Elon Muskโs โNaziโ salute sparks fury from Europeโs left wing
Lawmakers and media pour scorn on the key adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump.
snap election
Crisis? What crisis?ย Fico ally brushes off threat to bring down Slovak government
The opposition in Bratislava is angling to topple the prime minister’s Russia-friendly administration.
Ficoโs rival pushes snap election as Slovak PMโs Moscow trip backfires
Slovak opposition says Robert Fico’s trip was a “disgrace” to Slovakia.
The Guardian view on Germanyโs snap election: playing for the highest of stakes | Editorial
Februaryโs election is shaping up to be one of the most consequential since the second world warIn the German city of Karlsruhe, a police investigation has just been launched into the distribution of 30,000 flyers designed to resemble deportation plane…
German army deserts X as Berlin vs. Elon Musk feud rumbles on
“The objective exchange of arguments is becoming increasingly difficult” on the platform formerly known as Twitter, says defense ministry.
โNo to Nazisโ: Protesters delay start of German far-right AfD party congress
Thousands of anti-Nazi protesters gathered outside the site of a key meeting of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the town of Riesa on Saturday. During its congress the party is expected to formally nominate its leader Alice Weidel …
Blinken: Greenland invasion is โnot going to happenโ
France warned Wednesday that Europeans would not let the U.S. invade Greenland.
French far rightโs Zemmour to attend Trump inauguration, leaving Le Pen scrambling for a way
The pundit-turned-politician could be a potential ally for the president-elect and Elon Musk as the tech billionaire wades deeper into European politics.
French defense minister calls for scrapping EU arms cash fund if it canโt be fixed
Sรฉbastien Lecornu warned that if the program opens the door to non-EU arms producers, “it’s better to do nothing.”
Olaf Scholz chides Elon Musk: โDonโt feed the trollโ
German chancellor answers X owner’s attacks in newspaper interview with German weekly Stern.
How do you solve a problem like Elon Musk?
The “chameleon” tech billionaire is one of the most powerful politically connected people in the world. Europe’s governments are still working out how to deal with being on his bad side.
Olaf Scholzโs business pitch to Brussels sparks election mudslinging
German Chancellor appeals to the EU executive to slash regulation and support industry with subsidies โ only to be accused by his conservative opponents of stealing their policies.
The French left is finally eyeing a comeback
The Socialists have taken timid steps toward emancipation from far-left firebrand Jean-Luc Mรฉlenchon.
French government to copy-paste budget that led to predecessorโs downfall
But finance ministry officials insist it’s just a time-saving move, not an endorsement of Michel Barnier’s plans.
Musk plans discussion with German far-right leader on X
The live chat with the AfD’s chancellor candidate is proposed as Germany’s political leaders accuse the tech billionaire of election interference.
Germanyโs Olaf Scholz blasts back at Elon Musk in New Yearโs address
Billionaire’s animosity toward German mainstream politicians and his affection for the AfD could bode poorly for Germany’s next government.
37 words that sum up a wild 2024 in British politics
From Elon to sausages, it’s been … a lot.
2024 by the numbers โ from victims of war to a warming planet
Out with the old, in with the … old. Familiar trends characterized a year of elections and bloodshed.
Olaf Scholz: German election โwill not be decided by social media ownersโ
Chancellorโs New Yearโs Eve address follows Elon Muskโs endorsement of German far-right party AfD on XThe German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has urged voters not to let the โowners of social media channelsโ decide next yearโs snap election, after Elon Mus…
POLITICOโs most-read stories of 2024
Elections, war and porn: The stories that captured your attention over the past 12 months.
Europeโs slow but โinevitableโ march to allow assisted dying
The U.K. is the latest country to move toward legalizing the controversial yet evermore popular practice.
Germany’s president dissolves parliament, paving the way for snap election
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolved parliament and confirmed the expected date of February 23rd for an early general election after the collapse of Olaf Scholz’s government last month. Story by Camille Knight.
Germanyโs president dissolves parliament ahead of snap election
Formal step taken by Frank-Walter Steinmeier after chancellor Olaf Scholz lost confidence vote in BundestagGermanyโs president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has dissolved parliament and called a snap election on 23 February after Olaf Scholzโs fractious th…
Germany probing possible security lapses after Christmas market attack
Germany searched on Monday for answers on possible security lapses after a man drove his car into a Christmas market, killing at least five people and casting a renewed spotlight on security and immigration ahead of a snap election. Story by Liza Kami…
Magdeburg attack fuels disinformation and mistrust in German leaders
Ahead of the February election, governing politicians are under fire over security failures while the far right is attempting to capitalize.
