Matteo Renzi gets the top job, but not much else has changed in Italian politics. He's going to have his work cut out.
Category: Party matters
Drug war absurdity: Australian edition
A government backbencher gives a backhanded endorsement of marijuana legalisation, giving Labor the cue to go out of its way to endorse prohibition.
Immigration reform sinking fast in the US
The political mood in Washington seems to have turned against comprehensive immigration reform – mostly for tactical reasons in the Republican Party, which may or may not make good sense.
A new alias for Greece’s neo-Nazis
Golden Dawn, National Dawn – fascists are still fascists. But it's not yet time to panic about Greece.
Election preview: Costa Rica and El Salvador
Incumbent parties are favored to win on Sunday in both Costa Rica and El Salvador, but both will be interesting contests.
Italy talks electoral reform
Silvio Berlusconi is back in the news, as Italy's party leaders do deals on electoral reform. Even if they get implemented, the effects might be different to what's intended.
Britain vs Europe, drugs edition
An EU move for more rational drug policy is disapproved by the British government, casting further doubt on the link between euroscepticism and libertarianism.
Death of a warmaker
Ariel Sharon ended his active career by apparently repudiating the things he had previously been most known for. Did he really mean it?
A Czech lesson for direct-election republicans
The Czech Republic has moved closer to getting its new government, but the directly-elected president will remain a thorn in its side. Maybe Malcolm Turnbull was right.
The last election roundup for 2013
A semi-regular feature, with news this week from Turkmenistan, Mauritania, Madagascar, Thailand and Austria.
The World is Not Enough 