Lebanon is without a president and has a caretaker cabinet. What does this mean for the nation? Ghadi Francis tells you more on The West Asia Post.

The West Asia Post | Explainer of Lebanon's political crisis

Lebanon’s 89-year-old President Michel Aoun&nbsp;left the presidential palace on Sunday, marking an end to his tumultuous term that had&nbsp;seen economic meltdown and a deadly Beirut port blast.

His exit paves the way for a constitutional crisis with no one next lined up to take over the presidency and no formal Cabinet leading the government.

There have been four unsuccessful attempts to elect his successor, either casting mostly blank ballots or failing to show up to the session meaning it ends with no quorum. Currently, Lebanon is being run by a caretaker cabinet.

Before demitting his office, Aoun signed a US-brokered deal delineating Lebanon's southern maritime border with Israel in his final week at the palace.

Aoun, a Christian and a divisive figure, secured his presidency in 2016 after getting support from Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah and rival Maronite Christian politician Samir Geagea in a deal that brought then-leading Sunni politician Saad al-Hariri back as prime minister.

Aoun’s ascension to the top post was welcomed by many Christians at the time who viewed him as their defender in Lebanon's sectarian system, but his reign was marred by corruption and scandals.

In his six-year term, Lebanon saw its forces fighting off Islamist militants on the Syrian border in 2017 with Hezbollah’s help, a new electoral law passed in 2018 and top energy companies begin exploratory drilling in offshore blocks in 2020.

But one of the most testing moments in his presidency came when the Beirut port blast occurred in 2020, killing&nbsp;over 200 people.

The 89-year-old later said that he was aware of the chemical stored in the port and claimed to have asked authorities to take care of it, but his response was widely criticised by people who said that he should have done more.

In an interview to Reuters on Saturday, Aoun said that his presidential powers were not enough to address the economic crisis.

"He was by far the worst president in Lebanon's history" Michel Meouchi, a lawyer told Reuters. "I prefer a void in the presidency to him."

(With inputs from agencies)

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Lebanon’s 89-year-old President Michel Aoun left the presidential palace on Sunday, marking an end to his tumultuous term that had seen economic meltdown and a deadly Beirut port blast.

Lebanon’s 89-year-old President Michel Aoun left the presidential palace on Sunday, marking an end to his tumultuous term that had seen economic meltdown and a deadly Beirut port blast. His exit paves the way for a constitutional crisis with no one next lined up to take over the presidency and no formal Cabinet leading the government. There have been four unsuccessful attempts to elect his successor, either casting mostly blank ballots or failing to show up to the session meaning it ends with no quorum. Currently, Lebanon is being run by a caretaker cabinet. Before demitting his office, Aoun signed a US-brokered deal delineating Lebanon's southern maritime border with Israel in his final week at the palace. Aoun, a Christian and a divisive figure, secured his presidency in 2016 after getting support from Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah and rival Maronite Christian politician Samir Geagea in a deal that brought then-leading Sunni politician Saad al-Hariri back as prime minister. Aoun’s ascension to the top post was welcomed by many Christians at the time who viewed him as their defender in Lebanon's sectarian system, but his reign was marred by corruption and scandals. In his six-year term, Lebanon saw its forces fighting off Islamist militants on the Syrian border in 2017 with Hezbollah’s help, a new electoral law passed in 2018 and top energy companies begin exploratory drilling in offshore blocks in 2020. But one of the most testing moments in his presidency came when the Beirut port blast occurred in 2020, killing over 200 people. The 89-year-old later said that he was aware of the chemical stored in the port and claimed to have asked authorities to take care of it, but his response was widely criticised by people who said that he should have done more. In an interview to Reuters on Saturday, Aoun said that his presidential powers were not enough to address the economic crisis. "He was by far the worst president in Lebanon's history" Michel Meouchi, a lawyer told Reuters. "I prefer a void in the presidency to him." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

President Michel Aoun demits office, amidst political and economic crises in Lebanon

The situation in Iraq took a turn for the worse on Monday as at least 15 people were killed and hundreds were injured in clashes between the followers of Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and the military in Baghdad’s Green Zone. &nbsp;

The protestors were staging sit-ins at the parliament complex when the clashes broke out following al-Sadr's announcement to retire from politics. The protestors breached the entrance of the Presidential palace and they were met with tear gas and stun grenades. &nbsp;

The authorities have declared a nationwide curfew and all official meetings were also suspended.&nbsp;

Political crisis&nbsp;

The conflict is a new chapter in the uncertainty surrounding Iraq’s political scene as the country has been without a stable government for more than 10 months – the longest since the United States attacked the country in 2003. &nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraq-protests-firing-after-sadrs-political-exit-army-declares-curfew-511255" hreflang="en">Iraq: Protests and firing after Sadr's political exit, 15 protesters shot dead</a>

The parties were unable to find a solution after Al-Sadr’s bloc became the biggest faction in parliament but fell short of securing a majority in last year’s elections. &nbsp;

It seemed like the stalemate was about to end as&nbsp;the pro-Iran Coordination Framework picked&nbsp;Mohammed Shia al-Sudani as the Prime Minister. &nbsp;

However, the protestors were not happy with the pick and they responded by storming government buildings and staging protests to make Al-Sadr the new premier of the country.&nbsp;

Who is Moqtada al-Sadr?&nbsp;

Al-Sadr, an Iraqi Shia scholar and founder of the most powerful political faction in the country, gained prominence after the fall of former dictator Saddam Hussein.&nbsp;

