Displaying items by tag: Europe

Marine le Pen has been barred from public office for five years due to EU fund embezzlement, jeopardising her 2027 presidential hopes. Though her four-year jail sentence (two years suspended) is pending appeal, the disqualification took immediate effect. Her party, National Rally (RN), appeared stunned and unprepared, holding emergency talks. While an appeal might overturn the ban, odds remain slim. Party president Jordan Bardella would be a potential successor, but not everyone is a fan, partly because he is only 29. Despite the ruling, Le Pen defiantly vowed to fight on, decrying the court’s decision as political. In the short term, the RN may gain support as the verdict reinforces their anti-establishment stance. Long-term, losing the charismatic le Pen may weaken their appeal. Meanwhile, in parliament she may abandon any pretence of cooperation, potentially destabilising prime minister François Bayrou's fragile administration.

Vladimir Putin has ordered the conscription of 160,000 new troops between April and July, targeting citizens aged 18 to 30. The spring draft is part of Russia’s biannual conscription cycle; the previous autumn round brought in 133,000 recruits. The decree also confirms that those whose conscripted service has ended will be discharged. Last year, Russia raised the conscription age limit from 27 to 30, and now maintains a military force of approximately 2.4 million, with 1.5 million on active duty. Despite increasing manpower, Russia’s war in Ukraine continues to take a heavy toll. Western and Ukrainian estimates suggest over 768,000 Russian troops have been lost—killed, wounded, missing, or captured—since the invasion began in 2022. November 2023 marked a grim record with over 2,000 casualties in a single day. Ukraine, too, has suffered significant losses; Volodymyr Zelensky has recently acknowledged over 43,000 soldiers killed. The drawn-out conflict remains costly and unresolved, as both nations brace for further battles.

Russia and Ukraine have reached separate agreements with the USA on a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea, following peace talks in Saudi Arabia. Though indirect, the negotiations resulted in a promise to halt attacks on energy infrastructure and reopen critical trade routes.  Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the move but said it was too early to gauge its effectiveness. The Kremlin, however, tied the ceasefire to the lifting of sanctions on its food and fertiliser sectors, demanding restored access to financial systems and agricultural trade tools. The USA acknowledged it would support restoring Russia’s global market access in these areas, prompting Zelensky to criticise the move as a concession. Ukraine warned that any expansion of Russian naval activity beyond agreed zones would violate the ceasefire and justify defensive action. It is also calling for increased US support and sanctions if Russia fails to honour its commitments. Even as the negotiators were meeting, a Russian missile hit a hospital, injuring dozens: see Breaking news: France and the UK are at the forefront of a united European message of support for Ukraine: see

Protests have rocked Turkey for more than a week after the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key opposition figure and potential rival to President Erdogan. He was detained on corruption charges, which he and his supporters claim are politically motivated. Over 1,400 people have been detained since the unrest began, including students, journalists, and lawyers. Rights groups and the UN have condemned the mass arrests and police violence. Despite government bans, thousands have continued to gather in Istanbul, chanting against the government and demanding early elections. The Republican People's Party (CHP) is calling for transparent trials and the release of detained officials. President Erdogan has denied any political interference, warning protesters they are leading the country into chaos. Journalists covering the protests have also been arrested, prompting international concern. While Imamoglu remains eligible to run for president unless convicted, his arrest has escalated tensions in an already polarised political climate.

Ireland’s political landscape is bracing for a showdown over Ceann Comhairle (Speaker) Verona Murphy, whose role is under fire amid a prolonged row over speaking rights in the Dáil. Since January, tensions have mounted, and now five main opposition parties have united to table a no-confidence motion, claiming bias and procedural failings. Murphy, a former haulier, responded defiantly, rejecting accusations of collusion and affirming her commitment to impartiality and parliamentary procedure. The government, led by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, is standing firmly behind her. Martin criticised the opposition - particularly Sinn Féin - for disruptive conduct and accused them of undermining democratic norms. Murphy is expected to survive the vote, but the battle has exposed deep divides, threatening to paralyse parliamentary function and leaving her position weakened, even if technically secure. Both sides are now entrenched, and further political drama appears inevitable in the days ahead.

