Spitzenkandidat

2024 is dead, long live 2025

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After the two decades that seem to have passed since the beginning of January, 2024 is finally coming to an end.

Fraud busters investigate European Parliamentโ€™s most powerful group

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Police zero in on European Peopleโ€™s Party chief Manfred Weberโ€™s 2019 bid for Commission president.

Luxembourg sends senior centre-right MEP, disapproves socialist Spitzenkandidat

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Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden (CSV-EPP) picked centre-right MEP Christophe Hansen as Commissioner over the EU socialistsโ€™ lead candidate for the EU Commission presidency, Nicolas Schmit.

Bundestag 2025: Wer in Sachsen in den Wahlkampf zieht

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In Sachsen war die AfD 2021 stรคrkste Kraft. Jetzt beschรคftigt das Bundesland die bevorstehenden Landtagswahlen im September. Die CDU liegt knapp vor der AfD โ€” aber das kรถnnte sich noch รคndern.

Bundestag 2025: Wer in Nordrhein-Westfalen in den Wahlkampf zieht

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Wer aus dem bevรถlkerungsreichstem Bundesland kommt, kann Kanzler, heiรŸt es. Das galt fรผr Konrad Adenauer โ€” wird es auch fรผr den nรคchsten Bundeskanzler gelten?”

Bundestag 2025: Wer in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in den Wahlkampf zieht

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In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern laufen bereits die Vorbereitungen auf die Bundestagswahl. Wer fรผr welche Partei an den Start geht, steht grรถรŸtenteils auch schon fest.

Bundestag 2025: Wer in Schleswig-Holstein in den Wahlkampf zieht

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Das nรถrdlichste Bundesland gilt als Wahlorakel: Wer Pinneberg gewinnt, stellt im Bund den Kanzler. Das gilt seit den 50ern.

How to speak EP

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Your guide to the jargon that’s everywhere in Brussels.

Ursula von der Leyen โ€˜hates the European Parliamentโ€™ย 

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Departing Dutch MEP Sophie in โ€˜t Veld says the Commission president has kowtowed to national governments and played politics with the rule of law.

The secret, unwritten rules of the EUโ€™s top jobs carve-up

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Millions of people vote in a European election and then six people work out a deal on the EUโ€™s next leadership.

Manfred Weber has already won the European Parliament election. Can he handle what comes next?

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Ursula von der Leyen needs her frenemyโ€™s support to secure another term as European Commission president. Will he deliver?

2024 European election: Big day of voting as millions head to the polls โ€”ย live updates

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Follow every twist and turn of the election with POLITICO’s rolling coverage.

An Americanโ€™s guide to the EU election

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The EU is complicated, so let’s break it down for our cousins across the Atlantic.

Macron ally slams French EPP for โ€˜attackingโ€™ von der Leyen

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Clรฉment Beaune’s comments suggest that Paris is open to extending the German Commission president’s time in Brussels.

All politics is local: What the EU election is actually about in each country

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When EU voters head to the polls later this week, one thing is certain: Almost none of them will be thinking of Europe when they cast their ballot.ย  A plethora of studies โ€” and sky-high abstention rates โ€” show that most of the blocโ€™s citizens neither understand nor care about the European Parliament vote. Because [โ€ฆ]

Europas Rechte hรคlt Trump die Treue

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Das Briefing dazu, wie sich Entscheidungen in Brรผssel auf Sie auswirken. Mit dem Wissen des grรถรŸten Newsrooms der europรคischen Hauptstadt. Im Browser anzeigen oder hier anhรถren von JรœRGEN KLร–CKNER Mit LAURA HรœLSEMANN und JULIUS BRINKMANN DIE TOP-THEMEN โ€” NATO-Treffen endet: Stoltenberg hat die Mitgliedslรคnder des Verteidigungsbรผndnisses dazu aufgerufen, sich auf jรคhrliche Militรคrhilfen fรผr die Ukraine [โ€ฆ]

Ukraine-Angriff auf Russland auch mit westlichen Waffen?

