Europe

Trusted news agencies tracing tendencies of democratisation and autocratisation globally

Local government21. January

Legal challenge to UK election delay plan to be heard next month

Academic freedom20. January

Dispute over UK VAT on private school fees goes to Court of Appeal

Equality before the law20. January

EU Commission plans to ban Huawei and ZTE from networks

Legislative constraints on the executive20. January

Wilders' anti-immigrant populist group fragments in Dutch parliament

For populist Geert Wilders, the losses suffered by his PVV party in the 2025 Dutch parliamentary elections were already a setback. Now comes the next one: Seven MPs have left the PVV parliamentary group. What does this mean for the formation of a government in the Netherlands?

DNA

Clean elections20. January

Kosovo orders full vote recount, as criminal probe launched

More than three weeks have passed since early elections were held in Kosovo. However, there is still no certified result, and this is likely to take even longer now, as all votes cast must be recounted.

AFP English

Clean elections20. January

Bulgaria's president announces resignation ahead of snap elections

The political crisis in Bulgaria is taking a new turn. As the country heads for early parliamentary elections, President Rumen Radev is stepping down – possibly to participate in these potential elections with a new party. What is the background to his move?

AFP English

Freedom of expression19. January

Austria's far-right FPÖ party launches 'patriotic' radio station

Right-wing populist parties have adopted one thing from Donald Trump: they often refer to the issues they want to promote using a combination of their country's name and the word ‘First’. Now there is a radio station called ‘Austria First’. What is behind this?

dpa

Clean elections19. January

Portuguese presidential election heads to run-off in February

Right-wing parties are gaining ground in many European countries. This is also true in Portugal, where a candidate from a right-wing populist party has now made it to the second round of the presidential election. How good are his chances of winning?

DNA

Clean Elections16. January

Bulgaria heads for another snap election after failed coalition talks

President Rumen Radev of Bulgaria will hold a snap election after leading parties refused a mandate to form a government following the previous administration's resignation amid widespread protests.

DNA

Legislative constraints on the executive16. January

Czech prime minister Babiš' government wins confidence vote

Populist billionaire and Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and his government have survived a vote of confidence in parliament after a lengthy debate and only a month after he swept to power.

DNA

Equal distrubution of resources15. January

EU Commission must face new no confidence vote

Farmers have been protesting for months over the EU-Mercosur deal which they say threatens local agriculture by creating unfair competition with cheaper South American imports. Now the EU Commission faces a no-confidence vote over the issue.

DNA

Equality before the law and individual liberties15. January

Denmark fails to agree with US over Greenland

Denmark has agreed to disagree with the United States over who should control Greenland in future while US President Donald Trump has reiterated his intention to take over the territory.

DNA

Equality before the law and individual liberties14. January

Ukraine's anti-corruption agents raid ex-PM Tymoshenko's party offices

Anti-corruption officials have raided the party offices of former Ukrainian prime minister Tymoshenko on vote-buying allegations. Tymoshenko termed the raid a "big PR stunt".

DNA

Freedom of expression and alternative sources of information14. January

Antifa members on trial in Germany for attacks on Budapest neo-Nazis

Five men and a woman are on trial in Dusseldorf for participating in an anti-fascist attack on a right-wing rally in Budapest in 2023. They are accused of attacking and injuring neo-Nazis in the Hungarian capital.

DNA

Political corruption13. January

Le Pen appeal trial opens in Paris with presidential bid at stake

French opposition leader Marine Le Pen is appealing a conviction for misusing EU funds. If upheld, Le Pen will be unable to stand in the 2027 presidential elections after making the run-off in 2017 and 2022.

DNA

Political corruption12. January

Former minister wanted by Poland granted asylum in Hungary

Zbigniew Ziobro, former Polish justice minister from the conservative PiS party has sought, and gotten, political asylum in Hungary as he faces charges of corruption at home.

DNA

Freedom of expression09. January

Right to protest in the UK facing "unprecedented crisis", critics say

In the United Kingdom, legal activists believe that the police are taking too frequent and too rigorous action against people who protest for or against something on the streets. The organisations Justice and Human Rights Watch are calling on politicians to review their approach.