All posts tagged Nigel Farage

This was more than just an ordinary national election – it was one that signalled a new chapter in the eurozone crisis and a challenge, by the people of Greece, to austerity.

The victory by the radical left-wing party, SYRIZA, and its leader, Alexis Tsipras, was expected. However, the scale of the win was larger than predicted in pre-election opinion polls, bringing the party to the brink of an outright parliamentary majority.

SYRIZA won 36.34 per cent of the vote and 149 seats in the 300-seat Greek Parliament. New Democracy (ND), the centre-right party that had led the previous coalition government, won 27.81 per cent and 76 seats.

The far-right ultranationalist Golden Dawn party came third, with 6.28 per cent and 17 seats, the same number of positions held by The River (To Potami), a centre-left grouping formed in 2014. The Communists (KKE) won 15 seats while the conservative Independent Greeks (ANEL) took 13 seats, the same as the Socialists (PASOK), who bore the brunt of the rejection of the outgoing coalition government.

24

Oct

Europe Decides Weekly – 24 October

Tags: David Cameron, Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group, Frans Timmermans, Jean-Claude Juncker, José Manuel Barroso, Maroš Šefčovič, Matteo Renzi, Miguel Arias Cañete, Nigel Farage, Socialists & Democrats Group

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Read more in Europe Decides Weekly, 24 October 2014

Top stories: 18-24 October 2014

Juncker Commission approved after last-minute portfolio changes: The European Parliament has approved the new European Commission by 423 votes to 209. Speaking to the assembly before the vote, Jean-Claude Juncker, who will assume the Commission presidency on 1 November, stated that his college represented the “last chance” to restore citizens’ trust. Following the hearings, Juncker slightly reshuffled the distribution of portfolios. Among the changes, sustainable development policies were added to Frans Timmermans’ portfolio as Socialist MEPs were concerned about climate policy coming under the responsibility of Miguel Arias Cañete. The Commission was formally appointed by the European Council on Thursday. EurActiv; European Parliament; European Voice; EurActiv; EurActiv; European Voice; EU Reporter; European Voice; Europe Decides Twitter; Europolitics

Polish MEP saves Farage’s group: Robert Iwaszkiewicz, an MEP from Poland’s Congress of the New Right party, has joined the Eurosceptic Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy Group, saving it from being disbanded. The Group, led by Nigel Farage, faced collapse following the withdrawal of a Latvian deputy. Iwaszkiewicz’s arrival caused a stir in the European Parliament, as KNP leader Janusz Korwin-Mikke, a deputy for less than four months, has already been suspended by the institution for using racist language, and Iwaszkiewicz himself had made remarks about hitting women. Iwaszkiewicz said he joined the group to oppose to EU bureaucracy and support the free market. EUObserver; EurActiv; EFDD; Europolitics; Yahoo News; European Voice

Barroso bows out before MEPs: On 21 October José Manuel Barroso made a valedictory address as European Commission President. During his speech in the European Parliament he highlighted his greatest achievements and memories, including collecting the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the European Union. Critics say that his Commission was too fixed on austerity, failed to create economic growth and jobs, and saw a weakening of the institution. EUObserver

17

Oct

Europe Decides Weekly – 17 October

Tags: Alenka Bratusek, Catalonia, Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group, Jean-Claude Juncker, José Manuel Barroso, Mariano Rajoy, Marine Le Pen, Maroš Šefčovič, Martin Schulz, Nigel Farage, Ukip, Viktor Orbán

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Read more in Europe Decides Weekly, 17 October 2014

Top stories: 11-17 October 2014

Bulc gets nod for Transport, Šefčovič promoted to Energy Union: Jean-Claude Juncker, the President-elect of the European Commission, has reshuffled his team following the Council’s approval of his new list of commissioners-designate, featuring Violeta Bulc. Currently Slovenia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Bulc was given Juncker’s backing to join the team after a meeting between the two earlier this week. Pending approval by the European Parliament, Bulc will take the Transport portfolio, with Maroš Šefčovič replacing the original Slovenian nominee, Alenka Bratušek, as Vice-President for the Energy Union. Both face hearings by MEPs on Monday evening. Juncker is expected to announce other small changes to portfolios ahead of a vote of the Parliament on his team on Wednesday. If all proceeds as planned, the new Commission will take office on time on 1 November. EUObserver; European Voice; Europolitics; EurActiv

