Week in Review: Political Surprises and Peculiar Ventures

Activist Mayor?

Zagreb's Ban Jelacic square. Photo: EPA-EFE/ANTONIO BAT.

With days to go before the key second round of local elections in Croatia, all eyes are turned to the capital, Zagreb, where leftist candidate Tomislav Tomasevic is poised to take the mayorship of the city. His main rival is popular singer and now right-wing politician Miroslav Skoro.

Whatever the outcome of the election, the first round has already dealt a huge blow to Croatia's traditional two-party political system, as neither of the two candidates in the run-off hail from these parties. We take a look at Tomislav Tomasevic, the man behind the name of the possible future mayor of Zagreb.

Read more: Tomislav Tomasevic: From Grassroots Activist to Zagreb Frontrunner (May 27, 2021)

Designated Corrupt

Former Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha. Photo: EPA/ARMANDO BABANI

Most followers of Albanian politics and ordinary citizens of the country were shocked by the recent decision of the US State Department to designate Albania's former president and prime minister, Sali Berisha, as a persona non grata for corruption. After all, Berisha has long been out of power - to many, the US move seems like too little, too late.

So why this move, and why now? These are the questions which our analysis seeks to answer, with a number of analysts seeing clear interplay with domestic politics within Albania. Either way, few believe that the decision will benefit Albania.

Read more: Albanians Question Benefit of US Ban on Berisha (May 25, 2021)

Peculiar Venture

Serbian PM Ana Brnabic and Telekom director Vladimir Lucic with Euronews officials. May 9.2021. Photo: Euronews Facebook

Serbia's rather crowded...