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.
Social Democratic Party
Germanyโs Baerbock hammers own government for faltering on Ukraine aid
“Germany as a whole isnโt currently seen as a driving force for peace policy in Europe, and honestly that pains me,” Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told POLITICO.
Germanyโs Scholz ignites fierce debate by making Ukraine aid contingent on borrowing
Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s latest demand is likely to stall a โฌ3 billion aid package to the war-ravaged country as Russian forces continue their advance.
Sanna Marin requests restraining order against 35-year-old man
The former Finnish PM’s filing will be heard by a Helsinki court Friday morning.
Germanyโs Scholz under political pressure over โฌ3B Ukraine aid package
Beleaguered chancellor says more aid to Ukraine could mean cuts to pensions and local government funding.
French minister sees Germanyโs likely next chancellor as positive for EU
Christian Democrat Friedrich Merz hopes to revive talks on a broad trade deal with the U.S.
Populist incumbent sailing to victory in Croatia presidential election
Pro-Moscow candidate leads rival by almost 4:1 margin according to exit poll.
Olaf Scholz blocked โฌ3B Ukraine aid proposal, German report says
German chancellor grapples with Ukraine issue as election campaign heats up.
Russian bots boosted NATO critic ahead of Croatian election, researchers say
โOne seemingly inauthentic Facebook account identified by researchers was found to post over 100 times a day,” the Centre for Information Resilience noted.
Romania sets new election date, but risks same result
Unless he is banned, ultranationalist Cฤlin Georgescu seems very much in the race for a presidential rerun in May.
Far-right Herbert Kickl gets his chance to form government in Austria
Anti-immigrant and Russia-friendly FPร is now in pole position to lead in Vienna.
Austrian Chancellor Nehammerย to resign after coalition talks collapse
The breakdown of the negotiations strengthens the hand of the far-right Freedom Party, which won Septemberโs election but has been blocked from forming a government.
Olaf Scholz chides Elon Musk: โDonโt feed the trollโ
German chancellor answers X owner’s attacks in newspaper interview with German weekly Stern.
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.
Austriaโs coalition talks in disarray as parties fail to unite against far right
Austria’s far-right Freedom Party won the September election but has been shut out of government negotiations.
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.
Croatiaโs firebrand president dominates election, poised for second term
Often compared to Donald Trump, Zoran Milanoviฤ secured a substantial victory in the first round of the country’s presidential election. That should worry the EU.
Croatia set to reelect its โDonald Trumpโ
Zoran Milanoviฤ, a critic of the EU and NATO, is expected to come in first in Sundayโs presidential election.
German president fires starting gun for Feb. 23 election
Dissolving of parliament sets the stage for what could be Germanyโs sharpest swerve to the right in decades.
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.
How Putin won the Romanian election
Voters on NATOโs eastern flank were already ripe for Moscowโs manipulation, after decadesย ofย misrule.
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.
EU to Germany: Your lack of investment isnโt our fault
European economy chief says Berlin’s debt rules constrain spending more than the EU’s own restrictions.
How you gonna fix Germany?
Ahead of the Feb. 23 election, German parties have wildly different plans to repair the country’s sputtering economy.
Germanyโs Scholz loses historic confidence vote
Lawmakers paved the way for an early election on Feb. 23 by withdrawing their confidence in the center-left chancellor.
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.
Europeโs Syrians shaken by debate over repatriation to their war-ravaged homeland
For many Syrian refugees in Europe, joy at the fall of Assad has been tempered by immediate calls for them to go home.
Romanian pro-European parties agree to form coalition government
Parties also considering supporting single candidate in re-run of annulled presidential electionRomaniaโs pro-EU parties have committed to forming a coalition government and, in a concerted attempt to head off a resurgent far right, could field a singl…
Swedenโs Social Democrats struggle in traditional blue-collar heartlands
Like other socialist parties in Europe, Sweden’s center left has lost ground to the far right. Itโs hoping to turn that around.
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.
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.
Icelandโs Social Democratic party leader tapped to form new government
Her next challenge is now to form a 32-seat majority with other parties.