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Das Briefing dazu, wie sich Entscheidungen in Brรผssel auf Sie auswirken. Mit dem Wissen des grรถรŸten Newsrooms der europรคischen Hauptstadt. Im Browser anzeigen oder hier anhรถren von JรœRGEN KLร–CKNER mit JULIUS BRINKMANN und LAURA HรœLSEMANN DIE TOP-THEMEN โ€” Russiagate weitet sich aus: Ermittler stรผrmten heute Bรผros im Europรคischen Parlament. Unter Verdacht steht ein frรผherer Mitarbeiter [โ€ฆ]

Macron auf Konfrontationskurs

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Das Briefing dazu, wie sich Entscheidungen in Brรผssel auf Sie auswirken. Mit dem Wissen des grรถรŸten Newsrooms der europรคischen Hauptstadt. Im Browser anzeigen oder hier anhรถren von JรœRGEN KLร–CKNER Mit LAURA HรœLSEMANN und JULIUS BRINKMANN DIE TOP-THEMEN โ€” Agent Provocateur: Frankreichs Prรคsident kommt mit zwei โ€” aus hiesiger Sicht โ€” ungemรผtlichen Themen nach Deutschland. Es [โ€ฆ]

Palรคstina-eklat in Europa

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Das Briefing dazu, wie sich Entscheidungen in Brรผssel auf Sie auswirken. Mit dem Wissen des grรถรŸten Newsrooms der europรคischen Hauptstadt. Im Browser anzeigen oder hier anhรถren von JรœRGEN KLร–CKNER Mit JULIUS BRINKMANN und LAURA HรœLSEMANN DIE TOP-THEMEN โ€” Eklat in Europa: Drei Lรคnder haben Palรคstina als Staat anerkannt. Israel rief darauf die Botschafter in Irland [โ€ฆ]

Far right cries censorship after exclusion from EU election debateย 

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European Broadcasting Union says Anders Vistisen cannot debate because the far right does not endorse the Spitzenkandidat system.

Socialists to Ursula von der Leyenโ€™s conservatives: Donโ€™t work with far right

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Call follows European Commission chief’s declaration she is open to a deal with the right-wing ECR group.

Debate time! EU lead candidates go head-to-head

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It was a rare chance to see all the leading candidates from Europeโ€™s main political parties go head-to-head in a presidential-style debate to become the next head of the European Commission. With just over a month to go until the European Parliament election, eight politicians met in the Dutch city of Maastricht and spent an [โ€ฆ]

ECR adopts manifesto but snubs lead candidate pick amid rifts

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After delays, the hard-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) party approved their manifesto for June’s EU elections on Tuesday (23 April), but failed to agree on a Spitzenkandidat amid emerging internal splits.

German MEP embroiled in China spy scandal refuses to step down

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Maximilian Krah insisted he “will remain” the far-right AfD’s lead candidate.

Rise of the far right keeps EU lawmakers up at night

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… unless they’re from the far right!

EUโ€™s hard right scrambling to stay relevant in election campaign

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With less than two months before Juneโ€™s EU elections, the hard right ECR party – possibly seeing the electoral train passing them by – has woken up and is edging closer towards appointing their own Spitzenkandidat, a concept they previously rejected.

EU liberals leader visits Kyiv as Ukraine takes spotlight in EU elections

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As all main EU political parties have placed Ukraine and defence at the fore of their EU elections campaign, the EU liberals chief and campaign leader, Valรฉrie Hayer, visited Kyiv on Tuesday (26 March) to show support and announce her plans to integrat…

Spitzenkandidaten and the upcoming EU elections [Advocacy Lab Content]

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On 20 March, at the ALDE Party Extraordinary Congress Brussels 2024, ALDE announced their chosen spitzenkandidat, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, who will be the new face of their party. This report looks at ALDE’s position and prospects in the EU’s pol…

TikTok curtails German far rightโ€™s top EU election candidate

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Alternative for Germany politician is accused of sharing conspiracy theories.

Renewโ€™s chief Valรฉrie Hayer confirmed as EU liberalsโ€™ lead candidateย 

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French President Emmanuel Macron’s closest ally in Brussels, Valรฉrie Hayer, has been confirmed as the third Spitzenkandidat of a Franco-German team that will guide the EU liberals throughout the campaign for June’s EU elections.

Romanian centrist lawmakers wonโ€™t back von der Leyen

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The head of Romania’s opposition party accuses the Commission president of downplaying Bucharest’s spending irregularities.

Europeโ€™s struggling socialists play defense

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Unknown lead candidate Nicolas Schmit tells POLITICO his side will win, despite far-right surge.

Von der Leyenโ€™s Ukraine flip-flop shows sheโ€™s walking an election tightrope

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An unprecedented election campaign period is set to become a challenge for the European Commission president.

Von der Leyenโ€™s a โ€˜fakeโ€™ lead candidate, says ex-EU Parliament chief

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Allowing von der Leyen to become Commission president without her being a Spitzenkandidat was “a mistake,” said Martin Schulz.

