Brexit

Austria’s far right dangerously close to winning in presidential election showdown

The outcome of Austria’s presidential elections today will serve as a new gauge of the populist wave sweeping Western democracies, as a divided country’s decision at the voting booths could deliver the first freely elected far-right head of state in Europe since World War II.

 

Europe needs a Turkey strategy

The European Parliament has recommended to the European Commission a temporary freeze of accession negotiations with Turkey. The resolution was approved overwhelmingly with 479 "yes" votes. Some say that the resolution is all bark and no bite, and that the EP is just trying to be important. I don't think so.

"Region's EU accession process has changed"

Croatia's EU accession marked the end of one accession model, Regional Cooperation Council Secretary-General Goran Svilanovic said on Thursday.

The process is now completely different for Western Balkan states due to the circumstances in the region and the EU itself, such as the economic crisis, migration and Brexit, he said.

Checking the winds of populism in Europe

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's announcement on Nov. 20 that she intended to stand for a fourth term as chancellor in the forthcoming elections in September 2017 was welcomed many in Europe. If successful in the elections, Merkel will become one of the longest serving prime ministers in Germany, matching the records of Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl.

Pulling cards from a worn deck

Everything points to New Democracy winning the next general election, whenever this takes place. While there are no waves of passionate voters gravitating towards the conservative party, it is clear that the "they have to go" movement is growing, while there are no other major players to take advantage of the situation on the political stage at this point.

Infrastructure key to Britain's first post-Brexit budget: Gov't

Britain's first post-Brexit budget will focus on infrastructure and could spell an end to the previous government's rigid fiscal targets, according to a treasury statement released on Nov. 20.

The budget will be new finance minister Philip Hammond's first set-piece since replacing George Osborne who resigned following the June vote.

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