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French Prime Minister’s Last-Ditch Effort to Prevent Far-Right Triumph

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France’s fast-paced election campaign has concluded, and despite last-minute pleas against supporting the far-right, voters seem poised to deliver a historic win for the National Rally (RN) party in parliamentary elections. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has cautioned that this could lead to increased hate and aggression. Nonetheless, the party led by Marine Le Pen and the 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, who could potentially become the next prime minister, is leading in the opinion polls.

The National Rally has managed to maintain its position despite numerous accusations of racism involving both party members and supporters. The critical question now is whether they can secure an absolute majority in the two rounds of voting over the next two Sundays.

RN is preparing for a significant outcome, with polls showing 36.5% support just before the campaign ended. Their candidates aim to win many seats in the National Assembly outright, but most will be decided in run-off votes on July 7, involving two to four contenders.

A newly formed left-wing alliance, the New Popular Front, is close behind RN with 29% support, while the Ensemble alliance, led by Gabriel Attal, is at 20.5%. Attal describes both RN and the New Popular Front as extreme.

No region of mainland France supported RN more than L’Aisne in the European vote, with over 50% backing. This area already has RN MPs and a National Rally mayor, Franck Briffaut, who sees victory as inevitable, likening it to Giorgia Meloni’s win in Italy.

Briffaut and others in his party aim for an absolute majority in the National Assembly, needing at least 289 of the 577 seats. However, President Macron, who will appoint the next prime minister, has indicated he will remain in office until his term ends in 2027.

Jordan Bardella is pushing for an absolute majority and has hinted at a “government of national unity.” He has suggested including former conservative leader Eric Ciotti, despite his alienation from most colleagues. This raises questions about potential power-sharing with President Macron, which could lead to a difficult political landscape.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has warned of possible unrest from both the ultra-left and ultra-right following the elections. In the northern town of Soissons, which has an RN MP, locals remain skeptical of RN’s impact, despite the party’s rebranding efforts.

RN’s platform includes “National priority,” which limits social welfare to French citizens, alongside tax cuts and restrictions on strategic jobs for dual nationals. This has raised concerns among some, especially in diverse communities.

The outcome of this election could significantly impact French politics, with the possibility of RN gaining substantial influence in the National Assembly.

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Spain Socialists win Catalan vote as separatists lose ground

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The recent regional election in Catalonia marked a significant shift in the political landscape, with the Socialists, led by Salvador Illa, emerging victorious with 42 seats. This success contrasted with a drop in support for independence to 42%, down from 49% in 2017, signaling a setback for pro-independence parties.

Despite the Socialist victory, forming a government may prove challenging, as coalition negotiations are necessary. The fragmented nature of the Catalan parliament, divided by unionist-separatist allegiances and left-right divisions, is likely to prolong post-election discussions.

The amnesty law, a contentious issue benefiting nationalists and championed by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government, played a pivotal role in securing support. However, it has faced criticism, particularly from opponents on the right, for its perceived leniency towards separatist activities.

Calls for unity among pro-independence parties have emerged, but the complexity of the political landscape suggests that negotiations will be intricate. Despite former regional president Carles Puigdemont’s suggestion for a coalition between pro-independence parties, the path to forming a government remains uncertain.

Additionally, the election saw gains for the conservative People’s Party and the far-right Vox, while the centrist Ciudadanos lost all representation in the parliament. A new far-right party, Catalan Alliance, also secured two seats, further diversifying the political spectrum in Catalonia.

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Poland election: Tusk’s opposition eyes power after pivotal vote

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In Poland’s recent general election, the opposition parties have gathered enough votes to remove the ruling right-wing populist Law and Justice (PiS) party from power. The National Election Commission confirmed PiS’s victory with 35.38% of the vote, surpassing the centrist opposition Civic Coalition led by Donald Tusk, which secured 30.7%.

Donald Tusk, with the support of the center-right Third Way and New Left parties, is likely to form a broad coalition, thus ending PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s eight-year rule. With 248 seats in the 460-seat Sejm, Mr. Tusk’s coalition would exceed the 231-seat threshold required for a majority.

