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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Lili Bayer in Brussels

Not possible to return asylum seekers who arrived from Russia, Finnish president says – as it happened

Javier Milei Europe Argentina Vox Katalin Novák Santiago Abascal Spain
An asylum seeker arrives with a bicycle at the Vartius border station in Kuhmo, eastern Finland, on Sunday.
An asylum seeker arrives with a bicycle at the Vartius border station in Kuhmo, eastern Finland, on Sunday. Photograph: Miska Puumala/Shutterstock

Summary of the day

  • Santiago Abascal, the leader of Spain’s far-right Vox party, congratulated the far-right libertarian Javier Milei on his victory in Argentina’s presidential election. “Today a path of future and hope opens for Argentines and all of Latin America, which we celebrate in Spain with special joy,” Abascal wrote, as other far-right and conservative figures across Europe also celebrated Milei’s win.

  • Stéphane Séjourné, president of the Renew Europe group, said Argentina had “chosen to try a far-right populist adventure” but that “those experiments end in failure and suffering”.

  • Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, praised Milei on his “clear stance” in support of Kyiv.

  • Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was “waiting for clarifications” from the winner of Argentina’s election.

  • Israel’s foreign minister, Eli Cohen, congratulated Milei and invited him to visit Israel to open an embassy in Jerusalem.

  • The European Commission appeared to downplay a new Hungarian government campaign that includes billboards depicting the commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Open Society Foundations chair, Alex Soros, with the slogan: “Let’s not dance to their tune.” A commission spokesperson said von der Leyen was “unfazed” by the campaign.

  • Daniel Freund, a German Green member of the European parliament, said the commission should suspend preparatory meetings with Viktor Orbán’s government before Hungarian Council presidency.

  • Amid concerns about asylum seekers arriving via Russia, Finnish president Sauli Niinistö said that it seems that it has become impossible to return people who did not meet the necessary criteria.

Updated

Kremlin waiting for 'clarifications' from Argentina's Milei

Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Kremlin, said today that Russia was paying attention to the winner of Argentina’s presidential election, Javier Milei.

“We have paid attention to the many statements made by Mr Milei during the election campaign, but mainly we will be guided and judge by what he says after the inauguration,” Peskov said, according to Tass.

“In particular, we are waiting for clarifications on many issues that will affect our bilateral relations,” he added.

Updated

Finnish prime minister Petteri Orpo spoke to reporters at a border post in Kuhmo today, amid concerns about the arrival of asylum seekers via Russia.

He said that more measures are being prepared and could be taken quickly if needed, YLE reported. The prime minister also reiterated that the recent arrival of asylum seekers is underpinned by a shift in the Russian authorities’ behavior, and that this phenomenon is continuing.

Earlier, a spokesperson for the Kremlin denied that Russia was deliberately pushing migrants to the Finnish border.

Here are images from the area over the past days.

A person arrives with a bicycle to the Vartius border station in Kuhmo, eastern Finland, on 19 November.
A person arrives with a bicycle to the Vartius border station in Kuhmo, eastern Finland, on 19 November. Photograph: Miska Puumala/Shutterstock
Vehicles of the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) are seen at the Vartius border station to provide assistance to the Border Guard to build a temporary barrier, in Kuhmo, Finland, 19 November.
Vehicles of the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) are seen at the Vartius border station to provide assistance to the Border Guard to build a temporary barrier, in Kuhmo, Finland, 19 November. Photograph: Lehtikuva/Reuters

Updated

Not possible to return asylum seekers, Finnish president says

Finland announced last week that it was closing some crossing points on its border with Russia, after several hundred people arrived via Russia from countries such as Yemen and Somalia. Speaking during a visit to Poland today, Finnish president Sauli Niinistö said:

When we talk about human rights, they are important, and we want to respect them. But we have to take notice also to national security. And now … it seems that deportation of those migrants who don’t meet the criteria of asylum has become impossible.

The Finnish president has also made the case for close cooperation on border security.

Updated

While the European Commission appears to be shying away from a confrontation with Budapest over a Hungarian government campaign targeting the commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, some parliamentarians say Brussels should take a tough stance.

Daniel Freund, a German Green member of the European parliament, said:

For von der Leyen there is only one reaction to this dirty campaign: suspend all preparatory meetings for the council presidency between the EU Commission and the Hungarian government.

Updated

Spain's Pedro Sánchez unveils new cabinet

Spanish socialist Pedro Sánchez, who became prime minister again after a controversial amnesty deal with Catalan parties, today unveiled his new cabinet – which includes many veteran faces.

José Manuel Albares remains foreign minister, and Nadia Calviño retains her position as deputy prime minister. Félix Bolaños will be the new justice minister.

Coalition partner Sumar got five ministries, with Yolanda Díaz remaining second deputy prime minister and minister of labour.

Updated

Stéphane Séjourné, president of the centrist Renew Europe group in the European parliament, said Argentina had “chosen to try a far-right populist adventure” but that “those experiments end in failure and suffering”.

“Europe must be protected from such political disasters. And on that regard, elections do matter,” he added.

Updated

Commission president 'unfazed' by Hungarian billboard campaign

The European Commission’s chief spokesperson, Eric Mamer, appeared to downplay a new Hungarian government campaign that includes billboards depicting the commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Open Society Foundations chair, Alex Soros, with the slogan: “Let’s not dance to their tune.”

The campaign has renewed concerns that the government of Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán is using antisemitic narratives for political gain at home.

