Politically Exposed Person (PEP) Weekly Digest – Volume 150

150th PEP Weekly Digest:

Introducing the 150th 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 April 12, 2026, and May 07, 2026. These elections hold significant importance, as they will determine the direction and governance of each respective country’s future

Beinir Johannesen Elected Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands After Election Victory

One noteworthy event has occurred in Faeroe Islands, Beinir Johannesen has been elected as the Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands following the formation of a new government after the latest general election. He was formally appointed after coalition negotiations were completed and support was secured from multiple political parties in the Løgting.

Johannesen, who leads the People’s Party, emerged as the head of the new governing coalition after his party finished strongly in the election. Following the agreement between coalition partners, he was elected prime minister in the parliament vote and officially tasked with forming the government.

The outgoing prime minister, Aksel V. Johannesen, stepped down after failing to form a new government and recommended that Beinir Johannesen begin coalition talks. After negotiations with other parties, a coalition agreement was reached, allowing the new government to take shape.

Beinir Johannesen became the youngest prime minister in the history of the Faroe Islands, marking a significant political transition. Alongside his appointment, key cabinet positions were distributed among coalition partners, with ministers assigned to finance, foreign affairs, health, and other portfolios.

The new government reflects a shift in political leadership in the Faroe Islands, with the People’s Party taking a leading role in the administration.

Greenland Appoints Former PM Egede as Foreign Minister in Cabinet Reshuffle Move

Shifting our focus to Greenland, Greenland’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, has appointed his predecessor, Múte Bourup Egede, as the country’s new foreign minister in a cabinet reshuffle aimed at handling key international relations. The appointment gives Egede responsibility for steering Greenland’s foreign affairs, particularly its relationship with the United States amid ongoing geopolitical pressure.

Egede, who served as Greenland’s prime minister until 2025, will also take on additional portfolios including mineral resources and business policy. He currently holds the position of finance minister as well, making him one of the central figures in the government’s economic and diplomatic decision-making.

The foreign minister post became vacant following the resignation of Vivian Motzfeldt, after her party withdrew from the governing coalition. The reshuffle comes at a time when Greenland is managing increased diplomatic attention from the United States, with discussions ongoing regarding security and strategic interests in the Arctic region.

Egede has previously stated that Greenland is not for sale and has emphasized that its people will decide their own political future. His appointment is seen as a move to strengthen experienced leadership in handling foreign relations during a sensitive period.

The government of Greenland continues to function under a coalition led by Prime Minister Nielsen, with cabinet changes reflecting shifting political dynamics following recent coalition adjustments.

Nitish Kumar Resigns as Bihar CM; Samrat Choudhary Set to Take Over

In India, Nitish Kumar has resigned as the Chief Minister of Bihar, triggering a major political transition in the state. His resignation comes after he was elected to the Rajya Sabha, leading to the end of his current tenure as chief minister.

Following his resignation, Samrat Choudhary, the BJP leader and deputy chief minister in the outgoing government, has been named as the new Chief Minister of Bihar. He is set to take over the leadership of the state government after being elected as the leader of the ruling alliance in the Bihar Legislative Assembly.

Nitish Kumar, who has served multiple terms as Bihar’s chief minister over two decades, formally stepped down, paving the way for the formation of a new government under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance.

Samrat Choudhary’s elevation marks a significant political shift, as it will be the first time a BJP leader will hold the chief minister’s post in Bihar. The transition follows internal discussions within the NDA alliance after Nitish Kumar’s exit from state politics.

The new government formation process is expected to be completed shortly, with Samrat Choudhary likely to be sworn in as the next Chief Minister of Bihar.

South Korea Fines Coinone $3.5M and Suspends Services Over AML Violations

Shifting our attention to South Korea, South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has fined cryptocurrency exchange Coinone approximately $3.5 million (5.2 billion won) and imposed a three-month partial suspension over anti-money laundering (AML) violations. The regulator found serious compliance failures after inspections of the exchange’s customer onboarding and transaction monitoring systems.

According to the findings, Coinone failed to properly verify around 70,000 customer accounts and processed more than 10,000 transactions involving 16 unregistered overseas virtual asset operators. Authorities said the exchange’s customer due diligence processes were inadequate and did not meet required AML standards under South Korea’s financial regulations.

The FIU also highlighted weaknesses in ongoing monitoring systems, noting that suspicious transactions were not consistently detected or reported. Additional issues included incomplete customer information, poor documentation practices, and gaps in internal compliance controls.

As part of the sanctions, Coinone will face a three-month partial suspension starting later in April, during which certain services for new customers will be restricted. Existing users will still be able to trade, but onboarding and external transfer functions will be limited during the suspension period.

The exchange has been given a limited window to respond or appeal the decision before the penalties are finalized. The action is part of a broader regulatory push in South Korea to strengthen AML compliance across the cryptocurrency sector.

Karnataka MLA Vinay Kulkarni Convicted in BJP Leader Murder Case

Shifting our attention to India, Karnataka Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni has been convicted by a special court in connection with the 2016 murder of BJP leader Yogesh Gowda. The court also convicted 18 others in the same case, while two accused were acquitted.

The case relates to the killing of Yogesh Gowda, a BJP leader and former zilla panchayat member, who was murdered in Dharwad in June 2016. The investigation was later taken over by the CBI in 2019, which filed a charge sheet after examining multiple witnesses and evidence.

The special court found Kulkarni guilty of criminal conspiracy and murder, along with other charges. The verdict was delivered after a prolonged trial that lasted several years. Kulkarni was present in court when the judgment was announced.

Following the conviction, the court is set to pronounce the quantum of punishment separately. The case has also raised political implications in Karnataka, as Kulkarni is a sitting MLA and former minister.

The judgment marks a major development in a long-running legal and political case that has been under investigation for nearly a decade. Further legal proceedings, including sentencing and possible appeals, are expected to follow.

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