Polish elections: A clash of EU visions

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In today’s news from the Capitals:

WARSAW

As Poland’s conservative ruling camp, which has developed difficult relations with EU institutions in recent years, seeks to secure a third term in office, the outcome of October’s national vote could significantly impact the balance of power ahead of next year’s EU elections. Read more.

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THE HAGUE

Three parties lead Dutch election race. The anti-establishment New Social Contract is currently leading Dutch polls, with the GreenLeft (Greens/EFA) and centre-left PvdA (S&D) trailing and the four parties in the fourth Rutte government – which collapsed in July over disagreements on asylum policy – lagging. Read more.

Dutch Commissioner hopeful Hoekstra slammed for lack of climate credentials. Dutch MEPs and climate groups have slammed Wopke Hoekstra (CDA/Renew) ‐ the Dutch government’s pick to replace former EU climate chief Frans Timmermans ‐ citing his perceived lack of climate credentials. Read more.

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BERLIN

Bavarian minister denies mocking Auschwitz. Bavarian Deputy Premier Hubert Aiwanger (Freie Wähler, Renew Europe) says he did not write a pamphlet mocking the Holocaust that was found in his school bag when he was a 17-year-old student. Read more.

German electricity price fight intensifies ahead of government retreat. The German government coalition is split on whether or not to subsidise electricity prices for energy-intensive industries, such as chemical industries and steel, with Chancellor Scholz’s own Social Democrats party turning against his position. Read more.

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PARIS

French energy regulator: Nuclear alone not enough for carbon neutrality. If France is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, it must integrate renewables into its energy mix, according to the head of the country’s energy regulator, RTE, who believes nuclear power alone will not be enough. Read more.

NORDICS & BALTICS

HELSINKI

New Finnish PM announces budget cuts, encourages Finns to work. Encouraging Finns to work and cutting the budget following the high spending of the previous Social Democratic government are issues Finnish centre-right Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the new government will tackle. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

ATHENS

Family of Greek journalist who survived over 100 SLAPPs, physically attacked. In another incident demonstrating the precarious situation for Greek journalists’, investigative reporter Kostas Vaxevanis – also a nominee for the Daphne Caruana Galizia prize – and his family were verbally and physically attacked on Friday by a businessman whose name was mentioned in the “sinful” Lagarde list, which contained roughly 2,000 potential tax evaders and was revealed in 2012 by the journalist. Read more.

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ROME

Migrant situation out of control, Italian minister asks for EU help. With thousands of migrants arriving on Italy’s coasts daily, ministers have joined mayors and governors in asking the European Union for help managing migration flows. Read more.

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MADRID

Spain’s PP head seeks support for ‘doomed to fail’ investiture. Partido Popular leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo will begin his first round of formal talks on Monday to secure the crucial parliamentary backing he needs to become Spain’s next prime minister, in a move his rival Socialist Party PSOE (S&D) said is doomed to fail. Read more.

FIFA suspends Spain football chief for 90 days over World Cup kiss. Luis Rubiales, Spain’s soccer federation (RFEF) chief, has been suspended by Fifa for 90 days, the soccer’s world governing body said in a statement on Saturday. Read more.

VISEGRAD

PRAGUE

Czech minister champions gene-editing for EU’s food and climate future. Czech Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný believes new gene editing techniques could help the European Union cope with climate change and the challenge of feeding its population. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Slovakia stops relying on Russia for nuclear fuel. A new deal with US firm Westinghouse means that 18 months after Russia invaded Ukraine, Slovakia has diversified its suppliers of crucial energy materials and is now looking to France for another source. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Bulgarian oligarch’s alleged ties to Prigozhin could shake up domestic politics. New charges against sanctioned Bulgarian oligarch Vasil Bozhkov over his links to late Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin could affect the political standing of political figure Boyko Borissov and likely plunge Bulgaria into a new political crisis. Read more.

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BUCHAREST

Blast at Romanian fuelling station injures many, kills two. Two people died, and 56 were injured after two powerful explosions occurred on Saturday afternoon at an LPG station in southern Romania, which was still in use despite lacking a fire safety licence and being officially closed. Read more.

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BELGRADE

Serbia struggles with access to clean drinking water. Serbia does not have enough water, so around one million citizens are struggling to get consistent access to safe drinking water, according to activists who spoke to EURACTIV.rs. Read more.

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TIRANA

Albanian PM: Some Greeks in Albania use flag as ‘credit card’. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said that while the problem of property titles is a real issue, it affects the whole country from north to south and not just the Greek minority, some of which use the Greek flag as a credit card. Read more.

AGENDA:

Czech Republic: Ukraine Foreign Affairs Minister on official visit;
Slovenia: European Council President Charles Michel and Central European leaders attend Bled Forum;
Poland: Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski hosts Baltic counterparts;

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