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In Hungary, which has seen an erosion of democratic norms since far-right Prime Minister Viktor Orban came to power, a turncoat from Orban's own Fidesz party is shaking things up. Peter Magyar says he wants to make Hungary a normal democratic country again. He left Fidesz and joined a minor opposition party, suddenly bringing it up to around 25 percent in the polls ahead of the European elections. While Orban's party remains the most popular, especially in small towns, the gap is narrowing. FRANCE 24's Gulliver Cragg reports.

As South Africans vote in a crunch general election, one key issue that's impacted the campaign is the policy of affirmative action the country began in 1994. A series of measures, known as the "Triple B double E Act" (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment), have favoured non-White South Africans in public or private jobs, as well as in university admissions. But these measures are now being contested by the opposition, who claim they perpetuate racial discrimination and do not promote good governance. So how has affirmative action impacted South African society over the past 30 years and should it stay or go? Our correspondents report from Cape Town.

Mexico heads to the polls on June 2 and it’s almost certain that the country's new head of state will be a woman. The two favourites are Claudia Sheinbaum, who has been mentored by outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador; and Xochitl Galvez, who is backed by three opposition parties. With only a few days to go before the country's biggest election – legislative and municipal elections are also taking place on the same day – candidates may soon breathe a sigh of relief, even if they lose. Since campaigning began, at least 24 candidates and pre-candidates have been assassinated as organised crime remains rampant in many parts of the country, particularly in the state of Guerrero. Our team on the ground reports.

Haiti has been in the grips of a renewed crisis ever since heavily armed gangs formed an alliance this February and forced Ariel Henry to step down as prime minister. The Caribbean nation has long been plagued by gang violence, with armed groups fostered in the shadows by power-hungry political and economic elites. But now more than 80 percent of Haiti’s capital is controlled by an alliance of armed groups, and they’re vowing they won’t lay down their arms unless they get a seat at the negotiating table. Haiti's under-resourced police, which is often accused of rampant corruption, are left to battle gangs that are often better armed than law enforcement. FRANCE 24’s Catherine Norris Trent and Roméo Langlois went on patrol with UTAG, a specially formed anti-gang unit of Haiti’s police. They bring us this exclusive report from Port-au-Prince.

With over 830,000 inmates, Brazil has the third-largest prison population in the world, behind only the US and China. According to data from the National Secretariat for Penal Policy, there are almost 166,000 more prisoners than there are places currently available in the country's jails. In some penitentiaries, such as in the state of Rio de Janeiro, prison overcrowding can reach 190 percent. Brazilian prisons are also regularly the scene of rebellions and massacres.

Around the world, elections have become a testing ground for artificial intelligence (AI). India, the world's most populous nation with more than 1.4 billion people, is a case in point. The country is in the middle of its marathon elections, with the capital New Delhi voting over the weekend. The vote has been marred by controversies surrounding the unregulated use of AI and deepfakes. Political parties are increasingly integrating AI into their campaigns and the industry has turned into a $60 million business. Our correspondents Khansa Juned and Léa Delfolie report.