Elections
Bulgaria’s outgoing PM rejects Russian ultimatum, unveils potential successor
Bulgaria's outgoing Prime Minister Kiril Petkov rejected a Russian ultimatum to reverse a decision to expel 70 Russian diplomatic staff by noon on Friday (1 July) and named the country's finance minister as his possible successor.
Final sprint for French Parliament’s finance commission candidates
The two opposition candidates for chairing the French National Assembly’s influential finance commission are facing their last sprint before the vote on Thursday (30 June). EURACTIV France spoke to both to find out how much their different political programmes would shape their agenda.
Ukraine war limited Moscow’s ability to interfere in French election, report says
The Russian invasion of Ukraine redeployed the Kremlin's foreign interference capabilities, saw the ban on RT and Sputnik in the EU, and weakened attempts to influence the French presidential election.
Macron’s high-stakes diplomatic marathon
Faced with a political and institutional crisis at home, French President Emmanuel Macron who lost control over the National Assembly as his coalition only obtained a relative majority in recent elections, is poised to embark on a series of international meetings.
Petkov bites the bullet as North Macedonia veto rattles Bulgaria
The Bulgarian parliament will make today an attempt to make progress in efforts to lift the country’s veto on North Macedonia starting accession talks. But MPs are also likely to pass a no-confidence vote against the government of Kiril Petkov.
French elections: Environment minister loses seat, position in government
Amélie de Montchalin, France's minister for ecological transition and territorial cohesion since 20 May 2022, was defeated in the parliamentary elections on Sunday (19 June) by a candidate of the new left-wing alliance NUPES, which means she will probably leave the government.
Macron loses majority following Assembly polls
French voters have denied President Emmanuel Macron a parliamentary majority following Sunday's (19 June) second round of legislative elections, while the left and far-right have made significant advances.
French elections : final results, second round
Les électeurs français étaient invités à se présenter aux urnes les dimanche 12 et 19 juin pour élire la nouvelle Assemblée Nationale. EURACTIV France, en partenariat avec Europe Elects, vous offre en instantané les premières estimations ainsi que les résultats définitifs.
French left is still divided on Europe
The French left, now the strongest opposition facing Emmanuel Macron's presidential majority in this year's legislative elections set for Sunday (19 June), remains divided regarding issues related to the European Union.
French legislative elections: the risk of a relative majority for Macron
The French are about to vote on Sunday (19 June) for the second round of the legislative elections and could hand the recently re-elected president a relative majority and strong opposition from the left.
French elections: parties give mixed messages to supporters ahead of Sunday’s vote
With some candidates not having qualified for France's second round of legislative elections on Sunday (19 June), parties have been giving mixed messages on who to vote for, and no longer calling on voters to vote against the extreme right at all costs.
The ‘radicality’ paradox of the French Greens
The left-wing alliance NUPES, which finished neck-and-neck with President Emmanuel Macron's Ensemble! in the first parliamentary election round, has reinforced the view that French Greens are too radical to govern. The reality, however, is much more nuanced.
Former French MEP: EU countries cooperated ‘as little as possible’ over COVID
During the pandemic, member states were "very selfish" and cooperated “as little as possible” with the Commission, Philippe Juvin, one of the leaders of the French Republicans party and former MEP, told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.
French elections: far-right makes gains, suffers from majority voting system
The far-right bloc dominated by Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National, made some gains in the French parliamentary elections on Sunday (12 June) but will struggle to win seats in the second round (19 June) partly due to the voting system. EURACTIV France reports.
French elections : Left alliance unlikely to win majority in new assembly
France's recently formed left-wing alliance led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon finished neck-and-neck with President Emmanuel Macron's Ensemble! group in Sunday's first round of the legislative elections. However, everything is pointing toward it failing to get a majority in the second round on 19 June.
Mélenchon revives debate over nuclear’s supposed ‘volatility’ ahead of election
Far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has reiterated his opposition to nuclear ahead of the first round of the legislative elections this weekend, adding that he will maintain his stance if he gets nominated prime minister. EURACTIV France reports.
Macron promises to boost police as doubts over methods rise
With two days to go before the first round of the French legislative elections, President Emmanuel Macron said he will reform and reinforce the police on Thursday (9 June) after it being in the spotlight over a series of botched operations. EURACTIV France reports.
Mélenchon’s bloc sets out economic blueprint ahead of elections
With the French legislative elections around the corner, far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon presented on Tuesday (7 June) his left-wing bloc's economic programme for a "general revival of the system", which has already attracted a bevvy of criticism
Boris Johnson: The ‘greased piglet’ slips away again
All politicians need luck and Boris Johnson -- once described as a "greased piglet" for his uncanny powers of political escapology -- has had more than most in his career.
French elections: Polls and projections for the new parliament
With France's legislative elections due to take place on 12 and 19 June, EURACTIV France, in partnership with Europe Elects, gives you an overview of the current polls and voting intentions.
Denmark to join EU defence policy after historic vote
Denmark will join the European Union's defence policy after a referendum on Wednesday (1 June), final results showed, signalling the latest shift among Nordic countries to deepen defence ties in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
French Left alliance could topple Macron’s presidential majority
France's new left-wing bloc has made steady progress in the polls and is threatening President Emmanuel Macron's presidential majority ahead of the upcoming legislative elections, a poll from Tuesday (31 May) shows. EURACTIV France reports.
Bulgarian PM Petkov’s party inches closer to Renew membership
Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov attended on Monday (30 May) a pre-summit meeting of the liberal ALDE political party in Brussels, heralding the future European political affiliation of his party “We continue the change”.