EC says European Social Fund can be used to fund abortions
The European Commission has confirmed that European Union member states may use the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) to support access to legal abortion services,…
Democracy
Latest reporting and analysis on democracy.
French prosecutors probe Al-Fayeds over sex trafficking
He traded on the glamour of owning Harrods, the Paris Ritz and luxury yachts, but Mohamed Al-Fayed was at the centre of a dark web of alleged abuse, say French lawyers…
AfD avoids immediate ban after German court suspends its ‘extremist’ status
A German administrative court in Cologne ruled yesterday that the country’s domestic intelligence agency may not classify the right-wing Alternative for Germany…
Young men without purpose mean lethargy or rage across Europe
In 2002 Fox aired one season of a remarkably entertaining science fiction show created by Joss Whedon.
The decline of liberty
Never was there more high-minded talk about republican ideals in ancient Rome than in the age of Augustus, the first de facto emperor who definitively buried the…
Polish Government says President’s rule of law proposal would mean ‘Polexit’
The Polish Government has accused President Karol Nawrocki of leading the country towards "Polexit" with his proposal to make questioning of judicial appointments…
Fears of extremist violence: After Deranque, how can National Rally officials stay safe?
Fears over the safety of France's National Rally (NR) party have led the party president, Jordan Bardella, to bar all elected party officials from public tributes…
Part of German CDU wants to end online anonymity and make Big Tech pay for ‘news they steal’
As the German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party’s congress nears, the local CDU branch of Schleswig-Holstein is pushing to scrap online anonymity.
Italy introduces new ‘law and order’ measures amid left-wing violence
Italy has introduced a “law and order” package in response to violent incidents linked to far-left groups in Italy and across Europe.
Macron wants officials guilty of ‘anti-Semitic and racist acts’ to lose eligibility
French President Emmanuel Macron wants elected officials convicted of anti-Semitic or other racist acts to face automatic disqualification from holding office.
Iranian regime lands ‘social inclusion’ role at UN
The Iranian regime has secured two notable diplomatic acknowledgements at the United Nations, despite violently suppressing dissent and reports of lethal force against…
‘EU veto must stay’: Slovakia
The right of individual nations to veto key European Union decisions must remain in place, says Slovakia, because EU members "do not forfeit their sovereignty" when…
French Government historically unpopular, political mistrust unprecedentedly high
French people are increasingly turning their back on French politicians, having a very negative view on both politics and the government.
Italian journalists declare strike over Olympic gaffes
Sports journalists at Italian public broadcaster RAI are going on strike over a gaffe-filled commentary of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony by the head of their…
The fragile ‘We’: What is at stake is the symbolic boundary of membership
The crisis in liberal democracies is not just about inflation, migration, or polarisation.
The endpoint of history, or why Epstein shows what happens when belief dies
The world did not end in a mushroom cloud or a clash of grand ideologies.
Conductor on German train allegedly battered to death by fare dodger
A train conductor died after he was reportedly viciously attacked by a passenger without a ticket on a German regional service.
Long-term Belgian unemployed rush to social welfare after entitlements run out
Belgian local social services are seeing a sharper-than-expected influx of long-term unemployed people after the country’s recent reform ended unlimited unemployment…
Twisting history to dishonour history’s victims and democracy’s principles
Across the Western world, a troubling pattern has emerged: Historical memory is being weaponised against democratic preferences.
Far-left riots shake Italy
Far-left demonstrations in Turin erupted into violent clashes, widespread destruction and attacks on police officers over the weekend.
Austria to cut Latin lessons in favour of teaching AI and ‘democracy’
Austrian pupils will soon study ChatGPT more than Cicero in upper secondary schools throughout the country.
Every great collapse begins with a crack
At first glance, a headline about the University of Mainz removing french fries from its cafeteria menu seems trivial.
Polish minister Sikorski’s wife says Trump administration is ‘fascist’
The wife of Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski has warned that the US is starting to resemble a fascist state.
Four scenarios for the post-rules world
The Greenland psychodrama together with some of the startling opinions aired in Davos last week – especially Mark Carney’s definitive language on the end of…
Tusk’s Polish courts ‘are tearing down justice’
In Poland governed by Donald Tusk’s coalition, the justice system no longer operates independently in political cases.
Sweden ponders jail for 13-year-olds after explosion in gang violence
Sweden's justice minister Gunnar Strömmer said the government is pressing ahead with plans to allow 13-year-olds to be sentenced to prison for the most serious…
Italy summons Israeli ambassador after officers threatened at gunpoint in West Bank
Italy has summoned Israel's ambassador to Rome in a sharp diplomatic protest following an incident in which two Italian military policemen were threatened at gunpoint.
Former Austrian minister slams home country in Russian podcast
Karin Kneissl, Austria’s foreign minister from 2017 to 2019, has used an appearance on a Russian podcast to settle scores with her former home country.
Austrian Right and Left team up to prevent government eavesdropping on private messages
The right-wing Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) and the left-wing Greens Party are teaming up to thwart the government coalition’s plans for extended surveillance…
Bigamy charges next? Polish rule-of-law dispute creates chaos in family courts
A Polish judge has ruled that a couple’s divorce was invalid because it had been granted by a judge who had been appointed during the lifetime of the previous…