Farage’s group collapses as Latvian quits: The Eurosceptic Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) Group, led by Nigel Farage of the UK Independence Party, has folded following the departure of Latvian MEP Iveta Grigule. The EFDD Group was left with representation from only six member states. Grigule becomes an independent MEP, but will also become Chair of a parliamentary delegation to central Asia. Farage alleges that other groups and the Parliament’s President, Martin Schulz, said they would back Grigule for the position – which would normally have been allocated to the EFDD Group – only if she quit the Group, causing it to collapse. There were also reports that the pro-Russian positions of some in the EFDD Group were causing disquiet in Latvia, where Grigule’s Union of Greens and Farmers is seeking to join the governing coalition. The news is a blow to Farage, who will be denied privileged speaking opportunities and funding for his party. There are also rumours that Marine Le Pen, who failed to form a radical right-wing group after the European elections, may seek to pick up members of the EFDD Group to form a new alliance. EurActiv; Europolitics; EUObserver; European Voice; New Europe; Daily Mail Online; BBC News; Deutsche Welle

Fidesz tightens grip on power after municipal elections win: Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, has continued his steady consolidation of power following local elections. His governing Fidesz party won control of all county assemblies and the vast majority of the largest cities, including the capital, Budapest. The far-right Jobbik party won a number of mayoralties and finished second, ahead of the Socialists, in many other towns and cities. Financial Times; New Europe; BBC News; New York Times

11

Jul

Europe Decides Weekly – 11 July

Tags: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Group, Catherine Ashton, Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group, European Conservatives and Reformists Group, European People's Party Group, Greens / European Free Alliance Group, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Herman Van Rompuy, Jean-Claude Juncker, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, Nigel Farage, Olli Rehn, Socialists & Democrats Group

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Read more in Europe Decides Weekly, 11 July 2014

Top stories: 5-11 July 2014

Eurosceptics shut out as committees elect chairs and vice-chairs: The European Parliament’s 20 committees and two sub-committees have elected their key office-holders for the next two-and-a-half years. The centre-right European People’s Party and centre-left Socialists and Democrats groups won most of the top posts and teamed up with the Liberal ALDE Group to prevent positions going to the hardline Eurosceptic Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD). Members of the Petitions committee blocked the election of EFDD MEP Eleonora Evi to the chair, with EFDD leader Nigel Farage attacking “the europhile groups” and their “fear of democracy”. Similarly, two German Eurosceptic deputies from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, Bernd Lucke and Beatrix Storch, were rejected as vice-chairs by the economic affairs and women’s rights committees respectively. New Europe; EUObserver; Euranet Plus; EurActiv; European Parliament News; European Voice; Europe Decides Twitter

Juncker exchanges views with political groups in European Parliament: The European Council’s candidate for the Commission presidency, Jean-Claude Juncker, has held meetings with the political groups of the European Parliament to gain support for his candidacy in the election on 15 July. The candidate had sent all groups a summary of his campaign priorities. Even though the Conservative ECR Group will vote against Juncker, and the Greens remain divided, the majority of the EPP, S&D and ALDE groups are expected to vote in favour of his candidacy, guaranteeing him therefore a majority. The EPP confirmed their support for Juncker, but the Socialists said his performance was “positive and useful but not yet fully satisfactory”, and looked for greater assurances on a number of issues. The ALDE Group will take a decision on Monday. EUReporter; European Commission; Europolitics; European Voice; New Europe; EurActiv; Euranet; EPP group; S&D news

