Summary of the day
The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said at the Progressive Governance Summit that there is a need for a European debate about European politics. He also stressed the need to give people hope and a feeling of security about the future.
In a move that raises new questions about the political centre in the European parliament, the populist former Czech prime minister, Andrej Babiš, has announced that his ANO party is leaving the Renew Europe group.
The Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has criticised the centre-right European People’s party this morning – and in particular its leader Manfred Weber – while also claiming Germany “no longer smelled and looked the same.”
Slovakia’s government has asked police to investigate the former cabinet and defence minister Jaroslav Nad for donating fighter jets and an air defence system to Ukraine.
Nicolas Schmit, the European commissioner from Luxembourg who was the European socialists’ lead candidate in the European elections, has weighed in on the campaign in France, warning that “you cannot be left-wing and anti-Semitic or racist.”
Hervé Breuil, a candidate for France’s far-right National Rally (RN) party, was assaulted yesterday as he campaigned in the industrial town of Saint Etienne, near Lyon.
Asked if he has advice for Keir Starmer, Olaf Scholz said:
I spoke a lot with him, I met him quite often. And I think he’s a very good, pragmatic social democratic politician… And it looks really good for the elections there. And after that long time, it’s something as a social democrat I look for.
Updated
It is wrong to think that if young people vote that they are different from their parents and grandparents, Olaf Scholz said.
“We have to work very hard to give security to people about the future,” he said, pointing to labour right, the social welfare state and security.
People have fears, he said. Some of the young supported the far-right, as some older people did, he added.
Updated
There needs to be a European debate, German chancellor says
“There is not a European debate” and this is a risk for any politician who is acting in Europe, the German chancellor said.
It is very difficult for people to follow who are members of the European parliament and what they are doing, he said.
Scholz also said that “if democracy works, it needs a public debate that is following the decision,” he said.
“We need something of a European debate about European politics,” he said.
Updated
Rule of law is essential for economic growth, the German chancellor said.
Olaf Scholz said conflicts around the globe are “creating an atmosphere of insecurity.”
He also spoke of changes in technology, including artificial intelligence, and the question of climate change.
“All these things are happening at the same time,” he said, noting that it’s important to give people a perspective that there will be a good outcome.
“Hope and the chance for having a better world is I think the main question for the times to come,” the chancellor said.
Updated
“We have yet not a better model for economic dynamism and dynamics as the system we have today,” Olaf Scholz said when discussing the global economy.
The right question, he said, is developing a secure perspective for people in a world that is changing, giving them hope that they will have a good future and that they don’t have to be afraid of the world to come, the German leader said.
Updated
Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, said at the Progressive Governance Summit that globalisation is a benefit for world development.
There must be an answer to the question why the most lucky countries in the world have “right-populist movements and unrest,” he said.
We should not discuss whether we are living in a capitalist world or not, but discuss the model that gives security and hope for the future, the chancellor said.
Updated
Watch live: Olaf Scholz speaks at the Progressive Governance Summit
Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, is now on stage at the Progressive Governance Summit with Lea Ypi, a professor of political theory and political science at the London School of Economics.
The session is chaired by Katharine Viner, the Guardian’s editor-in-chief.
Watch live here:
Slovakia's government asks police to investigate former minister over Ukraine donations
Slovakia’s government has asked police to investigate the former cabinet and defence minister Jaroslav Nad for donating fighter jets and an air defence system to Ukraine, Reuters reported.
A new Slovak government came to power late last year, and has adopted a more Kremlin-friendly approach.
The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, will be speaking soon at the Progressive Governance Summit, at a session chaired by the Guardian’s editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner.
Stay tuned.
The German economy minister, Robert Habeck, said his country’s China strategy needs to be updated to include a longer-term plan, Reuters reported.
He said the China strategy misses where Germany wants to go in the future, which should be the medium-term relationship between both countries.
Orbán takes aim at EPP leadership and criticises German society
The Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has criticised the centre-right European People’s party this morning – and in particular its leader Manfred Weber – while also claiming Germany “no longer smelled and looked the same.”
The far-right and anti-immigration Hungarian leader is scheduled to meet with the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, later today.
Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party has thus far been left out in the cold in the post-elections game of musical chairs among European political groups, while its new domestic rival, Péter Magyar’s Tisza, has joined the EPP.
Fidesz has long sought to join the European Conservatives and Reformists group, which includes Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy and Poland’s Law and Justice. But Orbán is seen by many parties – including even some within the ECR – as a toxic political player, especially given his Kremlin-friendly views.
Earlier this week, the Fidesz faction leader, Máté Kocsis, said that “the Romanian AUR party, known for its extreme anti-Hungarian stance, has joined the ECR group in the European Parliament. Fidesz will never share a faction with such a party in the European Parliament. This is non-negotiable!”
Nevertheless, Orbán is scheduled to meet Meloni next week.
❗️@PM_ViktorOrban on Kossuth Radio: This coalition that has been formed, the Liberals, the Left, and the People's Party, is a pro-war coalition. Led by @ManfredWeber, who has a Beelzebubian role in the failure and the spoiling of Brussels politics, they have agreed on a program… pic.twitter.com/NNplScRVwJ
— Zoltan Kovacs (@zoltanspox) June 21, 2024
Updated
'You cannot be left-wing and anti-Semitic or racist', European socialist candidate says
Nicolas Schmit, the European commissioner from Luxembourg who was the European socialists’ lead candidate in the European elections, has weighed in on the campaign in France, warning that “you cannot be left-wing and anti-Semitic or racist” and asking France Unbowed (LFI) “to leave no doubt on this subject.”
Les élections en France ont aussi une importance capitale pour l’Europe et la gauche européenne.On ne peut être de gauche et antisémite ou raciste.Pour clarifier il est urgent pour LFI et son leader de ne laisser aucun doute à ce sujet.
— Nicolas Schmit, PES lead candidate (@NSchmitPES) June 21, 2024
Czech ANO party leaves Renew Europe group, further weakening centrist force
The populist former Czech prime minister, Andrej Babiš, has announced that his ANO party is leaving the Renew Europe group in the European parliament.
In a social media post, he cited differences on issues such as illegal migration, internal combustion engines and the European Green Deal.
By taking his 7 MEPs out of Renew, Babiš has further weakened the grouping, which took a hit amid a poor performance of Emmanuel Macron’s camp in France.
The move will also deepen concerns of centrists about whether Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, could win support for a second term by relying solely on the centre-right, centre-left and liberals.
Valérie Hayer, a French politician and the president of Renew Europe, said in a statement that “this was a divorce that was long overdue.”
“ANO has chosen a populist path that is incompatible with our values and identity. Over the last month, their divergence from our values has increased exponentially and we witnessed this with great concern. ANO’s unwillingness to continue their commitment to liberal values have led to today’s outcome,” she added.
Vždy plníme, co občanům slíbíme. Do evropských voleb jsme šli s tím, že budeme bojovat proti ilegální migraci, že chceme zrušit zákaz spalovacích motorů a zásadně změnit Green Deal. Hlavně ale chceme, aby Česká republika zůstala suverénní zemí.
— Andrej Babiš (@AndrejBabis) June 21, 2024
Dosavadní jednání ukázala, že ve…
French far-right candidate assaulted on campaign trail
Hervé Breuil, a candidate for France’s far-right National Rally (RN) party, was assaulted as he campaigned in the industrial town of Saint Etienne, near Lyon, Reuters reported.
His assailants wore black and masked their faces, spokespeople for the police and local authority said. He was hospitalised following the assault but was due to be released soon.
France is preparing for snap legislative elections later this month.
The incident came amid a wave of violence against politicians in different parts of Europe.
The National Rally’s Marine Le Pen blamed “far-left extremists” for the attack on Breuil.
Lâchement agressé par les milices d’ultra-gauche, soutiens du Nouveau Front Populaire, Hervé Breuil, notre candidat à Saint-Etienne, est ce soir toujours hospitalisé. Une campagne électorale dans une démocratie ne saurait admettre ce déchaînement d’ultraviolence d’une… https://t.co/ntkRBU8Kmf
— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) June 20, 2024
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