Merkel’s Answer to Populist Challenge: Shift to the Left
Germany’s conservative party leader calls for a focus on pay, pensions and housing.
Western Europe
Theresa May Repeats Alexis Tsipras’ Mistake
The British prime minister is trying to go over the bureaucrats’ heads.
Brexit and Trump as Reactionary Fantasies
A confident, intelligent conservatism has been reduced to nihilist, mindless reaction.
Highlights from Dutch Parties’ Coalition Agreement
The four parties plan to raise defense spending, cut taxes and relax labor laws.
Center-Right Parties Form Government in Netherlands
Christian and liberal parties announce a deal seven months after parliamentary elections.
Tax Policies from Dutch Coalition Deal Leak
The four parties due to form a government in the Netherlands are planning various tax reforms.
Election Reveals Brexit- and Trump-Like Cleavages in Germany
Supporters of the far right have much in common with voters for Brexit and Donald Trump.
British Conservatives Face Three Structural Challenges
Membership is down. The youth vote has been lost. The political landscape is shifting in Labour’s favor.
British Struggle to Understand Spain’s Reaction to Catalan Referendum
They managed two referendums in three years. Why can’t the Spanish let the Catalans vote?
Dutch Parties Agree to Simplify Tax Code
The number of income tax brackets would be reduced from four to two.
European Fears of “Jamaica” Coalition Are Overblown
The Free Democrats are hawkish on eurozone reform, but so was Wolfgang Schäuble.
German Election Shows Stabilizing Effect of Multiparty Democracy
Two-party systems are polarizing by design. Democracies with multiple parties are more stable.
Evaluating Macron’s Proposals for EU Reform
The Frenchman’s proposals fall into three categories: difficult, doable and low-hanging fruit.
Emmanuel Macron Suffered Two Setbacks This Weekend
Senate elections in France and federal elections in Germany have made Macron’s job more difficult.
Germany’s Social Democrats Should Have Picked Side
If you try to appeal to blue-collar voters and college graduates at the same time, you risk losing both.