Europe This Week – March 12, 2019

March 20, 2019

Each day, 21votes gathers election and political news from a different region of the world. We explore Europe on Wednesdays. Click the map pins.

Netherlands Provincial Elections - March 20, 2019

Associated Press: “Dutch voters are casting ballots in regional elections that are seen as passing a midterm judgment on the ruling national coalition of Prime Minister Mark Rutte and could indirectly eliminate his majority in Parliament’s upper house. Wednesday’s election is for 570 legislators in provincial governments who, in turn, will elect members of the Dutch parliament’s Senate in May.”

Bloomberg: “The bulwark that Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte built against populists is showing cracks, with his governing coalition poised to lose its one-seat majority in the Senate in the face of expected strong showings from euroskeptic groups.”

Slovakia Presidential Runoff - March 30, 2019

EU Observer: “An anti-corruption lawyer running on a liberal platform has won the first round in Slovakia’s presidential election, as voters punish the ruling Smer party a year after the murder of an investigative journalist. The 45-year old environmental campaigner, Zuzana Caputova, won 40.5 percent of the votes on Saturday (16 March), well ahead of EU commission vice-president and Smer-backed candidate Maros Sefcovic who received 18.7 percent of the votes.”

The Guardian: “The election of such an avowedly pro-western figure, who openly favours the Nato alliance and EU membership, would provide welcome relief to liberals at a time when neighbouring countries, namely, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, are led by populist politicians of varying stripes. Slovaks point out that Čaputová would cut a contrasting profile with the Czech Republic’s pro-Moscow, migrant-baiting president Miloš Zeman – calling it a rare role-reversal in the relationship between the two countries that were once joined together in the former Czechoslovakia before its peaceful dissolution into separate independent states in 1993.”

Washington Post’s Monkey Cage blog: “5 big lessons from Slovakia’s presidential elections:

Spain Snap Parliamentary - April 28, 2019

El Pais: “Spain’s Vox party enlists homophobic pseudohistorian to run for Congress: Fernando Paz has made revisionist statements regarding the Nuremberg trials and the Holocaust”

Associated Press: “Spain: Far-right party enlists former generals as candidates”

Associated Press: “A dispute between Spanish authorities and Catalan separatists over a yellow ribbon symbol is building into a hot issue ahead of Spain’s general election next month. The independence-minded Catalan government has failed to obey an order from the country’s electoral board to remove from the region’s public buildings the large ribbons, used to protest the imprisonment and trial of separatist leaders for their role in a failed attempt to declare independence in 2017.”

El Pais: “During the run-up to the last general election in Spain, political parties used Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to spread their messages. This year, with a snap general election called for April 28 and local, regional and European elections set for May 26, it appears they are turning to WhatsApp, the most popular social network in Spain.”

Lithuania Presidential - May 12, 2019

Times of Israel: “Center-right Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis said Tuesday he would consider moving Lithuania’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, should he win May’s presidential elections. Skvernelis said that moving the mission could lead to closer ties with Israel and the United States, which Lithuania sees as a key security buffer against Russia.”

Bulgaria European Parliament - May 25, 2019

Novinite: “Bulgarian Police Goes Viral after Accidentally Pepper Spray Themselves Instead of Protesters”

GQ Magazine: “Over the weekend, Bulgarian protesters gathered in the capital of Sofia, blocking the streets to the parliament and calling for early elections, according to local news. Police tried to break them up, but fortunately for the protesters, Bulgarian law enforcement doesn’t seem to be super experienced with crowd dispersal.”

France European Parliament - May 25, 2019

Politico: “Nathalie Loiseau has dismissed the idea 19 times, by her own count, but it turns out France’s Europe minister will run to lead Emmanuel Macron’s list in the upcoming European election. Loiseau made the announcement while facing off against French far-right leader Marine Le Pen in a televised debate late Thursday night.”

Greece European Parliament - May 25, 2019

Associated Press: “Lawmakers in Greece have approved a proposal to allow candidates in upcoming European elections to retain their seats in the national parliament — an amendment needed to preserve the government’s razor-thin majority. Two independent lawmakers backing left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras are expected to run in the May 26 European election but their departure could have toppled the government. Amid strong protest from opposition parties, lawmakers voted 148-105 Wednesday to change the rules.”

Hungary European Parliament - May 25, 2019

Politico: “Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party has been suspended from the European People’s Party (EPP), the president of the Continental center-right alliance said Wednesday.”

The Economist: “This move is just the latest in a series of inadequate responses by the EPP and particularly the CDU/CSU, its most powerful force.”

