Europe politics

Europe politics

Through comparative frame analysis of 574 tweets from the pre-electoral period, we explore how political actors construct and disseminate narratives to influence public opinion. Our research identifies divergent framing patterns: Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis projects a stable, technocratic, performance-driven leadership brand, while Alexis Tsipras adopts movement-oriented, emotionally charged, anti-establishment discourse. Through systematic qualitative frame analysis, the study demonstrates greater strategic consistency and branding coherence in technocratic approaches than fragmented oppositional strategies in post-crisis electoral contexts.

Police in Hungary have said they will allow next month's Pride parade in Budapest to take place, signalling a reversal from last year when they sought to block the event on the orders of the government of the rightwing former prime minister Viktor Orban. Last year's march made headlines around the world after Orban's Fidesz party backed legislation the first of its kind in the EU's recent history that created a legal basis for Pride events to be banned, citing a widely criticised need to protect children.

Latvia's parliament has approved a new coalition government that will lead the European Union and NATO member country in the coming months after its predecessor collapsed following an argument over its handling of stray drones suspected to be from Ukraine. By a margin of 66 deputies in the 100-seat assembly, lawmakers on Thursday confirmed 47-year-old centrist Andris Kulbergs as prime minister, who will lead the Baltic nation of more than 1.8 million people until parliamentary elections on October 3.

Republic of Ireland are set to face Israel twice in UEFA Nations League matches, but are facing calls for a boycott. The international football friendly between the Republic of Ireland and Qatar in Dublin was twice halted by home fan protests against their side's upcoming fixtures against Israel. The Irish are due to face Israel twice in the UEFA Nations League competition, but have faced strong backlash against the fixtures with calls for the games to be boycotted.

NATO's defense ministers committed to spending at least 2.5% of GDP on defense, with Poland, the Baltics, and Greece already running above 4%, and the alliance has set a target of 5% of GDP on defense spending by 2035. In 2025, all 32 NATO allies met or exceeded the 2% target for the first time, compared with only three in 2014.

Spanish police entered the ruling Socialist Party's headquarters in Madrid on a judicial order to gather information on a possible illegal financing scheme, several news Spanish news outlets reported. A portrait of Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez is partially obscured by a shutter on the main facade of the PSOE headquarters in Madrid. Photograph: David Canales/SOPA Images/Shutterstock A spokesperson for the Guardia Civil force told Reuters officers had entered the premises but did not disclose any further details since the proceedings are secret.

Sweden is halving the price of monthly public transport tickets from July 1st until the end of the year, funded by a multibillion-kronor subsidy paid out to the regions. "We are trying to guide the Swedish public through what is a rather complicated time, both in terms of security and the economy," Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told a joint press conference alongside the Christian Democrats, Liberals and Sweden Democrats.

Poland has a flourishing economy, but its science funding is at an unprecedented low—only 1.1% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) is spent on science and higher education.

Sweden's prime minister has promised to put IVF at the heart of his re-election campaign as he tries to win over female voters amid the country's record low birthrate. Ulf Kristersson's government recently increased the number of state-funded IVF attempts granted to aspiring first-time parents from three to six. Now he has said that if his party, the centre-right Moderates whose minority-run coalition depends on the support of the far-right Sweden Democrats hold on to power in September's general election, they will also fund IVF for additional children.

By contrast, France stagnated completely after growth of 0.2pc in the previous quarter, with falling consumer spending, weaker investment and declining exports weighing on activity. Italy also lost momentum, slowing sharply from 0.3pc growth to just 0.1pc as domestic demand weakened. Canada returned to growth after contracting at the end of 2025.

In Brussels she worked in the cabinets of Stanley Clinton-Davis, European commissioner for transport (1985-89), Bruce Millan (regional policy, 1989-95), and Neil Kinnock, who was responsible for transport until 1999 then vice-president of the commission until 2004. For Kinnock she was lead cabinet staff member. Belinda then worked as director for equality in the directorate-general of employment, before being appointed director for migration and borders in 2011.

Scotland announcing that it wants to cap the prices of essential items like bread, milk and eggs at a state-enforced low price. “People are struggling to buy an adequate shop to support their families,” John Swinney, the First Minister of the devolved nation, told cheering activists.

Right-wing populists in the U.S. have been building political ties across the Atlantic Ocean for years to support and learn from one another. Think President Trump, who developed a close relationship with former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Now, 10 U.S. mayors from liberal cities are following suit, joining a group called the Pact of Free Cities, where they can share strategies with their European counterparts on how to defend democracy and fight authoritarianism.