About: socialists
‘Grand coalition’ to end after May’s EU parliament poll, survey suggests
The 'grand coalition' of the centre-right and left groups in the European Parliament is set to end after May's European elections, according to a projection by VoteWatch, the Brussels-based think-tank famous for monitoring how MEPs vote, published on Wednesday (9 January).
Socialists entrust Timmermans to replace Juncker at EU helm
Europe’s socialist parties on Saturday (8 December) chose Dutch politician Frans Timmermans to lead them in May elections and to succeed his boss Jean-Claude Juncker as head of the European Commission. Delegates voted in Timmermans, currently first vice president of the EU’s powerful...
Romanian Europe minister resigns on cusp of EU stint
Romania's Minister for European affairs Victor Negrescu has resigned just weeks before the country takes on the EU's six-month rotating presidency in January, media reported Saturday (10 November).
Bulgarian president sees democracy ‘under threat’
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev issued a stinging critique of the government's record on corruption and press freedom Friday (9 November), saying "the foundations of democracy are being threatened to a critical degree".
Romanians boycott the ‘referendum of hate’
A referendum to change Romania’s constitution to prevent same sex couples from securing the right to marry failed to draw enough voters to validate the result on Sunday (7 October), after a campaign that led to a rise in hate speech against the gay community.
Romania’s constitutional court backs rights for gay couples
Romania's constitutional court ruled Thursday (27 September) that gay couples should have the same family rights as heterosexuals, a judgment that runs counter to a referendum next month seeking to interdict gay marriage.
Romania’s strongman urged to resign with ruling party in free fall
Three former allies of the leader of Romania’s ruling Social Democrats called on him to resign on Wednesday, saying his criminal convictions have become the party’s largest vulnerability ahead of elections in 2019 and 2020.
Trial starts for violent storming of Macedonian parliament
A Macedonian court on Wednesday (22 August) launched a trial of 33 men, including five opposition MPs and a former interior minister, accused of involvement in a violent attack on parliament last year.
Romania’s president removes chief anti-corruption prosecutor
Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis sacked chief anti-corruption prosecutor Laura Codruța Kövesi on Monday (9 July) to honour a constitutional court ruling which Kövesi said may leave prosecutors exposed to political interference.
Half of Aquarius migrants seek asylum in France
Almost half of the 630 migrants that were rescued from the Mediterranean and arrived in Spain's port of Valencia at the weekend want to seek asylum in France, the Spanish government said yesterday (18 June).
Valencia gives ‘huge example of solidarity and humanity’
The head of the Red Cross urged European Union member states yesterday (17 June) to follow Spain's example of welcoming a rejected migrant ship and "put into practice" the humanitarian values promoted by the bloc.
Rajoy ousted from Spanish government, replaced by socialist Sánchez
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, plagued by corruption scandals, lost a confidence vote in the Spanish parliament on Friday (1 June) and will be replaced by opposition leader Pedro Sánchez, a socialist who vowed to call elections soon.
Bulgarian truckers protest against ‘Macron law’
Hundreds of truck drivers blocked roads across Bulgaria on Thursday (17 May) as European Union leaders met in Sofia, protesting against proposed EU rules they say would cost them their jobs and put their firms out of business.
Bulgaria’s Borissov unveils secret criteria for joining the eurozone
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said he apologises for revealing a secret, but that the Bulgarians should know about the main additional condition for the country’s accession to the eurozone.
Report: Romania to break ranks with EU by moving embassy to Jerusalem
The Romanian government will follow the United States and transfer its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) leader said Thursday (19 April). “The decision has been taken (…), the procedures are beginning,” Liviu Dragnea told...
Timmermans urges Romania to avoid ‘wrong’ turn in law reform
The vice-president of the European Commission Frans Timmermans urged Romania yesterday (1 March) not to "run in the wrong direction" over controversial judicial reforms.
Borissov gets preview of the perfect storm
In just one day, Bulgarian PM Boyko Borissov, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, has embroiled himself in a spat with the country's president, been offered Russian citizenship and seen some of his pet projects crumble before his eyes.
New S&D figurehead: We expect the Romanian justice minister to speak in plenary
Maria João Rodrigues, who is emerging as the most prominent figurehead in the European Parliament's S&D group, made it plain on Thursday (1 February) that her political group is quite critical of its Romanian affiliate member, the ruling social-democrat PSD.
Romanian president says will stand up for courts’ independence
Romania's President Klaus Iohannis told the European Union on Wednesday (31 January) he would fight for the independence of his country's courts, which he and Brussels say is threatened by draft laws prepared by the Social Democrat-led government.
Government’s legal reforms are unconstitutional, rules Romania’s top court
Romania's top court ruled yesterday (30 January) that parts of controversial legal reforms pushed by the ruling left were unconstitutional and needed to be modified.
Bulgarian environment minister under MEP fire over his views on climate change
Bulgaria’s environment minister was under fire on Wednesday (24 January) in the Environment Committee of the European Parliament over his positions on climate change and his support for a recent decision to allow construction of tourist facilities in the Pirin national park.
Istanbul Convention spells trouble for Bulgaria’s ruling coalition
At the very start of Bulgaria's EU presidency, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov’s ruling coalition was unexpectedly shaken by growing opposition to the government's plan to ratify the Council of Europe convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
Geopolitics loom large as Bulgaria takes over EU Presidency
Bulgaria, the European Union's poorest member state, on 1 January took over the bloc's six-month rotating presidency. The country will undoubtedly be under pressure by Turkey and Russia to move forward their difficult relations with the 28-members block.