Angela Merkel, the gravedigger of Germany and Europe
Angela Merkel led Germany – and Europe – for sixteen years.
From the capitals
Latest reporting and analysis on from the capitals.
French cosmetics industry worries it could be targeted in any US-EU trade war
The French cosmetics industry has braced for three potential outcomes as a trade war between the US and the EU looms.
Austrian coalition government talks collapse
Austrian government coalition negotiations between the right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ) and the Conservative People's Party (ÖVP) have failed.
Hungary’s Orbán calls Germany’s Weidel a ‘brave freedom fighter’
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, standing next to Alice Weidel, co-chair of Germany’s hard-right AfD, at a joint press conference in Budapest has said he…
The centre-right across the West are being replaced by the populist-right
Nearly everywhere in the West, the centre-right is being replaced as the “mainstream” political party by the populist-right.
Polish minister Sikorski accuses opposition PiS of being ‘US lackeys’
Poland’s foreign minister Radosław Sikorski has lashed out at the opposition Conservatives (PiS) for being "lackeys" of US President Donald Trump’s administration.
Romanian police raid home of Georgescu’s campaign manager
Romanian hard-right politician Călin Georgescu has said that Radu Pally, his election campaign manager, had been the target of searches by prosecutors and police.
Polish opposition reports museum to prosecutors for allegedly ‘selling child porn’
Poland’s main opposition Conservatives (PiS) have reported Warsaw city’s Museum of Modern Art (MSN) to prosecutors for allegedly displaying and selling child…
Romania’s outgoing president quits to pre-empt impeachment bid before election re-run
Romania's outgoing centrist president, Klaus Iohannis, resigned on Monday as opposition hard-right parliamentary parties planned to have him impeached.
Trump appoints anti-Tusk conservative hawk as US ambassador to Poland
US President Donald Trump has named Thomas Rose as ambassador to Poland.
Germany allegedly bans ex-Shah of Persia’s son from Munich Security Conference
Reza Pahlavi, son of the former Shah of Persia and a prominent representative of the Iranian opposition, has accused the German foreign ministry of banning him from…
Tusk’s Polish Government pursues Conservative ex-minister: Tell the truth and go to jail?
Poland’s justice minister Adam Bodnar has requested parliamentary immunity be lifted for former defence minister in the last Conservative (PiS) government Mariusz…
Austrian coalition talks at ‘difficult phase’ as Conservatives take a break
Negotiations over a centre-right government coalition in Austria have hit a tough spot.
EU and Starmer plot Brexit ‘reset’ meeting in May
It has been announced that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host European Union leaders at a meeting in May aimed at "resetting" the relationship between London…
US reasserting their role as the primary superpower with breathtaking speed
As I have written elsewhere, I have always been suspicious of the idea of an emerging multipolar world order.
AfD leader’s Hungary invitation shows erosion of German far-right party’s isolation
An endorsement from Elon Musk, €5 million in financial donations this year alone, and now an invitation to meet Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán: once…
US special envoy Grenell advises Germany’s CDU to ‘purge wokeness’
Richard Grenell, US President Donald Trump’s special missions envoy, has offered the German Conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) some "free advice".
Austrian Socialists must pay right-wing party leader Kickl damages over ‘false accusations’
Herbert Kickl, leader of Austria's right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ), has won a court case against the Socialist Party of Austria (SPÖ), which now has to pay him…
Germany: firewall against hard-right AfD ‘crumbles’ as CDU spurs protests
In Germany, thousands of protesters gathered outside the Christian Democratic Union's (CDU) Berlin headquarters.
EU proposes bans on aluminium, video game consoles in new Russia sanctions
The European Commission proposed banning imports of Russian primary aluminium imports and restricting sales of video game consoles to Russia in a 16th package…
Greece outraged over French sales of missles to Turkey
Greek Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, summoned the French ambassador in Athens over a potential sale of Meteor air-to-air missiles to Turkey.
Last-gasp push to secure French budget
A panel of French lawmakers have been meeting to thrash out the final text of a much delayed 2025 budget bill that is key to restoring investor confidence over the…
Bernard Arnault lambasts French policies, says are chasing away business
Bernard Arnault, one of the richest men on the planet, has sharply criticised the economic policies of French President Emmanuel Macron, accusing him of hurting…
What does Germany think about being a nation — strong, assertive or weak?
Elon Musk’s recent address to the AfD party in Germany has reignited a centuries-old debate: What kind of Germany does Europe truly need?
US does not want to defend Europe any more, but Europeans say ‘Ho-hum’
If you have paid attention to European defence issues and NATO conversations these past few weeks, you’d have thought that something got into the water in the…
Germany’s SPD warns of ‘firewall collapse’ as CDU/Greens may vote with AfD
In an open letter, Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) has urged the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Greens to resist any form of co-operation with the…
Thousands protest in Slovakia over PM Fico’s government
Thousands of people protested on January 26 in the central square of Slovakia's Bratislava against Prime Minister Robert Fico's government and what they saw as its…
Vienna Greens politician accused of trying to influence upcoming city vote
The Greens party in the Austrian capital Vienna has been trying to fire its only city councillor of Turkish descent.
Germany’s Baerbock: ‘I can handle Trump’s trade chief Rubio – I lived in Florida’
Germany's outgoing foreign minister Annalena Baerbock has insisted she had an advantage when dealing with US President Donald Trump and his administration - because…
French Senate votes to end lifetime perks for ex-PMs and presidents
The French Senate has voted to end lifetime benefits previously granted to former presidents and prime ministers.