GIS Weekly Brief #13

?? Weekly update by Prince Michael von Liechtenstein

The debate last week between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump ended without a clear conclusion. There were no major surprises, either in the content discussed or in the candidates’ approaches. Both focused, as expected, on voters in the swing states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. It seems there will be no further debates between Ms. Harris and Mr. Trump.

The outcome of the election remains uncertain. What is different in this presidential campaign cycle is the more prominent role of the vice-presidential candidates, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance. A debate between the two will take place on October 2. The outcome of this debate could be significant, unlike in previous elections, and expectations for it are high.

?? This week’s relevant geopolitical events

• Germany has reintroduced controls within the Schengen Area, challenging the EU’s popular open-border agreement instead of supporting member states in securing the external boundaries.
• China plans to raise the retirement age, a necessary but highly unpopular move that may spark protests and unintended consequences.
• Former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi submitted a plan to the European Commission to boost Europe's competitiveness, relying heavily on central planning, industrial policy, and spending?–?reviving calls for shared European debt, especially from Italy and France.

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