Elections
Tweets of the Week: Election poll, copyright mob, and Fidesz in trouble
Shock and awe at latest Parliament poll, Commission scores copyright own goal, and Hungary’s Fidesz party is playing the troll.
Romania investigates Timmermans and Jourova, Commission says they have immunity
The relations between Bucharest and Brussels hit an all-time low on Thursday (21 February) as the Romanian press reported that the Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans and Justice Commissioner Věra Jourová are under investigation for “falsification” of the last Cooperation and Verification report (CVM).
Bulgarian PM destabilised by revelations about hidden political alliance
In Bulgaria, the European elections are seen as a test for Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, at a time when his conservative GERB party are polling neck-and-neck with the socialists. Krassen Nikolov tells the inside story for EUelectionsBulgaria.com.
Hungary’s ruling party doesn’t belong in EPP, says Juncker
The party of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán should leave the mainstream European center-right grouping, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said, comparing Orbán to French far-right leader Marine Le Pen.
Far-right party seeks to kick EU out of Italian constitution
An Italian far-right party is aiming to change the national constitution as a means to reduce the influence of EU law over national legislation. Emanuele Bonini has the story for EUelectionsItaly.blog.
France rallies to denounce anti-Semitic insults at protests
Mass rallies are planned in Paris and other French cities Tuesday (19 February) to denounce a flare-up of anti-Semitic acts which culminated in a violent tirade against a prominent writer during "yellow vest" anti-government protests last weekend.
The Five Star Movement’s attempt to create a European Parliament group
Leaders of 5 parties from Italy, Poland, Croatia, Finland and Greece met in Rome last week to sign an electoral manifesto. Piotr Kaczyński has followed the event and offers his impressions and comments.
Health Commissioner Andriukaitis announces run at Lithuania presidency
European Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis announced on Friday (15 February) he would run for president of Lithuania, after some dithering due to his current institutional position.
The Brief – Spain’s call for elections: A wish for common sense
Spain wrapped up a dizzying week as Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called early elections for 28 April. It will be the third time Spaniards go to the ballot box in four years, with the political scene thrown wide open by recent developments.
Spain to hold early elections on 28 April
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called on Friday (15 February) for snap elections on 28 April, only nine months after he took office, after failing to secure the Parliament’s support for his 2019 budget.
Slovenia accuses Tajani, Salvini of World War II revisionism
Slovenia accused European Parliament president Antonio Tajani and Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini of historical revisionism Monday (11 February) over statements they made at a ceremony commemorating Italian victims of World War II massacres.
Spain’s right, far-right rally against PM over Catalonia
Tens of thousands of people waving Spanish flags joined a rally on Sunday (10 February) in Madrid called by right-wing and far-right parties against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who they accuse of treachery over his negotiations with Catalan separatists. Police said around 45,000...
Catalan separatist trial gives Spanish far right global platform
Far-right Spanish party Vox is on track to get a global soapbox as it takes part in the much-hyped trial of Catalan pro-independence leaders as a "popular prosecutor" -- a Spain-specific legal mechanism that has left Madrid embarrassed.
EU liberal ranks grow, but so do divisions
Europe’s liberal party welcomed new members to its ranks on Saturday (9 February) as battle lines begin to be drawn ahead of May’s European elections. But a debate on potentially expelling a member party continues.
Visegrad Four to hold first summit abroad… in Jerusalem
The leaders of Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia will hold the first summit of their Visegrad grouping in Jerusalem, a move which looks like a slap in the face of the EU at a time the Union tries...
France says ‘unacceptable’ that Italy’s Di Maio met ‘yellow vests’
The French foreign ministry on Wednesday (6 February) denounced as "unacceptable" a meeting between Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio and France's "yellow vest" anti-government protesters.
Macron eyeing referendum on EU election day
President Emmanuel Macron is considering organising what would be the first referendum in France in 14 years as part of his response to the "yellow vest" protests, a report said on Sunday (3 February).
Campaign leader: +Plus party is much more than the person of Dacian Ciolos
The new Romanian party, +Plus, founded by former EU Commissioner Dacian Cioloș, is in talks to run for the European elections in coalition with the Save Romania Union (USR), the new force's campaign leader told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.
Romania’s Commissioner and former PM quit ruling Social Democrats
Former prime minister Mihai Tudose has followed Commissioner Corina Crețu quitting Romania's ruling Social Democrats (PSD) further weakening the parliamentary grip of the party and its leader, Liviu Dragnea.
Fallout from the Kaczynski Twin Towers scandal
The public image of Poland’s political mastermind Jarosław Kaczyński and his ruling conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party was shattered by revelations published by the Gazeta Wyborcza daily on Tuesday (29 January). Piotr Kaczyński (unrelated to the PiS leader) looks into the fallout.
Hungary takes aim at ‘Soros man’ Timmermans
Hungary will not take part in this week’s European Parliament debate on the rule of law in the country, a government spokesperson said on Monday (28 January) and insisted that Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans, who deals with this issue, should be suspended in the run-up to the European elections.
Donations to German parties soar during elections, raising concerns
The financial statements of German political parties for 2017 once again demonstrated that business is particularly generous during elections, with the Union of CDU and CSU benefitting in particular. Critics argue that these donations distort democracy. EURACTIV Germany reports.
France summons Italian envoy over Di Maio Africa comments
France has summoned Italy's ambassador to protest against comments by Italian Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio, who accused Paris of continuing to colonise Africa and causing people to migrate from the continent, a government source told AFP.