Italy European Parliament - May 26, 2019

Reuters: “A senior figure in Italy’s ruling 5-Star Movement was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of corruption, dealing an embarrassing blow to group that has always tried to project a squeaky clean image.”

Poland European Elections - May 25, 2019

Financial Times: “In the run-up to Poland’s 2015 parliamentary elections, Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s Law and Justice party used fears over immigration to mobilise its conservative base, helping it sweep to a resounding victory. As the country gears up for a crucial six months in which it will hold both European and national parliamentary elections, Mr Kaczynski has alighted on another emotionally charged topic to help Law and Justice repeat the trick: gay rights.”

Albania Local - June 30, 2019

Associated Press: “Albanian opposition supporters clashed with police while trying to storm the parliament building Saturday to protest the government, which they accuse of being corrupt and linked to organized crime.”

Balkan Insight: “A drive by the main opposition parties in Albania to bring down the government by boycotting parliament appears to be failing, as more and more candidates from the parties agree to replace the absent MPs.”

Independent Balkan News Agency: “Albania: Preparations start for the local elections despite political gridlock”

Portugal Legislative - October 2019

World Politics Review: “Pre-Election Political Infighting Drives Huge Public Sector Strikes in Portugal”

Serbia - Snapwatch

Associated Press: “Demonstrators protesting the autocratic rule of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic burst into state-run TV headquarters in Belgrade on Saturday to denounce a broadcaster whose reporting they consider highly biased.”

BBC: “Serbian police have used tear gas to clear thousands of protesters trying to blockade the residence of President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade….The opposition has been staging largely peaceful rallies for weeks. But tensions escalated on Saturday when crowds stormed the state TV station.”

World Politics Review: “Why Demands for a Free Press Are Front and Center in Serbia’s Protests”

Estonia Parliamentary - March 3, 2019

Estonian parties are conducting coalition talks following March 3 elections that did not result in any one party gaining a majority. Centre Party, politically centrist and geopolitically oriented toward Moscow, lost the elections, with the liberal Reform Party gaining the most votes but falling short of a majority. Incumbent PM Juri Ratas from Centre hopes to stay in power by cobbling together a coalition with the conservative Isamaa and the far-right Conservative People’s Party of Estonia (EKRE). The negotiations are controversial because Centre had previously pledged not to go into coalition with EKRE.

ERR News: “Consultations between the three parties on Tuesday focussed on issues related to public transport and infrastructure, spokespeople for the Centre Party said. The potential government coalition supports conducting studies for the undersea tunnel project that would link Tallinn and Helsinki as well as an accessible and high-quality public transport network and paving roads.”

ERR News: “[Kaja Kallas, leader of Reform] stressed that if this [Centre-Isaama-EKRE] coalition ends up happening, not only will Reform voters be disappointed, but Centre and Isamaa voters as well, who voted for them in order to keep hatred and anger out of power, as the Centre Party repeatedly promised before the 3 March elections that it would not cooperate with EKRE.”

Arutz Sheva: “Estonia’s Jewish community on Monday voiced concern over an unprecedented move to include a far-right party in the next government of the Baltic EU state, AFP reports.”

Estonian World: “Toomas Hendrik Ilves: We want an Estonia where people can remain themselves”

Bosnia and Herzegovina General - October 7, 2018

Balkan Insight: “Five months after general elections, the leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s main Bosniak, Croat and Serb parties said they have agreed on principles for establishing a Council of Ministers, the country’s de facto state-level government.”

Montenegro Presidential - April 15, 2018

Reuters: “Thousands marched through Montenegro’s capital Podgorica on Saturday, the fifth such rally in two months, to demand the resignation of President Milo Djukanovic and his government over allegations of abuse of office, graft and cronyism.”

Netherlands Provincial Elections – March 20, 2019
Associated Press: “Dutch voters are casting ballots in regional elections that are seen as passing a midterm judgment on the ruling national coalition of Prime Minister Mark Rutte and could indirectly eliminate his majority in Parliament’s upper house. Wednesday’s election is for 570 legislators in provincial governments who, in turn, will elect members of the Dutch parliament’s Senate in May.”

Bloomberg: “The bulwark that Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte built against populists is showing cracks, with his governing coalition poised to lose its one-seat majority in the Senate in the face of expected strong showings from euroskeptic groups.”