Von der Leyen wonโ€™t rule out working with right-wing parties

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European Commission president suggests openness to working with some right-wingers as she seeks a second term.

The Brief โ€“ VDL is synonym for โ€˜more of the sameโ€™

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyenโ€™s CDU party announced today her candidacy as the Spitzenkandidat for the European elections and, according to a well-choreographed scenario, the EPP congress in Bucharest on 6 March will make official …

Ursula von der Leyen announces bid for 2nd term

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One of Europe’s most powerful leaders is poised for another 5 years running the European Commission.

Europeโ€™s desperate, and unfulfilled, longing for Taylor Swiftโ€™s approval

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All of Europe’s ills would be solved if the world’s biggest pop star decides to speak out.

The night Orbรกn sacrificed Hungaryโ€™s president and his EU top gun to protect his party

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Hungarian leader took swift action to contain a domestic scandal, but the ruthlessness against two loyalists raises eyebrows even among supporters.

Socialist lead candidate avoids attack on von der Leyen

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Luxembourg’s Nicolas Schmit defends legacy of current European Commission.

If you can sue Madonna for being late, you can sue the EU for the same

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Should we expect something approaching decent timekeeping from the great and good?

Donโ€™t give up the day job! Von der Leyen sets out election campaign rules for commissioners (including herself)

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Document tells commissioners how to distinguish between their day jobs and campaigning for the European Parliament.

Von der Leyen expected to announce candidacy for second term on February 19

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European Commission president to make announcement at CDU meeting in Berlin, according to two people familiar with her plans.

Ursula von der Leyen under pressure to confirm reelection bid

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Announcement timing is source of contention for European Commission chief’s office.

Socialists pick Nicolas Schmit to lead EU election campaign

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Luxembourg’s relatively unknown EU commissioner is the only candidate to spearhead the center-left’s campaign.

Nicolas who? Socialists close in on challenger to take on Ursula von der Leyen

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Spanish and German backing clear field for Luxembourg’s Nicolas Schmit to become socialists’ top candidate in EU election.

Italian Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni will not run in EU election

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‘I will be back in my own country,’ economy czar tells POLITICO.

EU elections: Terry Reintke appointed lead candidate by German Greens

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The German Greens have selected Terry Reintke, co-president of the Greens in the EU Parliament and the group’s likely European spitzenkandidat, to lead their list for next June’s EU elections.

Calls for a Gaza cease-fire divide Europeโ€™s Socialistsย 

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Berlin and Madrid clinch agreement to urge โ€˜humanitarian pausesโ€™ โ€” but other member parties refuse to sign up.

Europรฉennes : les dรฉboires dโ€™Atos parasitent les ambitions de Thierry Breton

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Les difficultรฉs d’Atos pourraient contrarier les projets de l’ambitieux commissaire europรฉen.

Why Europeโ€™s next president may be made in France

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Emmanuel Macron is weighing up who to back as his top candidate in the EU elections. Will Thierry Breton get the nod?

Greens slam von der Leyen over plan to not run as MEP

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European Greens’ leaders criticize ‘an unacceptable denial of European democracy.’

Von der Leyen wonโ€™t stand as MEP candidate in shot at second term

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The European Commission president is sidestepping a campaign to be a EU lawmaker while remaining her party’s lead candidate.

Von der Leyen to soothe EPP concerns in annual address

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Commission president will also welcome a mystery guest to the European Parliament in her State of the European Union speech.

Von der Leyenโ€™s non-campaign kicks off

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The European Commission president will likely leave much unsaid in her State of the Union address โ€” including whether or not she plans to stand for another term.

Europe is under attack โ€” by wolves and deadly insects

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Yevgeny Prigozhin is dead. The wolves of Europe are next.

โ€˜Nice try:โ€™ Ursula von der Leyen stays mute on second term as Commission president

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Von der Leyen hasn’t said if she wants to remain as Commission chief until 2029.

Von der Leyen vs. Weber: The fight for Europeโ€™s conservative soul

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With the center-right set to win EU elections next year, the winner stands to shape the future of Europe for years to come.

Dutch MEP Sophie in โ€˜t Veld โ€˜most likelyโ€™ wonโ€™t run in 2024

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The reason? Volt, the political party she just joined, has rejected her candidacy for the EU election.

Liberals divided over 2024 EU election campaign strategy

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Centrists are in knots over whether to field one or several candidates to be the faces of their 2024 campaign.

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