The cleric has exercised a lot of control over the political scenario of the country and in 2003,&nbsp;his followers and the affiliated militia (Mahdi army) resisted the US troops following the invasion.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/documents-found-in-donald-trumps-residence-possibly-covered-by-attorney-client-privilege-511318" hreflang="en">Documents found in Donald Trump's residence 'possibly covered by attorney-client privilege'</a>

Both US and Iran have criticised Al-Sadr over the years for his strong views and his nationalist sentiments have made him a favourite with the poor Shia communities in the country.&nbsp;

Possible reason for resignation&nbsp;

While it seemed difficult for Al-Sadr to grab power at the moment, the decision to retire has left a lot of people confused. According to AP,&nbsp;it can be a response to the resignation of Ayatollah Kadhim al-Haeri – a prominent Shia leader in Iraq who also has a lot of control over a number of Al-Sadr followers. &nbsp;

Al-Haeri announced that he will be stepping down due to health reasons and asked his followers to show their support for Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It was a problem for Al-Sadr who gained power from Al-Haeri's support and this announcement meant the momentary end of his clerical ambitions.&nbsp;

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The situation in Iraq took a turn for the worse on Monday as at least 15 people were killed and hundreds were injured in clashes between the followers of Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and the military in Baghdad’s Green Zone.

The situation in Iraq took a turn for the worse on Monday as at least 15 people were killed and hundreds were injured in clashes between the followers of Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and the military in Baghdad’s Green Zone. The protestors were staging sit-ins at the parliament complex when the clashes broke out following al-Sadr's announcement to retire from politics. The protestors breached the entrance of the Presidential palace and they were met with tear gas and stun grenades. The authorities have declared a nationwide curfew and all official meetings were also suspended. Political crisis The conflict is a new chapter in the uncertainty surrounding Iraq’s political scene as the country has been without a stable government for more than 10 months – the longest since the United States attacked the country in 2003. Also read | Iraq: Protests and firing after Sadr's political exit, 15 protesters shot dead The parties were unable to find a solution after Al-Sadr’s bloc became the biggest faction in parliament but fell short of securing a majority in last year’s elections. It seemed like the stalemate was about to end as the pro-Iran Coordination Framework picked Mohammed Shia al-Sudani as the Prime Minister. However, the protestors were not happy with the pick and they responded by storming government buildings and staging protests to make Al-Sadr the new premier of the country. Who is Moqtada al-Sadr? Al-Sadr, an Iraqi Shia scholar and founder of the most powerful political faction in the country, gained prominence after the fall of former dictator Saddam Hussein. The cleric has exercised a lot of control over the political scenario of the country and in 2003, his followers and the affiliated militia (Mahdi army) resisted the US troops following the invasion. Also read | Documents found in Donald Trump's residence 'possibly covered by attorney-client privilege' Both US and Iran have criticised Al-Sadr over the years for his strong views and his nationalist sentiments have made him a favourite with the poor Shia communities in the country. Possible reason for resignation While it seemed difficult for Al-Sadr to grab power at the moment, the decision to retire has left a lot of people confused. According to AP, it can be a response to the resignation of Ayatollah Kadhim al-Haeri – a prominent Shia leader in Iraq who also has a lot of control over a number of Al-Sadr followers. Al-Haeri announced that he will be stepping down due to health reasons and asked his followers to show their support for Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It was a problem for Al-Sadr who gained power from Al-Haeri's support and this announcement meant the momentary end of his clerical ambitions. WATCH WION LIVE HERE -

Explainer: How political crisis and Al-Sadr's resignation led to clashes in Iraq

Nitish Kumar, leader of Janata Dal (United) (JD-U), took oath as Bihar’s chief minister on Wednesday (August 10) for the eight time after announcing a new ‘grand alliance’ with Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other opposition parties. Tejashwi Yadav has been sworn in as the deputy chief minister. Kumar recently resigned as Bihar’s chief minister after breaking alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). After Kumar’s resignation, Nitish and other leaders addressed a joint press conference and announced their&nbsp;new ‘Mahagathbandhan’ or grand alliance, consisting of seven parties, and claimed support of 165 MLAs, including an Independent.

On a day of quick and sudden political developments in Bihar, Kumar earlier met the governor, Phagu Chauhan, twice: once to submit his resignation as CM, and the second time to stake claim for a new government after being chosen as the leader of the grand alliance.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nitish-kumar-resigns-as-bihar-cm-snaps-ties-with-bjp-505166">India politics: Nitish Kumar resigns as Bihar chief minister, snaps ties with BJP</a>

BJP&nbsp;attacked Kumar for snapping the pre-poll alliance&nbsp;and accused him of having disrespected the mandate given by the people of Bihar. 
 
Kumar, who is being trolled on social media for switching sides frequently,&nbsp;had earlier severed ties with the BJP in 2013 but had aligned again with it in 2017. He claimed that the decision to break ties was taken by a unanimous vote. JD-U members&nbsp;claimed that ties with the BJP deteriorated due to a number of instances, including RCP Singh’s exit from the party.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/at-unsc-india-slams-china-pakistan-for-double-standards-on-terrorism-505306">At UNSC, India slams China, Pakistan for double standards on terrorism</a>

In&nbsp;the joint press conference, Tejashwi criticised the BJP and accused it of destroying parties with whom it formed an alliance. He said, “Across the Hindi heartland, BJP does not have any alliance partner. History shows that the BJP destroys the parties with whom it makes alliances. We did see that happening in Punjab and Maharashtra.”

Kumar has worked with the BJP several times in the last 20 years and had even served as a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government at the Centre in 1996. JD-U is the third major ally to snap ties with the BJP in the last three years&nbsp;after Shiv Sena and Shiromani Akali Dal.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Nitish Kumar, leader of Janata Dal (United) (JD-U), took oath as Bihar’s chief minister on Wednesday (August 10) for the eight time after announcing a new ‘grand alliance’ with Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other opposition parties.

