EUROPEAN POLITICS

Nazis honored in EU country’s capital

3/17/2026, 3:53:58 PM

A march honoring Latvian soldiers who served in the Waffen SS, the military wing of Nazi Germany's SS, was held in Riga on March 16. The annual event is deeply controversial, drawing condemnation from Jewish groups, Russia and human rights organizations who see it as a glorification of Nazi collaboration. Latvia maintains that the soldiers were conscripted defenders of the nation against Soviet occupation, a framing widely disputed internationally.

Guerre au Moyen-Orient : Trump isolé ?

3/16/2026, 7:35:57 PM

As the war between Iran, Israel and the United States enters its third week, Donald Trump has threatened NATO allies with serious consequences if they refuse to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. Energy and commodity prices have surged since the conflict began. The European Union is now weighing the use of its Aspides naval mission to protect maritime traffic through the strategic waterway.

Municipales 2026 : scrutin après scrutin, une abstention toujours plus forte

3/16/2026, 6:04:28 PM

The first round of France's 2026 municipal elections saw abstention rates lower than the pandemic-affected 2020 vote, but still higher than in 2014. Analysts point to limited media coverage of the ballot as a contributing factor, though the figures reflect a deeper, long-term decline in civic participation. The trend raises fresh concerns about democratic engagement at the local level in France.

3/16/2026, 5:34:13 PM

European leaders are reluctant to assist the Trump administration in securing the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions with Iran, fearing entanglement in a broader conflict. However, they also recognize that standing aside entirely is not a viable option, given the strategic and economic stakes involved. The standoff reflects the deep uncertainty among Washington's allies about how to navigate a crisis that has no easy resolution.

Municipales 2026 : un outil contre les potentielles opérations de désinformation ciblant Wikipédia

3/16/2026, 5:21:30 PM

Ahead of France's 2026 municipal elections, whose second round is scheduled for March 22, a new tool has been developed to protect Wikipedia from potential disinformation campaigns. As one of the most consulted sources during election periods, the collaborative encyclopedia is considered a prime target for actors seeking to manipulate public opinion. The tool, linked directly to the Wikipedia platform, aims to detect and counter coordinated manipulation attempts.

EU losing credibility – ex-foreign policy chief

3/16/2026, 4:11:38 PM

Former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has warned that the European Union is undermining its own credibility by failing to push back against the United States. The veteran Spanish diplomat suggested the bloc must assert itself more forcefully on the international stage. His remarks reflect growing debate within Europe over the degree of strategic autonomy the EU should exercise in its relationship with Washington.

Municipales : nette poussée du RN, qui "tend la main" à droite pour le second tour

3/16/2026, 3:48:12 PM

France's far-right Rassemblement National (RN) celebrated what it called an "immense victory" in the first round of municipal elections, with incumbents re-elected, new towns captured, and numerous candidates advancing to the second round. Despite setbacks in major cities, the party is now reaching out to right-wing allies to secure alliances ahead of the decisive second round next week. Such coalitions are seen as essential to flip additional municipalities in the RN's favour.

Municipales en France : la percée de La France insoumise

3/16/2026, 3:47:27 PM

France's municipal elections saw a notable surge for the left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI) party and strong results for the far-right Rassemblement National. In the lead-up to the second round, left-wing parties including the Socialist Party began forging alliances with LFI — except in Marseille, where the incumbent left-wing mayor refused any deal with Mélenchon's movement.

Moreno carga contra el bloqueo de Vox y observa con optimismo su estancamiento en Castilla y León

3/16/2026, 3:30:51 PM

Andalusian regional president Juan Manuel Moreno has criticised Vox's political blocking tactics while expressing optimism after the far-right party stagnated in the Castilla y León elections. Spanish political parties are now drawing lessons from those results as they look ahead to the upcoming Andalusian elections, whose date has yet to be announced.

Hungary rules out compromises on Ukraine loan

3/16/2026, 2:40:51 PM

Hungary will continue blocking EU financial aid to Ukraine and new sanctions against Russia until oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline are restored, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has declared. Budapest shows no sign of softening its position, making any compromise contingent on the resumption of Russian oil deliveries. The standoff highlights Hungary's growing use of energy leverage to resist EU consensus on the Ukraine conflict.