Vladimir Putin has agreed to a thirty-day pause in strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure following a phone call with Donald Trump. The two leaders spoke for 90 minutes as the Trump administration works toward ending the conflict that began with Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. However, Putin refused the broader ceasefire which the USA has proposed. Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the energy-targeting pause but insisted that Ukraine should be involved in future negotiations. Putin also demanded a halt to Western military aid and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine before agreeing to any long-term deal. Zelensky rejected this, calling it an attempt to weaken Ukraine. The White House announced that peace negotiations would begin in the Middle East, with talks including a potential Black Sea ceasefire; Putin has agreed to further discussions on these terms. One immediate result of the phone call has been a major exchange of prisoners: see

The mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, a key opposition leader, has been arrested days before he was to be selected as a presidential candidate. Along with 100 others, he has been charged with corruption and aiding a terrorist group. The arrest comes as part of a major crackdown nationwide in recent months, targeting opposition politicians, municipalities, journalists and figures in the entertainment industry. It has triggered nationwide protests, with police using force to disperse crowds. The government has imposed four days of restrictions in Istanbul, banning public gatherings and limiting internet access. The opposition sees this as a politically motivated move to weaken Imamoglu’s challenge to president Recep Erdogan, whose party was recently defeated in elections in Istanbul and Ankara. The government denies interference, insisting on judicial independence. Imamoglu has faced other challenges, including the annulment of his university degree, which would disqualify him from running. The international community has condemned the arrest, warning of Turkey’s increasing authoritarianism.

North Macedonia is in mourning after a devastating nightclub fire in Kočani killed 59 people, most of them young. As grief turns to anger, thousands have taken to the streets demanding justice and an end to corruption. The nightclub, Pulse, was found to have been operating illegally with an invalid licence obtained through bribery. Safety violations, including a lack of fire exits, an inflammable ceiling, and no fire alarm, contributed to the disaster; there might have been 1,500 in the venue, which had an official capacity of 250. Many victims perished in the crush as they tried to escape. Authorities have detained twenty individuals, including a former economy minister and state officials. The government has declared seven days of mourning, while protests continue across the country, pressuring officials to address corruption. Prime minister Hristijan Mickoski vowed swift justice, calling the situation ‘shocking’. Continuing protests are putting further pressure on the government to stop the corruption which has now cost the 1.8-million strong nation so many young lives.

US officials have arrived in Moscow to discuss a proposed thirty-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Special envoy Steve Witkoff hopes to persuade Russia to agree to the deal, which Ukraine accepted earlier this week after talks in Jeddah. The Kremlin confirmed discussions were planned but gave no details. US secretary of state Marco Rubio said that the ceasefire decision now rests with Russia, while Donald Trump warned of financial consequences if Russia rejects peace. Meanwhile, Russia claims to have recaptured 86% of the Kursk region, which Ukraine invaded last year. Vladimir Putin, visiting the area, has reportedly ordered a full military push to reclaim all lost territory. Events this week show a remarkably swift turnaround from a week ago: see

Voters in Portugal are growing frustrated as another snap election looms, with little hope for stability. Prime minister Luis Montenegro’s centre-right government collapsed after losing a confidence motion, forcing the president to call a new parliamentary election, probably in May. This will be the third election in three years. Many believe the political elite have failed for decades and fear worsening instability. One political analyst has warned the election may produce another inconclusive result, leading to continued uncertainty. Opinion polls show the centre-left Socialists and Montenegro’s Democratic Alliance (AD) in a deadlock at around 30%. While the political right holds a majority, AD refuses to work with the far-right Chega party. Voter discontent is high, with concerns about low turnout. Montenegro denies wrongdoing after his business dealings triggered the crisis. Meanwhile, citizens fear government inaction will further harm the nation.