Thereโs nothing very new about the new French government
The prime minister has failed his first big test. Despite another bunch of ministers, he hasnโt built a broader political base.
Magdeburg attack: Driver smashes car into crowd at German Christmas market
Chancellor Olaf Scholz describes “anxious hours.” Far-right AfD: “When will this madness end?”
Germany fortifies judiciary to thwart far-right attacks
Far-right AfD is polling in second place ahead of Germanyโs snap election set for Feb. 23.
Franceโs Le Pen: Macron is โdoneโย
“He has lost his grip on the international scene, and is at odds with everyone,” the far-right leader said.
Friedrich Merz lashes out at Greens as German election campaign starts
Politician rails against likely coalition partners even as he says he will bring back much-missed harmonyThe frontrunner to be Germanyโs next leader has pledged to end the infighting that has hobbled the countryโs politics in recent years, even as he r…
The Guardian view on political turmoil in Paris and Berlin: an ominous end to the year | Editorial
The European Unionโs two most powerful member states are plunged into introspection, as Donald Trump prepares to enter the White HouseAfter a brief weekend hiatus, action has resumed in the real-life political boxsets playing out in the EUโs two most i…
Le Pen salutes โpositiveโ talks after meeting new French PM Bayrou
The far-right leader took down the last prime minister. But she now appears willing to work with the next one.
Germanyโs Scholz nears his endgame. Hereโs whatโs going to happen.
A confidence vote set for Monday will almost certainly lead to an early election on Feb. 23.
Le Penโs dilemma in France: Stateswoman or saboteur?
France’s far-right leader must decide whether to wreck things or play nice โ while keeping the 2027 presidential election firmly in her sights.
Macron working to strip far right of influence on next French government
The French president is trying to limit the far-right National Rally’s influence and find a way forward with the center left, but a path ahead remains elusive.
German far-right AfD party taps Alice Weidel as chancellor candidate
The anti-immigrant party is currently polling second as Germany prepares for an election in February.
Ukraine war briefing: Scholz confident of developing โjoint strategyโ on Ukraine with Trump
German chancellor wants Ukraineโs sovereignty guarantees but rules out providing Kyiv with long-range Taurus missiles. What we know on day 1,018The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, is confident he and the US president-elect, Donald Trump, will be able t…
Terror attack on Bavarian Christmas market foiled by police
The 37-year-old suspect from Iraq had allegedly photographed the market in Augsburg and discussed driving a car through it.
โฌ36B tax fraud scandal returns to haunt Germanyโs Scholz
Beleaguered leader to be grilled over his dealings with one of the banks connected to the “cum-ex” affair.
French government collapse turns the screws on Macron
Prime Minister Michel Barnier will leave office having servedย the shortest prime ministerial term in modern French history.
Deutsche Bank chief calls for relief on regulation and โrethinkโ on tax
Call comes amid discontent with Germanyโs ruling coalition ahead of snap election in February
The French prime minister will likely fall this week. So then what?ย
Only a miracle can save Barnier. There doesn’t seem to be one on the horizon.ย
Icelandโs opposition Social Democrats take lead in snap election
The issues of immigration, energy policy and the economy played a central role in the campaign.
Icelanders head to the polls in snap election
Icelanders are heading to the polls after their three-party coalition government collapsed last month. The election comes amid rising concerns over the economy, housing, and immigration, with voters hoping for change. Guillaume Gougeon reports.
Germanyโs liberals descend into crisis as โD-Dayโ paper reveals plot to blow up coalition
The FDP’s general secretary resigned on Friday following revelations that the party planned an “open field battle” against coalition partners.
Ireland votes in closely fought general election
Polls open across the country on Friday. Fine Gael, whose leader Simon Harris called a snap election earlier this month, held a solid lead entering the campaign. Harris replaced his predecessor, Leo Varadkar, in April.
French political crisis: Everything you need to know
The collapse of Barnier’s government could plunge the eurozone into turmoil.
German spy chief: Russia could test NATO loyalty to โmutual defenseโ clause
Russiaโs military will be in a position to launch an attack against NATO by the end of the decade, Germanyโs foreign intelligence chief said.
