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EU Court Upholds Spain’s Catalan Amnesty Law

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The European Union’s highest court has ruled that Spain’s controversial amnesty law for those involved in Catalonia’s independence movement does not violate EU law. The decision strengthens Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government, as the legislation was central to securing the support of Catalan separatist parties after the 2023 election.

The Court of Justice of the European Union said the amnesty is within Spain’s legal authority and can help reduce political tensions and promote reconciliation. However, it rejected one part of the law that required Spanish courts to suspend certain financial liabilities and legal proceedings within a fixed two-month period while awaiting broader EU decisions.

The ruling could benefit former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, who has been living in self-imposed exile in Belgium, though a final decision on whether the amnesty applies to him still rests with Spain’s Constitutional Court. While Spain’s government welcomed the judgment, separatist leaders said the law has yet to be fully implemented for many eligible individuals.

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German Schools Become Election Battleground as AfD Pushes Education Agenda

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Schools in Germany’s eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt have become a major political flashpoint ahead of the September 6 regional election, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is leading opinion polls. The debate intensified after teacher Max Heckel received a formal warning for telling a student he had not voted for the AfD, citing its classification as extremist by security authorities. Heckel says the incident has led to online abuse, threats, and vandalism, while raising concerns about freedom of discussion in classrooms.

The AfD argues that teachers must remain politically neutral and has pledged sweeping education reforms if it wins power in the state. Party leaders say schools should focus on traditional values, German history, and academic standards while removing what they describe as political influence and ideological teaching. The party also proposes reducing social support and integration programmes in schools as part of a broader overhaul of the education system.

Mainstream political parties and critics warn that the AfD’s plans could weaken democratic safeguards that have shaped Germany’s education system since World War II. They argue that limiting classroom discussions about extremism and the country’s history could undermine students’ understanding of democratic values. With the AfD polling close to 40% in Saxony-Anhalt, the election is expected to be a significant test of the party’s growing political influence in Germany.

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Hungary Parliament Set to Remove President Sulyok

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Hungary’s parliament is expected to approve a constitutional amendment that would remove President Tamas Sulyok from office, marking a major political move by Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s government. Magyar, who defeated former Prime Minister Viktor Orban in April’s election, has described Sulyok as being closely aligned with the previous administration and says the change is part of efforts to restore constitutional democracy.

Magyar’s Tisza party holds a parliamentary supermajority, allowing it to amend the constitution and reverse several institutional changes introduced during Orban’s 16 years in power. The proposed amendment would immediately end Sulyok’s presidency, with parliament selecting a replacement until a new constitution comes into effect or for a maximum term of five years.

President Sulyok has opposed the amendment and requested an opinion from the Venice Commission, a constitutional advisory body of the Council of Europe. The legislation also includes a proposal to limit lawmakers’ terms to 12 years, reflecting the government’s broader constitutional reform agenda.

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French Far-Right Awaits Crucial Court Ruling That Could Reshape 2027 Presidential Race

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French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is awaiting a crucial court ruling on July 7 that will determine whether she can contest the 2027 presidential election. The appeal challenges a five-year ban from holding public office and a four-year prison sentence imposed in 2025 over the embezzlement of European Parliament funds. The verdict could either clear the way for Le Pen’s fourth presidential bid or force the National Rally (RN) to choose a new candidate.

If Le Pen remains barred, party president Jordan Bardella is widely expected to become the RN’s presidential nominee. Although party leaders insist the transition would be united, many members acknowledge that replacing Le Pen would mark the end of an era for the politician who transformed the National Rally into France’s largest parliamentary party. Bardella’s leadership has also sparked internal debate over the party’s future direction, particularly on economic policy.

Opinion polls suggest both Le Pen and Bardella would comfortably advance to the second round of the 2027 election, with recent surveys showing Bardella attracting even stronger first-round support than Le Pen. However, political analysts note that his relative lack of experience compared with Le Pen could become a key issue if he leads the far-right campaign, making the upcoming court ruling one of the most significant moments in French politics ahead of the presidential race.

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Spain’s Citizenship Law Triggers Political Clash Over Overseas Voters

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Spain’s citizenship law granting nationality to descendants of Spaniards exiled during the Civil War and the Franco dictatorship has become the center of a political dispute ahead of the country’s next general election. Since the law was expanded in 2022, more than 544,000 people have obtained Spanish citizenship, with over 306,000 registering to vote, while hundreds of thousands of applications are still awaiting approval.

Opposition parties, including the conservative People’s Party (PP) and far-right Vox, have accused Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government of using the citizenship process to influence future election results. They allege, without providing evidence, that the government is strategically processing applications and voter registrations. The government has firmly denied the claims, calling them irresponsible and stating it has no control over where new citizens choose to register to vote.

The legislation extends earlier reparations measures by allowing more descendants of Spanish exiles, as well as people affected by historical discrimination, to claim citizenship. Similar ancestry-based citizenship laws exist in several European countries. While overseas voting has traditionally been low, the growing number of new citizens has intensified debate over the potential political impact of Spain’s expanding diaspora electorate.

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Sweden Proposes Tougher Sentencing Laws Ahead of National Election

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The Swedish government has announced plans to introduce tougher criminal sentencing laws ahead of the country’s September general election, aiming to strengthen its response to crime and repeat offenders. The proposed legislation would encourage courts to impose harsher penalties by making greater use of the upper end of sentencing ranges and ensuring that multiple offences are more fully reflected in prison terms.

Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer said the current system often fails to adequately punish repeat offenders because sentences are largely based on the most serious offence rather than the total number of crimes committed. Under the proposed reforms, courts would consider all offences when determining sentences. The government also plans to reduce the weight given to mitigating factors, such as the impact of imprisonment on a person’s employment.

The measures are part of Sweden’s broader crackdown on gang-related crime, which has remained a major political issue despite a decline in shootings in recent years. The right-wing government has already introduced stricter laws, including tougher penalties for gang offences, expanded police surveillance powers and prison sentences for offenders as young as 14, as it seeks to reassure voters ahead of the election.

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Thousands Continue Protests in Serbia Despite Vucic’s Resignation Announcement

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Thousands of people gathered in the Serbian city of Kraljevo on Sunday, continuing nationwide anti-government protests a day after President Aleksandar Vucic announced he would step down within weeks, paving the way for early presidential and parliamentary elections. While many protesters welcomed the announcement, they expressed concern that Vucic could retain influence by seeking the post of prime minister and backing a close ally for the presidency.

The protests began after the deadly collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad in late 2024, which claimed 16 lives and sparked widespread public anger over alleged government corruption and mismanagement. Demonstrators carrying Serbian flags and banners reading “Students are winning” marched peacefully, calling for political change and greater accountability. Vucic has denied allegations of corruption.

The developments are being closely watched by both the European Union and Russia, given Serbia’s strategic position and its balancing of relations with both sides. The EU has urged Serbia to uphold democratic standards, strengthen judicial independence, improve press freedom and ensure fair elections as part of its bid to join the bloc. Protesters say their movement is about securing lasting institutional reforms rather than simply replacing political leaders.

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Swiss Voters Reject 10 Million Population Cap, Safeguarding Ties with the European Union

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Switzerland has officially rejected a controversial referendum proposal to cap its population at 10 million, with approximately 55% of voters casting a “no” ballot. Championed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP), the initiative mandated that if the population exceeded the threshold before 2050, the country would be forced to terminate its free movement of labor agreement with the European Union. The high-stakes vote drew a 59% turnout—well above the national average—and was widely compared to Britain’s 2016 Brexit referendum due to its potential to disrupt vital European trade relations.

The result has been widely celebrated by Swiss business groups and government officials, who warned that the cap would trigger economic chaos, freeze vital foreign recruitment, and sour diplomatic ties with Brussels. Opponents successfully argued that isolating the small nation was highly risky, especially following a volatile 2025 marked by heavy U.S. trade tariffs on Swiss goods under President Donald Trump. While Swiss Justice Minister Beat Jans welcomed the signal of economic stability and openness, he simultaneously pledged to address mounting public anxieties regarding rising rents and strained public infrastructure.

Despite the defeat, political analysts and green-party lawmakers warn that the close nature of the debate has permanently shifted the country’s political landscape. Switzerland’s population currently stands at 9.1 million—with foreign nationals comprising nearly 28%—and is on track to hit the 10 million mark by the early 2040s. While SVP leadership maintains that the core issues of mass migration remain unresolved and vows to keep pushing for curbs, opposing lawmakers caution that the initiative has effectively legitimized a highly sensitive debate surrounding population caps.

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EU Agrees New Rules Allowing Deportation of Rejected Migrants to Centres Outside the Bloc

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The European Union has reached a political agreement on new migration rules that would allow member states to send rejected asylum seekers and visa overstayers to “return hubs” located outside the EU. The proposal, aimed at improving deportation enforcement, comes as European governments face growing political pressure to curb irregular migration despite a decline in arrivals over the past year.

Under the new framework, authorities would gain expanded powers, including longer detention periods, the collection of biometric data, searches of premises, and penalties for migrants who do not cooperate with deportation procedures. EU officials argue the measures are necessary because only a small percentage of people ordered to leave the bloc currently do so.

Human rights organizations and opposition lawmakers have strongly criticized the plan, warning it could lead to abuses and undermine migrant rights. Critics say the rules resemble aggressive immigration enforcement practices seen elsewhere and could increase detentions, home searches, and transfers to third countries with limited safeguards. The legislation still requires formal approval from EU governments and the European Parliament.

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Malta Votes in Snap Election as Labour Eyes Historic Fourth Term

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Voting began in Malta’s parliamentary elections on Saturday, with opinion polls indicating that Prime Minister Robert Abela’s ruling Labour Party is on track to secure a record fourth consecutive term in office. Abela called the snap election a year ahead of schedule, citing the need to address future challenges arising from global uncertainty.

Malta enters the election with one of the strongest economies in the European Union, recording 4% growth last year, low inflation, and minimal unemployment. The Labour government has highlighted economic stability and frozen energy prices as key achievements, though concerns remain over the potential impact of Middle East tensions on inflation and tourism.

The opposition Nationalist Party, led by Alex Borg, has argued that economic growth has not significantly improved residents’ quality of life. Issues such as rising rents, overcrowding, pressure on public services, and the growing number of migrant workers have become major campaign topics. Election results are expected to be announced around midday on Sunday.

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