Shock in Spain: Puigdemont’s party votes against Catalan amnesty law
Carles Puigdemont’s Spanish party Junts per Catalunya has voted against the controversial amnesty law it has pushed for since last year.
From the capitals
Latest reporting and analysis on from the capitals.
‘Siege of Paris’: Macron Government ‘will not let’ farmers block the capital
French President Emmanuel Macron's Government will not let protesting farmers "block" the country's capital, said interior minister Gérald Darmanin.
New German party linked to Turkey’s Erdoğan set to run in European elections
A new political party in Germany closely affiliated with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hopes to make a splash in Europe.
Western history is being constantly denigrated. We are asked to make daily apologies for our past. No wonder the armed forces can’t recruit
Faced with the threat of war with Russia, tens of thousands of Britain’s citizens must be trained as a “citizen army,” according to General Sir Patrick Sanders,…
If mainstream German politics fragments further, would it help the CDU?
As Germans appear to grow more disillusioned with mainstream parties, WerteUnion's (Values Union) launch means the country has seen two new populist parties form…
Sweden ‘will not give ground to Hungary’ over NATO membership bid
Sweden will not negotiate with Hungary over its application to join NATO, which Budapest is the sole member of the alliance to yet ratify, Swedish Prime Minster…
Germany’s Christian Democrats ‘brain dead’, says splinter-group chief as he ‘unsaddles’
Germany's Christian Democrats (CDU) party is "brain dead", the leader of a new splinter group has said.
Civilisational confidence: What the West lacks is not weaponry but a belief in itself. Without it, we are sure to lose the next war
In recent days, a flurry of articles has warned of an impending war with Russia, with the UK Army Chief talking about the potential need for the largest mobilisation…
Germany mulls ‘back-door’ deal to supply Ukraine with cruise missiles
The German Government is reportedly considering a “back-door” method for supplying Ukraine with cruise missiles.
EC: ‘no plan’ to ban Israeli-settlement imports
The European Commission says it is "not planning" to implement any ban on commercial products arriving from Israeli settlements.
After the Dutch, Polish, Italian and German farmers, France’s paysans are in revolt. It will make a difference in June’s European elections
Brussels’s Common Agricultural Policy worked for years, at great cost and with a wealth of regulations, to bring closer the EU member states’ farming sectors.
Iranian ‘experts’ have ‘succeeded in influencing European politics’
Iran is manipulating political discourse in Europe via biased individuals disguised as "experts", according to a report by Spanish MEP Javier Zarzalejos.
Recently-formed pro-Macron Rural Alliance loses a top name
A French rural party, set up with the support of President Emmanuel Macron to target the right-wing National Rally party (RN), is facing trouble after a top figure…
Polish President pardons jailed, hunger-striking MPs
Polish President Andrzej Duda has issued pardons for former ministers Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik whohave been on hunger strike in protest at their incarceration.
Woman dies in roadblock crash as French farmers expand protests
French farmers in tractors and trucks expanded their roadblocks, resulting in numerous traffic jams and a fatal accident, as unions urged the Government to address…
EU backs Red Sea naval mission but that may expose ‘splits’ at home
European Union foreign ministers have reached a decision "in principle" to launch a naval mission to help secure merchant shipping in the Red Sea, overcoming Spanish…
Tusk and Zelenskyy ‘to end row’ over Polish truckers and UK eases Ukraine visit rules
The leaders of Poland and Ukraine pledged to tackle a thorny political dispute that had hampered their critical wartime alliance and boost defence cooperation as…
Make no mistake, Germany is attempting to thwart Poland’s sovereignty and future prosperity – and Tusk’s government is playing along
Much of the media broadcasting from Poland want us to believe that the biggest challenge for the new liberal government in Warsaw is judicial reform.
Louis Le Pensec (1980 – 1990)
Louis Le Pensec, the distinguished former French minister, passed away on January 10, 2024, at the age of 87, leaving behind a legacy of political service and advocacy.
Russia ‘aims to influence European elections to isolate Ukraine’, claims US bigwig
Russia will aim to “manipulate” European elections 2024 to isolate Ukraine, a senior US Government official has claimed.
Across the pond: Could Labour government mean more regional politics for the UK?
Manchester, England "We've now... established a new system of governance outside of Westminster" said Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester.
Dutch coalition talks ‘in hot water’ over asylum plan, says Wilders
Dutch MP Geert Wilders has indicated coalition talks regarding the formation of a new government "are having a problem" after the Netherlands’ caretaker authority…
Good COP, bad COP? Macron takes flak over environment pledges
After winning praise at the COP 28 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai for announcing €173 million in donations to multilateral climate funds, France's President…
Tusk says Government will ‘override Presidential veto’
Polish President Andrzej Duda met with Prime Minister Donald Tusk and pleaded: “Please stop trying to violate the law.”
Austrian populist Chancellor on the cards after centre-right comments
Austria could be on the cusp of having its first populist Chancellor, an interview with a senior centre-right politician in the country has suggested.
Berlin gridlocked as farmers vent fury
Germany's capital Berlin came to a "standstill" amid anti-government protests led by farmers.
Is new French Government right-wing? ‘Non,’ insists Cabinet mouthpiece
French President Emmanuel Macron's new Government is not "right-wing", the main spokesperson for its Cabinet has claimed.
Will China try to ‘sow seeds of disruption’ at WEF meeting?
Officials from China are expected to dominate this year's annual meeting of the World Economic Forum.
Was Polish President’s office ‘bugged’ ahead of MPs’ arrest?
A leading Polish newspaper has alleged a senior Warsaw police officer was asked to instigate electronic surveillance of the Presidential Palace in the hours leading…
French Government reset unlikely to give Macron the boost he needs, say analysts
French President Emmanuel Macron's decision to pick a new Prime Minister and Cabinet is unlikely to give him the reset he needed after wounding battles on immigration…