The Guardian view on Irelandโs general election: as always, this contest matters for Britain too | Editorial
Simon Harris has called a vote for 29 November because he is leading in the polls. But the current economic boom masks serious inequalitiesIrelandโs imminent general election on 29 November has aroused little interest in Britain. Many here may not even…
Share your thoughts about the collape of the German coalition government and the snap election
Weโre interested to hear how people feel about the collapse of German chancellor Olaf Scholzโs government, and which issues may decide their vote at the general electionThe collapse of Germanyโs three-party ruling coalition has triggered a snap electio…
Japanโs PM appears to doze off while winning crucial reelection vote
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba promises to boost defense spending and wages after winning a parliamentary run-off vote to retain power.
Germanyโs snap election to take place on Feb. 23
The new date represents a compromise between center-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz and conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz.
The Guardian view on Germanyโs collapsed coalition: politics in the shadow of Donald Trump | Editorial
A snap election triggered by Olaf Scholz will be crucial in shaping Europeโs response to last weekโs events in the USSpying a possible silver lining to events in the US, some commentators have speculated that the re-election of Donald Trump may at leas…
Green partyโs Robert Habeck to run for German chancellor
Vice-chancellor and economy minister will be partyโs candidate for top job in next yearโs snap election
Germanyโs Merz urges Scholz to drastically move up timeline for snap election
Friedrich Merz, the leader of the center-right Christian Democrats and the probable next chancellor, demands a vote of confidence within days.
The real winners of the US election: Europeโs populist right-wing wreckersย
Trumpโs allies in Europe hope the president-elect will quickly end the war in Ukraine โ and boost their standing on the EU stage.
Ruling German government coalition collapses after chancellor Scholz fires finance minister โ video
Germany’s ruling coalition collapsed after the chancellor, Olaf Scholz, sacked his finance minister and paved the way for a snap election โ triggering political chaos in Europe’s largest economy just hours after Donald Trump won the US presidential ele…
Ireland faces snap election on Nov. 29
Prime Minister Simon Harris seeks to exploit Sinn Fรฉinโs weakness.
To Ursula, with love: Paris sends Brussels the anti-Breton
Franceโs incoming commissioner is a Macron loyalist who prefers backroom dealing to attention-grabbing stunts.
Battle of Franceโs ex-PMs ends in truce as Macronโs party narrowly avoids unity crisis
รlisabeth Borne and Gabriel Attal reach an agreement handing the party over to the latter.
Radical pro-Russian party challenges Bulgarian snap election results
The party missed out on seats in parliament by just 30 votes.
UK open to restarting China trade talks
JETCO forum was frozen by the Conservatives amid Beijingโs crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
Borissov wins Bulgarian elections as vote in favour of populists surge
In todayโs edition of the Capitals, find out more about the outcome of the snap election in Bulgaria, hackers breaching sensitive government data in Italy, and so much more.ย
Japan faces political instability as ruling coalition loses majority
New PM Shigeru Ishibaโs gamble on a snap election backfires, leaving him facing a fight to retain power.
Barnier and Macron on collision course over fixing Franceโs finances
French president appears to fundamentally disagree with the course of budget discipline advocated by his country’s prime minister.
Macron, hard-line interior minister agree to disagree on immigration crackdown after first meeting
The meeting was described as an opportunity to share perspectives โ without the goal of reaching an agreement.
UKโs David Lammy is in China โ just donโt call it a reset
The new Labour government’s attitude toward Beijing seems in contrast to that of its Conservative predecessors.
Crisis deepens for Irelandโs scandal-hit Sinn Fรฉin
The Irish republicans had hoped to lead the next government in Dublin โ but a surge in scandals and infighting are undermining its ambitions.
Iceland on track for snap election as government falls
Iceland’s PM said there is “no other option” after coalition’s policy disagreements.
Icelandโs PM calls November snap election as coalition collapses
Government disbanded due to disagreements on issues including foreign policy and asylum seekers, says Bjarni BenediktssonIcelandโs three-party coalition government, in power since November 2021, collapsed on Sunday due to disagreements on policy issues…
French government faces first major test over deep budget cuts
Bill aims to find โฌ60bn to plug deficit but opposition parties could demand concessions and even topple the administration The new French government is facing its first major test in a hostile parliament as it tries to push through a budget of spending…
The rise and fall of Macronomics
Macron was once seen a paragon of good economic management, but his opponents now accuse him of ruining France’s finances.
