Politically Exposed Person (PEP) Weekly Digest – Volume 129

129th PEP Weekly Digest:

Introducing the 129th edition of The PEP Weekly Digest, where we present to you the most recent updates and news on the global political stage.

Recent and upcoming elections influence the worldwide political landscape in eight nations, slated between Nov 11, 2025 and Dec 07, 2025. These elections hold significant importance, as they will determine the direction and governance of each respective country’s future.

John Main Elected Premier by Nunavut’s Seventh Legislative Assembly

One noteworthy event has occurred in Canada, the seventh Nunavut Legislative Assembly chose Arviat-Whale Cove MLA John Main as premier on Nov. 18.

He prevailed over David Akeeagok, who is MLA for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu, and formerly the representative for Quttiktuq.

In the last government, Main served as Minister of Health, Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation and Minister responsible for Suicide Prevention.

Simon Harris Confirmed as Ireland’s New Minister for Finance Amid Cabinet Reshuffle

Shifting our focus to Ireland, the Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) and Fine Gael leader, Simon Harris, has been confirmed as the Republic of Ireland’s incoming minister for finance.

It comes after Paschal Donohoe resigned from the post to take on a new banking role.

As part of the cabinet shake-up following Donohoe’s departure, Helen McEntee has been appointed as minister for foreign affairs and minister for defence – the first woman to hold the positions.

Speaking in the Dáil (Irish parliament) Harris said while Donohoe’s resignation was a shock and a source of intrigue, it would not be a moment of interruption.

Ukrainian Parliament Dismisses Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk Amid Cabinet Absences

In Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted to dismiss Svitlana Hrynchuk from the position of Minister of Energy. A total of 315 members of parliament voted in favor of the decision. The Speaker of the Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, signed the resolution on the dismissal and announced a break in the session.

Before the vote, deputies demanded that Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, as well as the Ministers of Justice and Energy — Herman Halushchenko and Svitlana Hrynchuk — report to the Rada. However, Svyrydenko did not appear in parliament, and instead, the draft resolution for the dismissal of the two ministers was presented by the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Taras Kachka. Both Herman Halushchenko and Svitlana Hrynchuk were also absent from the meeting. According to Kachka, there were no business trips for these officials, and no evidence of their crossing the border was recorded.

Central Bank of Ireland Fines Coinbase Europe €21.5 Million for Anti-Money Laundering Failures

In the realm of regulatory affairs, the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) has imposed sanctions on crypto-asset service provider Coinbase Europe for contraventions of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010, which occurred between 23 April 2021 and 19 March 2025.

The sanctions imposed by the CBI include a reprimand and a monetary penalty in the amount of €30,663,906, – reduced to €21,464,734 after a settlement scheme discount was applied. The sanctions relate to failures to uphold anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing monitoring obligations over a twelve-month period.

The sanctions require confirmation of the Irish High Court before taking effect, and would be the fourth largest fine ever issued by the CBI.

Former Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili Sentenced to Seven Years Over 2004 Killing

Shifting our attention to Georgia, Tbilisi City Court has sentenced former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili to seven years in prison after finding him guilty of exceeding his official powers in the 2004 killing of Amiran (Buta) Robakidze, when he briefly served as Interior Minister.

Okruashvili, who is already jailed after receiving an eight-month sentence in July for refusing to appear before the controversial parliamentary commission, will ultimately serve four years and five months, as the verdict was partly covered by amnesty and further reduced by ten months he served after the 2019 Gavrilov Night case, as well as his current detention, according to RFE/RL’s Georgian Service.

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