Slovakia Presidential Runoff – March 30, 2019
EU Observer: “An anti-corruption lawyer running on a liberal platform has won the first round in Slovakia’s presidential election, as voters punish the ruling Smer party a year after the murder of an investigative journalist. The 45-year old environmental campaigner, Zuzana Caputova, won 40.5 percent of the votes on Saturday (16 March), well ahead of EU commission vice-president and Smer-backed candidate Maros Sefcovic who received 18.7 percent of the votes.”

The Guardian: “The election of such an avowedly pro-western figure, who openly favours the Nato alliance and EU membership, would provide welcome relief to liberals at a time when neighbouring countries, namely, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, are led by populist politicians of varying stripes. Slovaks point out that Čaputová would cut a contrasting profile with the Czech Republic’s pro-Moscow, migrant-baiting president Miloš Zeman – calling it a rare role-reversal in the relationship between the two countries that were once joined together in the former Czechoslovakia before its peaceful dissolution into separate independent states in 1993.”

Washington Post’s Monkey Cage blog: “5 big lessons from Slovakia’s presidential elections: Outsider and anti-corruption crusader Zuzana Caputova faces a tough fight in the second round.”

Spain Snap Parliamentary – April 28, 2019
El Pais: “Spain’s Vox party enlists homophobic pseudohistorian to run for Congress: Fernando Paz has made revisionist statements regarding the Nuremberg trials and the Holocaust”

Associated Press: “Spain: Far-right party enlists former generals as candidates”

Associated Press: “A dispute between Spanish authorities and Catalan separatists over a yellow ribbon symbol is building into a hot issue ahead of Spain’s general election next month. The independence-minded Catalan government has failed to obey an order from the country’s electoral board to remove from the region’s public buildings the large ribbons, used to protest the imprisonment and trial of separatist leaders for their role in a failed attempt to declare independence in 2017.”

El Pais: “During the run-up to the last general election in Spain, political parties used Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to spread their messages. This year, with a snap general election called for April 28 and local, regional and European elections set for May 26, it appears they are turning to WhatsApp, the most popular social network in Spain.”

Lithuania Presidential – May 12, 2019
Times of Israel: “Center-right Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis said Tuesday he would consider moving Lithuania’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, should he win May’s presidential elections. Skvernelis said that moving the mission could lead to closer ties with Israel and the United States, which Lithuania sees as a key security buffer against Russia.”

Bulgaria European Parliament – May 25, 2019
Novinite: “Bulgarian Police Goes Viral after Accidentally Pepper Spray Themselves Instead of Protesters”

GQ Magazine: “Over the weekend, Bulgarian protesters gathered in the capital of Sofia, blocking the streets to the parliament and calling for early elections, according to local news. Police tried to break them up, but fortunately for the protesters, Bulgarian law enforcement doesn’t seem to be super experienced with crowd dispersal.”

France – European Parliament – May 25, 2019
Politico: “Nathalie Loiseau has dismissed the idea 19 times, by her own count, but it turns out France’s Europe minister will run to lead Emmanuel Macron’s list in the upcoming European election. Loiseau made the announcement while facing off against French far-right leader Marine Le Pen in a televised debate late Thursday night.”

Greece European Parliament and Local – May 26, 2019 and Parliamentary – October 2019 (snap possible)
Associated Press: “Lawmakers in Greece have approved a proposal to allow candidates in upcoming European elections to retain their seats in the national parliament — an amendment needed to preserve the government’s razor-thin majority. Two independent lawmakers backing left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras are expected to run in the May 26 European election but their departure could have toppled the government. Amid strong protest from opposition parties, lawmakers voted 148-105 Wednesday to change the rules.”

Hungary European Parliament – May 25, 2019
Politico: “Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party has been suspended from the European People’s Party (EPP), the president of the Continental center-right alliance said Wednesday.”

The Economist: “This move is just the latest in a series of inadequate responses by the EPP and particularly the CDU/CSU, its most powerful force.”

https://twitter.com/ecfr/status/1108407106888237062

Italy European Parliament – May 26, 2019
Reuters: “A senior figure in Italy’s ruling 5-Star Movement was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of corruption, dealing an embarrassing blow to group that has always tried to project a squeaky clean image.”

Poland European Elections – May 25, 2019
Financial Times: “In the run-up to Poland’s 2015 parliamentary elections, Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s Law and Justice party used fears over immigration to mobilise its conservative base, helping it sweep to a resounding victory. As the country gears up for a crucial six months in which it will hold both European and national parliamentary elections, Mr Kaczynski has alighted on another emotionally charged topic to help Law and Justice repeat the trick: gay rights.”