Germanyโs Scholz vows to โstand byโ Kyiv as Ukraine debate rages at home
The chancellor drew criticism after attacking his conservative election opponent as ‘unpredictable’ in dealing with nuclear-armed Russia.
Social Democratic Party set to win Romania’s parliamentary election
Social Democratic Party set to win Romania’s parliamentary election
Exit poll: Romaniaโs Social Democrats lead in parliamentary vote, but hard-right momentum builds
Although the center left came first, the success of three far-right parties could be significant before the Dec. 8 second round of the presidential election.
Romania votes in parliamentary election amid claims of Russian interference
Success in presidential poll of far-right populist Cฤlin Georgescu has triggered nightly protests across countryVoting is under way in parliamentary elections in Romania, with voters still unsure whether the shock result of last weekโs presidential fir…
In Romania, ‘no one knew anything’ about Calin Georgescu, winner of first round of presidential elections
Draganesti, adorned with European flags and a stronghold of the Social Democratic Party, cast 37% of its votes on Sunday for the pro-Russian far-right candidate Calin Georgescu in the first round of the presidential election. On December 8, this outsid…
Sinn Fรฉinโs McDonald tops Dublin vote โ followed by a gangland boss
Irelandโs unfolding election results leave Mary Lou McDonald stuck in opposition โ likely alongside criminal newcomer Gerry “The Monk” Hutch.
Election annulment risks pouring fuel on Romaniaโs political blaze
Many Romanians are suspicious of the country’s traditional old parties and fear they are trying to manipulate a rerun.
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.
Defenders of the Romanian nation and all Europeans
A strong European Union is built on protecting each of its membersโ
interests equally. The AUR is ready to collaborate.
SPD lawmakers call for Pistorius as chancellor candidate: Spiegel
SPD members of the Bundestag have joined local and regional politicians in voicing doubts over Scholz’s chances, the German newspaper reported.
Lithuanians protest as party leader accused of antisemitism prepares to join government
The controversial coalition sparks criticism at home and abroad.
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.
Germany may hold election sooner than planned, Scholz says
Asked about the prospect of working with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, the Chancellor said: “We dance with whomever is in the room.”
Fiscal policy was a squabble too far for German coalitionโs odd throuple
At times it felt like the three parties thought they were governing three completely different countriesGermanyโs coalition government, which collapsed in dramatic fashion on Wednesday night after almost three years in power, was always an odd throuple…
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.
Trump win will force Europe to step up defense efforts, say France and Germany
French Armed Forces Minister Sรฉbastien Lecornu and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius were keen to highlight the Continent’s increased efforts after meeting in Paris.
German government coalition collapses as Scholz sacks Finance Minister Lindner
Christian Lindner’s liberals are making demands for economic reforms that are hard for other coalition members to accept.
German governmentโs fate to be decided in shadow of Trump win
Leaders of the three ruling parties are expected to decide on the coalition’s future in a meeting in Berlin late Wednesday.
German government faces make-or-break moment in shadow of US election
A Wednesday meeting will decide whether a common plan can be hammered out for the 2025 budget gap and the country’s ailing economy.
โBrutalโ results for VW turn political in Germany
Germany’s top carmaker faces a financial bloodbath โ and that means trouble for the government.
Putin ally Gerhard Schrรถder heads for reconciliation with German social democrats
Top SPD figure signals dรฉtente with Russia-friendly former chancellor of Germany.
Romaniaโs election extravaganza awakens ghosts of fascist past
A far-right former football hooligan is polling strongly in the presidential race in a mega voting year for Romanians.
Lithuaniaโs top diplomat Landsbergis to step away from politics after election defeat
The FM has vocally supported Ukraine’s resistance against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion.
Lithuanian election winner promises to bolster defence to counter Russia threat
Social Democrat leader says spending should be no less than partyโs election manifesto pledge of 3.5% of GDPLithuaniaโs opposition Social Democratic party has promised to spend โas much money as is neededโ on security and defence to counter a potential…
Lithuaniaโs Social Democrats win parliamentary election
Opposition victory is unlikely to change the country’s pro-West and anti-Russia direction, however.
