Boris Johnson’s Blue Wall Starts to Crack
Britain’s ruling Conservative Party loses a by-election in its traditional heartland.
Western Europe
Dutch Likely to Reverse Labor Market Liberalizations
Most parties want to encourage the use of regular contracts.
Dutch Right Alarmed as Left Needed to Form Government
Labor and the Greens lost the election but could still end up in power.
Germans Long for Change
The national mood favors the Greens over the ruling Christian Democrats.
Great British Railways: Neither Public Nor Private Enough
The better options would be complete nationalization or full privatization.
Labour’s Problems Go Deeper Than Starmer
The party needs to reinvent social democracy for the twenty-first century.
Three Things to Watch in Britain’s Local Elections
Will the SNP win an absolute majority? Will Labour’s Red Wall hold? How well will Labour do in Wales?
The Arguments For and Against Scottish Independence
Scotland has a strong economy, but it relies on England for its defense and trade.
Is Macron’s Law and Order Offensive Justified?
Some crimes are up. Many French believe prison sentences are too light.
Revelations in Benefits Scandal Make Rutte’s Job Even Harder
Few parties are willing to give the liberal prime minister a fourth term.
Why Germany’s Greens Are on the Rise
After sixteen years of muddling through, the time is ripe for something new.
German Right Picks Unpopular Laschet to Succeed Merkel
Voters would have preferred the more conservative leader of Bavaria, Markus Söder.
Don’t Panic About Macron’s Reelection (Yet)
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
Söder Can Give Germany’s Christian Democrats Fresh Start
Armin Laschet is not the man to lead Germany out of the COVID-19 crisis.
Rutte’s Opponents Smell Blood in the Water
But center-right parties may want to think twice before forcing him out.