Confusion over Juncker promise on key economic role: At a meeting with the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament, Jean-Claude Juncker allegedly announced that Olli Rehn’s successor as Commissioner for Economics and Monetary Affairs will be a Socialist. The top contenders for the position include Pierre Moscovici, a former French finance minister, and Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the current head of the Eurogroup and the Netherlands’ Finance Minister. However, in a press release following Juncker’s hearing before Liberal MEPs, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Group claimed that during their hearing Juncker noted that European Commission portfolios have not yet been allocated. ALDE; European Voice; Europolitics; EUObserver; Europe Decides Twitter

Leaders gear up for appointments summit: On Wednesday EU leaders will meet in an extraordinary summit to choose the future president of the European Council, the new foreign policy chief and the chair of the Eurozone finance ministers group. The current President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, has been consulting with national leaders and expects to conclude these talks on 11 July. Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt is a favourite for the European Council role, with Federica Mogherini, Italy’s Foreign Minister in line to replace Catherine Ashton as the new High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. European Voice

30

Jun

The new European Parliament on Twitter: look who’s talking

Tags: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Group, EU-US, Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group, Greens / European Free Alliance Group, Marine Le Pen, Martin Schulz, Nigel Farage, Twitter, Ukip

Comments: 1

Download our PDF infographic of the new European Parliament on Twitter

As predicted, more MEPs are on Twitter than ever before (531 compared to 408 in the previous EP), and almost half are tweeting every day.

Our infographic of the new European Parliament on Twitter shows this increase in the number of Twitter users also brings in some significant new faces: Pablo Iglesias, a Spanish Podemos MEP who is the radical left candidate for the presidency of the European Parliament, has more than 400,000 followers – far ahead of leading tweeters from the last parliament (such as Marine Le Pen, Martin Schulz or Nigel Farage). The GUE/NGL Group also has the biggest proportion of daily tweeters.

On the opposite side of the hemicycle, nearly 80% of MEPs from the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) Group are on Twitter. The group also features the Parliament’s two most prolific tweeters (both new MEPs from the UK Independence Party – it remains to be seen if they will remain so active when they take up their roles as MEPs).

28

Jun

Europe Decides Weekly – 27 June

Tags: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party, Angela Merkel, David Cameron, Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group, European Green Party, European People's Party, Geert Wilders, Greens / European Free Alliance Group, Günther Oettinger, Jean-Claude Juncker, Marine Le Pen, Martin Schulz, Nigel Farage, Party of European Socialists, Ukip

Comments: 3

Read more in Europe Decides Weekly, 27 June 2014

Top stories: 21-27 June 2014

Juncker nominated by European Council: The centre-right lead candidate in the European elections, Jean-Claude Juncker, has been overwhelmingly endorsed by the European Council to be the next President of the European Commission. After weeks of negotiations on the matter, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, was joined only by Hungary in opposing Juncker. Cameron vowed to fight “until the end” to prevent the nomination but failed, stating that he would do the same again and questioning the decision given doubts among other EU leaders about Juncker’s candidacy. Cameron reiterated his view that the choice of Juncker would harm the prospects of the UK staying in the EU. Juncker now faces a vote in the European Parliament on 16 July, the same day as another summit that will discuss other EU top jobs. European Voice; EUObserver; Europolitics; EurActiv; Euronews; Bloomberg; Belfast Telegraph; BBC News; The Guardian

‘Grand coalition’ agreed, Schulz to become Parliament President again: The European People’s Party, the Socialists and the Liberals have reached a deal for a pro-European majority in the European Parliament. The deal will support the appointment of key personnel in the European institutions, including Jean-Claude Juncker as Commission President. At a meeting in Paris last Sunday, centre-left leaders of several countries agreed to support Juncker but expect to get other jobs in return for their support, including the presidency of the European Parliament for Martin Schulz for the first half of the upcoming parliament. The Greens criticised the negotiations and argue that the Parliament should decide parliamentary positions. EurActiv; Europe Decides Twitter; EUObserver; EPP Group; Europolitics; Financial Times; S&D; Greens/EFA