Nitish Kumar, leader of Janata Dal (United) (JD-U), took oath as Bihar’s chief minister on Wednesday (August 10) for the eight time after announcing a new ‘grand alliance’ with Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other opposition parties. Tejashwi Yadav has been sworn in as the deputy chief minister. Kumar recently resigned as Bihar’s chief minister after breaking alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). After Kumar’s resignation, Nitish and other leaders addressed a joint press conference and announced their new ‘Mahagathbandhan’ or grand alliance, consisting of seven parties, and claimed support of 165 MLAs, including an Independent. On a day of quick and sudden political developments in Bihar, Kumar earlier met the governor, Phagu Chauhan, twice: once to submit his resignation as CM, and the second time to stake claim for a new government after being chosen as the leader of the grand alliance. Also read | India politics: Nitish Kumar resigns as Bihar chief minister, snaps ties with BJP BJP attacked Kumar for snapping the pre-poll alliance and accused him of having disrespected the mandate given by the people of Bihar. Kumar, who is being trolled on social media for switching sides frequently, had earlier severed ties with the BJP in 2013 but had aligned again with it in 2017. He claimed that the decision to break ties was taken by a unanimous vote. JD-U members claimed that ties with the BJP deteriorated due to a number of instances, including RCP Singh’s exit from the party. Also read | At UNSC, India slams China, Pakistan for double standards on terrorism In the joint press conference, Tejashwi criticised the BJP and accused it of destroying parties with whom it formed an alliance. He said, “Across the Hindi heartland, BJP does not have any alliance partner. History shows that the BJP destroys the parties with whom it makes alliances. We did see that happening in Punjab and Maharashtra.” Kumar has worked with the BJP several times in the last 20 years and had even served as a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government at the Centre in 1996. JD-U is the third major ally to snap ties with the BJP in the last three years after Shiv Sena and Shiromani Akali Dal. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Nitish Kumar takes oath as Bihar CM for the 8th time, Tejashwi Yadav becomes deputy

The political and economic turmoil has wrecked havoc in Sri Lanka deeply impacting all social groups of the Island nation. One of the most vulnerable groups has been students and children who have had their education and health impacted.

Sri Lanka crisis impacts children's health & education

The political impasse in Iraq has raised the risk of more violence. Over the weekend, the protesters stormed the parliament again. They have installed tents and refused to leave. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Iraq's political crisis raises risk of violence

There seems to be no end to Pakistan's political turmoil. It started with the ouster of Imran Khan but when Shahbaz Sharif took over as the country's prime minister the people hope that the turmoil will end but it only spiraled further taking the Punjab province by storm. A ruckus has begun over the recently held Chief Minister's election.

Ruckus in Pakistan's Punjab Province over Chief Minister's election

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has submitted his resignation to President Sergio Mattarella after key coalition parties withdrew their support for his government.

Italian PM Mario Draghi resigns amid political crisis

Italian PM Mario Draghi submits second resignation to President Mattarella

The United Kingdom government won the vote of confidence with 349 in support on Monday (July 18). During the debate, Boris Johnson cited the coronavirus vaccine rollout and support of Ukraine to defend his government's record. Meanwhile, 248 MPs voted that they don't have confidence in the government.&nbsp;

In the aftermath of a slew of scandals, Johnson resigned as UK prime minister. However, the main opposition Labour party wants Johnson out of office immediately.&nbsp;

Conservative candidates are in a contest to replace Boris with the due process underway. Meanwhile, Labour leader Keir Starmer called the candidates' withdrawal a sign of a party "out of ideas (and) out of purpose".&nbsp;

On Monday, a planned debate between the remaining contenders for Tuesday night was cancelled when former finance minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss pulled out.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Starmer said, "Pulling out of a TV debate when you want to be prime minister doesn't show very much confidence."&nbsp;

Sunak widens lead&nbsp;

Former British finance minister Rishi Sunak won the most support in the third round of voting to find a replacement for Johnson. Sunak got 115 votes on the third ballot of Conservative lawmakers on Monday.&nbsp;

Tom Tugendhat secured the fewest votes with 31. Former equalities minister Kemi Badenoch came fourth on the ballot with 58 votes.

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The United Kingdom government won the vote of confidence with 349 in support on Monday (July 18). During the debate, Boris Johnson cited the coronavirus vaccine rollout and support of Ukraine to defend his government's record.

The United Kingdom government won the vote of confidence with 349 in support on Monday (July 18). During the debate, Boris Johnson cited the coronavirus vaccine rollout and support of Ukraine to defend his government's record. Meanwhile, 248 MPs voted that they don't have confidence in the government. In the aftermath of a slew of scandals, Johnson resigned as UK prime minister. However, the main opposition Labour party wants Johnson out of office immediately. Conservative candidates are in a contest to replace Boris with the due process underway. Meanwhile, Labour leader Keir Starmer called the candidates' withdrawal a sign of a party "out of ideas (and) out of purpose". On Monday, a planned debate between the remaining contenders for Tuesday night was cancelled when former finance minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss pulled out. Meanwhile, Starmer said, "Pulling out of a TV debate when you want to be prime minister doesn't show very much confidence." Sunak widens lead Former British finance minister Rishi Sunak won the most support in the third round of voting to find a replacement for Johnson. Sunak got 115 votes on the third ballot of Conservative lawmakers on Monday. Tom Tugendhat secured the fewest votes with 31. Former equalities minister Kemi Badenoch came fourth on the ballot with 58 votes. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UK politics: Government wins confidence vote; Rishi Sunak widens lead in race to become PM

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi on Thursday said that he will resign from the post. But the Italian President Sergio Mattarella has refused to consider the resignation.

