Elections
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.
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.
Montenegro calls polls for August despite virus return
Montenegro on Saturday (20 June) scheduled a parliamentary election for August despite a return of the coronavirus two weeks after it had declared the end of the epidemic.
Hungary set to end disputed emergency virus powers
Hungary is set to revoke Tuesday (16 June) anti-coronavirus emergency powers that triggered international criticism amid fears of a power grab by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Virus puts brakes on Salvini’s far-right message in Italy
Matteo Salvini, the leader of Italy's far right, has seen his popularity drop as the coronavirus pandemic has drowned out his anti-immigrant message, but his League party remains a potent threat to the government.
Polish health minister denies wrongdoing in mask procurement spat
Polish Health Minister Lukasz Szumowski denied on Monday (25 May) any wrongdoing as he reacted to accusations of inadequate supervision over procurement of equipment to help combat the coronavirus pandemic.
Poland’s president loses grip on election win: polls
Poland's President Andrzej Duda appeared to have lost his grip on victory in an upcoming election, fresh opinion polls showed, threatening a political upset for the allied right-wing government.
Polish opposition threatens to block plans for rescheduled election
Poland's main opposition grouping threatened on Tuesday (12 May) to block planning for a delayed presidential election, accusing the ruling coalition of rushing a voting plan through parliament for political gain.
Hungary summons Nordic diplomats over rule-by-decree row
Hungary summoned the ambassadors of four Nordic countries on Monday (11 May) over their countries' criticism of a controversial law that empowers Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to act by decree against the novel coronavirus.
Croatia’s ruling conservatives target summer election
Croatia's conservative ruling party will seek a parliamentary election during the summer depending on the evolution of the coronavirus outbreak, one of its top officials said on Tuesday (5 May).
Poland’s Senate leader accuses ruling PiS of election-by-post ‘trickery’
The head of Poland's opposition-led Senate accused the ruling nationalists of "procedural trickery" on Tuesday (5 May) to force through a 10 May presidential election by postal ballot during the coronavirus pandemic.
Poland set to hold elections in midst of pandemic
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, a negative Supreme Court opinion, and criticism from the OSCE, Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) seems determined to hold the presidential elections by postal voting in May.
Slovenian media fear fallout from government virus campaign
The new government of Slovenia's conservative Prime Minister Janez Janša has so far kept the coronavirus under control -- but critics fear he will exploit the crisis to bring to heel the media he brands "presstitution".
Will Italy’s coronavirus epidemic fuel the far right?
Italy is staring down the barrel of the worst recession since World War II, which could bolster the far-right and damage the country's love affair with the European Union, analysts say.
Poland’s PiS seeks constitutional change to extend president’s term
Poland's ruling nationalists have proposed changing the constitution to extend President Andrzej Duda's term by two years because of threats related to the coronavirus pandemic, a draft bill filed with the parliament showed late on Wednesday (15 April).
Poland to begin easing coronavirus curbs from Sunday with eye on 10 May vote
Poland will gradually lift lockdown measures imposed to contain the new coronavirus from Sunday, the government said on Tuesday (14 April) as the nation prepares for a presidential election on 10 May.
Poland debates abortion rights curbs, coronavirus limits protests
Polish lawmakers are to debate a proposal to tighten already restrictive abortion rules on Wednesday (15 April), while rights activists protested on social media as coronavirus limits public gatherings.
Polish parliament backs postal ballot to pick president despite rights groups’ concerns
Poland's parliament has backed a plan to conduct the presidential election on 10 May by postal ballot because of the coronavirus pandemic, raising concerns among democracy advocates that the vote will not be fair or fully transparent.
Keir Starmer elected new UK Labour leader
Pro-European centrist Keir Starmer was on Saturday (4 April) unveiled as new Labour party leader, heralding a shift in Britain's main opposition party after a crushing election defeat under veteran socialist Jeremy Corbyn and years of ideological infighting.
Orban has ‘no time’ for EU allies’ criticism
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Friday (3 April) he has "no time" for scathing criticism by EU allies of sweeping powers he took on this week to tackle the coronavirus threat.
Von der Leyen warns against democratic backsliding without mentioning Hungary
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen warned on Tuesday (31 March) that coronavirus emergency measures by EU countries must be "limited", in a veiled reference to Hungary's nationalist leader Viktor Orbán, who used the pandemic to take on sweeping powers.