Elections
Armin Laschet: Merkel’s heir apparent?
Angela Merkel has governed Germany for 16 years and proven a reliable ally both in Europe and for the world. Will her party colleague hoping to succeed her follow in her footsteps or diverge from her path in order to forge his own legacy?
The Brief, powered by EPRA — Beaten at the post?
With only ten days to go, the German election race is expectedly picking up pace. But just as things are getting heated and — for German standards — dirty, much of the election action might already have been completed.
Opposition-led Hungarian capital holds democracy conference in sign of defiance
As Hungarian opposition parties are preparing to elect a single challenger to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Budapest's green mayor, one of the prime ministerial hopefuls, is holding a conference on sustainable democracy together with an exiled liberal university and opposition think tank.
Norway’s centre-left opposition wins in a landslide
Norway's centre-left opposition parties are on course to win a majority in parliament after Monday's election and will now negotiate how to form a coalition, with climate change and a widening wealth gap expected to be central to discussions.
EPP bureau meets in Berlin as German election upheaval looms
Held in Berlin, the European People's Party (EPP) bureau meeting was unusually tense this year as the European Parliament’s largest political party risks losing control of the EU’s largest state, Germany.
Scholz seen as winner from Germany’s second TV election debate
Conservative candidate Armin Laschet, from the ruling CDU/CSU coalition, sought to make up for lost ground in opinion polls by attacking his socialist rival Olaf Scholz during Germany’s second televised election debate.
Thousands of Catalans rally for independence in Barcelona
Thousands of Catalans chanted, sang and waved flags as they marched through Barcelona on Saturday (11 September), calling for the region's independence from Spain.
The Brief — Barnier’s Brexit derangement syndrome
‘Brexit derangement syndrome’ is an unfortunate affliction. Though now increasingly rare, since June 2016 this ailment, which leads its victims to become mono–obsessive about the UK’s EU membership, has ended friendships and relationships.
Bulgarians put hope in ‘Harvard tandem’ to break political deadlock
Bulgarians head for the third parliamentary election for this year, hoping that this time a new political force could become the game-changer and break the political deadlock. EURACTIV Bulgaria reports.
Germany probes claims of pre-election MP hacking by Russia
German federal prosecutors said Thursday (9 September) they are probing alleged hacking attacks against lawmakers ahead of this month's German election that Berlin has blamed on Russia.
Macron stirs German campaign with pre-poll invites to Scholz, Laschet
By hosting two contenders to succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor this week, President Emmanuel Macron has shown how anxiously France is eyeing the outcome of Germany's election and its effect on a partnership crucial to Europe's future.
Scholz: A conservative social-democrat and unexpected frontrunner in Germany
Olaf Scholz, the Social Democrats’ pick for chancellor in Germany’s federal elections, has gone from underdog to frontrunner, pitching himself as a genuine heir to the outgoing chancellor, conservative Angela Merkel. EURACTIV takes a look at his priorities and what they could mean for the EU.
The Brief — Merkel enters the ring
Angela Merkel, the eternal chancellor. Calm, collected, and generally unwilling to debase herself in the political arena. Sixteen years of calm rhetoric are coming to an end just as her conservatives face historic polling lows.
German far left courts SPD and Greens for three-way coalition
Germany's far-left Linke pitched themselves on Monday (6 September) as would-be coalition partners for the Social Democrats and Greens after the 26 September election, arguing they offer the two larger parties the best chance of delivering their social policies.
Spain’s Popular Party to win if elections held today, fresh polls predict
If new elections were held today, Spain’s Socialist Party (PSOE) would fall below the mark of 100 seats in the parliament, likely leaving the executive in the hands of the centre-right Popular Party (PP), according to a fresh poll published on Monday by El Mundo, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported.
Bulgarians head to the polls putting hope in new political force
Bulgaria will head to its third national election this year, after the Socialists became the third political party to refuse to lead a government following July's inconclusive parliamentary election.
Greens leader Baerbock: Extremist or progressive force for Europe?
Annalena Baerbock is the first Green lead candidate in German history. But who is Baerbock, and what are her plans for Germany and Europe?
The Brief – The virtue of imitating Merkel?
It was supposed to be the most important and intriguing German election in 16 years. After all, Angela Merkel, easily Europe’s most influential political figure in the 21st century, is leaving the political stage for good.
Budapest mayor obtains vote on China university in blow for Orban
Hungary's election authority approved Monday (30 August) a bid by Budapest's mayor to hold a referendum over a planned campus of China's Fudan university, in a blow for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán who backs the project.
First German election debate reveals divisions on climate policy
Only four weeks ahead of the German election, the three lead candidates met on Sunday (30 August) to debate the future of Europe’s biggest economy. While the most contested issue was climate policy, there was one topic in the debate that was almost missing completely from the agenda: the European Union.
Losing steam, Polish government plays immigration card
As it loses steam in the polls, Poland's right-wing populist government is playing the anti-immigration card that helped it win in 2015, hoping to take back the political initiative, analysts said.
Barnier to run in French presidential centre-right primary
The EU's former chief negotiator on Brexit, Michel Barnier, announced Thursday (26 August) he plans to stand as a right-wing candidate against centrist President Emmanuel Macron in next year's presidential elections, pinpointing limits on immigration as a key policy pledge.
German election 2021: Key numbers, forecasts and projections
In Europe's key election this year, Germany chooses a new parliament - and Angela Merkel's successor - on 26 September. Who will get to lead the continent's biggest economy? Will the Greens with Annalena Baerbock have the edge over Armin Laschet's conservative CDU/CSU? Or will the Social Democrat SPD be the dark horse of these polls?