Italian president refuses to accept PM Draghi’s resignation amid political crisis

Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has left the Maldives for Singapore a day after fleeing his home country amidst the worst economic and political crisis.

Reports: Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa leaves for Singapore from Maldives

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the president of Sri Lanka, fled to the Maldives, where he named Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as acting president. This escalated the political crisis and set off a new round of protests in the nation, which is currently experiencing the worst financial crisis in decades.&nbsp;During the protests, a couple was seen kissing in public after participating in anti-government demonstrations that resulted in the Prime Minister's office being taken over in Colombo.&nbsp;

NewsWire shared this picture on Twitter with the this captions:&nbsp;"Couple goals! A couple was seen displaying affection after participating in anti-government protests that led to the taking over of the Prime Minister's office in Colombo."

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Couple goals! 
 
A couple was seen displaying affection after participating in anti-government protests that led to the taking over of the Prime Minister's office in Colombo. <a href="https://t.co/mpPG1y2fvD">pic.twitter.com/mpPG1y2fvD</a>
— NewsWire 🇱🇰 (@NewsWireLK) <a href="https://twitter.com/NewsWireLK/status/1547166536913207296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Invoking Article 37(1) of the Constitution, which permits a prime minister to "discharge the powers, duties and functions of the office of president" when the president is "ill" or "absent" from the country, Rajapaksa, the 73-year-old leader who had pledged to step down on Wednesday, named Prime Minister Wickremesinghe as the acting president.

President Rajapaksa has appointed Wickremesinghe to act in the president's place while he is away from home, according to Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. Abeywardena added that President Rajapaksa had telephoned him to let him know that he would leave office today as planned.

He said that July 20 will be the election day for the incoming president. As demonstrators gathered close to Wickremesinghe's office on Flower Road in Colombo, the country's acting president, announced a state of emergency and enforced a curfew in the Western province.

According to Wickremesinghe, in order to restore normalcy, he has directed the security forces to uphold the emergency and curfew. He added that a committee made up of the leaders of the armed forces has been granted the authority to do this without any political interference. In addition, he promised to resign as prime minister once an all-party coalition was established.

Anti-government protestors, however, were incensed by the event and demanded the resignation of both the President and Prime Minister for handling the economy poorly. Thousands of demonstrators surrounded the PM Office building while waving flags of Sri Lanka, defying the state of emergency. When protesters invaded the prime minister's office and climbed over a barricade to demand his resignation, the police opened fire with tear gas. 
&nbsp;

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Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the president of Sri Lanka, fled to the Maldives, where he named Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as acting president. This escalated the political crisis and set off a new round of protests in the nation, which is currently experiencing the worst financial crisis in decades.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the president of Sri Lanka, fled to the Maldives, where he named Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as acting president. This escalated the political crisis and set off a new round of protests in the nation, which is currently experiencing the worst financial crisis in decades. During the protests, a couple was seen kissing in public after participating in anti-government demonstrations that resulted in the Prime Minister's office being taken over in Colombo. NewsWire shared this picture on Twitter with the this captions: "Couple goals! A couple was seen displaying affection after participating in anti-government protests that led to the taking over of the Prime Minister's office in Colombo." Couple goals! A couple was seen displaying affection after participating in anti-government protests that led to the taking over of the Prime Minister's office in Colombo. pic.twitter.com/mpPG1y2fvD — NewsWire 🇱🇰 (@NewsWireLK) July 13, 2022 × Invoking Article 37(1) of the Constitution, which permits a prime minister to "discharge the powers, duties and functions of the office of president" when the president is "ill" or "absent" from the country, Rajapaksa, the 73-year-old leader who had pledged to step down on Wednesday, named Prime Minister Wickremesinghe as the acting president. President Rajapaksa has appointed Wickremesinghe to act in the president's place while he is away from home, according to Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. Abeywardena added that President Rajapaksa had telephoned him to let him know that he would leave office today as planned. He said that July 20 will be the election day for the incoming president. As demonstrators gathered close to Wickremesinghe's office on Flower Road in Colombo, the country's acting president, announced a state of emergency and enforced a curfew in the Western province. According to Wickremesinghe, in order to restore normalcy, he has directed the security forces to uphold the emergency and curfew. He added that a committee made up of the leaders of the armed forces has been granted the authority to do this without any political interference. In addition, he promised to resign as prime minister once an all-party coalition was established. Anti-government protestors, however, were incensed by the event and demanded the resignation of both the President and Prime Minister for handling the economy poorly. Thousands of demonstrators surrounded the PM Office building while waving flags of Sri Lanka, defying the state of emergency. When protesters invaded the prime minister's office and climbed over a barricade to demand his resignation, the police opened fire with tear gas. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sri Lanka crisis: During protests, a picture of a couple kissing goes viral

Maharashtra is in a political crisis. The richest state in India with country's financial capital Mumbai as its capital is witnessing a major tug-of-war that may even result in Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's government collapsing. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), as the three-way coalition is called, has been jolted by a coup masterminded by Shiv Sena strongman Eknath Shinde.&nbsp;

Maharashtra Crisis: What do the numbers say?

The MVA coalition came to power after 2019 state elections. This was the seat tally when election results were declared

BJP: 105 seats 
Shiv Sena: 56 seats 
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP): 54 seats 
Congress: 44 seats

Though the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was the single largest party in the legislative assembly it could not form a government as Shiv Sena, NCP and the Congress came together to form MVA alliance and the government.

