Far right
The method to François Bayrou’s madness
By staking out such a maximalist position on the budget, the French PM may be giving himself room to negotiate a deal in the fall.
Former wunderkind Hołownia emerges as risky weak link for Tusk’s Polish coalition
EU court rejects Le Pen heirs’ appeal over misused expenses
Le Pen will topple French PM Bayrou if he sticks to Tuesday’s spending plan
Spanish police arrest 9 after weekend anti-migrant violence
Merz’s coalition plunged into crisis over deadlock on top court judge
French billionaire interrogated as part of probe into National Rally campaign financing
Von der Leyen vs. Weber: The EU’s climate fight reaches its endgame
The two EU conservative heavyweights’ growing divisions are coming to a head over a crucial 2040 climate target.
No-confidence vote: Is the EU Parliament about to break?
Ursula von der Leyen survived a motion of censure — but not without sustaining damage. In Strasbourg, tensions within her pro-European coalition burst into the open, with …
Von der Leyen: Growing anger, a no-confidence vote ― and trouble ahead
The Commission president is virtually certain to win Thursday’s motion against her, but her problems are just beginning.
ECHR rejects Le Pen’s emergency request to overturn French election ban
The court finds that the far-right presidential hopeful failed to prove her sentence posed “a real risk of irreparable harm” to the rights of voters.
Center-right MEPs block effort to blunt far-right control over climate law
A motion to fast-track the 2040 climate target through the European Parliament narrowly failed on Wednesday.
French police raid far-right National Rally’s headquarters
Prosecutors said they are investigating whether the party broke campaign finance laws.
The far right’s climate power grab
The Patriots for Europe, a new far-right force in Brussels, has won the right to lead the European Parliament’s 2040 climate target discussions.
Far-right climate delayers to lead Parliament talks on EU’s 2040 target
The Patriots for Europe group will be in charge of delicate negotiations on the next emissions-cutting milestone.
13 things we learned from von der Leyen’s EU no-confidence debate
From “Pfizergate” and the crumbling centrist coalition to splits on the right, there was plenty to be curious about in the European Parliament.
German far right’s strategy for seizing power: Foment US-style polarization
The approach appears to be inspired in part by Donald Trump’s attacks on the left in the United States.
Von der Leyen comes out fighting in no-confidence debate
Commission president faces a grilling from EU lawmakers in the first motion of censure for more than a decade.
Macron just regained the power to call a snap election. Will he dare do it again?
Despite a public denial of another election, his government is in such trouble that the French president seems tempted by another high-stakes gamble.
Poland’s Tusk tells far-right vigilantes on German border to go home
Polish PM is trying to reassert control over both the country’s borders and his increasingly unruly governing alliance.
Germany’s extreme right targets gay pride
Far-right extremists are organizing counter-demonstrations at Pride events across the country that claim to celebrate conventional families.
‘She’s pretty much alone’: The EU’s greenest leader fights the tide
The European Commission’s second-most powerful politician is isolated, beleaguered and under attack — just like the green policy she has vowed to protect.
Von der Leyen to face Parliament confidence vote next Thursday
First time since 2014 that a Commission president has been challenged by such a motion.
French government pours cold water on Le Pen’s mass air conditioning scheme
Marine Le Pen accused the government of forcing ordinary people to suffer the heat.
Feijóo’s now-or-never moment to lead Spain
The Socialists, stricken by scandals, may be forced to call a snap election, giving the conservative leader an opportunity that is unlikely to come again.
Belgium issues new travel advice for Hungary ahead of Budapest Pride
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán warned of “legal consequences” for those who defy the government’s ban on Pride parades.
Austrian chancellor sees anti-immigration ally in Merz
Austrian leaders say while they are leading the charge on Europe’s tough-on-migration turn, they believe they have a partner in the German chancellor.
Orbán vs. von der Leyen: Budapest Pride takes center stage in Europe’s culture war
Dozens of prominent European politicians are heading to Hungary for Pride, but the country’s conservative government insists the parade is illegal.
US State Department adviser wanted to boost French far-right leader Marine Le Pen
Samuel Samson, a political appointee, made the explosive recommendation as Le Pen eyes the presidency in 2027, two State Department officials tell POLITICO.
Von der Leyen will survive a no-confidence vote, but it won’t be painless
The political mainstream will prevent the Commission from falling, but even a doomed no-confidence vote would refocus attention on Pfizergate.
Macron’s succession problem
France’s recent elections all had surprises, but each time the contest’s basic structure was still foreseeable. That isn’t the case now.