Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- March 4, 2018

Jon Henley, The Guardian: Italy's election: who will win and why does it matter?

What could the result of the poll be, and what will it mean for the country and the EU?

What’s the story and why does it matter?

Europe’s fourth largest economy goes to the polls on Sunday 4 March under a new and untested electoral law, for a general election that most observers believe will result in a hung parliament with no outright winner.

With a €2.3tn debt load representing 135% of its GDP and more than 20% of the eurozone’s total, persistent deficits, a still-stagnant economy, decidedly shaky banks and populism irrupting into its politics, Italy is seen as a risk not just to itself but to the EU – even if some parties’ earlier calls for a euro exit have faded.
What are your hopes for Italy's election?
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The Five Star Movement, led by 31-year-old Luigi Di Maio, is polling as the largest single party while a coalition of rightwing parties assembled by the 81-year-old Silvio Berlusconi, including his own Forza Italia and some further right groups, is close to 10 points ahead.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- March 4, 2018

All Eyes on Rome -- Angela Giuffrida, Berlin Policy Journal

Italians aren’t fascists. They’re angry about immigration -- Nicholas Farrell, The Spectator

New German government: What is at stake for the EU? -- Christoph Hasselbach, DW

Israel repeats past mistakes as it creates buffer zone in Syria -- Shaiel Ben-Ephraim, Asia Times

Iraqi Kurdistan’s Future on Slippery Ground -- Amelia Meurant-Tompkinson, RCD/The Strategist

Saudi Arabia: The crown prince and the generation gap -- Sam Bollier, DW

Saudi Arabia’s new mood: more freedom for women – but is the nation ready? -- Martin Chulov, The Guardian

Red carpet chats from Great Hall as China untangles policy -- Gordon Watts, Asia Times

China’s Xi poised to make historic grab at indefinite rule -- Gillian Wong, AP

Xi Jinping’s power play: from president to China’s new dictator? -- Tom Phillips, The Guardian

Beijing’s Influence Operations Target Chinese Diaspora -- Timothy Heath, War On The Rocks

China’s big-data big brother -- Mark Leonard, The Strategist

South Korea’s President Moon is risking safety for peace -- Michelle Steel, The Hill

New alliance could emerge in Indo-Pacific -- Emanuele Scimia, Asia Times

How America Can Win the Drug War in Afghanistan -- M. Ashraf Haidari, National Interest

Africa 'very, very far away' from meeting global target to end child malnutrition -- Karen McVeigh, The Guardian

Escape from al-Shabab: 'I was turned into a sex slave' -- Diana Wanyonyi, DW

The center-right is firmly in control of Europe's destiny -- Matthew Qvortrup, CNN

Trump's rocky dealings with Mexico could have consequences much more severe than a few canceled visits -- Christopher Wood, Business Insider