Displaying items by tag: Europe

The reelection of Donald Trump could significantly impact US support for Ukraine as the war with Russia continues. Throughout his campaign, Trump expressed doubts about the USA’s ongoing commitment to Kyiv, suggesting the possibility of pressuring Ukraine into a truce with Russia. This comes at a critical time; Russia is making advances in the Donbas region, and North Korean troops are reportedly bolstering Russian forces. The Biden administration has provided tens of billions in military and financial aid to Ukraine, but Trump has often praised Vladimir Putin and criticised Volodymyr Zelensky. He has claimed that the war would not have started under his presidency, and has promised to end the conflict swiftly. Zelensky, who was quick to congratulate Trump on his victory, must be concerned about the potential implications for his beleaguered country: American military aid to Ukraine currently accounts for 43% of the total.

Following Spain’s deadliest natural disaster in recent memory, a visit by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia to Valencia became the target of public outrage, with protesters hurling mud at them. The recent devastating floods claimed at least 217 lives, with the toll expected to rise. When the royal couple appeared, alongside Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and other leaders, many locals expressed their fury at what they saw as inadequate warnings and slow government response. Protesters shouted ‘Murderers!’ and ‘Get out!’ at officials, blaming them for the disaster’s aftermath, and there were several clashes with police. Queen Letizia burst into tears after speaking to several grieving people. One commentator noted that the crowd's anger was directed at the politicians, not the royal family. Public resentment over the government's handling of the floods has intensified. One week after the floods struck, many people still did not have drinking water.

Germany’s ruling coalition faces a crisis after chancellor Olaf Scholz fired finance minister Christian Lindner, citing a breakdown of trust. Scholz, leader of the Social Democrats, said that Lindner, head of the liberal Free Democrats (FDP), had prioritised his party’s interests over the country’s needs. This move has left Scholz's coalition without a parliamentary majority; this might lead to a vote of confidence in January and early elections. Tensions within the coalition had been brewing for weeks, particularly over economic policies. Scholz and the Green party had pushed for increased public spending, especially to counter rising energy costs and defence needs following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but Lindner wants to pay for tax cuts by slashing welfare and social budgets and pushing back environmental targets. The political turmoil comes amid economic stagnation and growing uncertainties in Europe, compounded by Donald Trump’s election.

At least 95 people have lost their lives in south-eastern Spain after relentless rains triggered flash floods. In one town an unprecedented year’s worth of rainfall (491 mm) occurred within just eight hours. Floodwaters wrought havoc across the region, toppling bridges, sweeping cars through streets, and leaving many people clinging to trees to survive. Over a thousand troops have been dispatched for rescue operations as numerous individuals remain trapped or unaccounted for. King Felipe VI expressed deep condolences, while emergency services, overwhelmed by the crisis, have struggled to respond to hundreds of distress calls. Questions have arisen over poor forecasting and delayed flood warnings, which some believed left them vulnerable on roads and low-lying homes: see https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyx75ppr79 Flights, trains, and schools have been suspended. Of many contributory factors, a warming atmosphere caused by climate change makes extreme rainfall more likely. Temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions: see also the World article on the UN and climate change.

State prosecutors in Georgia are investigating possible election fraud following opposition claims that the results of the recent parliamentary elections were falsified. They will question president Salome Zourabichvili, a vocal critic of the election process; she has declared the results invalid due to a ‘Russian special operation’ – a charge denied by Russia. Joe Biden and the EU have expressed concerns over irregularities and democratic decline in Georgia. Although the ruling Georgian Dream party was declared the winner with 54% of the vote, the opposition condemned the results as a ‘constitutional coup’. International observers noted instances of voter intimidation, bribery, and ballot stuffing, but did not go as far as labelling the election as rigged. The electoral commission has defended the election as fair, but said that it would conduct a recount at a small number of randomly selected polling stations.

Arriving for the latest BRICS summit, Narendra Modi has told Vladimir Putin that India desires peace in Ukraine and is willing to assist in achieving a ceasefire. Putin has used the BRICS platform to highlight the non-Western world’s influence, despite efforts by the West to isolate Russia. BRICS is an intergovernmental organization comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The summit, involving leaders from 22 nations, including China’s president Xi Jinping, altogether represents 45% of the world's population and 35% of its economy. This showcases BRICS' growing global significance, a welcome boost for Putin. When asked about the prospects for peace, he claimed that the West had now realised that Russia would be victorious, but he was open to peace talks based on the ceasefire agreements reached in Istanbul in April 2022. One Russian source stressed that much depended on the result of the US presidential election on 5 November.

In a fiery speech commemorating the 1956 uprising, Viktor Orbán has accused the EU of plotting to topple his government and install a ‘puppet regime’. He compared past occupations of Hungary by the Ottoman Empire and the Soviet Union to current tensions with the EU. He also claimed the EU is pushing Hungary into Russia's war in Ukraine, criticising Brussels' support for Kyiv. Hungary has repeatedly blocked or diluted EU sanctions on Russia and aid to Ukraine, aligning itself closer to Moscow. Also, Orban’s government has recently been fined €200 million by the European Court of Justice for ‘unprecedented and exceptionally serious breach of EU law’ because of the country's strong restrictions on the right to asylum.

Cement maker Lafarge, part of Swiss-based Holcim, will face trial in France for financing terrorism and violating European sanctions to keep a Syrian plant operational. The investigation, ongoing since 2016, is one of France’s most significant corporate criminal cases. Lafarge’s Syrian subsidiary is accused of making payments to militant groups, including IS, to protect staff and maintain operations during the Syrian civil war. Judges ordered the trial after earlier attempts by the firm to dismiss charges of complicity in crimes against humanity were rejected. The charges also relate to breaching European sanctions that prohibit financial dealings with Islamist militant groups. In a related US case, Lafarge admitted in 2022 to paying terrorist-designated groups, including IS, to secure safety at its factory. Anti-corruption group Sherpa, which brought the complaint, continues to push for accountability.

Hundreds of protesters in Loznica, Serbia, have rallied against a planned lithium mining project by Rio Tinto in the region. This followed the ruling Serbian Progressive Party’s rejection of a draft law banning lithium and borate mining. Demonstrators carrying Serbian flags and banners announced one-hour road blockades, vowing to escalate their actions if necessary. Environmentalists argue that the mine could pollute local land and water, threatening agriculture in the region. Lithium, vital for electric vehicle batteries, is a critical material for the EU and the USA. The $2.4 billion project, if realised, could meet 90% of Europe’s lithium needs. In 2022, after mass protests, the government revoked Rio Tinto’s licences for the project. However, president Mr Aleksandar Vucic has now said that mining could start by 2028, arguing that it would significantly boost the economy.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has suggested that the EU could learn from Italy’s controversial new policy of processing migrants offshore in Albania. She has proposed new legislation to increase deportations, noting that only 20% of irregular migrants ordered to leave EU countries actually do so. Italy’s scheme, which began on 15 October when sixteen migrants were transferred to Albanian processing centres, has sparked criticism from opposition parties and NGOs for being costly and potentially harmful to human rights. The €650 million project excludes vulnerable groups like pregnant women and children. Prime minister Giorgia Meloni defended the scheme as a courageous approach which ‘perfectly reflected the European spirit’. Recently Germany, France, and Poland have tightened their borders and immigration laws, driven in part by security concerns following violent incidents involving failed asylum seekers.