Politically Exposed Person (PEP) Weekly Digest – Volume 116

116th PEP Weekly Digest:

Introducing the 116th 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 08, 2025 and Sep 03, 2025. These elections hold significant importance, as they will determine the direction and governance of each respective country’s future.

Jesús Otamendiz Campos Appointed Cuba’s New Minister of Labor and Social Security

One noteworthy event has occurred in Cuba, The Council of State, upon the proposal of the President of the Republic and with prior approval from the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, has decided to appoint Jesús Otamendiz Campos, the current Provincial Vice Governor of Havana, as the new Minister of Labor and Social Security.

Otamendiz Campos, 50 years old, holds a law degree, a doctorate in Pedagogical Sciences, and has completed a diploma in Public Administration. He has held various roles, starting from the grassroots level, and has achieved positive results. He began his professional career as an instructor for the Young Communists Union (UJC) in the Cerro municipality of Havana, where he was later promoted to a member of the Bureau and subsequently to First Secretary of that organization in the same municipality.

South Sudan President Appoint Athian Diing Athian as a Finance Minister

Shifting our focus to South Sudan, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit has dismissed the country’s finance minister, who was just a year into the job, state-owned television reported.

Kiir gave no reason for firing Dr. Marial Dongrin Ater, who was appointed in July 2024, the report said. He has been replaced by Athian Diing Athian, who is returning to the post.

This is the seventh change in the finance ministry since 2020.

Athian previously served as finance minister from September 2020 to November 2021, when he was replaced by Agak Achuil Lual. Athian was dismissed at the time for alleged insubordination, after reportedly failing to inform the president of the exact state of government finances.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp Resigns After Cabinet Deadlock Over Sanctions Against Israel

In the Netherlands, the Dutch foreign minister, Caspar Veldkamp, has resigned after a cabinet meeting failed to secure sanctions against Israel, weakening the Netherlands’ already fragile caretaker government.

Veldkamp’s colleagues from the centrist New Social Contract (NSC) party also walked out after the cabinet debate reached an impasse over adopting harsher measures against Israel.

The discussions about taking further steps against Israel came after the Netherlands joined 20 other countries in signing a joint declaration condemning Israeli plans to build an illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank. Critics say the 3,400-home settlement would split the territory in half.

Dutch Bank Bunq Fined €2.6M Over Money Laundering Control Failures, Disputes Decision

In the realm of regulatory affairs, Dutch online bank Bunq has received a 2.6 million euro ($3.04 million) fine for failures in its money laundering controls, Dutch central bank DNB said.

Bunq said it disagreed with DNB’s decision, to which it has formally objected.

DNB said Bunq was fined in May for “serious shortcomings” in four cases between January 2021 and May 2022, in which it had failed to properly investigate and report signs of possible financial crimes.

It also said previous investigations had already shown repeated failures, which the bank had failed to improve despite an earlier fine and other warnings.

Former NSW MP Daryl Maguire Jailed for 10 Months for Misleading ICAC, Granted Bail Pending Appeal

Shifting our attention to Australia, Daryl Maguire, known for his secret relationship with Gladys Berejiklian while she was NSW premier, was sentenced to 10 months in jail, with a non-parole period of five months.

The former NSW MP was found guilty of giving misleading evidence at an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry into a Sydney council in 2018.

Maguire was granted bail about an hour after being taken into custody. An appeal has been launched against his conviction and the sentence imposed.

The misleading evidence canvassed Maguire’s dealings with former Canterbury City councillor Michael Hawatt on a potential property development, in which Maguire could have received about $720,000 in commission.

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