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☆ France's political future hangs in the balance as votes cast in final round of snap election
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-07 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Francois Lo Presti | Afp | Getty ImagesFrench voters are heading to the polls on Sunday for the second and final round of voting in a snap parliamentary election. By offering voters a starker choice and fewer candidates, RN's opponents hope that the electorate will opt for the non-RN candidate. "For instance, former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has said voters should vote neither for the RN nor candidates from the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party. At the same time, current Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has called for everyone to vote against the RN." If the choice was between a far-left and far-right candidate, however, the picture was more nuanced, showing a split vote.

Persons: Francois Lo Presti, Emmanuel Macron's, Jordan Bardella, Antonio Barroso, Edouard Philippe, Gabriel Attal, Ifop, Teneo's Barroso, Harris, Emmanuel Macron, Xi Jinping, Mohammed Badra, Macron, Teneo, Julien De Rosa Organizations: French, Afp, Getty, National Assembly, Front, NFP, Le, Palais des Sports, Nurphoto, Research, Harris Interactive, Reuters, Republicans, Macron's, Chinese Business Council, National Locations: Henin, Beaumont, France, Paris, Franco, Marigny, Garches

☆ 'A kind of civil war': Divided France on high alert for unrest amid political earthquake
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-06 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has said French voters now have a "moral duty" to halt the party's advance. The officer — a father of three who's in his 40s, and a right-leaning voter — said the polarization in French society was "very worrying, but unfortunately normal with the 'diversity' of our society." The police officer said he expected civil unrest after the vote, whichever party gained the most votes. "There will be civil unrest whoever is elected, this is France and the people speak their mind." Civil unrest possiblePolitical experts agree that the current febrile atmosphere of French politics, and antagonism between the main bodies of voters, are the ingredients for further civil unrest.

Persons: that's, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Gabriel Attal, Amel, Sebastien Salom, Gérald Darmanin, —, You've, Philippe Marlière, you've, Marlière, Jordan Bardella, Bardella, Ifop Organizations: la Republique, Nurphoto, CNBC, Front, Left, Afp, Getty, Republican, France's, Republique, Rassemblement, Anadolu, University College London, National Assembly, National, NATO, Le, Palais des Sports Locations: la, Paris, France's, France, Nantes, gomis, de, Bordeaux, Europe, Ukraine

☆ Starmer pledges to ‘reset’ Britain as Labour takes over after 14 years of Conservative rule
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

London CNN —The Labour Party has won a landslide victory in the UK general election, sweeping into power after 14 years of Conservative rule on the back of a wave of public disillusionment. Addressing the nation from outside 10 Downing Street for the first time as prime minister, Starmer had one overarching message: Change starts now. There were high-profile casualties, with the short-lived former Prime Minister Liz Truss and several cabinet ministers being booted out by voters. Conservative leader and, as of Friday morning, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak took responsibility for the electoral wipeout, apologizing to voters in his farewell address. Leaving the palace as the newly minted prime minister, he then headed straight to Downing Street.

Persons: Keir Starmer, King Charles III, Starmer, ”, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, “, Akshata Murty, Nigel Farage, Donald Trump, Farage, Sinn Féin, Clodagh Kilcoyne, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner, David Lammy, Yvette Cooper, Jeremy Corbyn, Yui Mok, Tony Blair, Starmer –, –, Israel “, David Cameron, Brexit –, Boris Johnson Organizations: London CNN, Labour Party, Conservative Party, Labour, Conservative, Downing, British, Conservatives, Liberal, Lib Dems, Reform UK, Green Party, Scottish National Party, Irish, Democratic Unionist Party, DUP, Reuters Government, Home, Tories, European Union Locations: British, United Kingdom, Buckingham, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Westminster, Starmer, Gaza, Britain, Europe, United States, Ukraine

☆ While much of Europe embraces hard-right parties, the UK has swung wildly to the left. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Francois Lo Presti | Afp | Getty ImagesLONDON — A somewhat strange and ironic political shift has gripped Europe over the last few years. "There's an anti-incumbency mood again in Europe," Dan Stevens, professor of politics at Exeter University, told CNBC. Shared concernsThe U.K. is not alone in looking for a political change of scenery. A similar shift has been observed in much of western and eastern Europe in recent years, with hard-right populist and nationalist parties upsetting and unseating the old political establishment. Political analysts point out that, although far-right political parties in France, Germany and Italy made gains in the recent European Parliament elections, they also did not perform quite as well as expected.

