The EconomistMarch 21st 2020 5
The world this week Politics
Governments around the
world took extraordinary
measures to curb the novel
coronavirusand alleviate its
economic consequences. In
America the Trump adminis-
tration proposed giving direct
cash transfers to every Ameri-
can as part of an emergency-
spending package. Some
Republicans balked at the idea,
but Mitch McConnell, the
leader of the Senate, said that
now was the time for “urgent
bipartisan action”.Joe Biden swept the board in
the latest Democraticprima-
ries. In Florida, the biggest
prize on offer, he won 62% of
the vote to 23% for Bernie
Sanders. The pair also debated
in their first one-on-one clash.
Ohio postponed its primary
because of the pandemic, as
have Georgia and Louisiana.The Justice Department
dropped charges against two
Russian entities indicted by
theMueller inquirybecause it
believes a trial would give
Russia access to sensitive
documents it would have to
share with the defence.It’s war
The president of France, Em-
manuel Macron, declared that
the country is “at war” with the
coronavirus. He announced
the suspension of local elec-
tions, a day after France had
voted in the first round.The Constitutional Court in
Russiaapproved amendments
to the country’s constitution
that will reset to zero the num-
ber of terms already served by
Vladimir Putin. He would
otherwise have been ineligible
to run again when his current
term expires in 2024.The brother of the suicide-
bomber who killed 22 people at
an Ariana Grande concert in
Manchesterin 2017 was found
guilty of the murder of each
victim. He was convicted for
obtaining the materials for the
bomb and of helping in the
plot. In addition to those
murdered a further 800 were
hurt, more than 90 with life-
changing injuries.Another chance for Gantz
Benny Gantz, the leader of the
opposition inIsrael, was given
the first shot at forming a
government after a tight elec-
tion earlier this month. But his
coalition is divided. Binyamin
Netanyahu, the prime min-
ister, has tried to push Mr
Gantz into forming a unity
government, under Mr Netan-
yahu, to deal with covid-19.The president orIraqnamed
Adnan al-Zurfi as prime min-
ister-designate in a bid to end a
months-long political dead-
lock. The previous prime min-
ister resigned in November
amid large anti-government
protests. Powerful Shia parties
have already lined up against
Mr Zurfi’s nomination.Sweden promised to send 150
commandos and helicopters to
Malito join a French-led mis-
sion fighting jihadists in the
Sahel. Security in the country
has continued to deteriorate.Peter Mutharika, president of
Malawi, sacked the head of the
army, dissolved his cabinet and
refused to sign new laws allow-
ing for fresh elections in May.
Malawi’s top court had
annulled his re-election vic-
tory, citing vote-rigging. He
plans to stick around anyway.Risky behaviour
Brazil’spresident, Jair Bolso-
naro, joined supporters who
were holding demonstrations
in favour of him. He fist-
bumped his fans and took
selfies with them even though
at least 17 people who accom-
panied him on a recent visit to
Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump’s
getaway in Florida, testedpositive for covid-19. Mr Bolso-
naro describes the reaction to
the virus as “hysteria”.A court in Guyanatemporarily
blocked a recount of votes cast
in the general election on
March 2nd. A candidate from
the president’s coalition
brought the suit seeking the
injunction. International
observers had said there was
credible evidence of fraud in an
initial tally, which gave victory
to the president.Repressing the press
Chinaordered American
citizens working for the New
York Times, the Wall Street
Journaland the Washington
Postto leave the country. It was
the biggest mass expulsion of
western correspondents from
China since the Communist
takeover in 1949. The govern-
ment said it was a response to
America’s decision to limit the
number of people working for
China’s main state-owned
news organisations stationed
in America to 100.Amid cries of “shame”, opposi-
tion mps staged a walkout from
the Rajya Sabha, India’supper
house, when Ranjan Gogoi
took oath as a new member. Mr
Gogoi recently retired as chief
justice; critics of the ruling
Bharatiya Janata Party claim
his seat is a pay-off for rulings
that favoured the government.East Timorentered its third
week of political flux after the
prime minister resigned. The
president is mulling whether
to call a snap election or
appoint as prime minister
Xanana Gusmão, a former
president who says he has the
support of a majority of mps.America urged the government
of Afghanistanand the Tali-
ban to proceed with a proposed
exchange of prisoners, as
promised in the agreement the
Taliban signed with America in
February. The Afghan govern-
ment wants the exchange to
proceed alongside peace talks,
but the Taliban say talks can-
not begin until the prisoners
are released.Coronavirus briefsCountries imposed strict
restrictions on border cross-
ings, including between
America and Canada.Stringent curbs on the
movement of peoplewere
enforced in France, Spain, the
San Francisco Bay Area and
other places.The number of deaths surged
in Italy. For the first time
Chinareported no new daily
local infections.The Philippinesdeclared a
“state of calamity”.Researchers were concerned
about a second waveof
infections in Hong Kong,
Singapore and Taiwan.Supermarketstook steps to
ration the sale of products
and to set aside shopping
hours for the vulnerable.In what some saw as a blow,
the Eurovision Song Contest
was cancelled.For our latest coverage of the
virus and its consequences
please visit economist.com/
coronavirus or download the
Economist app.Active cases* by week, ‘To March 18th 2020China
Rest of worldDeaths, log scaleSources: Johns Hopkins CSSE; NHS
*Confirmed cases minus recovered and dead10,1,10010Days since 10th death51 10 15 2520USSpainS KoreaItaly
IranFrance12080400
22 Jan 5 Feb 4 Mar 18Britain