Eknath Shinde, a Shiv Sena MLA and CM Uddhav Thackeray's party colleague was inducted in the state cabinet. Shinde has now masterminded the coup within Shiv Sena and is holed up in Guawahati, a city 2000 kilometres away from Shiv Sena's power base in Maharashtra.

On June 23, Shinde did a show of strength in Guwahati with 42 rebel MLAs in Guwahati. With this number,&nbsp;it appeared that Shinde had made a serious dent into Shiv Sena's tally in the Maharashtra assembly.

Current situation in Maharashtra

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has not resigned yet. He made an online address on June 22 and urged rebel MLAs to come forward for discussion. He said that he was ready to leave his post if party wants. In a symbolic gesture, Thackeray left his official chief ministerial residence late on June 22.

Have the rebels won? Is it final?

As of Thursday evening (June 22), no. But the rebel camp appears strong. The number of MLAs joining the rebellion is steadily increasing. Meanwhile, two&nbsp;rebel MLAs have&nbsp;come back to Mumbai from Guwahati and declared&nbsp;support for Uddhav Thackeray.

Political manoeuvers are ongoing. Uddhav Thackeray met NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday. Pawar is an influential politician who hammered out the three-way alliance that formed MVA government against great odds

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&nbsp;

Maharashtra is in a political crisis. The richest state in India with country's financial capital Mumbai as its capital is witnessing a major tug-of-war that may even result in Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's government collapsing.

Maharashtra is in a political crisis. The richest state in India with country's financial capital Mumbai as its capital is witnessing a major tug-of-war that may even result in Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's government collapsing. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), as the three-way coalition is called, has been jolted by a coup masterminded by Shiv Sena strongman Eknath Shinde. Maharashtra Crisis: What do the numbers say? The MVA coalition came to power after 2019 state elections. This was the seat tally when election results were declared BJP: 105 seats Shiv Sena: 56 seats Nationalist Congress Party (NCP): 54 seats Congress: 44 seats Though the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was the single largest party in the legislative assembly it could not form a government as Shiv Sena, NCP and the Congress came together to form MVA alliance and the government. Eknath Shinde, a Shiv Sena MLA and CM Uddhav Thackeray's party colleague was inducted in the state cabinet. Shinde has now masterminded the coup within Shiv Sena and is holed up in Guawahati, a city 2000 kilometres away from Shiv Sena's power base in Maharashtra. On June 23, Shinde did a show of strength in Guwahati with 42 rebel MLAs in Guwahati. With this number, it appeared that Shinde had made a serious dent into Shiv Sena's tally in the Maharashtra assembly. Current situation in Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has not resigned yet. He made an online address on June 22 and urged rebel MLAs to come forward for discussion. He said that he was ready to leave his post if party wants. In a symbolic gesture, Thackeray left his official chief ministerial residence late on June 22. Have the rebels won? Is it final? As of Thursday evening (June 22), no. But the rebel camp appears strong. The number of MLAs joining the rebellion is steadily increasing. Meanwhile, two rebel MLAs have come back to Mumbai from Guwahati and declared support for Uddhav Thackeray. Political manoeuvers are ongoing. Uddhav Thackeray met NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday. Pawar is an influential politician who hammered out the three-way alliance that formed MVA government against great odds You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

What is happening in Maharashtra, India's richest state that's in political crisis?

Reports suggest that ousted Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has requested real estate tycoon Malik Riaz to mediate between between him and Pakistan Peoples Party Court chairman Asif Ali Zardari. In an audio excerpt, Riaz was heard conveying Khan's message to Zardari where Khan had requested the tycoon to play mediator between him and the opposing parties for possible reconciliation

Pakistan Political crisis: Zardari rejects PTI Chief Imran Khan's calls for reconciliation

Pakistan's former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan plans to carry on with the party’s long march towards Islamabad despite the government’s decision to ban it. WION's correspondent Anas Mallick brings in more exclusive report.

Pakistan Political Crisis: Imran leads mega rally against coalition government

The battle between Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and PTI Chief Imran Khan has reignited. The last political fight ended with Imran Khan's ouster and the outcome of this one remains to be seen as Pakistan is inching towards a political turmoil again.

Pakistan Political Turmoil: Shehbaz Sharif versus Imran Khan again

Two days after Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as Sri Lanka's Prime Minister, his brother President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday promised to appoint a new Prime Minister in a bid to calm tensions after days of unrest.

Sri Lanka economic and political crisis: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa promises to appoint new PM this week

Sri Lanka is witnessing its biggest economic crisis since its independence and the political stability in the country is only continuing to worsen. Protests are planned across the country on labour day, so far both PM Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa have refused to step down

Sri Lanka Political crisis worsens: Protest against Rajapaksa family intensify on Labour day

Amid the prolonged political crisis and delayed election, Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has suspended the prime minister Mohamed Hussein Roble for suspected corruption.

Somalia: President suspends Prime Minister amid election spat

Political tensions have reached a crisis point in Sudan, the chairman of Sudan's ruling party General Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman has announced a dissolution of the transitional government and the sovereign council and declared a nation-wide state of emergency.

Sudan general declares state of emergency, dissolves government

The Nepal government on Monday decided to withdraw the ordinance brought by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba which allowed division of the opposition parties, paving the way for cabinet expansion, which has been delayed for over two months ever since he assumed power. Watch this report for more details.

Nepal President repeals ordinance on political crisis

Argentina's president Alberto Fernandez announced a new cabinet on Friday in a bid to smother a political crisis that pitted him bitterly against his vice president this week after an electoral defeat in legislative primaries.

The reshuffle came one day after Vice President Cristina Kirchner wrote Fernandez to demand one, deepening the crisis gripping the ruling coalition after their poor showing in the weekend primaries.

