About: Matteo Salvini
Austrian far-right ministers to resign en masse amid ‘Ibiza-gate’ fallout
All remaining ministers from Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) are to resign, a party spokesman said Monday (20 May), after one of them, Interior Minister Herbert Kickl, was fired in the fallout from a corruption scandal that has brought down the government.
European mainstream politicians see hope in downfall of Austrian far right leader
Politicians from Europe's mainstream parties called on voters to stand against the far right, after a video sting brought down the leader of Austria's Freedom Party (FPÖ), hurting the momentum of nationalists days before a European parliamentary election.
Bannon presence raises hackles in France ahead of Europe polls
Political tensions soared in France Sunday (19 May) a week ahead of tightly-contested European elections, with the ruling party of President Emmanuel Macron expressing unease over the presence of Donald Trump's controversial ex-strategist Steve Bannon.
Austria scandal overshadows Salvini’s European nationalist rally
Italian populist leader Matteo Salvini on Saturday (18 May) gathered Europe's disparate nationalists for a unifying rally overshadowed by a major corruption scandal shaking Austria's far-right coalition.
Salvini fumes at EU court ruling on refugee returns
Italy’s hardline deputy prime minister reiterated his call to change the EU in reaction to a ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that refugees cannot be deported if their life or freedom is at risk in their home countries.
Salvini declares war on cannabis, threatens to bring down government
Italy's hardline Interior Minister Matteo Salvini announced his intention to close every legal cannabis shop in Italy "one by one", saying he would even consider toppling the government if his coalition ally, the Five Star Movement, refuses to back him.
EPP divorce looms after Orban rejects Weber as Spitzenkandidat
The leader of Germany's conservatives said she expected Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party would quit Europe's main centre-right group after he withdrew support for the bloc's candidate to head the European Commission.
Bavarian, Austrian conservatives frown at Orbán’s call to ally with populists
The leaders of Austria and Bavaria rejected on Friday (3 May) a call by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for their centre-right group in the European Parliament to ally with populist, nationalist parties ahead of EU elections later this month.
Orban says Salvini is the most important politician in Europe
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said the European Parliament's main centre-right group must forge an alliance with populist, nationalist groups after impending EU elections, receiving a swift rebuke from Germany's conservative leader.
Europe’s far-right touts ‘new European harmony’ in EU vote
Marine Le Pen, head of France’s National Rally party, on Thursday (25 April) said Europe’s populist far-right parties are offering a “new European harmony” to voters in European parliament elections next month. Le Pen appeared alongside Dutch populist Geert Wilders...
Far-right leaders gather in Prague ahead of EU vote
Prague will on Thursday (24 April) host a meeting of populist far-right party leaders seeking unprecedented success in European elections next month following a steep rise of anti-EU movements across Europe.
Smileys and selfies: Europe’s far-right tries to end divisions
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini sends texts with smileys to French far-right leader Marine Le Pen and posts selfies with Austrian far-right politician Heinz-Christian Strache.
Five arrested after Maltese military seizes tanker hijacked by migrants
Five men were arrested Thursday (28 March) after Maltese armed forces took control of a tanker that was hijacked by migrants off Libya and the ship docked in Malta.
Rights groups lambast Operation Sophia – the EU naval mission without ships
International rights advocates criticised the European Union on Wednesday (27 March) for abdicating its humanitarian responsibilities after the bloc agreed to withdraw ships patrolling the Mediterranean for migrants attempting the perilous voyage. After much wrangling, the EU agreed this week...
EU to end ship patrols in scaled down Operation Sophia
The European Union will cease the maritime patrols that have rescued thousands of migrants making the perilous Mediterranean Sea crossing from North Africa to Europe, but it will extend air missions, two diplomats said on Tuesday (26 March).
China’s new Silk Road gets bumpy as Xi visits Italy
Chinese President Xi Jinping kicks off a whistlestop European tour in Rome on Friday (22 March) amid growing Western unease over Italy joining the ever-expanding Asian giant's new Silk Road project.
Italy’s Senate shields Salvini from trial over Diciotti case
Italy's Senate voted Wednesday (20 March) to block the trial of far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini for allegedly illegally confining migrants rescued at sea by an Italian coastguard ship last year.
NGO ship defies Salvini, takes migrants to Lampedusa
An Italian charity ship was escorted into the port of Lampedusa by police on Tuesday (19 March) after rescuing 49 Africans in the Mediterranean, with Interior Minister Matteo Salvini calling for the crew to be arrested.
Farage to lobby EU countries in search of Brexit extension veto
Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage said on Wednesday (13 March) he will lobby EU countries to make sure one of them vetoes a possible extension of Article 50 past the 29 March deadline.
Commission pursues ‘bilateral and multilateral cooperation’ with China as MEPs express deep concern
The European Commission has set out a series of concrete actions to "deepen its engagement with China to promote common interests," the bloc's top officials said on Tuesday (12 March). However, MEPs voiced concerns over "embedded backdoors" in Chinese tech that may put personal data in the EU at risk.
Eritrea: an open-air prison, EU indifferent
Despite the dire situation on the ground in Eritrea, EU countries and the European Union as a whole look the other way. Benoit Lannoo explains why
No agreement on asylum possible before EU elections, EU member states admit
EU interior minister on Thursday (7 March) failed to conclude the overhaul of the EU’s migration policy. This means that under the Juncker Commission no further progress could be expected on a dossier expected to take center stage at the European elections.
Critical mass building for motion to expel Orbán from EPP
A critical mass is likely to be reached within days to put the expulsion of Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party from the centre-right European Peoples Party (EPP) to a vote. The decision could be taken ahead of a crucial meeting on 20 March.