A Trump win could save Germanyโs ailing coalition
As Scholzโs government faces a series of make-or-break decisions, the U.S. election may determine how much longer Germany’s divided coalition endures.
Germanyโs economy goes from bad to worse
Economy Minister Robert Habeck confirms that GDP is set to contract for the second year in a row.
Germanyโs social democrats name new top leader ahead of national election campaign
A new general secretary will be tasked with reviving the popularity of the struggling leftist party.
Key SPD leader resigns, citing health problems
The resignation of the party’s general secretary is the latest challenge for Germany’s ailing SPD.
As the far right celebrates election success in Austria, this much is clear. It must be denied power | Farid Hafez
Though the Freedom party has won the biggest share of the vote, other parties can and should form alliances to sideline itFor the last few years the radical right Freedom party of Austria (FPร) has dominated opinion polls, outpacing historically mainst…
Austrian parties to begin talks on forming government after far-right win
Exit polls show Freedom partyโs election gains came thanks to strong support among younger votersEurope live โ latest updatesAustriaโs main parties are preparing to begin tense wrangling to form a government amid warnings about the countryโs democracy …
Orbรกn, Le Pen and Wilders are buzzing over Austriaโs far right winning election
Russia-friendly Austrian Freedom Party wins big in national vote triggering delight in conservative circles.
Far-right Freedom party to come first in Austrian election, first results suggest
Party projected to beat centre-right Peopleโs party by three points, surpassing expectationsPreliminary results from Austriaโs general election showed the far-right Freedom party (FPร) winning the most votes for the first time in the postwar period as …
Austrian election offers far right a springboard back to power
A win for the Freedom Party Sunday would expand Central Europe’s Putin-friendly bloc.
German Green leaders resign after dismal election results
The party is mired in “the deepest crisis” it has faced in a decade, one of its outgoing leaders said.
Europeโs financial ambitions slam into German opposition
Olaf Scholz’s hostility to UniCredit’s swoop on Commerzbank is a sign that pan-European integration will remain elusive.
The Guardian view on Olaf Scholzโs struggling coalition: running out of time | Editorial
A pyrrhic victory for social democrats in the latest state election offers scant consolation. The German far right continues to strengthenThe name of Germanyโs beleaguered chancellor, Olaf Scholz, was not on the ballot on Sunday, as his home state of B…
German coalition teeters in โautumn of decisionsโ
An election win for the chancellor’s Social Democrats is already being overshadowed by coalition infighting โย and questions over how long the government will last.
Franceโs new government meets with focus on the budget and immigration โ as it happened
New PM Michel Barnier says he will not increase the tax burden and says the number of migrants โhas become unbearableโGermanyโs Social Democratic party (SPD) narrowly won yesterdayโs election in Brandenburg โ and the party leadership is now downplaying…
‘It looks like the Social Democratic party has actually won in Brandenburg’
‘It looks like the Social Democratic party has actually won in Brandenburg”, saidย FRANCE 24’s correspondent in Germany, Nick Holdsworth. “Exit polls have come out showing either 32 or 31% for the SPD (that’s the Socialists)ย and either 29% or 30% for …
Germanyโs social democrats prevail in east German stronghold
Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) narrowly beat the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the highly contested state elections of Brandenburg on Sunday (22 September), according to the exit polls, drawing in a record voting tu…
Social Democrats fend off AfD in crucial German state election, according to exit polls
Olaf Scholzโs SPD appears to have made late comeback after trailing far-right party throughout Brandenburg campaignEurope live โ latest updatesThe far-right Alternative fรผr Deutschland party appears to have narrowly missed securing victory in an electi…
Germany: exit polls show Olaf Scholzโs party narrowly beating far-right AfD in key state election โ as it happened
AfD calls its performance in Brandenburg โhuge successโ but Social Democratic party projected to take the leadVoting has ended in Brandenburg. Hereโs a first exit poll, from ARD:Social Democratic party (SPD): 31% Continue reading…
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.
