Spain and Poland at the ballot box: what’s next for Europe?
Mark Leonard welcomes José Ignacio Torreblanca and Piotr Buras to discuss recent developments in Spanish and Polish politics and their impact on Europe
National Politics
Rifts and realities: The strained bond between Poland and Ukraine
In the dispute over grain and arms deliveries, Poland’s government is squandering the chance to shift Europe’s centre of gravity to the east
Hanging in the balance: How the Polish far-right could swing the next election
As Poland’s parliamentary election nears, the rising far-right party Confederation is set to swing the balance between right-wing incumbents Law and Justice, and the liberal opposition. An alliance with either could spell political chaos
In balance: How Italy can solve its China problem
Italy’s membership of the BRI risks harming its relations with G7 partners. It is time for it to carefully disentangle itself from the initiative
After the riots: The future of Macron’s foreign policy
France’s support for EU and NATO enlargement could be transformational for European security. But domestic unrest and sniping by others could undermine French steadfastness on these major questions
Showdown: What to expect from Spain’s general election
While Spain’s People’s Party leads the polls, obscure alliances and voter concerns leave the country’s future direction – and its impact on next year’s European Parliament elections – uncertain
Wheels up for Vilnius: Three lessons Germany’s NATO partners should draw from its new national security strategy
Germany’s first ever national security strategy contained few big surprises – but the country’s NATO partners can still draw three key lessons from the document
How the fight against Russian agents in Poland could destroy democracy
Under the guise of fighting “Russian influence”, the Polish government is preparing to attack and disqualify its opponents
Baltic defence: Why NATO should persuade Turkey to admit Sweden
The longer that Ankara delays Swedish membership of NATO, the harder it may become to sustain public support and prepare effective Baltic defence
East side story: Poland’s new role in the European Union
Poland will need to expand the boundaries of its influence in order to transform its wartime political capital into real leadership in the EU