Death of “Pepe” Mujica, Syria, legislative elections in Albania, Scotland: the night's news

Uruguay: Death of “Pepe” Mujica, former president and icon of the left. “Pepe, that’s what everyone called him in Uruguay. He will be remembered for the wisdom of his words,” reacted the Argentinian daily Pagina 12. The former guerrilla who governed the small Latin American country from 2010 to 2015 died Tuesday at the age of 89 from esophageal cancer. “He was one of the most influential and unique figures in Uruguayan and Latin American politics, distinguished by his austere style, his humanist discourse and his commitment to social causes,” underlines the Uruguayan daily La Republica . During his presidential term, he challenged convention, promoting progressive measures for Latin America, such as the legalization of cannabis, abortion, and same-sex marriage. Dubbed the “world’s poorest president,” this consumerist critic who claimed his peasant roots donated almost all of his presidential income to a social housing program. “His political and ethical legacy leaves a deep mark on the country’s contemporary history,” concludes La Republica. On Tuesday, Mexico’s left-wing President Claudia Sheinbaum paid tribute to him, calling him “an example for Latin America and the entire world.”

In Riyadh, Trump announces the lifting of US sanctions against Syria. The American president caused a surprise Tuesday during his visit to Saudi Arabia by declaring that he would order their cessation, on the eve of meeting at least briefly with Syrian President Ahmed El-Sharaa. The Republican indicated that he had decided to lift the sanctions after urgent requests from his host, Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “Oh, what I wouldn’t do for the crown prince,” Trump said. Damascus welcomed a “decisive turning point.” For the Wall Street Journal , the “main message” sent by Trump on Tuesday during his visit was that “the United States will remain engaged and close” to the Middle East “as long as money from this region flows into the American economy.” Received with all due respect in Riyadh, the billionaire signed a “strategic economic partnership” with the crown prince on Tuesday, including the sale of “cutting-edge” American military equipment. Washington estimated the amount going to the United States at $600 billion.

Albanian parliamentary elections: a landslide victory for Prime Minister Edi Rama's camp. The Socialist Party won more than 52% of the vote in Sunday's elections, according to official results published Tuesday by the Central Electoral Commission, giving the Albanian prime minister an unprecedented fourth term at the helm of the country. He far outpaced the coalition of his historic rival, Sali Berisha. Berisha denounced "irregularities" and accused the Socialists of pressure, fraud, and vote-buying, suggesting that his party might not recognize the results. "The outcome of the election [...] seemed sealed well before the vote," said Albanian analyst Fron Nahzi in an op-ed published on the Balkan Insight website . The Socialists relied on a well-oiled patronage machine. With some 185,000 civil servants in the Albanian public sector, the implicit message was unequivocal: support the party or risk losing your livelihood." The election was seen as a test of the democratic maturity of the Balkan country, which has begun EU accession negotiations.

Scotland: MPs vote in favor of a bill to legalize assisted dying. After five hours of emotional debate, 70 MPs voted for the legislation, while 56 opposed it. Only one MP abstained. The bill would allow people to request medical assistance to end their lives if they have a terminal illness and two doctors have deemed them mentally fit to make the decision. The Scottish Parliament rejected two attempts to legalize assisted dying on the first vote, in 2010 and 2015. “Holyrood made history by pushing ahead with the bill to legalize assisted dying, but this controversial issue is far from settled,” notes The Scotsman . “The hard part begins now.” The bill will now be able to continue its parliamentary journey. It will become law if MPs approve it in a final vote, which is expected to take place later this year.