German AfD party tops voter survey as Chancellor Merz faces dissatisfaction
The right-wing Alternative for Germany party (AfD) is soaring in the polls.
From the capitals
Hot TopicLatest reporting and analysis on from the capitals.
French PM ends ‘lifelong’ benefits for former prime ministers
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced the abolition of lifelong benefits for former prime ministers.
EU influence wears off: European court makes a decision, Poland says, “So what?”
When Polish Justice Minister and General Prosecutor Waldemar Żurek sat down in his office a week ago to record a piece of video for his social media accounts, he…
Poland arrests two Belarusians who allegedly flew drone over official buildings
Poland’s State Protection Service (SOP) spotted and "neutralised" a drone flying over government buildings in central Warsaw.
US backs UN condemnation of Israeli strikes on Qatar
The United Nations Security Council has issued a rare unanimous condemnation of Israeli airstrikes on Qatar's capital, Doha, with the US breaking from its traditional…
Poland rebuffs Trump suggestion that Russian drone incursion a ‘possible accident’
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk yesterday rejected speculation that the incursion into Polish airspace by around 20 Russian drones was accidental.
Anti-austerity protests in France limited but grim
Nationwide protests in France under the banner of Bloquons tout! (Block everything) have caused difficulties for the police.
France’s ex-prime ministers cost millions and citizens foot the bill
France's former prime minister, François Bayrou, freshly ejected from parliament, insists he will keep “no advantages” relating to his lost position.
The imperious ECJ tells Poland that all rulings from its upper courts can be ignored
On 4 September, in case C-225/22, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) declared that Polish courts must disregard rulings of higher courts if these…
Swedish defence minister targeted by pro-Palestinian demonstrators
Sweden’s Minister for Civil Defence, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, found himself pursued through the streets of Stockholm by a group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators and…
Majority of Europeans ‘want EC President von der Leyen out’
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is heading into her State of the Union speech with a majority of Europeans wanting her gone.
Socialists secure Norway elections win but Right surges
In a closely contested parliamentary election held, Norway's centre-left bloc, anchored by the Socialist-leaning Labour Party, has secured a narrow victory, claiming…
West cannot win against a unified Russia-India-China axis
In the brutal calculus of international relations, good intentions make poor strategy. The Ukrainian war presents us with this uncomfortable truth in stark relief.
Poland’s financial rating questioned as result of hole in public finances
The Fitch ratings agency has revised Poland's outlook to "negative" from "stable" citing growing risks to public finances.
Norway election: Stoltenberg crushes any chance of right-wing government
Norwegians will vote for their next government on Sept 8, but the national-conservative and anti-immigration Progress Party, despite being the second-largest party…
Chancellor Merz blames poor messaging for popularity plummet
German Chancellor Friederich Merz has acknowledged his government's plummeting popularity, which he says is the result of poor messaging, not decisions made.
‘Coalition of willing’ pledge ‘reassurance force’ for Ukraine if peace deal secured
More than two dozen countries have pledged to join a force to deploy in Ukraine after any eventual peace deal with Russia, aiming to deter Moscow from again attacking…
Survey shows 75% of Germans dissatisfied with Chancellor Merz’s government
The number of Germans unhappy with the job their government is doing has reached a new high.
Did von der Leyen’s plane really suffer from GPS jamming?
Questions have arisen over the official Brussels' account of a plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Bulgaria that was reportedly…
Marine Le Pen calls for new elections as her party eyes absolute majority
French right-wing National Rally (RN) de facto leader Marine Le Pen has called for new elections in France following her meeting with Prime Minister François Bayrou.
Au revoir, Bayrou? What a Le Pen-Bardella tandem could mean for France
France is exhausted.
‘Fate of France’ at stake in confidence vote, says PM Bayrou
French Prime Minister François Bayrou said the destiny of France was at stake in a forthcoming confidence vote, which he called to resolve a budget standoff but…
Polish F-16 pilot dies in jet crash in central Poland
A Polish F-16 fighter plane has crashed killing the pilot during a practice flight.
French Right and Left reject compromise deal to save PM
France's hard-right and hard-left parties on Thursday rejected a compromise with Prime Minister Francois Bayrou over his government's cost-cutting budget, saying…
Russian rockets damage EU mission building, British Council in Kyiv
Russian missile attacks in Kyiv have severely damaged the EU delegation to Ukraine, sparking outrage among European leaders.
Russia restates opposition to European peacekeepers in Ukraine
The Kremlin says it is against European countries sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine and has pushed back against the idea of a speedy meeting between Presidents…
Macron vows ‘full support’ for under-fire PM Bayrou
French President Emmanuel Macron has given his "full support" to his embattled Prime Minister, who has called a confidence vote that could see his government collapse…
EC chief von der Leyen put forward as next German President
The current President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is rumoured to be in line to become the next President of Germany.
Tusk lashes out with frantic prosecutions against ‘heavy calibre’ Conservatives
Since December 2023, Poland has been living under a form of liberal autocracy, branded by Prime Minister Donald Tusk as “militant democracy.
French PM Bayrou calls for confidence vote in ‘calculated risk’
France's embattled Prime Minister François Bayrou said his government would request a vote of confidence, seeking parliamentary backing for his battle against soaring…