Nation-state or Islamic Republic of France, Houellebecq’s question
Nine years ago, Michel Houellebecq wrote Submission, one of the most influential novels of modern French literature.
From the capitals
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Poland and Baltic countries call for strengthened EU border with Russia
Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have called upon the European Union to establish a ground defence line along its Eastern border with Russia and Belarus.
She’s angry, but Italy’s PM Meloni is short of numbers to veto a second von der Leyen term at EU summit
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will lack the allies she needs for a blocking majority to deny Ursula von der Leyen a second term as European Commission president,…
Commissioner Reynders defeated in bid for top job at Council of Europe
Brussels Commissioner Didier Reynders, who took a leave of absence without pay to look for a new job, has failed in his bid to become President of the Council of…
Russian saboteurs ‘suspected’ over German factory fire
A fire at a factory in Berlin was possibly started by Russian saboteurs, according to security experts.
Binational French citizens to be barred from ‘key jobs’, says National Rally’s Bardella
Jordan Bardella, the President of the French hard-right party National Rally (RN) said binational citizens would be excluded from "key government jobs", if the party…
German Liberals threaten ruling coalition over debt
Thirty MPs of the Liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) said they would withdraw their support from the German traffic-light coalition if the Socialists (SPD) rack…
Macron increasingly isolated following election gamble
French President Emmanuel Macron is looking increasingly isolated following his June 9 decision to dissolve the French National Assembly after a crushing defeat…
Dutch police arrest suspect over shooting of Spain’s Vox party co-founder
Police have arrested a 38-year-old man suspected of the attempted murder of the Spanish politician and co-founder of the right-wing populist party Vox, Alejo Vidal-Quadras.
Romanian nationalists AUR join European Parliament’s ECR group; Hungary’s Fidesz to stay out
The Alliance of the Union of Romanians (AUR), active in Romania and Moldova, has been admitted to the European Conservative and Reformists (ECR) group in the European…
Huge budget hole puts Germany’s ruling coalition under pressure
A €40 billion budget hole has put Germany's coalition government under serious pressure.
Austrian climate minister: I only choose the rules I like
Austria’s government, a coalition of the centre-right People’s Party (ÖVP) and the Green Party, has never been stable.
Budapest defends ‘Make Europe Great Again’ EU Presidency motto
Hungary is aiming to "Make Europe Great Again" as President of the Council of the European Union, the country proclaimed on June 18.
Criminal probe and ‘poor English’ dog Costa’s candidacy for European Council
A pending criminal investigation in Portugal has dogged António Costa's hopes of becoming next president of the European Council.
At just 28, potential Prime Minister Bardella needs to convince the French that age is immaterial
Jordan Bardella, President of France’s National Rally (RN), has his work cut out convincing French citizens that he should be prime minister following next month's…
EC standstill delays annual rule-of-law report and key comments on Spain
The European Commission's annual report on rule-of-law in the European Union, usually published in June or July, will be delayed "because the Commission is at a…
New French ‘Popular Front’ battles on amid infighting, exclusions
In its efforts to unite amid infighting, the French political Left and in particular, the hard-left La France Insoumise (LFI), has excluded prominent figures.
Macron introduces Le Pen to Machiavelli
The dissolution of the National Assembly announced by President Macron on June 9th, after the disastrous result of his party in the European election, is no accident.
Reconquête breakaway MEPs will build ‘French Conservative’ party, Bay tells ECR
The four MEPs who broke away from Eric Zemmour's Reconquête party will build a "French Conservative" political party, an internal letter sent to representatives…
Farage’s Reform UK tops Conservatives in poll ahead of elections
Arch-Brexiteer Nigel Farage's Reform UK party has overtaken the Conservative Party in the latest UK polls.
Internal Reconquête messaging tells of ‘heartbreak, betrayal and sabotage’
The split of France's Reconquête party is now "complete", insiders claimed in a new internal memo.
PVV ‘wants former Dutch MP who aimed to abolish foreign aid as new foreign aid minister’
Dutch media report that Geert Wilders' Freedom Party (PVV) wants to make Reneitte Klever the new minister of foreign trade and foreign aid, a department she wanted…
Shoving contest breaks out in Italian Parliament
An Italian plenary debate over local autonomy degenerated into a shoving match on June 13.
Azerbaijan-EU relations strong despite ‘unhelpful’ France, Baku says
Relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union remain strong despite the "unhelpful" interventions of France, a senior Baku official said.
Political revolt breaks out among French Right ahead of general election
Eric Zemmour, leader of the hard-right French party Reconquête, has dismissed newly elected MEP Marion Maréchal from the party while the centre-right Republicans…
Von der Leyen ‘not welcome’ at summit to discuss her future
Most heads of state in the European Union do not want European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen present during some discussions on the future of Europe…
‘Hungary will no longer veto support to Ukraine,’ says PM Orbán
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on June 12 that his country would no longer veto support for Ukraine.
France’s hard-right National Rally opens door to Republicans
The President of France’s National Rally (RN) party, Jordan Bardella, says his political movement will support candidates from the centre-right Republican party…
Entire leadership of Flemish Liberals resigns over crushing election defeat
The entire leadership of one of Belgium's premier Liberal parties have announced their resignation following their defeat in the country's regional, national and…
Polish MP who extinguished Hanukkah menorah elected to European Parliament
A Polish MP who recently doused a Hanukkah menorah in the Polish Parliament with a fire extinguisher has been elected to the European Parliament.