In 2019, when Italy’s former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi made a bewildering appearance on a satirical news show, hurling insults at his political counterparts, threatening to leave and using inappropriate language, he caused a massive stir. However, soon after the video surfaced, it became apparent that it was not Renzi speaking. It was a sophisticated […]
From 12 to 15 February 2024, I led a delegation of six members to Armenia. I previously led a BGIPU delegation there exactly ten years before and Jessica Morden MP had visited last year with the APPG. For the other members, Judith Cummins MP, Dr Rupa Huq MP, Carol Monaghan MP and Lord McInnes, it […]
Latin America has a wealth of vital natural resources, but it also struggles with deforestation, rapid biodiversity loss, pollution and climate change. In an era of escalating environmental challenges, this puts it on the front line of the battle for our planet’s future. The conflict between public and private interest is a major part of […]
The IPU Committee on Middle East Questions held an extraordinary virtual meeting on 5 February 2024, against the backdrop of the protracted conflict in Gaza. The meeting, chaired by the President of the Committee, Mr. Hubert Julien-Laferrière of France, brought together parliamentarians from the Middle East and around the world, including representatives from the Israeli Knesset and […]
From 29-31 January 2024, BGIPU hosted a delegation from the Hellenic Parliament. The delegation was led by Mr. Dimitris Avramopoulos accompanied by the Mr. Stavros Kalafatis, Mr. Christos Dermentzopoulos, Mrs. Dionysia Avgerinopoulou, Mr. Symeon Kedikoglou and Panagiotis Doudonis. The delegation began their visit with a tour of the Palace provided by Tim Loughton MP. He […]
Putting an end to conflicts: Prescriptions for a peaceful future, will be the theme of the 2024 Annual Parliamentary Hearing, a joint initiative between the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). IPU President Tulia Ackson and UNGA President Dennis Francis will host some 300 participants, including parliamentarians, Speakers of […]
Unusually and unexpectedly our delegation consisted of three Peers, Baroness Northover, Lord Mountevans and myself, supported by Holly Sloan from the BGIPU Secretariat. The original delegation had been carefully selected to reflect balance and ongoing interest in the Region. This was scuppered by the House of Commons Whips who, it appears, no longer accept the […]
According to the latest data compiled by the IPU on its data platform, Parline, 72 elections or renewals of parliamentary chambers will take place this year, compared to 65 last year. Among those, 55 parliamentary chambers will be directly elected while the others will be indirectly elected or appointed. Roughly half the world’s population is expected to […]
Martin Chungong, IPU Secretary General, has just concluded a mission to Gabon at the invitation of the President of the Transitional National Assembly, Jean-François Ndongou, to meet the authorities in charge of the country’s transition. The visit is part of the IPU’s wider efforts to monitor developments in trouble spots, to defend democratic institutions and […]
Tulia Ackson, Speaker of the Parliament of Tanzania, became the 31st IPU President following elections in October 2023. In her first IPU interview last November, she describes her journey to the Presidency and outlines her main priorities for the next three years.
