Outside the hall, Bettina, the mother of eight, took a drag from her cigarette and said that, due to her upbringing in East Germany, she was skeptical of what the state told her. (She, like others interviewed in Magdeburg, refused to give her full name for fear of repercussions for making her views public.) “You … Read more
The choice In her campaign pitch on Monday night, she told the audience, which included people tuning in to the livestream online and via about 100 “watch parties” around the world, she wanted to fight for a strong Europe for the sake of her children and grandchildren. Von der Leyen portrayed herself as a unifying … Read more
Sánchez has spent the past five days secluded, meditating on his future. Supporters and opponents alike now await a decision that has the potential to radically alter Spain’s political landscape and significantly impact the distribution of the EU’s top jobs after June’s European Parliament election. ¡Quédate, Pedro! Sánchez’s announcement last Wednesday was motivated by news that … Read more
Dirk Wiese, a lawmaker belonging to Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), accused to the AfD of “feigned patriotism,” adding: “Maybe it’s not your own country that you love so much. Maybe it’s not dictatorships like China, Russia and Belarus.” The scathing criticism of the AfD comes after revelations on Wednesday that German … Read more
Yes, that’s right. The caterers. At least, that’s what one of the organizers told me, hinting that they had to resort to a last-minute change of plan to feed ravenous attendees. Food eventually did make it into the venue — smuggled, some whispered — but maybe it should have stayed outside. Lunch on both days … Read more
Several members of ID, including Vlaams Belang MEP Gerolf Annemans and far-right German MEP Maximilian Krah, attended the event in the European Parliament, hosted by the ECR. The conference demonstrated that the parties share much common ground when it comes to attacking the EU’s new migration deal, bashing bureaucrats, and pillorying the Green Deal as … Read more
“A big part of it is the arrogance of power,” the EU official continued. “She mistakenly thought she could get away with everything. So some smaller mistakes are now being used against her.” Like other officials quoted in this article, the EU official was granted anonymity to speak freely about the powerful German politician within the … Read more
PARIS — In the days after Hamas struck Israel, French President Emmanuel Macron made a national address vowing his “unreserved solidarity” with Israel. A month later, he swerved to redress the balance, organizing a conference to support Gaza, joining calls for a cease-fire. In the days and months following Israel’s ground operation and airstrikes, Macron … Read more
PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron’s pick to lead his party during June’s European election said she was “proud” of the bloc’s Green Deal despite the ire it has provoked among farmers across the continent. Speaking to POLITICO at an event in Paris, Valérie Hayer also said she was “appalled” by far-right rival Jordan Bardella’s … Read more
From football fields to the battlefield The 40-year-old Kapustin was born in Moscow. He moved with his parents at the age of 17 to Cologne, Germany, where he quickly established a fearsome reputation as a street-brawling white-power skinhead always up for a punch-up with everyone, especially Antifa activists. He tells POLITICO he was unhappy with … Read more
