Von der Leyen labels Trumpโ€™s VP an ally after first meeting

First high-level meeting with Trump official strikes surprisingly positive note after he slapped tariffs on steel and aluminum.

‘AfD becoming strong in German Parliament: Increasingly difficult to form coalitions excluding them’

In the lead-up to Germany’s Parliamentary Elections, centre-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz accused his conservative election arch rival Friedrich Merz of planning an immigration crackdown that would “bury Europe”. For in-depth analysis and a deeper persp…

German frontrunner Merz will take EU โ€˜to its grave,โ€™ says Scholz

Country’s role in Europe gets a surprise central focus in election campaign.

Germanyโ€™s far-left party sees membership surge before election

The Left’s boost in numbers fuels hope of clearing the 5 percent threshold to enter the Bundestag.

By courting the far right, the man tipped to be Germanyโ€™s next chancellor may have sealed his own downfall | Florian Ranft

Conservative Friedrich Merz shattered a political taboo. His blunder gives the centre-left a chance in the 23 February electionThere are moments in every election campaign when the fate of a key protagonist takes a decisive turn, often after an unforce…

Inside the divided coalition coming for the Green Deal

Intentionally or not, concerned businesses, the ascendant far right and traditional conservatives are coming together to rewrite green rules.

As Trump torches overseas aid, will Britain step up?

Britain used to lead the world on international development. But in the era of right-wing populists, its Labour government is now treading carefully.

Macron picks close ally to lead court that could decide Le Penโ€™s fate

Richard Ferrand’s appointment drew criticism even before being made official.

The Guardian view on Kosovoโ€™s election result: a gateway to rapprochement with the EU

A new coalition government may seek to rebuild bridges with western partners, at a perilous geopolitical momentSeventeen years after Kosovo declared independence from Serbia, its future remains shadowed and compromised by relations with Belgrade. More …

The 9 AI power players at the Paris AI Action Summit

Academics can be as influential as tech bros in swaying policymakers to both invest in and set guardrails for the powerful technology.

5 times politicians were humiliated by WhatsApp leaks

Numerous UK politicos have found their group chats getting two ticks โ€” from the entire British public.

Romaniaโ€™s Klaus Iohannis announces heโ€™ll resign as president

Longtime leader heads for the exit amid political turmoil in Bucharest.

Kosovo’s incumbent party set to win most seats in parliamentary election

Kosovo’s electoral commission announced that Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s ruling party was on track to win 41% of the vote, leaving it ahead but without a majority government, which could lead to coalition talks.

Britain ditches AI declaration, pitches for cash

SNEAK PEEK โ€” As the AI Action Summit kicks off, the U.K. is tempted against signing its main declaration. โ€” Peter Kyle takes his investment pitch to Paris. โ€” Back at home, thereโ€™s a backlash against the Home Office over encryption. Good Monday morning, This is Tom in Paris. You can get in touch with [โ€ฆ]

Exit polls show incumbent PM Albin Kurti’s party in lead in Kosovo legislative elections

Kosovans headed to the polls against a backdrop of a stagnant economy and renewed ethnic tensions but the Central Election Commission says turnout was low.

Kosovo faces political uncertainty as ruling party fails to secure election majority

PM Albin Kurti claims โ€˜victoryโ€™ and vows to form government but analysts warn of prolonged crisis and instabilityThe governing party of the prime minister, Albin Kurti, is on track to secure the most seats in Kosovoโ€™s parliament but will lack the numbe…

Von der Leyen to host CEOs after unveiling EUโ€™s economic plan

Leaders from the bloc’s biggest companies will convene in Antwerp for the Feb. 26 event.

โ€‹โ€‹Justin Trudeauโ€™s not the only Canadian pushing for a UK trade deal

Pierre Poilievre โ€” frontrunner to be the next Canadian PM โ€” is also on board with push to reboot stalled talks amid Trump’s trade war.

Kosovo PM Albin Kurti wins election amid tensions with Brussels and Washington

His ruling party fell short of a majority and will need to find a coalition partner if it hopes to continue in power.

Kosovo’s PM party leads in parliamentary polls, may fall of majority

In Kosovo’s parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s ruling party led with the most seats but faced uncertainty in forming a majority. The election highlighted Kurti’s anti-Serbian agenda against the opposition’s economic promises. Withou…

Merz and Scholz clash on migration, economy and Trump: โ€˜How dumb can somebody be?โ€™

Center-right and center-left chancellor candidates clashed in a fiery debate, exposing deep divisions just weeks ahead of a national election.

