Separatists Defend Majority in Catalan Election

Atlantic SentinelDecember 21, 2017August 30, 2020

Palau de la Generalitat Barcelona Spain — The palace of the Catalan regional government in Barcelona, Spain at night (iStock/Tomas Sereda)

Separatists defended their majority in Catalonia on Thursday.
Parties that want to secede from Spain won seventy out of 135 seats in the regional parliament against 57 for the unionists. Read more “Separatists Defend Majority in Catalan Election”

Center-Right Parties Form Government in Netherlands

Atlantic SentinelOctober 9, 2017July 31, 2020

Prime Ministers Theresa May of the United Kingdom, Mark Rutte of the Netherlands and Justin Trudeau of Canada pose for photographs outside NATO headquarters in Brussels, May 25 (Flickr/Justin Trudeau)

Center-right parties in the Netherlands are due to form a coalition government.
The four-party deal allows Mark Rutte to stay in power for four more years. Read more “Center-Right Parties Form Government in Netherlands”

Independence Crisis in Catalonia

Atlantic SentinelOctober 3, 2017July 31, 2020

Catalans demonstrate for independence from Spain in Girona, October 1, 2014 (Ariet/Carles Palacio)

Spain has dissolved the autonomous Catalan government and charged its members with rebellion and sedition after they declared independence.
Elections for a new parliament will be held on December 21. Read more “Independence Crisis in Catalonia”

Catalans Vote for Independence in Controversial Referendum

Atlantic SentinelOctober 1, 2017July 31, 2020

Sign demanding a vote for Catalan independence in Girona, Spain, September 22, 2014 (Keith Roper)

Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy maintains “no self-determination referendum” was held in Catalonia on Sunday, although millions voted.
Regional president Carles Puigdemont claims the region has “won the right to be an independent state”.
Hundreds of Catalans were injured in altercations with Spanish riot police. Read more “Catalans Vote for Independence in Controversial Referendum”

Merkel Wins Reelection in Germany But Will Need More Parties to Govern

Atlantic SentinelSeptember 24, 2017July 31, 2020

Germany could see a three-party “Jamaica” coalition after its election on Sunday.
Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats lost support but are still the largest party.
The Social Democrats suffered an historic defeat and have ruled out continuing the left-right “grand coalition”.
The far-right Alternative for Germany has become the third largest party with strong support from the formerly communist East.
The liberal Free Democrats, Greens and far-left Die Linke share fourth place. Read more “Merkel Wins Reelection in Germany But Will Need More Parties to Govern”

Liberal Free Democrats Would Keep Merkel Sharp

Atlantic SentinelSeptember 18, 2017July 31, 2020

Christian Lindner, leader of Germany's Free Democratic Party, gives a news conference in Berlin, January 30, 2018 — Christian Lindner, leader of Germany’s Free Democratic Party, gives a news conference in Berlin, January 30, 2018 (Shutterstock)

There is little doubt Angela Merkel will win reelection in Germany on Sunday. Her Christian Democrats are projected to win up to 40 percent support against 25 percent for the second party, the Social Democrats.

The two could continue to share power in a “grand coalition”, but we’re hoping the liberal Free Democrats will win enough seats to help form a center-right government instead.

Polls suggest that the two parties might just fall short of a majority. Conservative and liberal voters who want to keep the left out of power ought to give the Free Democrats their support. Read more “Liberal Free Democrats Would Keep Merkel Sharp”

Catalans Determined to Vote in Referendum Declared Illegal

Atlantic SentinelSeptember 9, 2017July 31, 2020

Catalans demonstrate for independence from Spain in Barcelona, July 10, 2010 (SBA73)

Spain claims control of Catalonia’s public finances and police force in an attempt to prevent the region from voting on independence.
According to regional president Carles Puigdemont, Spain has “crossed a red line.” Read more “Catalans Determined to Vote in Referendum Declared Illegal”

May to Stay in Power with Support of Northern Ireland Unionists

Atlantic SentinelJune 9, 2017July 31, 2020

British prime minister Theresa May speaks with the American defense secretary James Mattis at Lancaster House in London, England, May 11 (DoD/Jette Carr)

Britain’s ruling Conservatives have lost their majority in Parliament, going down from 329 to 318 seats.
But they should be able to govern with support from the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland, which has ten seats. Read more “May to Stay in Power with Support of Northern Ireland Unionists”

Conservatives Lose Majority in British Election

Atlantic SentinelJune 8, 2017July 31, 2020

Britain’s ruling Conservatives have lost their majority in parliamentary elections, but they remain the largest party with 317 out of 650 seats.
They can probably stay in power with the support of the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland, which has ten seats.
Labour won 40 percent support nationwide and 261 seats, up 29. Read more “Conservatives Lose Majority in British Election”