Despite PiS losing 41 seats compared to the last election, their potential coalition with the far-right Confederation party would still fall short by 19 seats. The opposition had alerted Poles that this election was crucial in safeguarding democracy. Voter turnout was reported at 74.38%, the highest since the fall of communism in 1989.

Celebrations erupted in Warsaw, with Mr. Tusk addressing enthusiastic supporters, emphasizing that Poland and democracy had emerged victorious. Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski praised the power of civil society, highlighting the significant voter participation in the capital.

Poland’s stock market surged more than 6%, and the Zloty, its currency, also strengthened on the anticipation of a new government. International observers noted that although parties were allowed to campaign freely, PiS had an advantage due to biased state media coverage and the misuse of public funds.

PiS’s tenure has been characterized by an emphasis on Catholic family values, increases in the minimum wage, and enhancements in child support and pensioner payments. It also imposed a near-total ban on abortion in 2021 and faced criticism for politicizing the judiciary.

Mr. Tusk has pledged to improve relations with the EU and unlock €36bn of EU Covid pandemic recovery funds, frozen due to disputes over PiS’s judicial reforms. His coalition also aims to liberalize abortion laws.

Poland’s strong support for Ukraine since Russia’s invasion and its acceptance of a million refugees are expected to continue under the new government. However, the process of forming a new government might extend until December, following President Andrzej Duda’s announcement that the winning party would be given the first opportunity to form a coalition, adhering to Polish tradition.

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Russia’s Rejection from UN Human Rights Council Membership

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Russia’s ambition to regain its seat at the United Nations’ Human Rights Council was dealt a significant blow as the nation failed to secure a new three-year term. Russia’s expulsion from the council in April of the previous year, prompted by its military incursion into Ukraine, had led the country to campaign vigorously for reinstatement, aiming to exploit divisions among UN member states regarding support for Ukraine.

Nonetheless, Bulgaria and Albania managed to secure the two available seats designated for Eastern European countries. The voting took place in the aftermath of a Russian missile attack in northeastern Ukraine, which resulted in the tragic loss of 52 lives.

The final tally revealed Russia receiving 83 votes in favor, a number that fell short of securing a seat. In contrast, Bulgaria received 160 votes, while Albania garnered 123. Russia’s vigorous campaign, which included offering incentives such as grain and arms to smaller nations, failed to garner sufficient support.

Throughout the process, Moscow had voiced its commitment to finding “adequate solutions for human rights issues” and expressed a desire to prevent the council from becoming an “instrument serving the political interests of a specific group of countries,” which was perceived to be a reference to Western nations.

Diplomats speculated that Russia had counted on receiving support from a considerable number of member states, particularly from developing nations, albeit privately. However, these nations appeared to have abstained from voting in favor of Russia publicly to avoid antagonizing Western states.

Russia’s campaign also included accusations that the United States had spearheaded efforts to prevent their return to the council.

Last year, Russia was suspended from the Human Rights Council with 93 members of the UN General Assembly voting in favor, 24 against, and 58 abstaining.

For the next three years starting in 2024, the Human Rights Council will comprise the following countries: Albania, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, China, the Ivory Coast, Cuba, Dominican Republic, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Malawi, and the Netherlands.

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Bavaria election: Toxic campaign heralds big vote for Germany’s populists

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In Germany’s largest state, Bavaria, voters recently participated in a contentious parliamentary election marked by a toxic atmosphere and the rise of populist forces. The far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) aimed for a strong showing but faced accusations of manipulating the truth for political gain, while claiming to be victims of physical attacks and threats.

Tino Chrupalla, an AfD co-leader, was hospitalized after an incident during an election rally, which the party described as a “physical attack,” though police found no evidence of poisoning. Alice Weidel, another AfD co-leader, was placed in a safe house by Swiss police due to security concerns, even though she was on holiday abroad at the time.

