After attending school in Finland and later the U.S., Belgium and the U.K., Stubb entered politics in 2004 as a member of the European Parliament. He hit the Finnish big time in 2008 when — to his own surprise — he was named foreign minister. Praised by allies for his high-energy approach to politics, he was … Read more
Omtzigt’s support was key to securing backing for a center-right majority government with four parties, including Wilders’ far-right Party for Freedom (PVV). Wilders’ party, led by the far-right firebrand who was previously considered politically toxic in the Netherlands given his hard-line views on immigration and Islam, landed a stunning victory in last November’s elections. Negotiator … Read more
After months of delay, Orbán officially backed Sweden’s candidacy in January, but it still needs to be validated by the Hungarian parliament. The parliamentary vote should be a formality, as Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party holds a comfortable majority. But Fidesz leaders on Monday demanded that Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson first visit Budapest before the … Read more
“Then Hungary would suffer Armageddon,” he added. The prime minister said he had “no doubt” that the document, reported about in the Financial Times, was authentic. “Knowing Brussels, they’re capable of it,” he said. Orbán has engaged in tense negotiations to extract concessions from the rest of the bloc in exchange for his support for … Read more
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Thursday the European Commission is blackmailing Hungary by withholding billions in frozen funds over rule-of-law concerns. Orbán said the blackmail is “a fact,” even admitted by the blackmailers themselves — members of the European Parliament. “In our view, Hungary fulfils all the qualities of the rule of law, and … Read more
European leaders have approved the opening of accession negotiations for Ukraine, European Council President Charles Michel announced Thursday. The announcement comes at a critical time for Ukraine as its counteroffensive against Russia’s invasion stalled in recent weeks and $60 billion in aid from the U.S. is stuck in Congress. While accession talks are likely to … Read more
The Biden-Iran Hostage Deal – WSJ The Wall Street Journal House Republican rips ‘naivete’ of Biden admin’s $6B Iran prisoner swap deal Fox News Key House Democrat says US deal to free Americans from Iran ‘not a bounty’ The Hill Top House Republicans rip Biden’s Iran prisoner swap: ‘We don’t want a secret deal’ New York Post Joe Biden’s … Read more