Politically Exposed Person (PEP) Weekly Digest – Volume 102

102nd PEP Weekly Digest:

Introducing the 102nd 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 12, 2025 and Jun 26, 2025. These elections hold significant importance, as they will determine the direction and governance of each respective country’s future.

Anita Anand Appointed Canada’s Foreign Minister in Mark Carney’s Cabinet Overhaul

One noteworthy event has occurred in Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney has appointed Anita Ananda to the powerful post of Foreign Minister in his new cabinet charged with fulfilling the “mandate for change”. He also appointed Maninder Sidhu as the international trade minister, and two others of Indian descent as secretaries of state – the equivalent of ministers of state.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar congratulated Anita Anand on her appointment. One of Anand’s missions will be to pilot the reset of the almost ruptured ties with India that Carney signalled, while managing the delicate relations with President Donald Trump’s America.

Announcing the new cabinet of 28 ministers, he instructed them to “bring new ideas, a clear focus and decisive actions to their work”. Anand, who was the transport minister and had earlier held the defence portfolio, said in January that she was leaving politics and returning to academia.

Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai Sworn in as 52nd Chief Justice of India

Shifting our focus to India, Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai was sworn in as the Chief Justice of India (CJI). President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to him at a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

CJI Gavai succeeds Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who demitted office on May 13, and will hold office till November 23, 2025. He is the 52nd Chief Justice of India.

Born on November 24, 1960, at Amravati in Maharashtra, Justice Gavai was elevated as an additional judge of the Bombay High Court on November 14, 2003. He became a permanent judge of the high court on November 12, 2005. Justice Gavai became a Supreme Court judge on May 24, 2019, and has been a part of several Constitution benches that delivered landmark rulings.

Peru PM Gustavo Adrianzén Resigns Ahead of No-Confidence Vote Amid Mining Massacre Fallout

In Peru, the prime minister of Peru, Gustavo Adrianzén, has resigned hours before he was due to face a no-confidence vote in Congress.

Members of Peru’s Congress had called for the no-confidence vote after the recent kidnap and killing of 13 mine workers, which shocked the country.

Adrianzén’s resignation is another blow to the embattled president, Dina Boluarte, who has seen her approval ratings plummet as crime rates in the country have soared.

The resignation of the prime minister – the third to serve under Boluarte – forces the president to replace her entire cabinet, adding to Peru’s political upheaval.

Swiss Regulator Orders Julius Baer to Pay Over $4.8 Million for Money Laundering Failures

In the realm of regulatory affairs, Swiss private bank Julius Baer (BAER.S), opens new tab has been ordered by the country’s financial regulator to pay more than 4 million Swiss francs ($4.80 million) over alleged money laundering and compliance failures, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The enforcement decision, which was made late last year, relates to business between 2009 and 2019, the source said.

It is the latest setback to surface for Switzerland’s second-largest listed lender, which put new management in place this year as it seeks to move on from major losses from the collapse of property group Signa.

The Financial Times reported on the order earlier on Wednesday. FINMA, Switzerland’s financial regulator, declined to comment.

Mauritania’s Ex-President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz Sentenced to 15 Years for Corruption

Shifting our attention to Mauritania, Mauritania’s former president, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on corruption charges following an appeal to a Nouakchott court by both the state and Aziz’s defence against a sentence imposed in 2023.

Abdel Aziz led the West African country for a decade after coming to power in a 2008 coup, followed by an election a year later. He was an ally of Western powers fighting Islamist militants in the Sahel region.

Abdel Aziz, who has denied corruption allegations, was found guilty of economic crimes and abuse of power. He was initially handed a five-year prison sentence in December 2023 before the state appealed against the leniency of that punishment and Aziz’s team appealed the ruling, saying only a high court of justice was qualified to try a former president.

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