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The coming days
The week ahead
South Korea sets out its response to the sinking of the Cheonan
May 23rd 2010 | From The Economist online
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•President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea is expected to refer North Korea to the UN Security Council for its part in the sinking of the Cheonan, a South Korean warship. 46 sailors died in the incident, which took place in March. South Korea may also ban ships from the North from its waters. It needs to balance a desire for redress against the unpredictability of Kim Jong Il, North Korea's leader. Mr Kim has already threatened war if further sanctions are imposed on North Korea.
 
• THE corruption and squabbling of the Czech Republic’s political class has encouraged several new parties to attempt to capitalise on popular discontent in legislative elections that begin on Friday May 28th. Some of the country’s best-known intellectuals and cultural figures are backing a non-party movement called “Replace the Politicians” that wants a big clean-out. TOP 09 is a conservative, free-market grouping that has sent voters dummy invoices showing the level of the country’s debt. Public Matters, led by Radek John, now the country’s most popular politician, could play a role in forming a new coalition. But as in previous elections, voters divide evenly between right and left, making another weak, squabbling government consisting of one big party and some smaller fry all too likely.
 
• AFGHANISTAN is set to convene a national peace assembly from Saturday May 29th to discuss how to persuade Taliban insurgents to take part in peace talks. The meeting, known as a jirga, will include tribal elders, provincial chiefs, legislators and other important Afghans. Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan’s president, will use the assembly to present a draft of his plans to negotiate with the Taliban, a subject that he discussed at a meeting with Barack Obama in Washington at the beginning of May. A recent Taliban assault on Bagram airbase, an American stronghold, may well be aa show of strength before the talks as much as a reaction to American plans for a big offensive in Kandahar, the insurgents’ heartland.
 
• COLOMBIANS go the polls on Sunday May 30th to elect a new president to replace Álvaro Uribe, the popular but term-limited incumbent. Juan Manuel Santos, who claims to be Mr Uribe’s heir, seemed a shoo-in last month until the emergence of Antanas Mockus. His Green Party has few seats in Congress but he has surged in opinion polls to draw neck-and-neck with Mr Santos and could well win in the event of a run-off. Mr Mockus combines a centrist appeal with a reputation for honesty, and has made a stand against corruption.
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