Albania Local – June 30, 2019
Associated Press: “Albanian opposition supporters clashed with police while trying to storm the parliament building Saturday to protest the government, which they accuse of being corrupt and linked to organized crime.”

Balkan Insight: “A drive by the main opposition parties in Albania to bring down the government by boycotting parliament appears to be failing, as more and more candidates from the parties agree to replace the absent MPs.”

Independent Balkan News Agency: “Albania: Preparations start for the local elections despite political gridlock”

Portugal Legislative – October 2019
World Politics Review: “Pre-Election Political Infighting Drives Huge Public Sector Strikes in Portugal”

Serbia – Snapwatch
Associated Press: “Demonstrators protesting the autocratic rule of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic burst into state-run TV headquarters in Belgrade on Saturday to denounce a broadcaster whose reporting they consider highly biased.”

BBC: “Serbian police have used tear gas to clear thousands of protesters trying to blockade the residence of President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade….The opposition has been staging largely peaceful rallies for weeks. But tensions escalated on Saturday when crowds stormed the state TV station.”

World Politics Review: “Why Demands for a Free Press Are Front and Center in Serbia’s Protests”

Past Elections
Estonia Parliamentary – March 3, 2019
Estonian parties are conducting coalition talks following March 3 elections that did not result in any one party gaining a majority. Centre Party, politically centrist and geopolitically oriented toward Moscow, lost the elections, with the liberal Reform Party gaining the most votes but falling short of a majority. Incumbent PM Juri Ratas from Centre hopes to stay in power by cobbling together a coalition with the conservative Isamaa and the far-right Conservative People’s Party of Estonia (EKRE). The negotiations are controversial because Centre had previously pledged not to go into coalition with EKRE.

ERR News: “Consultations between the three parties on Tuesday focussed on issues related to public transport and infrastructure, spokespeople for the Centre Party said. The potential government coalition supports conducting studies for the undersea tunnel project that would link Tallinn and Helsinki as well as an accessible and high-quality public transport network and paving roads.”

ERR News: “[Kaja Kallas, leader of Reform] stressed that if this [Centre-Isaama-EKRE] coalition ends up happening, not only will Reform voters be disappointed, but Centre and Isamaa voters as well, who voted for them in order to keep hatred and anger out of power, as the Centre Party repeatedly promised before the 3 March elections that it would not cooperate with EKRE.”

Arutz Sheva: “Estonia’s Jewish community on Monday voiced concern over an unprecedented move to include a far-right party in the next government of the Baltic EU state, AFP reports.”

Estonian World: “Toomas Hendrik Ilves: We want an Estonia where people can remain themselves”

Bosnia and Herzegovina General – October 7, 2018
Balkan Insight: “Five months after general elections, the leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s main Bosniak, Croat and Serb parties said they have agreed on principles for establishing a Council of Ministers, the country’s de facto state-level government.”

Montenegro Presidential – April 15, 2018
Reuters: “Thousands marched through Montenegro’s capital Podgorica on Saturday, the fifth such rally in two months, to demand the resignation of President Milo Djukanovic and his government over allegations of abuse of office, graft and cronyism.”

The Year Ahead: Europe
Italy, Sardinia regional (February 24); Andorra parliamentary (March); Estonia parliamentary (March 3); Lithuania municipal (March 3); Slovakia presidential (March 16); Netherlands provincial councils, island councils, and water boards (March 20); Macedonia presidential (April); Finland parliamentary (April 14); United Kingdom local (May 2); Lithuania presidential (May 12)

European Parliament (May 23-26), and coinciding with those elections: Ireland local (May 24); Malta parliamentary (May 25); Belgium regional and parliamentary (May 26); Germany, Baden-Würtemberg, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia Municipal, Bremen State (May 26); Greece local (May 26); Italy, nationwide local and Basilicata regional (May 26); Spainregional in Aragon, Asturias, Balearic Islands, Canaries, Cantabria, Castilia-Leon, Castilia-Manchego, Extremadura, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, Rioja, Valencia, and nationwide local (May 26)

Denmark parliamentary (on or before June 17); Albania local (June 30); Germany, Brandenburg and Saxony state (September 1); Portugal, Madeiran regional (September 22); Greece parliamentary (October but snap possible); Hungary local (October);  Switzerland Federal Assembly (October 20); Poland parliamentary (November); Croatia presidential (December)


Kaja Kallas leads Estonia’s Reform Party, which won the most seats in the March 3 elections. She could become Estonia’s first female prime minister if she is able to form a coalition. Photo credit: Wikimedia/EuranetPlus

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