Germany puts Oettinger forward for second term as EU commissioner: German Chancellor Angela Merkel has decided to nominate the current Energy Commissioner, Günther Oettinger, for a second term in the same office. Oettinger has repeatedly been at odds with the German government over the country’s energy transformation (Energiewende) and is criticised by Greens for supposedly not providing sufficient support for renewable sources of energy. While Oettinger’s nomination and his future policy area is not yet determined, the move is intended to ensure German control over the energy portfolio and was made possible as part of a broader deal with the German Social Democrats, under which Martin Schulz resumes his role as European Parliament President. European Voice; EurActiv; Europolitics

26

Jun

Britain at the heart of Europe – on Twitter, at least

Tags: Nigel Farage, Twitter, Ukip

Comments: 1

Never mind the Pollock-style imagery: Axel Maireder‘s data-rich map of the European Twittersphere contains some fascinating insights into online conversations around the European Parliament elections.

Behind the explosion of colours is two months of tweets about the elections analysed by Maireder and his team at the University of Vienna, in collaboration with market research institute GfK. They tracked more than 1.3 million tweets from nearly half a million Twitter users to develop a map of the online political landscape.

Read the study by the University of Vienna and GfK Read more on the GfK website

The map – which features the 11,844 accounts that tweeted at least once about the elections and which were followed by at least 250 other accounts that also tweeted – helpfully visualises the most important and influential users who talked about the 25 May polls. Larger dots indicate a larger number of followers; the closer they are plotted, the greater the similarity in their followings.

But what is the meaning of this map and this data? And how can we use it?

20

Jun

Europe Decides Weekly – 20 June

Tags: Alexander Stubb, Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Group, Angela Merkel, Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group, European Conservatives and Reformists Group, European People's Party, Gianni Pittella, Guy Verhofstadt, Jean-Claude Juncker, Jyrki Katainen, Martin Schulz, Matteo Renzi, Nigel Farage, Olli Rehn, Socialists & Democrats Group

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Read more in Europe Decides Weekly, 20 June 2014

Top stories: 14-20 June 2014

Schulz elected to head Socialists for top jobs talks: The Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament have elected Martin Schulz as their new President. Schulz will lead the group in talks over the election of a new Commission President and stated that he foresees a “tandem” with the frontrunner from the European People’s Party, Jean-Claude Juncker. However, sources in Berlin told Der Spiegel that Schulz’s Social Democrats would not claim the Commission job in the face of opposition from Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Christian Democrats party, but would look to secure the presidency of the Parliament for Schulz with centre-right backing as part of an overall package. Schulz stepped down as Parliament President before the vote in the S&D Group, with Gianni Pittella taking over as acting President until the Parliament reconvenes on 1 July. Europolitics; Deutsche Welle; EUObserver; S&D news; PES news; The Parliament; EurActiv; Der Spiegel

Stubb to toe economic line as Katainen heads to Brussels: Alexander Stubb has been elected as the leader of Finland’s centre-right National Coalition Party and will become Finland’s prime minister, replacing Jyrki Katainen. Stubb will lead a coalition government that includes the Social Democrats but has pledged to maintain the core elements of the austerity programme of his predecessor. Meanwhile Katainen has been nominated to replace Olli Rehn in the European Commission. Rehn will become an MEP. A hearing for Katainen is set to be held before the summer recess. Bloomberg; Economic Times; EurActiv; EUObserver; European Voice; Europolitics

Flemish separatists snub ALDE as ECR becomes third-largest group: The New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) has chosen to join the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group in the European Parliament, rejecting an invitation from the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) group, led by Guy Verhofstadt, who was re-elected to his post this week. The N-VA’s decisionmakes the ECR the third-largest party in the European Parliament. It has 68 seats to ALDE’s 67. Both groups added further members this week as the formation of political factions continues. EUObserver; European Voice; De Standaard; EurActiv; New Europe; Europolitics

