Elections
Le Pen’s pro-Kremlin stance creates friction with Estonian populist hosts
Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's Rassemblement National (RN), arrives in Tallinn today (14 May) as part of a "European tour" to drum up support for the far-right in the upcoming EU elections.
Merkel’s preferred successor says won’t seek post before 2021
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's preferred successor, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, said Sunday (12 May) that she would not seek the top job before Merkel's term ends in 2021.
Ignoring critics, Trump to welcome Hungary’s Orban to White House
US President Donald Trump on Monday (13 May) will host Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán -- an anti-immigration firebrand and one of his few European admirers -- at the White House, despite criticism of the visit at home.
Lithuania presidential runoff pits novice against ex-minister as PM quits
An economist and political novice, Gitanas Nauseda, took the lead in the first round of Lithuania's presidential election on Sunday (12 May) and will face Ingrida Simonyte, a conservative ex-finance minister, in a 26 May runoff coinciding with the European elections.Promoted content
Kazakh government kicks off campaign to encourage turnout in presidential election
The Kazakh government has launched a campaign to raise awareness about the June 9 presidential election and to encourage voter turnout.
Inequality tops agenda as Lithuania elects new president
For all its economic growth, income inequality and poverty are top election issues as Lithuanians vote on Sunday (12 May) for a new president in round one of a tight race in the Baltic eurozone state.
Spitzenkandidaten survives Sibiu, Tusk calls summit for 28 May
Europe’s leaders on Thursday (9 May) agreed to attend an emergency summit immediately after the EU elections on 28 May, as European Council President Donald Tusk said he wanted to have the distribution of the bloc’s top jobs decided in June.Promoted content
Eight candidates seek the office of Kazakh president
The Kazakh Central Electoral Commission (CEC) closed nominations on 28 April for the presidential election due on 9 June. The field, which began with nine nominees, was reduced by one after a candidate withdrew. The candidates’ registration stage will continue until May 11.
EU heads adopt vague declaration on future of Europe
Heads of state and government from the EU-27 signed off on broad-brush 'ten commitments' for Europe in the next five years on Thursday (9 May), as they adopted a vague Sibiu Declaration during the opening stages of an informal summit dedicated to the bloc's future.
Juncker says ‘unacceptable’ to link Tusk to Hitler and Stalin in Poland
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Tuesday (7 May) it was “totally unacceptable” to link fellow top EU official, Donald Tusk, with tyrants Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler, as has been done by Polish state TV.
Spain’s top court says Catalonia’s Puigdemont can run for EU elections
Spain's Supreme Court on Sunday (5 May) said Catalonia's former president Carles Puigdemont, who fled to Belgium in 2017 after a secession attempt, could contest EU polls this month.
Voters punish May and Labour for Brexit impasse ahead of EU polls
Voters severely punished the two main UK parties in local council elections on Thursday (2 May), offering a preview of what is likely to happen in the European elections later this month.
Local polls offer May some Brexit respite
The UK's local elections on Thursday (2 May) will offer a test of the damage done to Theresa May’s Conservative party by her failure to deliver the country's exit from the European Union.
Catalonia’s ex-leader Puigdemont banned from EU polls
Spanish election authorities on Monday (29 April) banned Catalonia’s former president Carles Puigdemont, who fled the country in 2017 after a secession attempt, from running in upcoming EU polls. Puigdemont slammed the move in a tweet as a “legal scandal...
Striking fuel-tanker drivers put Portugal at risk of energy crisis
Fuel-tanker drivers in Portugal threatened a new strike within a week if a deal is not reached over their demands for better pay and conditions, their union said on Monday (29 April).
In Spain, Socialists pledge ‘pro-European government’ after election win
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez looks set to regain power after his Socialists overcame a historic challenge by right-wing nationalists in elections on Sunday (28 April), a result he portrayed as a morale booster for the European Union. The Socialists...
As election looms, Spaniards are hit by WhatsApp disinformation campaign
Spanish citizens have been subject to a series of disinformation campaigns ranging from fake news about Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez signing a Catalan independence deal, to conspiracies about migrants and propaganda against gay people, a new study has found.
The Juncker Commission won’t lift the monitoring on Bulgaria
Vĕra Jourová, the EU Commissioner for justice, said on Friday (26 April) that the Juncker Commission will not lift the monitoring on Bulgaria under the so-called Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM).
Iohannis: Teach Romanian ruling party a lesson at referendum
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis urged the nation Thursday (25 April) to vote next month in a referendum on judicial reforms, calling it a chance to teach the ruling left-wing social democrats "a lesson".
Romanian lawmakers approve bill that could close graft cases
Romania’s lower house of parliament approved changes to the criminal codes on Wednesday (24 April) that could shut down several ongoing high-level graft cases, but opposition politicians plan to challenge the bills at the Constitutional Court.
Electoral uncertainty augurs more political instability in Spain
Spain is gearing up for its third general elections in just over three years within a political atmosphere of instability and uncertainty such as has not been seen in 40 years and which looks set to continue even after ballot day, analysts say. EURACTIV's partner efe-epa reports.
Macron prepares to launch ‘Act 2’ of his presidency
French President Emmanuel Macron will on Thursday (25 April) reveal his long-awaited response to almost half a year of street protests in a reform plan that could prove decisive for his presidency and long-term political future.
Spanish general election candidates clash over Catalonia
The main candidates in Spain's general election on Monday (22 April) clashed over how to handle Catalonia's independence drive, accusing each other of lying in a tense television debate that left questions open on what coalition deals could be struck.