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France's far-right is expected to make gains in June's European elections. It stands the chance of reshaping EU politics as it could influence the making of any new coalition in the European Parliament and weaken pro-EU forces.
According to a late April exclusive Euronews Superpoll, the far-right Rassemblement National is in first place and has consolidated its score slightly above 30% of the voting intentions in four weeks, while the party of President Emmanuel Macron, Renaissance, is second, with a meagre 17.5%.
Led by Jordan Bardella, Marine Le Pen’s heir apparent, Rassemblement National (RN) spearheads the French far right. The party made more progress in April compared to March, as opposed to its rival — Renaissance — in second place, which seems to be losing even more ground.
Many French voters could be tempted to use the EU election to express their disappointment with Macron's social and economic policies.
The crisis of identity of traditional mainstream parties that made the French political history of contemporary France and Europe seems far from being resolved despite the encouraging as well as modest third place of the Socialist Party.
Support for Rapah？l Gluksmann’s party hasn’t grown between March and April, yet it is still kicking after years of deep political trouble.
The social concerns of the French people, especially when it comes to the pensions reform, have given the Socialist Party a new youth, eroded the presidential votes' capital, and enhanced Bardella's RN.
The European People's Party affiliate, Les Republicains or The Republicans, places fourth among the French voters. A big portion of the electoral base is still seduced by Macron's free market-oriented policies, another part of Les Republicains is attracted by the radical and anti-migration conservatism of the far-right even for social reasons.
''In terms of voter profile, RN’s most impressive gains have come with younger, educated voters, who have long avoided Le Pen's party. With voters between 18 and 49 years old, RN dominates other parties,'' underlines the Euronews Poll Center.
The radical leftist faction, La France Insoumise (LFI) slightly improved its electoral expectations, while the French Greens have lost some ground compared to March.
The French far and radical right is made up of two parties, the larger being the RN, a member of the Identity and Democracy group.
Its smaller competitor is Reconquête ("Reconquer"), which is a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists group (ECR) and led by Eric Zemmour, a passionate nationalist conservative author and columnist.
Zemmour is a highly controversial figure with an anti-migration agenda, regarded by many French as a representative of the current far-right thinking.
The French right-wing surge could influence the composition of the future parliament, especially in terms of seats and political leanings.
Viewed from the French perspective, life could be difficult for the current grand coalition of social-democrats, centre-right EPP, and pro-market liberals.
Macron’s Renaissance has a leading role in the grand coalition because of the number of seats it holds — but an electoral setback could kill the grand coalition’s political alliance.
While Glucksman’s socialists are slowly eroding, the Socialist Party is facing a showdown of its own — from the radical leftists of Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
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Thousands of Slovaks rallied in the capital Bratislava on Thursday to protest a controversial overhaul of the country’s public radio and television services, a move that critics say would result in the government taking full control of the media.
The coalition government of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico approved the measure on 24 April, and the parliament, where Fico’s coalition government has a majority, is expected to approve it in June.
The plan has been widely criticized by President Zuzana ？aputová, local journalists, the opposition, international media organizations and the European Commission.
The proposed changes would mean the public broadcaster known as RTVS would cease to exist and be replaced by a new organisation.
“The Slovak democracy needs a strong and independent RTVS and its employees need your support,” Michal ？ime？ka, the head of Progressive Slovakia, the major opposition party that organized the protest, told a crowd of several thousands at Bratislava Freedom Square.
People take part in a protest against the government organised by the Progressive Slovakia movement on Freedom Square in BratislavaJaroslav Novak/Tlacova agentura SR
The takeover plan was drafted by Culture Minister Martina ？imkovi？ová, who represents the Slovak National Party, an ultra-nationalist member of the coalition government. She has worked for an internet television outlet known for spreading disinformation.
？imkovi？ová said the current broadcaster gives space only to mainstream views and censors the rest. The broadcaster has denied the claim.
“They don’t understand that the essence of public broadcasting is to protect democracy, the rule of law and freedom,” said Zora Jaurová, a lawmaker for the Progressive Slovakia party.
Under her plan, the new broadcaster — Slovak Television and Radio, or STVR — will have a director selected by a council whose nine members will be nominated by the Culture Ministry and Parliament. The current director has a parliamentary mandate until 2027.
Fico’s leftist-populist Smer (Direction) party won the 30 September parliamentary elections on a pro-Russian and anti-American platform.
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US President Joe Biden has called Japan and India “xenophobic” countries that do not welcome immigrants, lumping the two with adversaries China and Russia.
The remarks made at a campaign fundraising event Wednesday evening came just three weeks after the White House hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
During the lavish official visit, the two leaders celebrated what Biden called an “unbreakable alliance,” particularly on global security matters.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed by the White House last summer.
The comment is the latest in a long list of gaffes by Biden, who is 81 years old.
His Republican rival Donald Trump has aired a similar amount of public blunders and scandalous comments, including mocking disabled people, appearing to get his own wife's name wrong and suggesting injecting bleach could fight COVID.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Freeland, Mich., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Paul Sancya/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved
At a hotel fundraiser where the donor audience was largely Asian American, Biden said the upcoming US election was about “freedom, America and democracy”.
He said the country's economy was thriving “because of you and many others”.
“Why? Because we welcome immigrants,” Biden said. “Look, think about it. Why is China stalling so badly economically? Why is Japan having trouble? Why is Russia? Why is India? Because they’re xenophobic. They don’t want immigrants.”
“Immigrants are what makes us strong," the US leader added. "Not a joke. That’s not hyperbole, because we have an influx of workers who want to be here and want to contribute.”
Japan and India critical US allies
Japan and India are critical US allies and vital partners in the Indo-Pacific.
There was no immediate reaction from either the Japanese or Indian governments.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Biden was making a broader point about the US posture on immigration.
“Our allies and partners know well in tangible ways how President Biden values them, their friendship, their cooperation and the capabilities that they bring across the spectrum on a range of issues, not just security related,” Kirby said on Thursday morning when asked about Biden's “xenophobic” remark.
“They understand how much he completely and utterly values the idea of alliances and partnerships,” he added.
Biden’s comments came at the start of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.