Persons: Jordan Bardella, Francois Lo Presti, Dan Stevens, Stevens, Christopher Granville, leaderships, they've, Granville, Sofia Vasilopoulou Organizations: Union, Afp, Getty, Labour Party, Conservative Party, Europe —, Exeter University, CNBC, Conservative, Party for Freedom, EMEA, TS Lombard, King's College London Locations: France, Henin, Beaumont, Europe, euroskeptic, Ukraine, Italy, Netherlands, Germany

Farage’s Reform UK party attacked the Conservative Party on its failure to bring down rates of legal and illegal migration. He won Clacton on a massive swing towards Reform UK, picking up 21,225 votes to the Conservatives’ 12,820. He pledged to “challenge the general election properly in 2029,” and promised to turn his rhetoric toward the Labour Party as it enters government. In many seats around the UK, Reform came second to Labour. Farage said the “Labour government will be in trouble very, very quickly and we will now be targeting Labour votes.

Persons: Nigel Farage, Britain’s, Donald Trump, Farage, ”, Euroskeptic, Keir Starmer, It’s, ” Farage, Labour –, upended, Rosa Prince, Conservative Party ”, ” Prince Organizations: CNN, Reform, Brexit, UK, Farage’s Reform, Conservative Party, Conservatives, European Union, Clacton, Labour, Labour Party, Conservative, Politico Locations: Britain’s, Ukraine, Europe

People celebrate exit poll results at a "Stop The Tories" election afterparty in London, on July 4. Suzanne Plunkett/ReutersThe United Kingdom’s decision to hand the center-left Labour Party a parliamentary majority, according to the exit poll, comes at the same time Europe is broadly in the grip of what some call a right-wing populist surge. Last month’s European elections saw a historic number of lawmakers from hard-right and far-right parties elected to the European Parliament. Farage’s political success to date has all come without him holding a parliamentary seat. An odd quirk of British politics is that the percentage of votes a party gets doesn’t necessarily translate to seats.

Persons: Suzanne Plunkett, Emmanuel Macron, Benito Mussolini, Euroskepticism, Nigel Farage, Donald Trump, Keir Starmer, Starmer’s, Farage, Starmer Organizations: United, Labour Party, Parliament, European, Conservative Party, Reform, Conservatives, Labour Locations: London, Europe, Netherlands, Italy, Britain, British

People celebrate exit poll results at a "Stop The Tories" election afterparty in London, on July 4. Last month’s European elections saw a historic number of lawmakers from hard-right and far-right parties elected to the European Parliament. Farage’s political success to date has all come without him holding a parliamentary seat. It is possible that Farage’s splitting of the right has actually helped Starmer increase his majority in parliament. An odd quirk of British politics is that the percentage of votes a party gets doesn’t necessarily translate to seats.

☆ Who is Jordan Bardella and what might his far-right party do in power?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Handpicked as leader by National Rally (RN) doyenne Marine Le Pen in an effort to purge the far-right party of its racist and antisemitic roots, Bardella has taken it closer to the gates of power than ever before. Whether the RN forms a government and Bardella becomes prime minister after the July 7 runoff is not clear. So, who is Bardella, and what might his party do in power? Le Pen and Bardella address a crowd of RN supporters in Paris, after Macron called a snap election, June 9, 2024. When the prime minister and president belong to different parties – in a rare arrangement known as “cohabitation” – things can grind to a halt.

Persons: CNN — Jordan, –, Bardella, Emmanuel Macron’s, France’s, Denis, Le Pen, Le Pen’s, Louis Aliot, Le, Macron, Julien De Rosa, Freed, Jean, Marie Le Pen, Franco, Paris Anne Hidalgo, Luc Mélenchon, ” Bardella, Julien de Rosa, Gabriel Attal, ” Mujtaba Rahman, Mario Draghi, Giorgia Meloni, Benito Mussolini, Matteo Salvini, Vladimir Putin, Antonio Masiello, Hungary’s Viktor Orban –, Macron – Organizations: CNN, National Rally, National Assembly, Front, Sorbonne university, Getty, Macron’s Ensemble, Immigrants, Ministry of, Armed Forces, New Popular Front, EU, Eurasia Group, European Union Locations: Paris, France, Europe, Seine, Macron, AFP, Vichy, Spanish, Brussels, Italy, Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia

