Tag: populism

EU leaders to debate Macron’s grand plan

by Alex Pigman Agence France-Presse TALLINN, Estonia (AFP) — European Union leaders will meet over dinner in Estonia on Thursday for a frank debate on the future of Europe, featuring first impressions of French President Emmanuel Macron’s new vision for the bloc.Most of the EU 28’s leaders are coming to Tallinn, including British Prime Minister Theresa May, although Brexit negotiations are not expected to be on the menu. The discussion on the EU’s future will take place over […]

Early French vote turnout slightly higher than 2012: official

PARIS, France (AFP) — Turnout in the first round of the French presidential election at 1000 GMT on Sunday was slightly higher than at the same stage in 2012, the interior ministry said. Four hours after polling stations opened, turnout was just over 28.5 percent, which would put the final turnout on course to beat the figure of 79.48 percent in the first round in 2012.

France votes in presidential nailbiter

by Guy Jackson Agence France Presse France began voting Sunday under heavy security in the first round of the most unpredictable presidential election in decades, with the outcome seen as vital for the future of the beleaguered European Union. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron are the favorites to progress to a run-off on May 7 but the result is too close to call in a deeply divided country. Le Pen, the […]

Rutte’s party scoops largest number of seats in Dutch parliament

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP) — Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte Wednesday paid tribute to people who had voted “against populism” as his party scooped the largest number of seats in parliament. “This was the evening when The Netherlands, after Brexit and the American elections, said ‘stop’ to the wrong kind of populism,” Rutte told cheering supporters.