Germanyโs rude economic awakeningย
After a spate of bad news involving giants like Volkswagen and Intel, the mood in Germany has turned gloomy.
Meet the commissioners: Class of 2024
Everything you need to know about Ursula von der Leyen’s team for her second term.
German conservative leader announces chancellor candidacy
Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union, appears likely to become Germany’s next chancellor based on current polling.
Germanyโs defense minister on Putinโs war threat: Yawn
Berlin hasnโt provided Ukraine with long-range missiles, citing the risk of war, but suggested it would be fine for the U.S. and U.K. to do so.
Germanyโs Scholz gets tough on border in bid to save political future
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s move to establish new border controls risks generating an EU rift.
EU leaders may envy Starmerโs stable majority โ Brexit’s part in it less so | Rafael Behr
Britain has already had its populist reckoning, in 2016. European states can take few lessons from our current calmTwo summers ago, when the Conservatives had just defenestrated Boris Johnson and were rallying around Liz Truss as his successor, there w…
5 takeaways from Germanyโs eastern elections
The far-right Alternative of Germany just keeps rising despite efforts to stop it.
German far right set for first major electoral victory since World War II
The far-right Alternative for Germany appeared set to win an election in the eastern German state of Thuringia and is running a close second in Saxony, according to initial forecasts.
The Guardian view on Germanyโs disaffected east: a growing crisis for Olaf Scholz | Editorial
The far-right AfD may win a state election for the first time this weekend. That should set alarm bells ringing in Berlin and beyondIn 2021, as Olaf Scholzโs Social Democratic party (SPD) unexpectedly triumphed in a knife-edge federal election, one of …
How to watch the eastern German elections like a pro
The far right and far left are expected to surge in Sunday’s state elections.
UKโs Starmer urges European left to confront far-right โsnake oilโ
British PM tells European progressives to focus on โdelivery and honestyโ or risk defeat by the far right.
UKโs Starmer lovebombs Scholz โ but no going back on Brexit
Joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shows Britain’s new leader working to heal Brexit wounds โ while walking a fine line back home.
Germanyโs slow-motion move away from China
Germany is starting to distance itself from China, but the auto industry isnโt so keen.
Keir Starmer learns how not to lead from Olaf Scholz
On a visit to Berlin, the new U.K. prime minister may look at his German counterpart as a cautionary tale.
Is Germanyโs rising superstar so far left sheโs far right?
Sahra Wagenknechtโs brand of โleft conservatismโ is upending German politics ahead of critical elections in the east.
German chancellor says Ukraine aid will continue despite savings push
“We will be Ukraine’s biggest national supporter in Europe,” Scholz told reporters during a visit to the Moldovan capital.
Von der Leyenโs new Commission: The names we know so far โ as Belgium misses deadline
Almost all the nominees have been put forward for the next top team of EU commissioners.
Defiant Finnish PM says heโd skip European summit againย
Petteri Orpo defends decision to choose family time over political duties this summer.
Why Germanyโs coalition is back at war (with itself)
Germany’s pro-business liberals have spent the summer trolling their center-left coalition partners, further enervating the already-weak government.
Germanyโs Habeck signals heโll run for chancellor
In an interview with POLITICO, Robert Habeck, Germany’s economy minister and a Greens leader, gives the strongest sign yet that he’ll run for the top job.
Kyivโs offensive gets a greenish light from its allies
Germany and other Ukraine allies have been reluctant to allow Ukraine to hit Russia, but the latest offensive may be shifting policy.
How even in death, Navalny helped Biden and Scholz get to a โyesโ on the prisoner swap
The leaders of the U.S. and Germany navigated competing goals and dicey politics as they discussed an exchange for the Russian opposition leader.
Germanyโs Scholz under friendly fire over US missile plan
โNot every weapon makes Germany immediately safer,โ says Rolf Mรผtzenich, the leader of the SPD faction in the Bundestag.
German court allows downsizing of massive parliament
The ruling makes around 100 fewer seats available in next yearโs national election.