Franco dead since 1975, but Spain still feels the hate, the honour, even the nostalgia
Spain is gearing up for a long year commemorating the death of dictator Francisco Franco and the beginning of democracy in the country.
From the capitals
Latest reporting and analysis on from the capitals.
Former Communist elected Speaker of the Polish parliament
The Polish parliament elected as Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty, the leader of the Left Party, which is part of the centre-left coalition government led by Prime…
Poles’ anger at German ambassador saying call for reparations ‘help Putin’
The German ambassador to Poland Miguel Berger has become embroiled in a row following his remarks on Poland’s reparations claim, calling the opposition Conservatives…
China clamps down on exports of non-restricted materials, analysts warn
China is tightening its grip on materials Europe needs for sensitive technologies such as defence, despite those materials not being officially restricted.
Catalan separatist leader Puigdemont pushes for ‘safe’ return to Spain
Catalan separatist Carles Puigdemont has petitioned Spain’s Constitutional Court to suspend his outstanding arrest warrant.
With the bridge, Salvini seeks to revive Italy’s Lega party
When Italy’s prosecutors temporarily blocked construction of the bridge connecting Sicily with the mainland on October 29, the decision immediately shook the government.
Praising Atatürk on X: Wilders acquits Hitler’s role model
If a tweet can bury a genocide, Geert Wilders just posted it.
Polish President refuses PM Tusk’s nomination of judges
Polish President Karol Nawrocki has refused to sign 46 judicial promotions in cases where the individuals concerned questioned the validity of other judges appointed…
Is Putin a good strategist?
Recent footage of shabby Russian troops advancing in Pokrovsk on motorcycles, converted pickup trucks and other civilian vehicles has drawn comparisons with familiar…
BBC against Trump: Wrong man with whom to pick a fight
Theodore Roosevelt urged, Speak softly and carry a big stick. Donald Trump urges: Bellow like hell and swing a two-handed, double-edged, nuclear-tipped claymore.
Washington, not Europe, shapes Syria’s future
Twenty years ago, Ahmad al-Shara — once known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani — was locked up at the US-run Camp Bucca in Iraq, branded a terrorist and an enemy of…
Poland: Tensions rise between Tusk and Nawrocki
Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Prime Minister Donald Tusk have clashed over appointments and access to security service chiefs.
Berlin to plant €3bn-worth of trees using national infrastructure funds
The city government of Berlin has announced plans to plant more than 500,000 new trees throughout the German capital by 2040.
Belgium government to resign if no budget by Christmas
The Belgian government has decided on a new deadline of Christmas to reach a budgetary agreement, failing which Prime Minister Bart De Wever will resign.
EU sidelined as Italy, France jostle for power in Libya
When Inter Milan played a friendly match in Benghazi against Atlético Madrid last month, it was not just about football.
BBC carries ancient and incurable cancer of British envy of US
The revelation by a whistle-blower, which a review of news film confirms, that the BBC deliberately spliced what it represented as an accurate excerpt of a speech…
AI: USA vs China heading for world domination, Europe of course forgotten
Before you read another word, ask yourself: A year on from the US Presidential election, would the world be a better, safer place if Kamala Harris were now in the…
Historic low approval rating for French President Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron has cemented his status as one of the Fifth Republic’s most reviled leaders, with a new poll showing his approval rating collapsing…
How the new Visegrad Group can surpass the old
In an interview with Politico Europe, Balázs Orbán, political director for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, revealed that Budapest would seek to reinvigorate…
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.
Spain’s pro-independence party Junts drops backing for PM Sánchez
The executive leaders of Spain's pro-independence party Together for Catalunya (Junts) voted yesterday to withdraw support from the Socialist Party PSOE.
Germany’s Social Democrats demand wealth tax as voters doubt government will last
Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) is firing up the class struggle rhetoric.
Belgian councillor accused of being unable to speak French or Dutch
A local councillor in Molenbeek, a municipality in the Brussels region, is accused of not being able to speak French or Dutch, the official languages of the region.
EU could expand to Ukraine ‘even if Hungary resists’
The European Union should press ahead with its plans to expand to Ukraine, even if Hungary refuses to agree, the European Commission’s enlargement chief said today.
Polish PM Tusk claims daughter and wife ‘spied on’ by last PiS government
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has claimed that his wife and daughter were spied upon with the use of the Pegasus spyware on orders of the previous Conservative…
Return of the Visegrad Four: ‘To stop crazy EU ideas’, everything is going to plan
When I interviewed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in July, I asked him, among other things, what his plan was to stop what he considered to be bad EU projects,…
Poland warns Putin risks arrest if he flies through its airspace to any peace talks
Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin against flying through Poland’s airspace on his way to any future meeting…
Shelved: Trump-Putin ‘peace talks’ in Budapest off the agenda
US President Donald Trump has no immediate plans to meet Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, a US official said, days after Trump said they would meet within two…
In the midst of political crisis, France suffers humiliation of jewel theft at the Louvre
This weekend’s jewel theft at the Louvre captured the world’s attention.
Portugal moves to ban Islamic face veils in public
Portugal could become the latest European country to ban face veils, primarily worn by Muslim women, in public.