El balance global de Extremadura, Aragón y Castilla y León: el PP tendrá que pactar con Vox, el partido que más avanza

3/16/2026, 1:09:55 PM

Regional elections in Extremadura, Aragón and Castilla y León point to a clear rightward shift in Spanish politics, with the conservative Partido Popular forced to seek coalition agreements with the far-right Vox, which posted the strongest gains of the night. On the weakened progressive side, voters rewarded candidates who presented themselves as locally rooted and politically independent. The results mark a significant realignment ahead of Spain's broader political calendar.

Feijóo presiona a Vox para llegar a un acuerdo: “Solo han puesto excusas y ya está bien”

3/16/2026, 12:46:36 PM

PP leader Alberto Feijóo has publicly pressured the far-right Vox party to reach a governing agreement, accusing them of stalling with excuses. He has left open the possibility of a coalition government with Vox, while Castilla y León's regional president Mañueco has expressed a preference for governing alone. The standoff highlights ongoing tensions within Spain's right-wing bloc over coalition-building.

The ‘rules-based order’ has failed in its mission – helping the West do whatever it wants

3/16/2026, 11:48:51 AM

An RT opinion piece argues that the Western-championed "rules-based international order" was never a neutral framework but a tool serving Western geopolitical interests. The article uses Ursula von der Leyen's recent acknowledgment that the EU can no longer rely on traditional international rules as a springboard to criticize the double standards embedded in that order. The author contends that the system is now unraveling precisely because it was built on selective enforcement benefiting the West.

El 76% de los españoles cree que la democracia se ha deteriorado mucho o bastante

3/16/2026, 11:46:02 AM

A large majority of Spaniards — 76% — believe that democracy in the country has deteriorated significantly, according to a new survey by the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS). The poll also found overwhelming public concern about rising levels of political violence and polarisation. The findings paint a stark picture of democratic disillusionment in Spain.

Alvise lastra a Vox, duplica a Podemos y fracasa de nuevo: “Al cuerno la partitocracia y los políticos parásitos”

3/16/2026, 11:02:56 AM

The far-right populist party "Se Acabó La Fiesta" (SALF), led by social media figure Alvise Pérez, finished eighth in Castilla y León's regional elections with over 17,000 votes, performing poorly despite its online following. The result hurt Vox, whose support was split, while SALF also outperformed Podemos twofold. Pérez used the occasion to rail against what he called "partyocracy and parasitic politicians."

Far-left and far-right gains throw French mainstream parties into a quandary

3/16/2026, 10:46:41 AM

The first round of French mayoral elections has produced strong showings from both far-left and far-right parties, leaving mainstream political forces facing difficult strategic choices. Traditional parties must now decide whether to form tactical alliances or stand firm ahead of the second round, with either option carrying significant risks. The results signal a continued fragmentation of the French political landscape and growing voter discontent with centrist parties.

‘Real threat’ of Polish EU exit – Tusk

3/16/2026, 10:38:30 AM

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned that a "Polexit" — Poland's exit from the European Union — is a real and present threat. Tusk directed blame at the country's right-wing forces and President Karol Nawrocki, accusing them of steering the country toward an EU departure. The warning signals a deepening political divide in Poland over its relationship with Brussels.

Peridis: el cortejo de Alfonso

3/16/2026, 4:30:01 AM

This is a political cartoon by Peridis published in El País on 16 March 2026, titled "Alfonso's Courtship." As an editorial illustration, it offers satirical commentary on current Spanish political affairs. The specific subject of the cartoon relates to a figure named Alfonso, likely a reference to a prominent political actor in Spain.

Islandia, Noruega y Suiza miran hacia la Unión Europea en medio del caos global

3/16/2026, 4:30:00 AM

Growing trade and political pressure from major powers like the United States is pushing EFTA countries closer to the European Union. Iceland is actively seeking to become the EU's 28th member state, while Norway remains undecided and Switzerland continues to favour bilateral agreements in line with its traditional neutrality.

Brussels wants ‘our sons to die for Ukraine’ – Orban

3/16/2026, 4:01:22 AM

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has sharply criticized the European Union, accusing Brussels of pulling EU member states deeper into the war in Ukraine. He vowed to protect Hungarians from being drawn into the conflict, framing the EU's stance as reckless and dangerous. The remarks reflect Hungary's ongoing resistance to the bloc's unified approach on the Ukraine war.