Everyone Boris Johnson throws under the bus to sell his new book
The former prime minister has axes to grind with political foes, world leaders โ and even the Great British public.
Japanโs new government falls into Kate Middleton trap
Chief Cabinet secretary confirmed “minor editing was doneโ to an official pic.
The Conservative Party conference was weirdly upbeat
The champagne was flowing โ but are the Tories in a state of collective denial?
Barnier lays out a survival plan for France โฆ and himself
The former Brexit negotiator tried to appeal to both sides of the political aisle during his first major policy speech.
The Guardian view on Austriaโs election: yet another wake-up call | Editorial
The Freedom partyโs first ever victory is the latest in a string of far-right triumphs in Europe. Business as usual is not a credible mainstream responseThe sequence has become dismally familiar. Piling up votes in provincial and rural areas at the exp…
7 wildest moments at Conservative Party conferenceย
Freed from the burden of high office, the party went slightly mad during its annual get-together.
5 things to watch for in French PM Barnierโs first parliamentary address
What he says will affect everyone from French pensioners to European commissioners.
Macronโs had a case of the blues since naming his new PM
The French president’s grip on power has waned since he called a snap election this summer.
MEP Pascal Canfin quits Macronโs party leadership over โprofound disagreementโ
The lawmaker says he’s not happy with where the party is heading domestically.
Apple mega-bucks give Ireland a โฌ14 billion dilemma
More billions are on the way from the tech giant as the Irish hoover up multinational taxes at a breakneck pace โ but struggle to build what this booming nation needs.
Can French PM Barnier outlive Liz Truss and the lettuce?
France has a new government, but it may not last long.
Macronโs old guard spooked by new governmentโs rightward shift
New ministers’ stances on immigration and social issues appear to break with some of their predecessors’ worldview.
Germanyโs Scholz risks Bidenโs fate
If the chancellor’s SPD party loses a crucial regional election to the far right on Sunday, it could lead to his ouster from the top spot.
New French government deal struck, PM Barnier says
The agreement still must be approved by French President Emmanuel Macron.
How Macron dodged political death โฆ for now
He threw his allies under the bus.
Liz Truss lettuce songs and jet ski stunts: Britainโs third party is living its best life
Jubilant Liberal Democrats are celebrating after years in the political wilderness โ but can it last?
France mourns its loss of influence in von der Leyenโs new Commission
After Thierry Breton’s resignation, French officials are bemoaning a loss of influence in Brussels.
Ursula von der Leyen tightens grip before unveiling her team
Thierry Breton is out of the way, ridding the European Commission chief of her fiercest internal critic.
โAnyone but himโ: Inside Ursula von der Leyenโs long breakup with Thierry Breton
The split between the Commission president and her biggest internal critic had been brewing for years.
The Guardian view on Franceโs political crisis: Barnier is not a real fix for Macronโs mess | Editorial
Few are celebrating the appointment of the EUโs Brexit negotiator as the countryโs new prime ministerMichel Barnier, Franceโs new conservative prime minister, has yet to appoint a government, still less lay out its agenda. But three-quarters of voters …
French PM Barnier promises โfiscal fairnessโ will help keep debt under control
The new prime minister insisted he did not want to raise France’s โ already considerable โย debt levels.
In picking Barnier, Macron has put his โ and Franceโs โ fate in Le Penโs hands | Paul Taylor
After months of dithering, the French presidentโs choice of prime minister leaves him more vulnerable than everWaiting two months for a new prime minister may be standard procedure for the Belgians, Dutch, Germans or Italians, inured to extended coalit…
Far right is kingmaker in France following Michel Barnier nomination
The survival of France’s next government depends on Marine Le Pen’s indulgence.
What is a French prime ministerโs job anyway?
The answer depends on when you ask.
Michel Barnier: Everything you need to know about the new French PMโs conservative politics
The new French prime minister has embraced conservative stances at home which could net him tacit support from the far right.
Michel Barnier named as new prime minister of France
Emmanuel Macron tasks former EU Brexit negotiator with forming government after weeks of political deadlockEmmanuel Macron has named Michel Barnier, the European Unionโs former Brexit negotiator, as the new prime minister of France, local media have re…
Macron eyes Michel Barnier for prime minister
The French president seeks to form a new government two months after a snap election defeat.