Today's November 14, 2025. A massive IPSOS poll result points to about half of voters in nine EU countries dissatisfied with the way democracy is working.
Anxiety is especially acute in France, where a staggering 86 percent of voters expressed worry about the future of democracy over the next five years, prompting discussions about the rise of extremism and the lack of accountability among political leaders.
Against this backdrop of popular disquiet, the European political landscape saw a seismic shift as the center-right European People’s Party (EPP)—the largest group in the European Parliament—formally broke the cordon sanitaire.
This informal pact, which had historically kept the far-right out of decision-making, was shattered when the EPP joined forces with the Patriots for Europe group to pass cuts to a major green regulation package, a move hailed by far-right leader Jordan Bardella as a "historic victory" and the dawning of a "new era".
Internationally, the crisis consuming Kyiv continues to deepen as Ukraine reels from the biggest corruption probe of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s tenure, involving allegations that associates skimmed around $100 million from the energy sector.
Top presidential aide pushed back against the corruption criticism, affirming that Zelenskyy is a “very principled person” and “not corrupt,” emphasizing that the president initiated the fight against corruption himself.
Meanwhile, high-stakes political maneuvering dominated domestic policy in London and Berlin.
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves reversed course on a highly anticipated income tax hike, claiming better-than-expected economic forecasts negated the need for the controversial measure.
However, this U-turn was widely interpreted by critics and Labour MPs as "bottling" a bold decision, a move that immediately unsettled bond markets and led to accusations that the leadership was prioritizing "short-term survival before national interest".
Finally, Germany announced a major move toward digital sovereignty, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz stating that Chinese suppliers like Huawei would be excluded from the country's future 6G network for security reasons.
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By Meanwhile in EuropeToday's November 14, 2025. A massive IPSOS poll result points to about half of voters in nine EU countries dissatisfied with the way democracy is working.
Anxiety is especially acute in France, where a staggering 86 percent of voters expressed worry about the future of democracy over the next five years, prompting discussions about the rise of extremism and the lack of accountability among political leaders.
Against this backdrop of popular disquiet, the European political landscape saw a seismic shift as the center-right European People’s Party (EPP)—the largest group in the European Parliament—formally broke the cordon sanitaire.
This informal pact, which had historically kept the far-right out of decision-making, was shattered when the EPP joined forces with the Patriots for Europe group to pass cuts to a major green regulation package, a move hailed by far-right leader Jordan Bardella as a "historic victory" and the dawning of a "new era".
Internationally, the crisis consuming Kyiv continues to deepen as Ukraine reels from the biggest corruption probe of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s tenure, involving allegations that associates skimmed around $100 million from the energy sector.
Top presidential aide pushed back against the corruption criticism, affirming that Zelenskyy is a “very principled person” and “not corrupt,” emphasizing that the president initiated the fight against corruption himself.
Meanwhile, high-stakes political maneuvering dominated domestic policy in London and Berlin.
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves reversed course on a highly anticipated income tax hike, claiming better-than-expected economic forecasts negated the need for the controversial measure.
However, this U-turn was widely interpreted by critics and Labour MPs as "bottling" a bold decision, a move that immediately unsettled bond markets and led to accusations that the leadership was prioritizing "short-term survival before national interest".
Finally, Germany announced a major move toward digital sovereignty, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz stating that Chinese suppliers like Huawei would be excluded from the country's future 6G network for security reasons.