Juan Manzur, governor of Tucuman province, will take over as chief of staff from Santiago Cafiero, one of Kirchner's most controversial officials, the presidency announced.&nbsp;

Cafiero instead became foreign minister, replacing Felipe Sola, who is in Mexico for the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, or CELAC, which begins on Saturday.&nbsp;

Due to the crisis, Fernandez canceled his visit to Mexico for the summit and won't attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week.

The new ministers joining the cabinet, who will be sworn in on Monday, are Anibal Fernandez (Security), Julian Dominguez (Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries), Juan Perzyck (Education) and Daniel Filmus (Science and Technology).&nbsp;

Juan Ross was also appointed as the new Secretary of Communication and Press, replacing Juan Pablo Biondi, whom the vice president had openly rejected and accused of organizing "off-the-record operations."&nbsp;

The government of Fernandez and Kirchner, herself a former president, has been going through its most acute crisis yet this week after the weekend's legislative primary elections, in which the ruling Frente de Todos coalition won only 31 per cent of the votes at the national level.&nbsp;

These results put the ruling party's majority in the Senate at risk for the parliamentary by-elections on November 14, as well as any majority in the Chamber of Deputies, with two years of the Fernandez-Kirchner mandate still to run.

The crisis broke out earlier this week, after Interior Minister Eduardo 'Wado' de Pedro and four cabinet ministers offered to step down after a poor showing for Frente de Todos in weekend primary elections. The officials were all close to Kirchner and the move was seen as her attempt to put pressure on Fernandez to reshuffle the cabinet.

"Do you seriously believe that it is not necessary, after such a defeat, to publicly present the resignations and that those in charge facilitate the president to reorganize his government?" Kirchner wrote to Fernandez in a letter, in which she also criticized those who "cling to their chairs."&nbsp;

In the end, De Pedro and the other ministers kept their posts.

The center-right coalition Juntos, of ex-president Mauricio Macri, obtained 40 percent of the votes cast nationwide on Sunday.&nbsp;

It critically made great strides in the province of Buenos Aires, the country's largest electoral district and considered a bastion of Fernandez's party.

Fernandez took power from the incumbent Macri in 2019.

Public discontent with his government has been growing in a country in recession since 2018 and a GDP drop of 9.9 percent last year amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Argentina has one of the world's highest inflation rates, at 29 percent from January to July this year, and a poverty rate of 42 percent.

Argentina's president Alberto Fernandez announced a new cabinet on Friday in a bid to smother a political crisis that pitted him bitterly against his vice president this week after an electoral defeat in legislative primaries.

Argentina's president Alberto Fernandez announced a new cabinet on Friday in a bid to smother a political crisis that pitted him bitterly against his vice president this week after an electoral defeat in legislative primaries. The reshuffle came one day after Vice President Cristina Kirchner wrote Fernandez to demand one, deepening the crisis gripping the ruling coalition after their poor showing in the weekend primaries. Juan Manzur, governor of Tucuman province, will take over as chief of staff from Santiago Cafiero, one of Kirchner's most controversial officials, the presidency announced. Cafiero instead became foreign minister, replacing Felipe Sola, who is in Mexico for the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, or CELAC, which begins on Saturday. Due to the crisis, Fernandez canceled his visit to Mexico for the summit and won't attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week. The new ministers joining the cabinet, who will be sworn in on Monday, are Anibal Fernandez (Security), Julian Dominguez (Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries), Juan Perzyck (Education) and Daniel Filmus (Science and Technology). Juan Ross was also appointed as the new Secretary of Communication and Press, replacing Juan Pablo Biondi, whom the vice president had openly rejected and accused of organizing "off-the-record operations." The government of Fernandez and Kirchner, herself a former president, has been going through its most acute crisis yet this week after the weekend's legislative primary elections, in which the ruling Frente de Todos coalition won only 31 per cent of the votes at the national level. These results put the ruling party's majority in the Senate at risk for the parliamentary by-elections on November 14, as well as any majority in the Chamber of Deputies, with two years of the Fernandez-Kirchner mandate still to run. The crisis broke out earlier this week, after Interior Minister Eduardo 'Wado' de Pedro and four cabinet ministers offered to step down after a poor showing for Frente de Todos in weekend primary elections. The officials were all close to Kirchner and the move was seen as her attempt to put pressure on Fernandez to reshuffle the cabinet. "Do you seriously believe that it is not necessary, after such a defeat, to publicly present the resignations and that those in charge facilitate the president to reorganize his government?" Kirchner wrote to Fernandez in a letter, in which she also criticized those who "cling to their chairs." In the end, De Pedro and the other ministers kept their posts. The center-right coalition Juntos, of ex-president Mauricio Macri, obtained 40 percent of the votes cast nationwide on Sunday. It critically made great strides in the province of Buenos Aires, the country's largest electoral district and considered a bastion of Fernandez's party. Fernandez took power from the incumbent Macri in 2019. Public discontent with his government has been growing in a country in recession since 2018 and a GDP drop of 9.9 percent last year amid the coronavirus pandemic. Argentina has one of the world's highest inflation rates, at 29 percent from January to July this year, and a poverty rate of 42 percent.

Argentina's president reshuffles cabinet after political crisis

After months of uncertainty, it seems that the political crisis in Nepal has finally ended after the country's Supreme Court on Monday directed President Bidya Devi Bhandari to appoint Nepali Congress chief Sher Bahadur Deuba as prime minister by Tuesday.

Nepal apex court asks President Bhandari to appoint Deuba as new PM

Israel's opposition leader on Thursday moved closer to unseating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after reaching an agreement with a coalition of diverse political allies to form a new government.

