The World Next Week: France Votes, Putin Returns, North Korea May Test, and Clinton Visits India and Bangladesh

The World Next Week podcast is up. Bob McMahon and I discussed the second and final round of France’s presidential elections; Vladimir Putin’s return as president of Russia; a possible North Korean nuclear test; and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Bangladesh and India.

[audio: https://www.cfr.org/content/publications/media/editorial/2012/20120503_T…]

The highlights:

For more on the topics we discussed in the podcast check out:

France’s Second-Round Presidential Elections. Voice of America says the Far-Right vote is the most important factor in the election. Indeed, the BBC’s Gavin Hewitt claims that Marine Le Pen “sees herself as having new influence in French politics.” The Wall Street Journal reports that Hollande has been getting debate advice from his former partner Ségolène Royal. IFES has an election guide describing how French elections work. The Guardian reports that “so many people detest Sarkozy.”

Vladimir Putin Is President Again. The Water’s Edge profiled Putin after his election. Officials in Russia’s Human Rights Council plan on leaving their posts after Putin takes office. Putin is undecided on whether he will run for president again in 2018. The Telegraph recounts Putin’s involvement in the “Soviet-style” May Day parade in Moscow. Putin and Medvedev grabbed a beer after the parade. The Telegraph also profiles Putin’s past as president.

North Korea’s Third Planned Nuclear Test. AFP reports that North Korea is “ready” for its test. Reuters asks if this will be North Korea’s first “uranium bomb” test. The Telegraph says that Russia expects the test to happen. North Korea has sent “jamming signals” that are interrupting South Korean flights. USA Today has a photo that shows the test site in North Korea. Yochi J. Dreazen argues that last month’s missile test involved a “diplomatic breakdown” between North Korea and the United States.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Visits Bangladesh and India. The China Daily has information on Clinton’s entire trip. The U.S. Department of State has a video of the last time Clinton met with her Bangladeshi counterpart, Dipu Moni. The Wall Street Journal says India cut its oil imports from Iran due to pressure from the United States. Jyotti Thottam wrote about the “six things to watch” from Clinton’s last visit to India.