☆ As Europe turns right, why is a center-left party projected to win by a landslide in the UK?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Last month’s European elections saw a historic number of lawmakers from hard-right and far-right parties elected to the European Parliament. Italy is led by the most right-wing leader since the rule of fascist wartime leader Benito Mussolini. Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage speaks to the crowd of supporters on July 3 in Clacton-on-Sea, England. Farage’s political success to date has all come without him holding a parliamentary seat. It is possible that Farage’s splitting of the right has actually helped Starmer increase his majority in parliament.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Benito Mussolini, Euroskepticism, Nigel Farage, Dan Kitwood, Donald Trump, Keir Starmer, Starmer’s, Farage, Starmer Organizations: CNN, Labour Party, Parliament, European, Conservative Party, Reform, Conservatives, Labour Locations: Europe, Netherlands, Italy, Britain, British, Clacton, England

☆ France’s far right may be on the brink of power after Macron’s gamble backfired. Here’s what comes next
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( Saskya Vandoorne | Camille Knight | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

French President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance was crushed on Sunday after the far-right National Rally (RN) party surged in the first round of the country’s parliamentary elections. It would then become the first far-right party to enter the French government since World War II – although nothing is certain ahead of Sunday’s second round. “Tonight is not a night like any other,” Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said solemnly in an address to the French. The left-wing New Popular Front has announced that it will withdraw all candidates who came in third to help prevent far-right candidates from getting elected. A loss would force Macron to nominate a prime minister from whichever party wins – putting a political opponent in charge of running the government.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron’s, Gabriel Attal, It’s, “, Italy’s Giorgia, Hungary’s Viktor Orban, Vladmir Putin, Le Pen, Vladimir Putin, Macron, Jordan Bardella, Bardella Organizations: Paris CNN, New, Ensemble, ”, European Union, Russian, NATO, National Assembly Locations: Sunday’s, Europe, Ukraine, Russian, France

☆ France's far right looks headed for victory in the first round at the polls. Here's what that means
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Nurphoto | Getty ImagesWith just days to go until France's snap parliamentary election kicks off, victory for the far right looks increasingly likely in the first phase of the two-stage runoff. But predicting the outcome of France's final vote on July 7 is less clear-cut, given the complexity of France's voting system. Voter turnout for the national election is also expected to be larger — and therefore more representative — than the 51% who cast their ballot in the EU vote. With that in mind, analysts see a 30% to 40% chance of the National Rally winning the 289 seats needed to secure an absolute majority in the 577-seat National Assembly. A majority government for either the far-right or the ultraleft alliance, meanwhile, could spark a far more dramatic outcome.

Persons: Jordan Bardella, Emmanuel Macron's, Schmieding, — Organizations: National, Palais des Sports, Nurphoto, Elabe, CNBC, Macron, National Rally, National Assembly, Berenberg Bank, Citi Locations: French, Le, Paris, France

☆ He's only 28 but has revitalized France's far right: Meet the man who could be the country's next prime minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Soon, he could well become prime minister if RN wins an absolute majority in the forthcoming parliamentary elections — and he's only 28. Bardella's rise from party spokesman in 2017 to party president over the course of five years is somewhat remarkable for a man who is only 28. Bardella excelled in economics and social sciences at a private college and joined National Rally — then known as the National Front — at the age of 16. Two years later, he became a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) before being made party president in 2022. Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally, speaks to members of the media as he arrives at Medef in Paris, France, on Thursday, June 20, 2024.

Persons: Jordan Bardella, Julien De Rosa, Bardella, Denis, Joseph Downing, Pen, Jean, Luc Mélenchon, Frederic Chatillon, Le Pen, Le, —, Critics, Francois Lo Presti, Macron, Holger Schmieding, Bardella's, Emmanuel Macron's Organizations: Afp, Getty, National, CNBC, National Rally, Paris Sorbonne University, London School of Economics, European Institute, National Assembly, Le, Palais des Sports, Nurphoto, cri, Union, NATO, Berenberg Bank, Popular, Bloomberg Locations: Paris, Villepinte, France, Bardella, Drancy, Paris suburb, Seine, Montmorency, Morocco, Henin, Beaumont, Ukraine, French, Medef

☆ No punches land in France’s first major election debate
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Joshua Berlinger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Paris CNN —Three of France’s highest-profile candidates in the country’s upcoming legislative elections sparred in the first major debate of the campaign on Tuesday. Bardella led the National Rally to a dominant showing at the European elections on June 9. He was elected to the French National Assembly in 2022 representing Marseille and is a member of the far-left political party France Unbowed. The move took the French political establishment and society at large by surprise. He’s also assuming that French voters use the runoff, as they have historically, to keep the far right out of power.