But the fragile alliance, which would command a thin majority in parliament, was expected to be sworn in only in about 10-12 days, leaving slight room for Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving leader, to try to turn lawmakers against it.

About 35 minutes before a Wednesday midnight deadline, centrist politician Yair Lapid told President Reuven Rivlin in an email: "I am honoured to inform you that I have succeeded in forming a government."

Under the coalition pact, nationalist Naftali Bennett, 49, a former defence minister and a high-tech millionaire, would become prime minister and hand over the post to Lapid, 57, a former TV host and finance minister, in about two years.

The agreement capped a March 23 election in which neither Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party and its allies nor their opponents won a majority in the legislature. It was Israel's fourth national ballot in two years.

The coalition comprises a patchwork of small and medium parties from across the political spectrum, including for the first time in Israel's history one that represents its 21% Arab minority - the United Arab List.

They have little in common other than a desire to oust Netanyahu, whose 12-year run as prime minister has been clouded by a trial on corruption charges that he denies. 
 
The lineup includes Bennett's Yamina (Rightward), centre-left Blue and White, headed by Defence Minister Benny Gantz, the left-wing Meretz and Labour parties, former defence minister Avigdor Lieberman's nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party and New Hope, a right-wing party headed by former education minister Gideon Saar, who broke away from Likud.

Political analysts widely expected Netanyahu to try to pick off what one described as "low-hanging fruit", seizing upon Yamina members who are unhappy about joining forces with Arab and leftist lawmakers.

Tamar Zandberg, a Meretz legislator, acknowledged the difficulties in getting the alliance that her party joined off the ground.

"The coalition's test...is to be sworn in - that won't be without rough patches and problems," she said on Army Radio on Thursday.

Netanyahu, who has yet to respond to Lapid's announcement, controls 30 seats in the 120-member Knesset, almost twice as many as Lapid's Yesh Atid party, and he is allied with at least three other religious and nationalist parties.

STABILITY

A source involved in the coalition talks said the proposed new government would try to retain consensus by avoiding hot-button ideological issues such as whether to annex or cede occupied West Bank territory that Palestinians want for a state.

Bennet has said that the creation of an independent Palestine would be suicide for Israel. He made annexation of parts of the territory that Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war a major feature of his political platform but following through on that with the broad new coalition looked to be politically unfeasible.

But any new flare-up along Israel's volatile border with Gaza, nearly two weeks after a ceasefire ended 11 days of fighting with the Palestinian enclave's ruling Hamas group, could challenge the stability of the broad alliance.

During his tenure as prime minister, Netanyahu has been an often polarizing figure at home and abroad.

He has said a Bennett-Lapid coalition would endanger Israel's security - an allusion to efforts to curb Iran's nuclear programme and managing the Palestinian issue.

Lapid, a centrist who campaigned under a pledge to "return sanity" to Israel, was given the task of forming a government after Netanyahu failed to do so in the wake of the March election.

Netanyahu's rivals have cited the criminal charges against him as the main reason why Israel needs a new leader, arguing that he might use a new term to legislate immunity to shield himself.

"This government...will respect its opponents and do all it can to unites and connect all parts of Israeli society," Lapid said on Twitter.

The new government, if it is sworn in, will face considerable challenges. As well as Iran and the moribund peace process with the Palestinians, it also faces a war crimes probe by the International Criminal Court and economic recovery following the coronavirus pandemic.

Bennett has said its members would have to compromise on such ideological issues to get the country back on track, with government debt at 72.4% in 2020, up from 60% in 2019 and the deficit jumping to 11.6% in 2020 from 3.7% in 2019.

Israel's opposition leader on Thursday moved closer to unseating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after reaching an agreement with a coalition of diverse political allies to form a new government.

Israel's opposition leader on Thursday moved closer to unseating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after reaching an agreement with a coalition of diverse political allies to form a new government. But the fragile alliance, which would command a thin majority in parliament, was expected to be sworn in only in about 10-12 days, leaving slight room for Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving leader, to try to turn lawmakers against it. About 35 minutes before a Wednesday midnight deadline, centrist politician Yair Lapid told President Reuven Rivlin in an email: "I am honoured to inform you that I have succeeded in forming a government." Under the coalition pact, nationalist Naftali Bennett, 49, a former defence minister and a high-tech millionaire, would become prime minister and hand over the post to Lapid, 57, a former TV host and finance minister, in about two years. The agreement capped a March 23 election in which neither Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party and its allies nor their opponents won a majority in the legislature. It was Israel's fourth national ballot in two years. The coalition comprises a patchwork of small and medium parties from across the political spectrum, including for the first time in Israel's history one that represents its 21% Arab minority - the United Arab List. They have little in common other than a desire to oust Netanyahu, whose 12-year run as prime minister has been clouded by a trial on corruption charges that he denies. The lineup includes Bennett's Yamina (Rightward), centre-left Blue and White, headed by Defence Minister Benny Gantz, the left-wing Meretz and Labour parties, former defence minister Avigdor Lieberman's nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party and New Hope, a right-wing party headed by former education minister Gideon Saar, who broke away from Likud. Political analysts widely expected Netanyahu to try to pick off what one described as "low-hanging fruit", seizing upon Yamina members who are unhappy about joining forces with Arab and leftist lawmakers. Tamar Zandberg, a Meretz legislator, acknowledged the difficulties in getting the alliance that her party joined off the ground. "The coalition's test...is to be sworn in - that won't be without rough patches and problems," she said on Army Radio on Thursday. Netanyahu, who has yet to respond to Lapid's announcement, controls 30 seats in the 120-member Knesset, almost twice as many as Lapid's Yesh Atid party, and he is allied with at least three other religious and nationalist parties. STABILITY A source involved in the coalition talks said the proposed new government would try to retain consensus by avoiding hot-button ideological issues such as whether to annex or cede occupied West Bank territory that Palestinians want for a state. Bennet has said that the creation of an independent Palestine would be suicide for Israel. He made annexation of parts of the territory that Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war a major feature of his political platform but following through on that with the broad new coalition looked to be politically unfeasible. But any new flare-up along Israel's volatile border with Gaza, nearly two weeks after a ceasefire ended 11 days of fighting with the Palestinian enclave's ruling Hamas group, could challenge the stability of the broad alliance. During his tenure as prime minister, Netanyahu has been an often polarizing figure at home and abroad. He has said a Bennett-Lapid coalition would endanger Israel's security - an allusion to efforts to curb Iran's nuclear programme and managing the Palestinian issue. Lapid, a centrist who campaigned under a pledge to "return sanity" to Israel, was given the task of forming a government after Netanyahu failed to do so in the wake of the March election. Netanyahu's rivals have cited the criminal charges against him as the main reason why Israel needs a new leader, arguing that he might use a new term to legislate immunity to shield himself. "This government...will respect its opponents and do all it can to unites and connect all parts of Israeli society," Lapid said on Twitter. The new government, if it is sworn in, will face considerable challenges. As well as Iran and the moribund peace process with the Palestinians, it also faces a war crimes probe by the International Criminal Court and economic recovery following the coronavirus pandemic. Bennett has said its members would have to compromise on such ideological issues to get the country back on track, with government debt at 72.4% in 2020, up from 60% in 2019 and the deficit jumping to 11.6% in 2020 from 3.7% in 2019.

