German CDU ‘understands’ French conservatives’ refusal to apply cordon sanitaire

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In today’s news from the Capitals:

BERLIN | PARIS

Germany’s conservative CDU party understands the decision by the French conservative party Les Républicains – both members of the EPP – not to call for a cordon sanitaire if opponents from the far right or the left-wing coalition Nouveau Front Populaire face off in the second round of the French legislative elections, the CDU’s foreign policy spokesperson told Euractiv. Read more.

German von der Leyen critics backpedal on resistance. Public resistance to a second Ursula Von der Leyen Commission is crumbling among her critics in the German government as the liberal FDP approved of her policy direction on Monday. Read more.

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PARIS

Snap elections: Two scenarios that could shape France’s political future. The French far-right Rassemblement national (RN) secured a historic win on the first round of the snap legislative elections on Sunday, but this may not necessarily translate into a far-right government after the second round of votes next weekend. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

ROME

Italy’s Tajani says von der Leyen will be ‘forced’ to deal with ECR. The coalition behind Ursula von der Leyen will reach an agreement with the European Conservatives and Reformists group (ECR) in the European Parliament as it is the only way for her to secure a second mandate, said Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, vice-president of the same EU political group as von der Leyen, the European People’s Party (EPP). Read more.

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MADRID

Spain’s Supreme Court refuses to apply amnesty law to Puigdemont. Spain’s Supreme Court on Monday dealt a blow to former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont’s plans to return to Spain from self-imposed exile in southern France, upholding embezzlement charges against the separatist leader, thus refusing to apply the controversial amnesty law. Read more.

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LISBON

Portuguese PM assures full cooperation with European Council president-elect Costa. Portugal pledges “full collaboration and cooperation” with the European Council president-elect António Costa, said Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro on Monday, stressing that Costa will be “another Portuguese” in a “very important” international position. Read more.

EASTERN EUROPE

WARSAW

Polish president sets up own council to go ahead with PiS’ flagship mega-airport plan. Polish President Andrzej Duda has set up his own council to push ahead with plans to build a new ‘mega airport’ in Poland, a flagship project of the former ruling PiS party to which Duda is said to still be loyal, following his falling out with Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government over the project. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Slovakia may redirect millions from recovery plan to carbon storage project. Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government is considering redirecting €300 million from its recovery plan to building an underground carbon dioxide storage facility, even though the plan, which needs European Commission approval and must be ready by 2026, was originally aimed at making Slovakia’s industry more environmentally friendly. Read more.

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BUDAPEST

Orbán voices ‘optimism’ after French far-right win. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Monday expressed “optimism” after France’s far-right party came out on top in the first round of the country’s parliamentary elections, saying that voters wanted “change”. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Borissov proposes government to save EU money promised to Bulgaria. GERB, the party of former prime minister Boyko Borissov which won Bulgaria’s recent elections, proposed a government on Monday whose main task will be to rescue the €12 billion promised to Bulgaria under the EU Recovery Fund and the EU budget. Read more.

AGENDA:

• EU: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Presidents of European Parliament exchange views;
• Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson meets with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile Alberto van Klaveren, in Santiago;
• Equality Commissioner delivers remarks at “Team Europe Cooperation on Gender Equality in Mexico” meeting, in Mexico city, Mexico;

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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Mandilara] 

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