Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap from me, Jakub Krupa.
Here are the three things to take away from today’s blog:
EU leaders lined up to warn against the consequences of US president Donald Trump’s threats to impose “totally unnecessary and stupid” tariffs on the European Union, assertively warning against a potential retaliation from the bloc (12:27).
French prime minister François Bayrou moved to force through France’s 2025 budget without a vote (14:36, and 16:12, and 16:21), and is expected to survive a confidence vote later this week after the Socialist Party decided against backing the motion (16:02).
Earthquake fears have prompted people to flee Santorini, as Greece’s most popular island destination continues to be hit by what scientists described as a “barrage” of tremors (16:34). But the country’s prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said authorities were monitoring a “very intense” geological phenomenon over recent days, and asked “our islanders above all to remain calm” (14:59).
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
Have a great weekend and see you again tomorrow.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at [email protected].
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
Updated
Merz's 'uncompromising' speech at the CDU/CSU conference in final weeks of campaign
in Berlin
The German conservative opposition leader, Friedrich Merz, whose party is widely tipped to win this month’s general election, defended his hardline migration proposals after a wave of protests accused him of breaching the time-honoured “firewall” between the far right and centrists.
In an uncompromising speech to a party congress of his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Berlin, Merz said he was confident they would win the 23 February vote “with a very good result”, well ahead of the anti-immigration, anti-Islam Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), which has been consistently placing second in the polls.
Five days after passing a non-binding resolution on border policy with the votes of the far right – marking a historic breach of a taboo – Merz renewed a promise to bar any formal cooperation with the AfD in future.
Full story:
Updated