Israeli opposition announces new government, set to unseat Netanyahu

The Opposition politicians of Israel have until Wednesday midnight to finalise discussions to form a coalition government that would topple Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's 12-year rule.&nbsp;

Benjamin Netanyahu has been the longest-serving Israeli prime minister of all time.But the two rivals of Netanyahu announced a partnership on Sunday that could remove Israel's longest-serving leader. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/race-to-knesset-israels-political-roller-coaster-since-its-last-election-388576#yair-lapid-naftali-bennett-388571">Pictures | Race to Knesset: Israel's political roller coaster since its last election</a> 
 
Yair Lapid, a centrist, and the far-right Naftali Bennett have teamed up and agreed to share the premiership, with Bennett taking the first turn, but they are still trying to put together a ruling coalition that includes parties from all sides of the political spectrum.&nbsp;

The opposition leader Yair Lapid's 28-day mandate to form a majority through forming alliances with political parties expires on June 2, according to Israeli election procedures. By this time, he should have informed the president he has succeeded.

Meanwhile, the vote for Israel’s next president has concluded and results are expected in the next hour.

If Lapid fails to meet the midnight deadline, Israel will conduct its fifth election in just over two years, giving Netanyahu yet another chance to keep his job while facing corruption charges.&nbsp;

The 71-year-old Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, is currently facing three corruption allegations, which he denies: fraud, bribery, and breach of trust.&nbsp;

Lapid needs a 61-seat majority in Israel's 120-seat Knesset, so losing one or two seats may put an end to his bid.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Opposition politicians of Israel have until Wednesday midnight to finalise discussions to form a coalition government that would topple Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's 12-year rule.

The Opposition politicians of Israel have until Wednesday midnight to finalise discussions to form a coalition government that would topple Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's 12-year rule. Benjamin Netanyahu has been the longest-serving Israeli prime minister of all time.But the two rivals of Netanyahu announced a partnership on Sunday that could remove Israel's longest-serving leader. Pictures | Race to Knesset: Israel's political roller coaster since its last election Yair Lapid, a centrist, and the far-right Naftali Bennett have teamed up and agreed to share the premiership, with Bennett taking the first turn, but they are still trying to put together a ruling coalition that includes parties from all sides of the political spectrum. The opposition leader Yair Lapid's 28-day mandate to form a majority through forming alliances with political parties expires on June 2, according to Israeli election procedures. By this time, he should have informed the president he has succeeded. Meanwhile, the vote for Israel’s next president has concluded and results are expected in the next hour. If Lapid fails to meet the midnight deadline, Israel will conduct its fifth election in just over two years, giving Netanyahu yet another chance to keep his job while facing corruption charges. The 71-year-old Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, is currently facing three corruption allegations, which he denies: fraud, bribery, and breach of trust. Lapid needs a 61-seat majority in Israel's 120-seat Knesset, so losing one or two seats may put an end to his bid. (With inputs from agencies)

Political crisis in Israel: Opposition parties face midnight deadline to form government

Armenia's President Armen Sarkisian has refused to sign Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's order dismissing the chief of the military's general staff, deepening the country's political crisis.

Armenian president refuses to sign PM's order dismissing army chief

MPs turn over tables and throw chairs in parliament amid a political crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It came a day after President Felix Tshisekedi announced the end of the governing coalition, which was formed in January last year with the parliamentary majority.

Violence in DR Congo Parliament as political crisis grows

Tens of thousands of people marched through Minsk on Sunday calling on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to step down in mass demonstrations that showed no sign of abating nearly a month after an election his opponents say was rigged.

Belarus protesters continue pressure on Lukashenko

More than 100,000 people filled Minsk’s Independence Avenue calling for Lukashenko to step down. Authorities detained over 600 people across the country.

100,000 turn out on streets in Minsk against strongman Lukashenko

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, a Belarusian opposition figure and a former presidential candidate, is going to visit Warsaw and meet. Thousands of women hold march through Minsk.

Protest in Belarus continues for the fourth weekend, Tikhanovskaya to meet PM

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