Von der Leyens’ numbered days
European Union President Ursula von der Leyen has forged what is likely the strongest role for someone in her office in the EU’s history.
The elites slink into the night, replaced by populists who represent the unhappy voters
The victory of Czech populist leader Andrej Babiš' ANO party in Saturday’s elections did more than confirm the populist trend throughout Europe.
The Strange and Self-Inflicted Death of Tory England
The classic book The Strange Death of Liberal England attempted to explain the rapid decline into irrelevance of the once-powerful Liberal Party.
Macron still doesn’t get it: All France agrees Macronism must go
The collapse of French Prime Minister François Bayrou’s government did not seem to trouble President Emmanuel Macron.
Trump never agrees to a deal that does not give him his bottom line
Official Europe is anxious and apprehensive about Friday’s summit in Alaska between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
In trade as in defence, the US is strong and the EU is weak
The new US-EU trade deal has spawned a legion of critics who allege European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen cravenly capitulated in the face of American pressure.
If Europeans are shocked by Trump’s move on Ukraine, they do not understand the man
President Donald Trump’s aggressively pro-Ukraine announcement Monday would have come as a massive shock to most European elites had they been told a few months ago that…
Defeated Simion may be back if new coalition fails to grasp gargantuan deficit
The Brussels elite breathed a sigh of relief last month when Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan defeated conservative populist George Simion to become Romania’s new president.
Wilders’ plan: Voters will have to choose him or left-tinged chaos
Many observers think Dutch populist politician Geert Wilders was crazy to dissolve the government he had spent so many years trying to be a part of.
Conservative populism is changing: Poland’s PiS now has competition from the Right
Polish president-elect Karol Nawrocki’s victory shows that conservative populism remains strong in that vital country.
Blow for ‘progressive’ Tusk: Anti-abortion trio receive majority in presidential vote
The Brussels elites were surely dismayed at how well conservative populist candidates fared in Sunday’s first round of Poland’s presidential election.
Post-war Conservatism is fading fast, yet the centre-right cannot grasp the fact
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s historic, embarrassing failure to be installed on the Bundestag’s first vote merely underscores an increasingly undeniable trend: traditional…
Europeans have only two months left to keep the Americans in and the Russians out
The annual NATO summit in Brussels on June 24 and 25 is likely to be the most consequential in decades.
Macron should be a clever statesman and pardon Le Pen
Marine Le Pen’s conviction for embezzlement, coupled with the court’s imposition of a five-year ban on running for public office, matters well outside of France.
Are Europe and the US headed for a divorce? Or would that be folly?
If the United States and Europe were a married couple, you would probably say they are headed for a divorce.
Europe wants Trump to stand with them? Try free speech and toleration of dissent
European elites are furiously angry about President Donald Trump’s rapid shift away from the traditional transatlantic relationship.
Collapse: German centrist parties in 2013 took over 70% of vote, now less than 50%
The Euro-elite hope that Sunday’s German election marks the beginning of a German renaissance that lifts the European Union up with it. Perhaps.
Europe disdained US Republicans for years, now euro-elites are in a frenzy
Statements and speeches last week from President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth have been treated as the end of the world by the…
Barbados coalition: Immigrant violence forces Merz to ‘tolerate’ AfD votes
German political elites like to label their multi-party coalitions by flags which contain the colours of the parties that comprise them.
Brussels fears Musk, he fights the ancient fight for free speech
The Brussels elite have contended they are defending liberal democracy against authoritarianism at home and abroad.
Conservative populists must recognise the source of their power
2024 was the year that conservative populism went from being an irritant to a force.
For a great win Merz must not tilt to the centre, he must understand AfD concerns
The leader of Germany’s Christian Democrats, Friedrich Merz, looks likely to achieve his longstanding dream and become the nation’s next chancellor.
European politicians learn Trump’s victory is a glimpse of Europe’s future
Europeans awakening to the reality of Donald Trump’s victory will be asking themselves what it means for them.
Forget the popular vote, how America’s Electoral College will choose the winner
It is looking increasingly likely that Donald Trump will win America’s presidential election.
Populist parties can gain power only by deals with conservatives
The recent electoral advances made by Austria’s Freedom Party (FPÖ) and Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) once again show conservative populists are a political…
Trump-Harris, now expect vitriol and negativity to start ramping up
It’s always hard to predict how viewers will react to a presidential debate. One thing is clear nonetheless: Kamala Harris cannot do better than she did last night.
Voting populist in Europe? We are all a bit East German now
There were many factors behind the strong election performances of the two populist parties, Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Sahra Wagenknecht Union (BSW), in two east…
Populist challenge leads stodgy German parties towards political chaos
The smallest party in Germany’s tripartite government, the Free Democrats (FDP), have been angering their coalition allies with a series of recent policy pronouncements.
After the summer, an awkward menu of decisions waits for European leaders
The traditional August vacation means a likely slow month for European political news.
EU policy negotiations with Trump: find aggression and strength
Former President Donald Trump remains the favourite in America’s presidential race despite President Joe Biden’s decision to drop his re-election bid.