Los resultados de las elecciones en Castilla y León, calle a calle

3/15/2026, 11:26:41 PM

Spain's El País offers a detailed, census-section-by-census-section breakdown of the election results in Castilla y León, allowing readers to track voting patterns at a hyper-local level. The interactive tool covers the full vote count from Sunday's regional elections. It enables citizens to consult results street by street across the autonomous community.

NATO nation says it will not host nukes

3/15/2026, 8:20:36 PM

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store has declared that Norway will not host nuclear weapons on its territory, reaffirming a long-standing national policy. The statement comes amid ongoing debates within NATO about nuclear burden-sharing and deterrence posture in Europe. Norway, a founding NATO member, has historically rejected the stationing of nuclear arms on its soil in peacetime.

‘We will not be a Ukrainian colony’ – massive rally held in Budapest (VIDEO)

3/15/2026, 7:26:19 PM

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Budapest in a large-scale "Peace March" in support of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Protesters chanted slogans rejecting what they described as Hungarian subordination to Ukraine, reflecting Orbán's long-standing resistance to EU and NATO pressure over the Russia-Ukraine war. The rally underscores growing domestic support for Orbán's pro-neutrality stance amid mounting tensions with Western allies.

La soledad de Europa no es una condena, es una liberación

3/15/2026, 4:30:00 AM

As the United States and Russia push the world in a direction at odds with European values, the EU finds itself increasingly isolated on the global stage. Even figures like European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are seen as flirting with the new wave of imperialism rather than resisting it. The article argues that this solitude is not a weakness, but an opportunity for Europe to reassert itself as the last line of defence against an authoritarian and proto-fascist drift.

Prof. Schlevogt’s Compass No. 47: Viral war for narrative primacy – The Kanzler’s rhetoric of war

3/14/2026, 8:21:54 PM

A column by Professor Schlevogt examines how modern geopolitical conflicts are fought through narratives, focusing on the German Chancellor's war rhetoric. It argues that in the age of viral geopolitics, wars are increasingly spread through stories that demonize the enemy and sanctify violence. The piece critiques the weaponization of language in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war and European political discourse.

The EU never learns – except for the wrong lessons

3/13/2026, 5:51:16 PM

The EU's economic situation was already deteriorating before the shock of the Iran war, yet it continues to double down on backing the United States and Israel in the conflict. The commentary, published by RT, argues that Brussels is compounding its own vulnerabilities by aligning with a military campaign that risks further destabilising Europe's economy. The piece contends that the EU is incapable of drawing the right lessons from successive crises and is set to pay a steep economic price for its geopolitical choices.

EU divided on Iran war: Energy fears and security risks escalate across Europe

3/13/2026, 3:43:28 PM

European Union member states are increasingly divided over the ongoing military conflict involving Iran, as concerns mount over energy security and potential spillover risks. The prospect of disruptions to oil and gas supplies flowing through the Gulf has heightened economic anxieties across European capitals. Tehran has also issued warnings to Brussels, deepening diplomatic tensions between Iran and the EU.

EU rules on IDs of transgender citizens

3/13/2026, 3:33:16 PM

The European Court of Justice has ruled that EU member states are obligated to recognise the gender identity of transgender citizens in their official identity documents. The decision came in a case involving Bulgaria and sets a binding precedent across the bloc. The ruling reinforces LGBTQ+ rights protections within the EU's legal framework.

EU member calls for Kallas to go

3/13/2026, 10:54:39 AM

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has publicly called on the European Union to replace its top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, describing her as "insignificant." Fico's remarks represent a sharp rebuke of the EU's foreign policy leadership from within the bloc itself. The Slovak leader has previously been an outlier on EU positions, particularly regarding the war in Ukraine.

Sin etiquetas, control ni precaución: desregular los transgénicos en Europa comportaría graves riesgos

3/13/2026, 4:30:01 AM

A proposed EU law could allow genetically modified foods to reach consumers' plates without labelling or adequate safety controls, if the European Parliament fails to act. Critics warn that deregulating GMOs in Europe poses serious health and environmental risks. The legislation would represent a major rollback of the precautionary standards that have long governed food safety in the bloc.

Finnish spy chief admits there’s no evidence that Russia sabotaged Baltic cables

3/12/2026, 7:41:59 PM

Finland's intelligence chief has admitted there is no concrete evidence linking Russia to the sabotage of undersea cables in the Baltic Sea. The acknowledgement is notable given widespread Western suspicions that Moscow was responsible for the incidents. The admission raises fresh questions about the basis for earlier accusations directed at Russia.