Persons: Gabriel Attal, Jordan Bardella, Manuel Bompard, Attal, Bardella, ”, Jean Petaux, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, He’s, pollster IFOP Organizations: Paris CNN —, National, French National Assembly, National Rally, National Assembly Locations: Marseille, France, French

☆ Opinion: The G7 ‘family photo’ of world leaders tells a bigger story
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —The annual G7 summit, a gathering of leaders of some of the world’s wealthiest democracies, used to be a staid, predictable affair. Tensions were about to explode in 2018, when G7 leaders met in Canada. Behind the smiles and waves, a fraught 2018 G7 summit in Canada. German Chancellor Angela Merkel deliberates with US president Donald Trump on the sidelines of the 2018 G7 summit in Canada. German Chancellor Angela Merkel chats with a relaxed US President Barack Obama outside during the 2015 G7 summit in southern Germany.

Persons: Frida Ghitis, Read, Joe Biden, Pope Francis, Volodymyr Zelensky –, —, Donald Trump, Justin Trudeau, Cole Burston, Trump, Angela Merkel, Merkel, Angela Merkel deliberates, Jesco Denzel, Barack Obama, Michael Kappeler, George W, Bush, backrub, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Covid, ” Biden, ” Macron, Boris Johnson, Ludovic Marin, Biden, Emmanuel Macron’s, autocrats, Lady Melania Trump, Trudeau, Andrew Parsons, Giorgia Meloni, ” Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, Frida Ghitis CNN, European Council, Canadian, Bloomberg, Trump, Getty, Deutschland, Kremlin, Parliamentary, United, Brothers Locations: Puglia, Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Bavarian, AFP, St Petersburg, Russia, Russian, St . Petersburg, Handout, Crimean, Washington, United States, British, Ukraine, Biarritz, Italian, Europe

☆ Europe’s center ground is shifting further to the right
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-09 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

And while the far right is on course to make large gains, the center parties remain ahead. For those on the center right, domestic political shifts to the hard right could make working with the hard right increasingly attractive at a European level. The deadline for this is months away, which leaves a lot of time for horse-trading, which could see elements of the center right and hard right cooperate. It’s not implausible that the center right could vote with the left on issues like support for Ukraine, but then work with the hard right on immigration and climate policy. That was the result of years of domestic politics shifting in the UK, the center right shifting to fend off the hard right, ultimately leading to that rupture.

Persons: –, it’s, It’s, Emmanuel Macron, Pen, Macron, Brothers, Benito Mussolini, Ursula von der Leyen, she’s Organizations: CNN, European Union, EU, European People’s Party, Socialists, Democrats, Europe Greens, Conservative Reformers, European Locations: Europe, Ukraine, Brussels, Netherlands, France, Italy, EU

☆ The right-wing surge in EU Parliament could have implications for Europe and beyond
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-09 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Right-wing parties across Europe have seen a surge in support over recent years and are set for record gains in the 2024 European Parliament elections. Meanwhile, an emboldened ID party could apply pressure on Parliament to alter its stance on other contentious issues. Here's a look at how these shifts could impact EU policy. "The incoming Commission and Parliament are likely to continue the trend towards greater protectionism and intervention in strategic industries, although the EU will remain an open, trade-dependent economy," they wrote. EU enlargementElsewhere, enlargement of the EU could face further setbacks with a larger euroskeptic presence in Parliament.