On the other side, the Bavarian Greens faced hostility from right-wing factions, including physical attacks on their co-leader Katharina Schulze. Bavaria, once a tranquil and conservative stronghold, is experiencing turmoil as it grapples with various crises, including the Ukrainian refugee influx and the transition to renewable energy.

Despite these challenges, the government has managed to avert economic catastrophe, but public sentiment remains gloomy. The political landscape in Bavaria is increasingly polarized, with right-wing populists gaining traction by opposing climate reforms and presenting themselves as victims of persecution.

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Greek conservative party aims for a majority win in upcoming election led by Mitsotakis

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In Greece, conservative ex-Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is seeking a strong majority as voters head to the polls for the second time in a month. Mitsotakis emerged victorious in May’s election and called for new elections in order to govern without coalition partners.

Despite a recent migrant boat tragedy that claimed the lives of an estimated 500 people, the incident has had minimal impact on the election campaign. Mitsotakis’s New Democracy party secured a significant 20-point lead over the center-left Syriza party, led by former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, and he is confident of a repeat victory that would grant him a second term. Voting will continue until 19:00 (16:00 GMT).

Mitsotakis argues that a stable government requires a majority of more than 150 seats in the 300-seat parliament. Notably, the winning party in this election will be awarded between 20 and 50 bonus seats, potentially bolstering Mitsotakis’s mandate. Recognized for stabilizing and fostering growth in the Greek economy following a severe debt crisis and multiple bailouts, Mitsotakis has established a resilient image despite facing various crises over the past year.

Tsipras faces a challenging task in this election, with Mitsotakis focusing on his accomplishments and promising lower taxes and improved public health. The two leaders diverged in their responses to the recent migrant boat sinking, with Mitsotakis defending the coastguard and condemning people smugglers, while Tsipras raised concerns and highlighted his government’s previous focus on preserving human life during the 2015 European migrant crisis.

Greek voters’ views on migration have shifted toward stricter and more conservative policies since the 2020 migration crisis on the Evros River, which reinforced perceptions of migration as an external threat to national sovereignty. Additionally, Mitsotakis benefits from the fragmentation of the Greek left, with the Socialists now the third political force in Greece, making it unlikely for left-of-center parties to form a coalition with the conservatives.

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India all set to be ruled again by PM Narendra Modi’s BJP Party

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PM Narendra Modi and his party BJP has won the world’s largest democratic election in India.

Earlier calculations and public opinion clearly showed the victory of Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP).

Results showed that BJP has won 282 seats, leading the NDA to a tally of 336 seats in the 543-seat Lok Sabha.

Narendra Modi also owns the title of third prime minister of India who has been able to retain power for a second term with full majority in Lok Sabha.

PM thanked the Indian people after confirming his victory. He said that the polls showed the world the commitment of Indian voter. In his speech, he said that it is the victory of people and democracy.

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Socialists wins the Spain election

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Spain’s ruling Socialists wins the election by collecting most of the votes. They failed to win a majority amid historic gains by the far-right. This was one among the crucial elections in decades.

29% of the votes were polled by PM Pedro Sánchez’s party. In order to form a government, they will need the help of either left-wing Podemos and regional parties, or the centre right, to form a government.

Since military rule ended in the 1970s, it is for the first time a far-right party is set to enter parliament. The Popular Party (PP) faced a collapse in support. The Popular Party had governed Spain until it was dumped from power in May 2018 in a no-confidence vote.

In this election, the Popular Party could just win 66 seats, down from 137 in the previous parliament.

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Leftist party tipped to win vote in Finland Election

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In the Sunday’s election, Finland is tipped to turn left. The Social Democrats were leading in poll. Reports said that The Social Democratic party’s Antti Rinne could be next prime minister.

It have been two decades that Finland is having a leftist prime minister in parliamentary elections.

A survey conducted showed that the Social Democrats could win the elections with 19 percent of the vote, giving their leader, Antti Rinne, the first chance for forming a government. 

With a 16.3 percent support, the Finns are moving closer with second position, after scoring rapid gains since the start of this year when a series of cases of sexual abuse of minors by foreign men emerged. 

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