At the commission’s daily press briefing today, Mamer faced several questions regarding the billboards and a related questionnaire the Hungarian government is mailing to each citizen with leading questions criticising Brussels.

But the spokesperson said that the commission would not be drawn into a debate over the questions. “We have no interest in losing time with that sort of issue in the current international context,” he said.

And when it comes to the billboards, he said:

I showed the pictures to the president. She didn’t bat an eyebrow … completely unfazed, OK? Let’s be clear: we know this is not the first time, it’s probably not the last time, we have business to do. We have crises to manage, we have policies to implement, Hungary is part of the European Union ... It sits at the table.”

Mamer also said generally that antisemitism was not tolerated in the EU, but did not directly address the issue of whether the billboards were antisemitic.

The commission’s response differs from its approach in 2019, when the Hungarian government ran a similar campaign targeting then commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and Hungarian-American businessman George Soros.

Back in 2019, the commission said: “It is shocking that such a ludicrous conspiracy theory has reached the mainstream to the extent it has. There is no conspiracy. Hungarians deserve facts not fiction.”

A government billboard shows American philanthropist Alex Soros, son of Hungarian-American financier George Soros, alongside Ursula von der Leyen, in Budapest, Hungary.
A government billboard shows American philanthropist Alex Soros, son of Hungarian-American financier George Soros, alongside Ursula von der Leyen, in Budapest, Hungary. Photograph: Bernadett Szabó/Reuters

Updated

Spanish People’s party (PP) politician Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo, who is half-Argentinian, wrote on social media that “Kirchnerism has been defeated”.

She added:

This is wonderful news for defenders of freedom around the world. The happiness of so many Argentines is also mine.

Updated

Some mainstream European politicians, including European Council president Charles Michel and EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell, have now also congratulated Argentina’s Javier Milei.

Updated

Javier Ortega Smith, a half-Argentinian politician from Spain’s Vox who was the far-right party’s general secretary until last year, congratulated “the Argentine people for getting rid of Peronism and recovering freedom”.

He also congratulated Victoria Villarruel, writing: “You are going to be the best vice-president Argentina has ever had, guaranteeing the country’s security.”

Updated

Israel’s foreign minister, Eli Cohen, has congratulated Javier Milei and invited the new Argentinian far-right libertarian president to visit Israel to open an embassy in Jerusalem.

Milei has previously said he would move the location of Argentina’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. “I don’t care if I’ll be criticized by world leaders. I truly believe that’s the right thing to do,” he said in a recent interview with the Times of Israel.

Spanish conservative PP celebrates Milei win

“Long live freedom, damn it!”

That was the message this morning, accompanied by Argentinian flags, from a social media account of the Spanish conservative People’s party (PP) in the Madrid region, which is run by the populist Isabel Díaz Ayuso.

In a statement, Ayuso said:

It’s obvious that Argentina needs a change. It was unacceptable that one of the most prosperous countries in the world should keep falling year after year into the same thing.

I wish the new government every success and I want them to know that they can count on Madrid, where we’ve worked to defend freedom from day one and where we’ve looked after so many Argentinians who have fled, terrified, from Peronism …

I ask that Spaniards open their eyes and see what can happen to one of the most vibrant democracies in the world when there are no counterweights, no anti-government movements, no respect for property, liberty or business and when we give ourselves over to a system that has reduced this prosperous nation to these depths.

Updated

André Ventura, the founder of Portugal’s far-right Chega party, congratulated Argentina’s Javier Milei, writing on social media that “the fight to defend society is taking place in several territories and in Argentina the first battle has been won!”

“Portugal follows on 10 March,” he added.

Updated

Danny Danon, Israel’s former permanent representative to the United Nations, said “we look forward” to hosting Javier Milei in Jerusalem.

Updated

Zelenskiy praises Javier Milei's stance on Ukraine

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has congratulated Javier Milei, praising him on his “clear stance” in support of Kyiv.

Updated

Salvini congratulates Milei

Matteo Salvini, Italy’s deputy prime minister and leader of the rightwing League, has also congratulated the far-right winner of Argentina’s presidential election, wishing him well in his work.

Updated

During his campaign, the far-right libertarian Javier Milei vowed to abolish Argentina’s central bank and dollarise the economy. “I know how to exterminate the cancer of inflation,” he said.

Kristalina Georgieva, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, congratulated Milei on his election victory and said: “We look forward to working closely with him and his administration.”

Updated

Hungarian president congratulates Milei on 'great victory'

Katalin Novák, Hungary’s president and a former vice-president of the ruling Fidesz party, has congratulated Javier Milei.

“Congratulations @JMilei for the great victory you have just achieved, being elected as the new president of the great Argentine nation,” Novák wrote on social media.

“From Hungary I wish you strength and perseverance to work for Argentina and for freedom,” she said.

Vox leader celebrates far-right candidate's win in Argentina

Santiago Abascal, the leader of Spain’s far-right Vox party, has congratulated the far-right libertarian Javier Milei on his victory in Argentina’s presidential election.

“Today a path of future and hope opens for Argentines and all of Latin America, which we celebrate in Spain with special joy,” Abascal wrote on the social media platform X, adding:

Long live Spain, long live Argentina, live free of socialism and sovereign!

Milei, who has vowed to take a chainsaw to the state, won 55.69% of the vote compared with 44.3% for his rival, the centre-left finance minister Sergio Massa.

Read more here about Argentina’s election.

Updated

Welcome to the blog

Good morning and welcome back to the Europe blog.

Send your tips and comments to lili.bayer@theguardian.com.

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