Two new, anti-establishment parties (including one that grew out of the indignados movement — a kind of Spanish precedent to Occupy) took key seats in regional and municipal elections in yesterday’s Spanish election, which is a kind of dress rehearsal for the upcoming national elections.
Two new forces, anti-austerity Podemos and market-friendly Ciudadanos, made strong gains in Spain’s local and regional elections on Monday (25 May), overturning a two-party system that has seen the PP and rival Socialists alternate in power since the end of dictatorship 40 years ago.
What the Spanish media ignore about this new generation of activist-politicians is why they became famous enough to put on a ballot in the first place: their roots in prominent local struggles and their willingness to spearhead radical democratic participation.
Spain: No country for absolute majorities
Polish President Bronisław Komorowski conceded defeat to conservative challenger Andrzej Duda in Sunday’s presidential election, a result that will set alarm bells ringing for the government, which faces its own election race later this year.
Federica Mogherini said yesterday (25 May) that the results of the presidential election in Poland, the municipal elections in Spain, as well as the news from Greece and the UK, were a reason for the EU to re-think its project.
Andrzej Dudas’ victory in Poland’s presidential election on Sunday means that for the first time in five years a politician belonging to the nationalist conservative PiS party will occupy a leading position in Poland. Some commentators say that current president Bronisław Komorowski’s defeat was the result of his arrogance. Others point out that Duda owes his victory mainly to Poland’s young.
The EU’s Eastern Partnership summit begins in Riga today, Thursday. The Ukraine conflict is dominating the meeting and concrete results for the six partnership countries are not expected. The EU is leaving these countries in the lurch, some commentators criticise. Others show understanding for the EU’s hesitant stance, pointing out that it doesn’t want to cause the countries any moreproblems with Russia.
2016 EU budget: Cameron avoids an immediate headache
Denmark’s Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt on Wednesday (27 May) called a general election, to be held on 18 June. Recent polls suggest the election could become a true thriller.
Conservative opposition to same-sex unions in Germany is beginning to crumble after a referendum over the weekend legalised gay marriage in ultra-Catholic Ireland. EurActiv Germany reports.
Originally delivered as a public lecture at the University of Winchester on Thursday 9th October, 2014, John Denham reflects on the future of England and “Englishness.”
To the astonishment of both their supporters and opponents, the populist Finns Party are likely to be influential players in the new Finnish coalition government. What does this mean for Finland…and for Europe?
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