Elections
Faced with anti-mafia protests, Bulgaria’s Borissov sacks three ministers
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on Wednesday (15 July) asked his finance, economy and interior ministers to step down amid nationwide anti-corruption protests that have rocked the Balkan country for a week.
Instead of resigning, Borissov calls for new Bulgarian constitution
The national audience was expecting his resignation. But veteran Prime Minister Boyko Borissov made a televised address on Friday (14 August) in which he proposed a change of constitution – a move seen as an obvious attempt to buy time....
Hungary opposition pledge anti-Orbán 2022 election pact
Hungary's six largest opposition parties pledged Thursday (13 August) to form an unprecedented wide-ranging alliance to challenge Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at the next general election in 2022.
Britain tightens online campaigning rules to fend off foreign influence
Britain plans to tighten rules around online campaigning to make political parties and campaigners state more clearly who they are, the government said on Wednesday (12 August), seeking to allay fears about interference in its democracy.
It’s high time for the EU to take the side of the Bulgarian citizens
EU leaders have to make up their minds and understand that they only have two options - to act on the side of Bulgarian citizens in their fight for a decent and modern European country, or to passively watch the failure of a member state, writes Radan Kanev.
Vote by mail? Trouble ahead for US elections
Advocates of a vote-by-mail in the US presidential election have argued that it is the only safe way to conduct elections during the COVID pandemic. Opponents argue that moving to vote-by-mail elections opens the floodgates to fraud. Dick Roche looked...
Bulgarian PM says he is ready to resign but wants government to stay
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov signalled on Wednesday (5 August) that he could resign following weeks of anti-government protests, but said his centre-right GERB-led cabinet should remain in place until an election due next year.
EU urged to ratchet up pressure on Poland in defence of LGBT+ rights
LGBT+ campaigners have praised an EU decision to withhold funds from six Polish municipalities that declared themselves "LGBT-free zones", urging Brussels to intensify pressure on the nationalist government over its increasingly homophobic stance.
Public anger over corruption hits support for Bulgarian government
Weeks of anti-government protests in Bulgaria have eroded public support for the centre-right GERB government of Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, with opinion polls showing deepening political fragmentation amid concerns over corruption.
Bulgarian protesters block crossroads, Danube bridge
Protests in Bulgaria against the government of Boyko Borissov grew stronger on Wednesday (29 July), the 21st day of revolt, as citizens blocked major crossroads, including a key Danube bridge at the country’s border with Romania at Russe-Giurgiu.
Protests in Bulgaria are also about media freedom
Protests in Bulgaria are a genuine civil protest against the party-state and in favour of basic democratic rights such as media freedom, writes Maria Stoyanova.
COVID-19: Why did the ‘good pupil’ Bulgaria lag behind?
Bulgaria was among the EU countries with the less cases of COVID-19 until mid-June, when measures were relaxed. Now Bulgarians are shocked that other EU nations introduce conditions to admit their compatriots on their soil.
Illiberal democracy in Slovenia? Yes and no
Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša is the strongest challenger to a status quo in which the left has been in power in the country for too long, writes Žiga Turk.
Polish opposition seeks re-run of presidential election
Poland's biggest opposition party, the centrist Civic Platform (PO), said on Thursday (23 July) it had petitioned the Supreme Court to declare the recent presidential election unfair to trigger an annulment and re-run.
UK government failed to probe Russian ‘meddling’, say MPs
British lawmakers slammed the government on Tuesday (21 July) for failing to look into possible Russian meddling in UK politics, particularly the divisive 2016 Brexit referendum, as they released a long-awaited report into the issue. The document by parliament’s Intelligence...
The Brief – North Macedonia’s latest moment of truth
As we wrote only a few weeks ago, there is a flurry of post-COVID elections across Eastern Europe and now it is the turn of North Macedonia, a country with a chequered history of international relations. The result of today's vote could well determine the next chapter for the Western Balkans EU candidate.
Poland ‘divided in two’ after president narrowly wins re-election
Polish President Andrzej Duda squeezed past a europhile rival to win re-election, official results showed Monday, but the narrow victory put allies in the populist right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party on the back foot.
Duda likely to win Polish presidential election as result still too close to call
Poland's right-wing President Andrzej Duda has probably won a second term in office in a tightly contested presidential election run-off held on Sunday (12 July), according to an official exit poll, although the results were still uncertain on Monday morning.
Croatia’s ruling HDZ scores unexpected win in parliamentary elections
Croatia’s ruling conservative HDZ (EPP) became the unexpected relative winner of parliamentary elections held in the newest EU member on Sunday despite the renewed rise of coronavirus infections. EURACTIV Croatia reports.
Jean Castex appointed as new French PM
Jean Castex became the new Prime Minister of France on Friday (3 July), following the announcement of a government reshuffle on Tuesday evening and the resignation of Edouard Philippe this morning.
It’s the fight of the decade and the Polish presidency is the prize
On Sunday (28 June) almost 20 million Poles went to the polls to choose their head of state, who has not many prerogatives. Yet in a country ruled by symbols, the presidency symbolism is of utmost importance. Holding the it is the ultimate proof for any political party of their power and popularity. Piotr Kaczyński looks into whether the Law and Justice's (PiS) rule could continue.
The Brief – Going to the polls after COVID-19
What is it with Eastern Europe and the rush to the polling stations as soon as the lockdown measures were relaxed?
Greens surge in French local election
France President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party received a drubbing on Sunday (28 June) in municipal elections, as the Greens celebrated victories in several big cities after a surge in support.
Polish President to face liberal rival in tight election run-off
Poland's nationalist incumbent Andrzej Duda won the first round of a presidential election on Sunday (28 June) but will have to face the centrist mayor of Warsaw in a run-off on July 12, in a race that could transform the nation's ties with the European Union.