Parliamentary elections in Kosovo: ‘Key issue is relationship with Serbia’

Polls opened in Kosovo on Sunday after a combative election campaign in which opposition candidates clashed with Prime Minister Albin Kurti over the economy, corruption and relations with the country’s old foe and neighbour Serbia. “As ever, with Koso…

As Trump steamrolls Washington, courts flex their power to slow him down

Numerous federal district judges around the country have blocked major portions of Trumpโ€™s early agenda โ€” but Supreme Court showdowns loom.

Super Bowl: The NFL team Trump loves to hate

The president has left a breadcrumb trail suggesting nothing would make him happier than to see the Eagles get slaughtered in the Super Bowl.

Kosovo votes in legislative elections seen as key test for PM Kurti

Kosovars cast their votes Sunday in a parliamentary election considered a key test for Prime Minister Albin Kurti as talks on normalising ties with rival Serbia remain stalled and foreign funding for one of Europe’s poorest countries in question.

Hundreds of thousands protest far right in Germany

Moreย thanย 200,000ย protestersย ralliedย inย Munich,ย Germany,ย onย Saturdayย againstย far-rightย extremismย aheadย ofย theย country’sย generalย election. Theย far-right,ย anti-immigrantย Alternativeย forย Germany,ย orย AfD,ย isย inย secondย placeย inย recentย pollsย andย hasย prompte…

Kosovo goes to the polls as the shadow of Trump looms large

Fears of partition that arose during Trumpโ€™s first administration have re-emerged as PM Albin Kurti navigates tense relations with both US and EUKosovo goes to the polls on Sunday in an election that could mark a crossroads in the young countryโ€™s hist…

Looking at Trump, Europeโ€™s far right vows to โ€˜reconquerโ€™ the continent

โ€œOur friend Trump, the Trump tornado, has changed the world in just a couple of weeks,โ€ Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbรกn tells far-right rally in Madrid.

Merzโ€™s gamble: Germanyโ€™s centre-right leader splits voters by flirting with hardline AfD

Would be chancellor Friederich Merz breaks post-war convention of no political deals with far rightOn a foggy, frigid morning in Saxony, far-right MP Renรฉ Bochmann could not believe his partyโ€™s luck in the final days of the German election campaign, wi…

France opens probe into Muskโ€™s X over algorithm

Investigation is over allegations the social media company manipulated its algorithm, Paris public prosecutor’s office says.

Georgia ramps up restrictions on media, NGOs with drastic new laws

The fresh restrictions come amid a political crisis over disputed elections and the government’s reversal on its EU membership bid.

Germanyโ€™s Habeck casts doubt on coalition with conservatives

The possibilities for conservative frontrunner Friedrich Merz to form a coalition government are looking increasingly uncertain.

Economy, migration, defence loom large in German election: A turning point for Europe?

Of all the elections happening in the EU this year, the vote in Germany is probably the one that is being watched most closely across the bloc. Europe’s largest economy is in trouble; the old model of cheap gas and easily accessible export markets is …

Germanyโ€™s likely next chancellor wants to tell Trump to rein in Musk

โ€œI do not approve of someone in Trumpโ€™s orbit attempting such direct interference in Germanyโ€™s elections,โ€ says Friedrich Merz.

Greenland could hold referendum on independence from Denmark โ€“ Europe live

Greenlandic parliament calls for snap election for 11 March as ruling party, Siumut, proposes accelerating independence processGerman chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Friday that US president Donald Trump was wrong to impose sanctions on the internationa…

How to be a UK Ambassador to the US

POLITICOโ€™s weekly podcast lifting the curtain on how Westminster really works. By PATRICK BAKER Send ideas here | View in your browser Peter Mandelson, the new British ambassador to the United States, has finally taken up the daunting challenge of being the U.K.โ€™s Trump whisperer. And itโ€™s clear the man dubbed the prince of darkness [โ€ฆ]

Britain led the world on AI safety. Now itโ€™s waiting for Trump.

Labour promised tough new rules for the worldโ€™s leading AI developers. But as Trump returns, ministers are thinking again.

Tony Blair picks his Labour rising stars

The former U.K. prime minister has quietly been meeting Labour’s new MPs โ€” and he’s not the only Blairite who’s at it.

