The German Government Must Take a Leading Role in the EU böll.kolumne By blocking numerous EU legislative processes, Germany’s three-party “traffic light coalition” has wreaked havoc in Brussels. Given the uncertainty surrounding the makeup of the new European Parliament and the presidential election in the United States, it is clear that a U-turn is needed in German EU policy. By Jan Philipp Albrecht
What would a second Trump presidency mean for UK-EU defence cooperation? Commentary A Trump presidency would probably force the UK and EU to intensify their cooperation on security and defence. Fortunately, says Gesine Weber, this relationship was relatively less affected by Brexit. It would also push Europeans to have some difficult conversations about building on their own nuclear deterrent. By Gesine Weber
European Greens: between electoral defence and presidential power Analysis With right-authoritarian forces on the one hand and liberal-progressive ones on the other, elections in 2024 will be fought in several major democracies, including in the European Union. Focussing on the latter, this article explores the electoral chances of the European Green Party (EGP) members, an umbrella organization for environmentalist-progressive forces. By Tobias Gerhard Schminke
European Green Party in 2023: compromised strongholds and fringe success Analysis This article chronicles how European Green Party (EGP) members performed in the 213 national, regional and major local elections in Europe in 2023. While EGP members were voted out of government in some of their strongholds, they maintained or increased their fringe influence through arrangements with larger parties in Eastern and Southern Europe. By Tobias Gerhard Schminke
Politics against women Commentary Reproductive rights are a political issue in Poland. This is particularly visible in the election campaign, which makes it all the more surprising that many women do not want to vote. By Aleksandra Janowska
Divided Society, Populism and an Electorate that swings from frustration to cynicism Interview Polish politics divides rather than unites. This is very clear from the ongoing election campaign. Polish society is deeply polarised. PiS voters are resistant to the scandals of the ruling party, or cynically choose the option that gives them the greatest benefit. Despite this, sociologist Dr Przemysław Sadura does not foresee the end of democracy in Poland. By Joanna Maria Stolarek
France at a crossroads: this time, democracy itself is at stake... again Analysis After the first round of the presidential elections in France, there is everything to play for. The incumbent President, Emmanuel Macron, is in the lead (27.84%), but this time, Marine Le Pen (23.15%) has a real chance of victory in the runoff of 24 April 2022. This is our analysis of the elections. By Jules Hebert
5 things you need to know about the Green fraction in the 20th German Bundestag Listicle Following the German federal election of 26 September 2021, the German Greens achieved the biggest, most female, younger and diverse parliamentary group in their history. Let’s explore some fact and figures about the Alliance 90/The Greens fraction in the 20th Bundestag! By Joan Lanfranco
Time for a new political culture Commentary In the pandemic year 2021, Germany has voted. It is already clear that what is needed is a new political culture of enablement and participation. Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung President Dr. Ellen Ueberschär comments on the results of the German federal elections. By Dr. Ellen Ueberschär
Parliamentary elections 2015 in Poland: trends and tactics Democracy is a system in which political parties lose elections, stated Adam Przeworski. After all, what matters is who failed and why. When analysing the structure of party supporters and the shifts in their preferences, parliamentary elections 2015 can be seen as a reversal of several trends. By Waldemar Wojtasik Ph.D.