Persons: Sean Gallup, Armida van Rij, Chatham House thinktank, Verisk, Mario Bikarski, Laurent Balt, van Rij, Dorien Rookmaker, Balt Organizations: Getty, Populist, Sunday, Greens, European Free Alliance, European People's Party, EPP, European Conservatives, Eurasia Group, Chatham House, CNBC, Immigration, Citi, ECR, EU Locations: Europe, Ukraine, Russia, China, U.S

☆ UK's populist right-wing party surges in popularity on Brexiteer Nigel Farage's return
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage walks to speak to supporters as he launches his election candidacy at Clacton Pier on June 4, 2024 in Clacton-on-Sea, England. Labour is expected to win 40% of votes to the Conservatives' 19% and Reform's 17%, the online polling showed. Farage's surprise return as Reform leader on Monday dealt a deadly blow to the party, threatening to steal a significant share of votes on the right. In the 2019 election, his then-Brexit Party agreed not to field candidates in hundreds of seats to safeguard a Conservative win. The announcement hurts Sunak's earlier efforts to win right-wing votes by hardening the Tories' stance on migration and the U.K.'s membership of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Persons: Nigel Farage, Rishi Sunak's, Farage, — Organizations: Clacton Pier, Reform, Sky News, Labour, Conservatives, Conservative, Brexit, Tories, Brexit Party, European, Human Rights Locations: Clacton, England, London

☆ Why predicted gains for right-wing populists could make Europe vulnerable to attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Right-wing populists are set to make unprecedented gains in the elections to the European Parliament taking place next month. Polling data suggests that far-right Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) could have enough seats to, together, block the passage of European Union legislation, creating a massive headache for the union as a whole. “For some countries, that is a six-month process, in others it can take two years,” a senior European Parliament source told CNN. Britain's Nigel Farage used his seat in the European Parliament to promote Brexit. It only becomes an issue if they are working with foreign powers to advance their agenda,” an EU security source told CNN.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Yiannis Kourtoglou, Reuters “, ”, James Shires, you’ll, don’t, Britain's Nigel Farage, SEBASTIEN BOZON, it’s, — Organizations: CNN, Parliament, European, Reuters, “, Brexit, Getty, British, EU, Brussels Locations: Brussels, China, Russia, Strasbourg, AFP, Britain, Ukraine, EU, Europe

☆ EU Parliament approves major reforms to migration policy
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The wide-ranging reforms are designed to ease the burden on countries that have historically taken the most asylum-seekers among the EU’s 27 member states. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, said: “We have delivered a robust legislative framework on how to deal with migration and asylum in the EU. In theory, the EU will now spread the burden across the 27 member states, either through relocation of people to other member states or through financial and practical assistance in processing refugee claims. In a number of EU countries – notably Italy, Hungary, Slovakia and Sweden – anti-immigrant Euroskeptic politicians are in power, either outright or through coalition. “And it will ultimately be up to the member states themselves to decide how these new measures are practically managed.

Persons: Roberta Metsola, Joelle Grogan, Grogan, ”, Alberto Neidhardt, Neidhardt Organizations: CNN, European, EU, European Policy, Ukraine Locations: Greece, Italy, Malta, East, North Africa, Dublin, Brussels, “, Hungary, Slovakia, Sweden, France, Germany, Ukraine, United States

☆ Geert Wilders abandons Dutch PM bid despite election victory
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Populist firebrand Geert Wilders has conceded that he will not become the next prime minister of the Netherlands because his potential coalition backers have refused to back him. “I can only become Prime Minister if ALL parties in the coalition support it. Similarly, Swedish Prime Minister Ulif Kristersson relies on the votes of the increasingly Euroskeptic, anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats. Despite admitting defeat this time, Wilders pledged to continue his push to become prime minister in the future. “Don’t forget: I will still become Prime Minister of the Netherlands.

Persons: Geert Wilders, Wilders ’, “, Wilders, ” Wilders, ”, Mark Rutte, Pieter Omtzigt, sanitaire, Jean, Marie Le Pen, Marine, Lionel Jospin, Jacques Chirac, Petteri Orpo, Sanna Marin, Ulif Kristersson, Robert Fico, “ Don’t Organizations: CNN, Democracy Party, Social Contract Party, European Union, National, Socialist, Socialists, Finns Party, Swedish, Sweden Democrats, Georgia Meloni Locations: Netherlands, Europe, Ukraine, Finland, Sweden, Georgia, Italy, Slovakia

☆ Dutch far-right Geert Wilders' hopes of becoming prime minister sink after coalition talks collapse
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON — Far-right Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders' hopes of becoming prime minister of the Netherlands are dwindling after coalition talks fell into disarray Tuesday. Wilders took to social media Tuesday evening to berate Omtzigt's withdrawal, calling the decision "incredibly disappointing." I don't understand it at all," Wilders wrote in a post on X, according to a Google translation. However, former Labor Party minister Ronald Plasterk, who has been leading the talks, earlier flagged finances as a major sticking point in talks. Alternatively, if no combination of parties can agree to form a coalition, a new election could be called.

