Elections
German parties seal deal on new ‘traffic light’ coalition
Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and the business-friendly liberal FDP have finalised their coalition agreement for a new government, two months after the general elections, with Olaf Scholz to succeed Angela Merkel as the new chancellor in December. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson looks set to be new Swedish PM
Social Democrat party leader Magdalena Andersson looks set to become Sweden's first female prime minister after the government and the Left Party reached a deal that will see the former communists back her in a confirmation vote in parliament.
Immigration out of control in France, says presidency hopeful Barnier
Michel Barnier, the former European Union Brexit negotiator and now a challenger for the French presidency, said France had lost control of immigration and that a sense of impunity prevailed.
The Brief, powered by ENTSO-E — The Cavaliere’s Gambit
Leading Italian politicians and their parties are getting ready for the election of the next head of state, a process that resembles a complex chess game where the piece delivering checkmate could, sometimes, be the one you least expect.
Business as usual for next Franco-German couple, despite sticking points
While some argue that the next Franco-German power couple could be business as usual, there are some potential sticking points ahead.
The Brief, powered by Facebook — Officers to captain a troubled ship
This could also be titled 'Perhaps the last big tent party', as the German conservatives grapple with the inevitable fall-out of their decline and defeat in September.
‘Voter tourism’: New Hungarian residency law raises risk of electorate manipulation, NGOs warn
A newly-adopted amendment in Hungary legalises the establishment of fictitious addresses and could unleash ‘voter tourism’ in next year's parliamentary elections, according to a statement on Tuesday (16 November) of the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (TASZ) and the Political Capital think tank, EURACTIV’s media partner Telex reported.
‘Change continues’ is the surprise winner of Bulgarian elections
‘Change continues’, a new anti-graft political force in Bulgaria, is the surprise leader following the parliamentary and presidential elections in Bulgaria on Sunday (14 November), while the country’s President Rumen Radev is well-placed for reelection, having won 48.5% in the first round.
Bulgaria’s justice minister: ‘This chief prosecutor will bring us EU sanctions’
In an exclusive interview for EURACTIV Bulgaria, the caretaker justice minister Ivan Demerdjiev offered scathing criticism of Prosecutor-General Ivan Geshev, saying that unless he is removed, Bulgaria risks losing access to EU funding.
Poles protest mother’s death blamed on abortion law
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated Saturday (6 November) in Warsaw and dozens of other Polish cities to denounce a nine-month-old abortion law blamed for claiming the life of a pregnant mother, organisers said.
Czech president opens way to opposition government, feels fit to finish term
Czech President Miloš Zeman expects to appoint opposition leader Petr Fiala as the new prime minister, the president said in his first public remarks since the country's 8-9 October parliamentary election.
The Brief – Eric Zemmour: A non-candidate who enchanted the media
If you're even remotely interested in French politics, chances are you've come across his name in recent weeks. The brouhaha surrounding Eric Zemmour, a presidential candidate who is not running (yet), is hard to miss.
The Brief, powered by Facebook — A bittersweet goodbye for Merkel’s first man
Besides Angela Merkel's husband Joachim Sauer, no one else has been closer to the Chancellor than Peter Altmaier, the current caretaker minister of energy and economy. Altmaier is one of the very few German politicians on a first name basis with Merkel.
The biggest irritant in the Bulgarian election: The COVID certificate
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev is the current favourite to win a second term in the 14 November elections, conducted together with parliamentary elections. However, the problematic COVID-19 situation and discontent over the recently introduced Green certificate might influence the outcome.
The Brief, powered by EPRA — A yellow traffic light for fiscal integration
“Generating energy from friction,” “focusing on the joint big picture,” — the parties likely to form Germany’s new government are competing for the blandest metaphors in an effort to signal love, peace, and harmony within the budding three-way alliance.
Bulgarian elections marked by radicalisation of ethnic Turkish party
A sanctioned Bulgarian businessman and media tycoon will run for parliament in the November elections on the slate of the predominantly ethnically Turkish “Movement of Rights and Freedoms” (DPS), whose leader Mustafa Karadaya is in the race for president.
The Brief, powered by EPRA — Europe’s squeeze on sleaze
Is the sudden departure of a number of prime ministers, who have faced accusations of corruption, just a coincidence?
Germany’s likely new coalition wants more EU sovereignty, fossil car ban
Leaders of Germany's Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, and the business-friendly FDP have reached a preliminary agreement including plans to end the internal combustion engine and take an assertive stance on the rule of law in the EU.
Czechs want to know what’s wrong with their ill president
When Vaclav Havel nearly died of a ruptured intestine as Czech president in 1998, doctors provided daily updates on his condition.
Poles protest against migrant pushbacks
Thousands of people demonstrated in Warsaw on Sunday (17 October) against pushbacks of migrants at the Polish-Belarusian border.
Conservative mayor Marki-Zay wins run-off to challenge Hungary’s Orban
Peter Márki-Zay, a conservative provincial mayor, was chosen as the unified opposition challenger to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at next year's election, after winning a primary vote Sunday (17 October).
German SPD’s Scholz moves closer to succeeding Merkel as chancellor
German centre-left Social Democrat's (SPD) Olaf Scholz, took a major step towards succeeding Angela Merkel as chancellor on Friday (15 October), announcing that he and the leaders of two smaller parties aimed to move into formal coalition talks.
Orbán’s potential challengers in Hungary pledge pro-European course
Ahead of next year's parliamentary elections in Hungary, EURACTIV spoke to the two contenders who hope to end the 12-year-long rule of Viktor Orban's nationalist Fidesz.