Left pressures Macron to appoint left-wing PM, demands ‘cordon sanitaire’ against RN
As the pressure to form a new French government is increasing, the Left has pushed French President Emmanuel Macron to appoint a left-wing prime minister as well…
From the capitals
Hot TopicLatest reporting and analysis on from the capitals.
The UK general election: Seven essential takeaways from Labour’s shallow landslide to political Islam’s breakthrough
Labour won a landslide victory – on a historically low share of the vote. Starmer’s party won 411 seats, out of 650, on just under 34 per cent of the vote.
France deploys 30,000 police officers during elections amid riot concerns
France will mobilise a massive police presence on election day amid fears of left-wing rioting. A force of 30.
French Left and Right urge voters to ignore polls
The French Left and the hard-right party National Rally (RN) both dismissed the latest projections for the next parliament, instead urging the electorate to vote…
Orbán in surprise visit to Moscow
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is expected to arrive in Moscow on July 5, a move that has both surprised and angered other EU leaders.
Germany bans VW from selling ‘sensitive tech’ to China over security concerns
Germany has banned car manufacturer Volkswagen from selling a firm possessing "sensitive technology" to China over security fears.
Is a separatist, Islamic politics emerging in Britain? Today’s election may give us clues
Britain’s Muslim population is around four million, equating to about six per cent of the populace.
Poland ditches war reparations claim against Germany
Poland has abandoned efforts to seek a new reparations package from Germany over World War II.
Macron’s father: ‘Decision to dissolve parliament made months ago’
The decision to dissolve the French National Assembly for snap elections was not due to a poor showing by President Emmanual Macron in the European Parliament elections…
France’s Les Républicains at war as senior member backs Socialists over Le Pen
Infighting has once again flared up within France's Les Républicains (LR) after a senior figure within the party voiced support for Socialists in the country.
Budapest blasts Jourová for belittling ‘Make Europe Great Again’
Budapest has blasted Vice-President of the European Commission Vera Jourová for making fun of Hungary's "Make Europe Great Again" (MEGA) motto for its Council Presidency.
German car industry urges EU to drop tariffs on China-made cars
Germany's VDA auto association has urged the European Commission to drop its planned tariffs on China-made electric vehicles in a last-ditch effort to influence…
French finance minister Le Maire says hard-left LFI is ‘danger to the nation’
French finance minister Bruno Le Maire does not want voters to support the hard-left La France Insoumise (LFI) party.
Russian and Iranian influence networks ‘target French elections’, without much success
Russian and Iranian “influence” networks have targeted voters using multiple tactics amid the ongoing French elections, it was reported.
Heavyweights in Paris to support Iranian opposition-in-exile
Dozens of political heavyweights from the West gathered over the weekend in Paris to support the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) at the same time as…
US debate: even Democrats say Biden cannot go on like this
As long-time readers of my column know, I have something of a soft spot for Donald Trump, so I think it is only fair to give the first word to those who do not suffer…
Polish Conservatives pressure Italian PM Meloni with threat to quit Parliament ECR group
The Polish Conservatives (PiS), the second-largest party in the European Conservative Reformers (ECR), have threatened to leave the European Parliament group.
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.
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.