How Germany found itself holding an Italian election

POLITICO has processed 35 years’ worth of election data to find out why this month’s vote is messier than ever โ€• and what will happen next.

How political is your pizza? The Mediterranean Diet and Europeโ€™s food battles

Pasta, pizza, and Parmigiano โ€” delicious? Absolutely. But in 2025, theyโ€™re also deeply political. This week on EU Confidential, host Sarah Wheaton digs into how food has become a battleground, with POLITICO agriculture reporter Alessandro Ford explaining how Italyโ€™s far-right โ€” and politicians across Europe โ€” are using the Mediterranean diet to push back against [โ€ฆ]

Ukraine war briefing: Putin admits situation โ€˜very difficultโ€™ in Kursk as Kyiv forces mount new offensive

Moscow shows โ€˜indifferenceโ€™ to civilian humanitarian corridor offer, says Zelenskyy; France delivers Mirage jets. What we know on day 1,080Russia said it was battling a new Ukrainian offensive in Kursk, as Kyiv offered a humanitarian corridor for civil…

Putinโ€™s disinformation networks flood social media in bid to skew German election

A Kremlin-backed campaign is trying to influence voters ahead of Feb. 23 poll, according to government report obtained by POLITICO.

German election frontrunners push for nuclear comeback

Germanyโ€™s nuclear exit was meant to be final. But with energy costs soaring, conservatives are reopening the debate.

UKโ€™s attorney general called Trump an โ€˜orange tyrantโ€™

Richard Hermer said the U.S. president was an โ€œautocratic populistโ€ in the latest uncomfortable comments by British ministers.

Merkel โ€˜could not remain silentโ€™ as she jabs Merz again over far-right AfD vote

Former German leader reiterates swipe at chancellor candidate from her own Christian Democratic Union ahead of Feb. 23 election.

Hereโ€™s what Germanyโ€™s next government will look like

Germanyโ€™s conservatives are desperate to avoid a three-party coalition, but the outcome depends on how many small parties make it into parliament.

How do you get a German to vote? Give them free beer of course!

The pilsner plan is finding parts of the electorate other initiatives can’t reach.

Ukraine war briefing: Bomber dies in attack on army recruitment centre

String of attacks against Ukraineโ€™s mobilisation effort; Ukraine announces robot ground units. What we know on day 1,079A person died setting off an explosion at an army recruitment centre in western Ukraine on Wednesday, officials said, amid a string …

The US is โ€˜no longer the America we used to know,โ€™ warns Germanyโ€™s Merz

“The way they’re pardoning people who have been sentenced to years in prison, that will have consequences for America,” Merz cautioned.

EU hires Trump-linked lobbying firm to survive trade war

DCI Group has worked with sanctioned organizations, the Azeri government and oil companies.

UKโ€™s Starmer breaks with Trump on Gaza โ€˜Rivieraโ€™ plan

British prime minister said Palestinians “must be allowed home” to rebuild.

Swedish royals and PM visit site of campus shooting as police search for attackerโ€™s motive โ€“ as it happened

Eleven people, including attacker, died in countryโ€™s worst mass shooting with two more in intensive care. This live blog is closedร–rebro school shooting was one-man operation, police sayWe are waiting for the press conference to start and will bring yo…

Justin Trudeau wants to revive UK-Canada trade talks in shadow of Trump

The offer comes as Ottawa remains in the White Houseโ€™s crosshairs.

UK waits nervously for Trump to back Chagos Islands deal

U.S. president’s shake-up of the security apparatus has complicated scrutiny of controversial British deal over Diego Garcia military base.

Has Brexit finally paid off? What Trumpโ€™s tariff reprieve means for Starmer

The U.S. president hinted heโ€™ll spare Britain from his trade war, while hammering the EU. But as Nigel Farage surges in the polls, Keir Starmer isnโ€™t safe from Brexit yet.

German election poll: Merzโ€™s far-right gambit costs conservatives

The first major survey of voters after frontrunner Friedrich Merz’s controversial alignment with the far right suggests the gambit failed.

Rishi Sunak and David Cameron to cash in with US speaking gigs

Former British prime ministers sign up to offer their wisdom at the Washington Speakers Bureau.

