Politically Exposed Person (PEP) Weekly Digest – Volume 111

111th PEP Weekly Digest:

Introducing the 111th 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 Jun 05, 2025 and Sep 01, 2025. These elections hold significant importance, as they will determine the direction and governance of each respective country’s future.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal Resigns Amid Major Wartime Reshuffle; Svyrydenko Nominated as Successor

One noteworthy event has occurred in Ukraine, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said he had submitted a resignation letter, as part of the country’s largest wartime governmental reshuffle expected this week.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy nominated First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko to replace Shmyhal. Svyrydenko, who is also the economy minister, is a close and long-standing ally of Zelenskiy.

Shmyhal, who has been in his post since March 2020, is expected to be appointed as Ukraine’s new defence minister, Zelenskiy said.

Armenian President Dismisses Environment Minister Hakob Simidyan, Appoints PM Adviser Matevosyan as Successor

Shifting our focus to Armenia, President Vahagn Khachaturyan, at the suggestion of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, signed a decree dismissing Hakob Simidyan from the post of Minister of Environment.

By another decree of the president, Ambartsum Matevosyan was appointed to this position.

Simidyan held this post since December 10, 2021. Ambartsum Matevosyan was the chief adviser to the prime minister.

Egypt’s Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad Resigns in Cabinet Reshuffle

In Egypt, a significant reshuffle at the top ranks of the cabinet has occurred, with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly accepting the resignation of Yasmine Fouad, the country’s long-serving Minister of Environment.

The decision was formalized in the official gazette’s Issue No. 29 (Supplement) through Decree No. 2480 of 2025, published.

Fouad, who has held the post since 2018, has been widely regarded as a key architect of Egypt’s modern environmental policy. Her tenure was marked by increased international engagement, culminating in Egypt’s high-profile hosting of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El Sheikh in 2022.

The Prime Minister’s Office has not yet announced Fouad’s next official role, but local reports indicate she may be moving to an international post focused on global environmental governance.

Barclays Fined £42m by FCA for Money Laundering Failures Linked to Stunt & Co and WealthTek

In the realm of regulatory affairs, Barclays Bank has been fined £42m by the UK’s financial watchdog for failures in its money laundering risk management.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said Barclays had not properly vetted two of its clients, Stunt & Co and WealthTek.

The FCA said Barclays “facilitated the movement of funds linked to financial crime” by providing services to Stunt & Co and said there was “an increased risk” of client money misappropriation or money laundering from its failure to check WealthTek.

Barclays said it fully co-operated with both investigations and has “further strengthened its financial crime and other control capabilities”.

Former Indonesian Trade Minister Sentenced to 4.5 Years for Corruption in Sugar Import Scandal

Shifting our attention to Indonesia, an Indonesian court sentenced former Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong to four years and six months in prison for corruption related to sugar imports during his tenure between 2015 and 2016.

“The judge declares that the defendant, Thomas Trikasih Lembong, has been legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing a crime,” said Chief Judge Dennie Arsan Fatrika while reading the verdict at the Jakarta Corruption Court.

In addition to the prison sentence, the 54-year-old was ordered to pay a fine of 750 million Indonesian rupiahs (about $45,750). Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional six months of imprisonment.

Lembong was charged and arrested last October for his role in the embezzlement of raw sugar import funds. The case involved state losses estimated at 400 billion rupiahs (about $24.4 million) during the 2015-2016 period.

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