; you will be encouraged, others will go in step with you, but as I have said, the government must become the locomotive, government must become the engineer. I once again congratulate you all and wish you success," he said.