Ex-Tory MP reportedly joins Ukraine foreign legion in non-combat role

Former party deputy chair Jack Lopresti said to be carrying out support work to help the countryโ€™s fight against RussiaA former Conservative MP ousted in the 2024 election has reportedly joined the International Legion in Ukraine in a non-combat role t…

Greenland plans to ban foreign political funding over Trump-led election fears

Bill to rule out interference from abroad expected to pass this week as country prepares for polls before 6 AprilGreenland plans to ban foreign political donations over fears about potential interference in its forthcoming elections after attracting Do…

Merz doubles down on gambit with German far right in combative speech

Prospective chancellor takes startlingly aggressive line against those protesting against gamble with AfDThe German conservative opposition leader, Friedrich Merz, whose party is widely tipped to win this monthโ€™s general election, defended his hardline…

Far right normalised: Populist parties becoming stronger with strong headwind by mainstream parties

Demonstrators descended on Berlin Sunday to protest last week’s decision by Germany’s conservatives to make overtures to the far right ahead of this month’s legislative election, drawing at least 160,000 people, according to police. For in-depth analy…

Ukraine freaks out as US and Russia push for elections

Ukrainian officials fear an alignment between Washington and Moscow could shut them out of the discussion about their country’s future.

Elon Muskโ€™s Tesla showroom defaced with swastikas in the Netherlands

Tech billionaire continues to attract vitriol after his controversial salute at Donald Trump’s inauguration party.

Worldโ€™s top defense conference bans Germanyโ€™s populist left and right parties

Munich Security Conference gets tough on anti-establishment parties ahead of German election.

German election: AfDโ€™s Weidel doubles down on Holocaust comments

โ€œI find it quite disturbing when the Holocaust is politically instrumentalized,โ€ far-right leader says.

Stocks tumble and dollar surges as Trump unleashes trade war

The U.S. currency surged across the board, while stock futures plunged on the first full day of trading since Trump slapped tariffs on imports from China, Canada and Mexico.

A political gamble backfired spectacularly โ€“ bringing the far right closer to power in Germany | Jรถrg Lau

The CDUโ€™s Friedrich Merz has shattered the taboo that had underpinned German politics since the war. The unthinkable is now more possibleThe tectonic plates are shifting in German politics. A momentous past week has plunged the country into uncertainty…

Romaniaโ€™s coalition parties unite behind Antonescuโ€™s candidacy

BUCHAREST – Crin Antonescu officially secured backing for the upcoming presidential election during the extraordinary congress of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) on Sunday, ensuring that the liberal politician has the full support of the governing co…

Czechia battles to safeguard public media independence

PRAGUE – Czech public media face growing threats as opposition leader Andrej Babiลก, widely regarded as a frontrunner in this autumnโ€™s general election, advocates for direct state funding of broadcasters. His proposed reforms, mirroring those in Slovaki…

Germany gives Big Tech a passing grade in elections stress test

The platforms were presented with various scenarios based on past experience of attempted election manipulation, such as information manipulation through deepfakes to distort content.
The post Germany gives Big Tech a passing grade in elections stress …

German far right may benefit most from Merzโ€™s self-inflicted wound

Conservative leader’s gambit to weaken the postwar ‘firewall’ may be a boon for the AfD ahead of a national election.

Germans protest against party leader who pushed migration bill backed by far right

Angry rallies in Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Leipzig and Munich accuse Friedrich Merz of cooperating with AfDTens of thousands of people marched in Germany on Sunday to protest against the decision by the centre-right leader โ€“ and frontrunner in a loomin…

German conservatives to back Weber for second term as EPP leader

Friedrich Merzโ€™s CDU is set to endorse the EPP head on Sunday, boosting Weber’s chances at a decisive party congress in April.

Canada hits back against Trump tariffs: โ€œWe will not back downโ€

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is ready to respond with 25 percent tariffs against C$155 billion worth of American goods.

Ukraine peace talks without Kyiv would send โ€˜very dangerousโ€™ signal: Zelenskyy

Ukrainian president’s remarks came after Trump said U.S. and Russian officials wereย โ€œalready talkingโ€ bilaterally about the war in Ukraine.ย 

Trump finalizes tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China, triggering likely trade war

The tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods will be 25 percent.

Trump says Putin talks could see โ€˜significantโ€™ result for Ukraine

U.S. president refuses to comment on whether he has already spoken with the Russian leader on ending the war.

Merkel, Musk and the far right: What is going on in Germanyโ€™s election?

As Germans prepare to vote on Feb. 23, an almighty argument over whether mainstream parties should work with the anti-immigration AfD is threatening to upend politics in Europeโ€™s most powerful democracy.ย