Politically Exposed Person (PEP) Weekly Digest – Volume 153

153rd PEP Weekly Digest:

Introducing the 153rd 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 May 07, 2026, and May 24, 2026. These elections hold significant importance, as they will determine the direction and governance of each respective country’s future.

France’s Corsica Assembly Elects Gilles Giovannangeli as New Executive Council President

A significant development has taken place in France: Gilles Giovannangeli has been elected as the new President of the Executive Council of Corsica by the Corsican Assembly, succeeding Gilles Simeoni following his resignation from the post. Giovannangeli was elected during a session of the territorial assembly in Ajaccio.

The candidate of the majority group Fà Populu Inseme, Giovannangeli secured 34 votes in the assembly, defeating opposition candidate Jean-Martin Mondoloni, who received 15 votes. The election marked the continuation of the existing majority leadership within Corsica’s executive administration.

Before his election, Giovannangeli was already a senior political figure within the Corsican majority coalition and closely associated with the administration led by Gilles Simeoni. The new executive council maintains the same members who previously served under Simeoni’s leadership.

His appointment follows the resignation of Simeoni after he chose to focus on his role as Mayor of Bastia. The leadership transition represents a continuation of the current political direction in Corsica, with the majority coalition retaining control of the island’s executive authority.

Following the vote, Giovannangeli outlined his intention to continue the administration’s institutional and political priorities under the new leadership structure.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Resigns After Congress-Led UDF Election Victory

Shifting our focus to India, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has resigned following the Congress-led United Democratic Front’s (UDF) victory in the state assembly elections. Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar accepted his resignation and requested him to continue in office until a new government is sworn in and alternative arrangements are completed.

The resignation came after the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) suffered a major defeat in the elections. The Congress-led UDF secured a decisive victory by winning 63 seats in the 140-member assembly, while the LDF won 26 seats. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key UDF ally, also recorded strong gains in the elections.

Pinarayi Vijayan had served as Kerala’s chief minister for two consecutive terms and remained one of the most prominent leaders of the Left in India. His resignation marks the end of the LDF government’s tenure in Kerala after a decade in power.

Following the election outcome, Vijayan described the defeat as unexpected and stated that the LDF would continue functioning as a constructive opposition in the state assembly.

Mali Leader Assimi Goita Assumes Defence Minister Role After Sadio Camara’s Killing

Turning to Mali, the country’s military leader Assimi Goita has taken over the position of defence minister following the killing of former Defence Minister Sadio Camara during coordinated attacks by armed groups in the country.

State television ORTM announced that Goita would assume the defence portfolio while continuing to serve as president of Mali’s military-led government. The appointment was made through a presidential decree issued after Camara was killed in large-scale attacks carried out by al-Qaeda-linked fighters working alongside Tuareg separatist groups.

Sadio Camara, a key figure within Mali’s military leadership and a close ally of Goita, was killed after attackers targeted his residence during the assaults. The attacks marked one of the most serious security escalations in Mali in recent years and exposed growing instability in the country’s northern and central regions.

Alongside the reshuffle, General Oumar Diarra, the army chief of staff, was appointed minister delegate for defence. Authorities described the changes as part of efforts to respond to the worsening security situation following the attacks.

The developments come as Mali’s military government faces increasing pressure from armed groups despite continued military cooperation with Russian forces operating in the country.

Monaco’s Regulator Fines UBS €6 Million Over Serious Anti-Money Laundering Failures

Focusing on Monaco, the Financial Security Authority (AMSF) has fined UBS €6 million for serious anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing compliance failures identified at its Monaco subsidiary. The decision followed a review covering the period from 2018 to 2023.

According to the regulator, UBS Monaco showed repeated shortcomings in its compliance and internal control systems, including delays in filing suspicious transaction reports and weaknesses in preparing risk assessments. Authorities also found that the bank failed to properly verify the identity, income, and beneficial ownership of several clients, despite many being classified as medium to very high risk.

The AMSF stated that the bank did not adequately examine complex ownership structures or sufficiently verify the background of high-risk clients, including politically exposed persons (PEPs). The regulator also highlighted deficiencies in transaction monitoring, citing examples of large transfers that lacked proper supporting documentation or meaningful review.

One cited case involved suspicious transaction reporting delays of more than 250 days, while another concerned a €25 million transfer linked to an offshore company that reportedly received insufficient scrutiny despite internal alerts.

UBS stated that it has taken note of the decision and is reviewing the ruling, while reiterating its commitment to maintaining high regulatory standards.

Former Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe Sentenced to Death Over Corruption Charges

Shifting our attention to China, the military court of China has sentenced former defence minister Wei Fenghe to death with a two-year reprieve over corruption charges linked to bribery and abuse of power. Authorities found Wei guilty of accepting bribes and using his position to improperly influence military procurement and personnel matters.

According to Chinese state media, investigators concluded that Wei exploited senior military positions for personal gain and caused significant damage to the interests of the state and armed forces. The court stated that the scale of bribery and misconduct was severe, warranting a suspended death sentence under Chinese law.

Under China’s legal system, a death sentence with reprieve is typically commuted to life imprisonment without parole if the convicted person does not commit further crimes during the suspension period. Wei was also stripped of political rights for life, and his personal assets connected to the case were confiscated.

Wei Fenghe served as China’s defence minister from 2018 to 2023 and was previously a member of the Central Military Commission, the country’s top military body under President Xi Jinping. Former defence minister Li Shangfu was also sentenced to death with reprieve in a separate corruption case involving bribery and abuse of official authority.

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