Read more in Europe Decides Weekly, 6 June 2014

Top stories: 31 May to 6 June 2014

Merkel backs Juncker but EU member states still at odds: National leaders are still discussing who should lead the new European Commission following the European elections. While the EPP Group is the strongest in the Parliament, it is still unclear as to whether the EPP candidate for Commission presidency, Jean-Claude Juncker, will be nominated by member states, after several of them expressed misgivings about his appointment. The UK’s Prime Minister, David Cameron, has allegedly indirectly threatened British exit from the EU should Juncker become President, telling Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel, that the move may force him to bring forward his planned referendum on EU membership. Meanwhile, Juncker has received support from the rival candidate of the European Socialists, Martin Schulz, and Greek left-wing leader Alexis Tsipras. They say that the EPP’s win in the elections means Juncker should be first in line to attempt to win a majority. EurActiv; Gulf News; New Europe; EUObserver; European Voice; Guardian; Euronews; Tagesschau; FAZ; Bloomberg; Irish Times; KTVL news; Deutsche Welle; Europolitics; Sunday Times; Twitter

Leaders and contenders consider Juncker alternatives: With question marks hanging over the candidacy of Jean-Claude Juncker, Angela Merkel has reportedly asked French President François Hollande whether he would consider nominating the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, to be the next President of the European Commission. French sources say that Hollande did not support the idea. Also in France, the name of Michel Barnier, who Juncker defeated to the EPP nomination, still circulates as a possible compromise candidate. Meanwhile Olli Rehn’s expected departure to the European Parliament is likely to see Finland’s current Prime Minister, Jyrki Katainen, head to Brussels as a commissioner. He is also under consideration as a possible successor to José Manuel Barroso, although Katainen is still backing Juncker’s candidacy. EurActiv; Reuters; Le Monde

Le Pen and Farage compete to attract MEPs as ECR numbers surge: Despite his victory in Britain’s European Parliament election, the leader of the UK Independence Party (Ukip), Nigel Farage is struggling to secure the existence of his Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) group. Farage is being squeezed by France’s far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, who is trying to cobble together a far-right group called the ‘European Alliance for Freedom’ and has already wooed Italy’s Northern League away from the EFD, and the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group. The ECR this week added ten members (going to 55 MEPs), including former members from the Danish People’s Party and the Finns, both parties having been previously aligned to the EFD. Slovakian, German and Greek members also joined the ECR, with decisions pending on Bulgaria Without Censorship and the Alternative for Germany (whose admission to the group of David Cameron’s Conservatives could anger Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel, at a sensitive time in negotiations on the Commission presidency). Meanwhile Farage is trying to forge links with Italy’s Five Star Movement, but risks not having enough nationalities to re-form the EFD. European Voice; EUObserver; Novinite; Europe Decides; Twitter; Reuters; EurActiv

12

May

The populist challenge and the mainstream response

Tags: EU-US, European Conservatives and Reformists Group, Geert Wilders, Marine Le Pen, Nigel Farage

Comments: 4

Marley Morris of Counterpoint, a UK-based research group that focuses on cultural and social dynamics underpinning politics, economics and security, writes on the prospect of an increase in populist voices at the European elections:

The European Parliament elections contain a strange contradiction.

The next parliament, thanks to the Lisbon Treaty, will have more power than any of its predecessors. It will be able to elect the President of the European Commission for the first time. Vast areas of vital policy – not least the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership – are at stake. And as the first pan-European elections since the worst moments of the eurozone crisis, the results will be analysed as a crucial gauge of public opinion.

And yet there is still a long way to go to making the European Parliament elections comparable in status to national polls. Eurobarometer tells us that only 54 per cent of European Union citizens are aware that the European Parliament is directly elected.

Efforts by the mainstream European-level parties to tout their ‘lead candidates’ seem to have had limited success, with many voters unaware of the contest, and numerous commentators suspecting that the next Commission president may well be someone else entirely.

A populist surge?

Ten days from the elections, the expectation is that apathy will translate into success for Eurosceptics and populists at the polls.

Marine Le Pen (right), the leader of France’s populist radical right National Front (FN) party, and Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-Islam and Eurosceptic Party for Freedom (PVV) in the Netherlands, pledged last year to join forces. They plan to form a political group with like-minded parties in the new Parliament. Wilders has said of the proposed alliance: “We will have an enormous influence… We are working on a historical project.”