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Key events
Slovakia’s government wants police to investigate a former minister over donations from Ukraine
Slovakia’s government has asked the police to investigate the former cabinet and defense minister Yaroslav Nad for the donation of combat aircraft and an air defense system to Ukraine, reported Reuters.
The new Slovak government came to power late last year and has adopted a more Kremlin-friendly approach.
German Chancellor, Olaf Scholzwill speak soon in Progressive Governance Summitin a session chaired by the Guardian’s Editor-in-Chief, Catherine Wiener.
Stay on the line.
The German Minister of Economy, Robert Habecksaid his country’s China strategy should be updated to include a longer-term plan, Reuters reported.
He said China’s strategy misses where Germany wants to go into the future, which should be the medium-term relationship between the two countries.
Orban took aim at the EPP leadership and criticized German society
The Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbancriticized the centre-right European People’s Party this morning – and in particular its leader Manfred Weber – while also claiming Germany “it didn’t smell or look the same anymore.”
The far-right and anti-immigration Hungarian leader is to meet the German chancellor, Olaf Scholzlater today.
Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party has so far remained on the sidelines in the post-election game of musical chairs among European political groups, while its new domestic rival, Peter MadjarTisa joined the EPP.
Fidesz has long sought to join the group of European conservatives and reformists it includes Georgia MeloniBrothers of Italy and Poland Law and Justice. But Orbán is seen by many parties – including even some in the ECR – as a toxic political player, especially given his Kremlin-friendly views.
Earlier this week, Fidesz faction leader, Mate Kochish, said that “the Romanian party AUR, known for its extreme anti-Hungarian position, has joined the ECR group in the European Parliament. Fidesz will never share a faction with such a party in the European Parliament. This is non-negotiable!’
However, Orbán is due to meet with Meloni next week.
❗️@PM_ViktorOrban on radio Kossuth: This coalition that was formed, the liberals, the left and the People’s Party, is a pro-war coalition. Led by @ManfredWeberwho has a Beelzebub role in the failure and corruption of politics in Brussels, they agreed on a program… pic.twitter.com/NNplScRVwJ
— Zoltan Kovacs (@zoltanspox) June 21, 2024
“You can’t be left-wing and anti-Semitic or racist,” says the candidate of the European Socialists
Nicholas Schmidtthe European Commissioner from Luxembourg, who was the leading candidate of the European Socialists in the European elections, gave an assessment of the campaign in Francewarning that “you cannot be left-wing, anti-Semitic or racist” and asking France Unbowed (LFI) “to leave no doubt on this subject”.
Les élections en France ont aussi une important capitale pour l’Europe et la gauche européenne.On ne peut être de gauche et antisémite ou raciste.Pour clarifier il est urgent pour LFI et son leader de laisser aucun doute à ce sujet.
— Nicolas Schmit, PES lead candidate (@NSchmitPES) June 21, 2024
The Czech ANO party leaves the Renew Europe group, further weakening centrist power
Former Czech populist prime minister, Andrey Babishannounced that his party ANO is leaving Renew Europe group in the European Parliament.
In a post on social media, he cited differences over issues such as illegal migration, internal combustion engines and the European Green Deal.
By pulling his 7 MEPs from Renew, Babis further weakened the grouping, which took a hit amid the poor performance of Emmanuel Macron’s camp in France.
The move will also deepen concerns among centrists about whether Ursula von der Leyenthe president of the European Commission, can win support for a second term by relying solely on the center-right, center-left and liberals.
Valerie HeyerFrench politician and president of Renew Europe, said in a statement that “this was a divorce that was long overdue.”
“ANO has chosen a populist path that is incompatible with our values and identity. Over the past month, their deviation from our values has increased exponentially, and we have watched this with great concern. ANO’s unwillingness to continue its commitment to liberal values has led to today’s result,” she added.
Vá plínime, co občanům slíbíme. We went to European elections with the idea that we will fight illegal migration, that we want to cancel the ban on internal combustion engines and fundamentally change the Green Deal. Mainly we want Česká republika to remain a sovereign country.
So far, the action has shown that ve…
— Andrej Babis (@AndrejBabis) June 21, 2024
A French far-right candidate was attacked during the campaign
Herve Broylecandidate for France’s far-right National Unity (RN) party, was attacked during an election campaign in the industrial city of Saint-Etienne, near Lyon, Reuters reported.
His attackers were dressed in black and had masks on their faces, police and local government spokesmen said. He was hospitalized after the attack but was soon to be released.
France is gearing up for snap legislative elections later this month.
The incident came amid a spate of violence against politicians in various parts of the Europe.
Marine Le Pen of the National Rally blamed “far-left extremists” for the attack on Broy.
Lâchement agresses par les milices d’ultra-gauche, soutiens du Nouveau Front Populaire, Hervé Breuil, notre candidate à Saint-Etienne, est ce soir toujours hospitalisé. Une campagne électorale dans une démocratie ne saurait admettre ce déchaîment d’ultraviolence d’une… https://t.co/ntkRBU8Kmf
— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) June 20, 2024
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Good morning and welcome back to Europe blog.
Send your thoughts and advice to lili.bayer@theguardian.com.
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