Persons: Geert Wilders, Pieter Omtzigt, vexing Wilders, Wilders, Omtzigt's, Omtzigt, Mark Rutte, Caroline van der Plas, Ronald Plasterk, European Union —, Plasterk, Frans Timmermans Organizations: Party for Freedom, NSC, BBB, Labor, Reuters, European Union, Labour, Green Locations: Netherlands, Dutch, Europe

BERLIN (AP) — At least 150,000 people gathered in front of the German national parliament Saturday afternoon to protest against the far right, the latest in a string of large weekend demonstrations across Germany. Some members of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, or AfD, were present at the meeting. Saturday’s protest drew more participants than organizers expected, despite intermittent rain showers in the German capital. Similar protests against the far right in other German cities, including the southern city of Freiburg and the western city of Hannover, also drew thousands of attendees on Saturday. Polls show AfD is the top party in eastern Germany, including in the states of Brandenburg, Saxony and Thuringia, which are scheduled to hold elections this fall.

Persons: —, ”, Jonas Schmidt, Kathrin, Olaf Scholz Organizations: BERLIN, Germany, Police, Bundestag Locations: Germany, Freiburg, Hannover, Bremen, Brandenburg, Saxony, Thuringia, Hamburg, Munich

It's the kind of obstruction of key policy objectives for which Orbán has become notorious within the European Union. “We are the sand in the machinery, the stick between the spokes, the splinter under the fingernail,” Orbán said in a speech to tens of thousands of supporters in 2021. Now, frustrated EU officials are trying to determine what Orbán seeks to achieve with his obstructionist strategy, and how they might overcome it. But with his veto power, the nationalist leader will have plenty of further opportunities to sow discord within the EU. Widely considered to be Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest ally in the EU, Orbán has been accused by his critics of promoting Moscow’s interests over those of his EU and NATO allies, and of preparing to lead his country out of the EU entirely.

Persons: —, Viktor Orbán, Orbán, ” Orbán, Donald Tusk, “, ”, Péter Krekó, ” Krekó, “ Orbán, Daniel Freund, Freund, it’s, he's, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, “ He’s, he’s, Krekó, Vladimir Putin’s Organizations: NATO, European Union, EU, Conservative Political, Green, United, U.S, Trump, Germany, Political Locations: BUDAPEST, Hungary, Brussels, Polish, Ukraine, Budapest, Germany, France, Italy, Europe, United States, Washington, Netherlands, Union

The demonstrations came in the wake of a report that right-wing extremists recently met to discuss the deportation of millions of immigrants, including some with German citizenship. Some members of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, or AfD, were present at the meeting. Additional protests planned for Sunday in other major German cities, including Berlin, Munich and Cologne, are also expected to draw tens of thousands of people. What started out as relatively small gatherings have grown into protests that, in many cases, are drawing far more participants than organizers expected. The protests also build on growing anxiety over the last year about the AfD’s rising support among the German electorate.

Persons: Germany’s, Martin Sellner, Alice Weidel, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, ” Scholz, ” Friedrich Merz, ”, Thomas Tuchel Organizations: BERLIN, Germany, Police, Hannover, Identitarian, Identitarian Movement, Austrian, Germany’s Greens, “, Christian, Bayern Munich Locations: Germany, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, Cologne, Nazi, Bavaria, Hesse, Brandenburg, Saxony, Thuringia, Dresden, Tuebingen, Kiel

☆ Attack is the best market defense in international competition, ECB's Christine Lagarde says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

President of the European Central Bank (ECB) Christine Lagarde attends a session on the closing day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, on January 19, 2024. Being strong means having a strong, deep market. Europe faces an uncertain future in its relationship with its closest international ally, following the U.S. vote. With that in mind, Lagarde said Europe should invest more in its capital markets in order to fund investments, such as, for instance, in the green transition. "Our competitive disadvantage compared to the U.S. is not subsidies but the function of our private capital market."

Persons: Christine Lagarde, Lagarde, Joe Biden, —, Donald Trump, Christian Linder, Linder Organizations: European Central Bank, Economic, Republican, German Finance Locations: Davos, Europe, U.S, United States

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