About: populists

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.

EU Ombudsman: Barroso and Selmayr cases gave ammunition to populists

The European Union's ombudsman has voiced "frustration" to AFP that high-profile lapses in standards by the bloc's institutions in recent years provide "ammunition" for eurosceptics to attack the EU.

Salvini calls for ‘Italian-Polish axis’ to replace Paris-Berlin

Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini on Wednesday (9 January) said populists from Italy and Poland should spark a "European spring" to replace the centre-right influence of Germany and France, ahead of key EU elections.

Poland’s ruling PiS on top in regional polls, but losing urban vote

Poland's governing nationalists came out on top in regional elections Sunday (21 October), but were losing to opposition centrists in mayoral races in large cities including the capital Warsaw, exit polls showed.

Italian populist government braces for EU budget rejection

The Italian government expects the European Commission to decide for the first time ever on Tuesday (23 October) to ask a member state to revise its draft budget, a government source said on Sunday.

Poland’s ruling nationalists face key test in local election

Poles vote Sunday (21 October) in local elections seen as a key test for the country's controversial nationalist governing party as it gears up for EU and legislative elections next year.

Salvini sees populist-conservative coalition guiding the new EU Commission

Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who also leads the far-right League party, said on Tuesday (11 September) he wants the new European Commission to be led by conservatives and populists.

Italy to suspend EU funding unless others take in migrants

The European Commission has called a meeting today (25 August) after Italian Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio said his party would vote to suspend funding to the EU unless other member states agreed to take in migrants being held on a coastguard ship in Sicily.

France adds its voice to stop NGO ships from acting as ‘taxis’

How to save lives without becoming "taxi services" for people smugglers? Charity-run rescue boats operating in the Mediterranean face a dilemma and their activity is being increasingly criticised by politicians in Europe.

Italian populist cabinet faces vote of confidence in parliament

Italy's coalition between the anti-system 5-Star Movement and the fat-right Northern League will test its power today (5 June) in the first of this week's two parliamentary confidence votes in the new government.

Macron digital tax plan faces EU rebuff

French President Emmanuel Macron's ambitious plans for an EU digital tax targeting US tech giants such as Google or Facebook faced strong headwinds on Saturday (28 April), provoking anger from Paris.

Berlusconi ally attacks euro, says preparing exit

The leader of Italy's right-wing Northern League said yesterday (7 February) his party was preparing the ground to leave the euro zone and called the euro a "German currency" which had damaged Italy's economy.

Poland probes pictures of MEPs ‘on gallows’ at far-right demonstration

Poland's justice minister announced an investigation on Monday (27 November) after mocked-up pictures of opposition MEPs allegedly hanging on gallows were unfurled at a far-right demonstration on Saturday.

Italy lower house passes new electoral law penalising 5-Star Movement

The Italian Chamber of Deputies yesterday (12 October) gave its final approval to a contested electoral law that is likely to penalise the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement in next year's election.

At Trieste trilateral, Italy laments migrant burden

In the margins of the Western Balkans summit in Trieste, Italy's Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni criticised fellow EU member states on Wednesday (12 July) for leaving his country to grapple with the migrant crisis, despite pledges made by France and Germany.

In Warsaw, Trump gently criticises Russia

President Donald Trump affirmed the US commitment to the defence of NATO allies yesterday (6 July) in a Warsaw speech that gently criticised Russia, and he said Western civilization must stand up to "those who would subvert and destroy it".

Anti-populist, pro-EU protests held across Europe

Thousands of Europeans took to the streets of more than 40 cities in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK yesterday (12 March) to protest against populism and highlight European values before elections in the Netherlands and France.

Hollande has no plans to replace Tusk, aides say

François Hollande does not want to chair the European Council when he steps down as French president in May, aides said yesterday (19 January), denying a report that he hoped to succeed Donald Tusk in overseeing negotiations on Britain's exit from the EU.

ALDE rebuffs Italy’s 5 Star bid to join parliamentary group

The Liberals in the European Parliament have turned down a request from the anti-establishment 5 Star Movement to join their group, putting Italy's second-largest party in an awkward position as it had already left its former partners.

Italy’s 5 Star divorces UKIP, begins relationship with ALDE

Italy's maverick 5 Star Movement should cut ties with the anti-European Union UK Independence Party (UKIP) and consider hooking up with the Liberals in the European Parliament, 5 Star founder Beppe Grillo said yesterday (8 January).

Without citizens’ support, EU falls pray to populists and Russian influence

The European project as it stands now is not based on the broad consensus of the European public, and that’s why populists and Russian propaganda are so successful, writes Tomáš Zdechovský .

Germany’s right-wing populists join hands with anti-Islamist Pegida

After a joint meeting between representatives from the Eurosceptic Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the anti-Islamist Pegida movement, the two groups seem to have found common ground. EURACTIV Germany reports.

National Front renews hunt for European funding

After failing to form a group in the European Parliament, Marine Le Pen's National Front will seek EU funding by forming a new European political party. EURACTIV France reports.

It’s time for EU institutions to take measures to combat xenophobia and discrimination

In many EU member states, racist attacks and hate speech against migrants or ethnic minorities with a migration background are a daily reality. National migration and asylum policies lead to further exclusion, marginalisation and discrimination against third country nationals.