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:
Former German chancellor Angela Merkel has just issued a rare statement directly criticising her successor as the leader of the CDU/CSU, Friedrich Merz, for passing far-reaching proposals on migration and asylum with the support of the far right (11:23). She said that Merz was “wrong to no longer feel bound” by a political agreement to not put forward proposals that could be carried with the backing of the Alternative für Deutschland. The issue will be back in the spotlight on Friday, as the Bundestag will consider a draft law tightening migration rules, which could again be passed with similar majority.
Norway’s Eurosceptic Centre Party quit the government on Thursday in a dispute over the adoption of European Union energy policies, leaving the centre-left Labour party to rule alone eight months before an election (12:17, 13:23 and 14:22).
Hundreds of Serbian university students on Thursday started an 80-kilometer (50 mile) march from Belgrade toward the northern city of Novi Sad (16:16). The march will end in two days in Novi Sad, in time for a massive blockade of the city bridges on Saturday. The date marks three months since the huge concrete construction at the railway station in Novi Sad crashed on people below, on Nov. 1.
If there’s anything worth alerting you to from tonight’s debate on the AfD in the Bundestag, and the final press conference of EU justice and home affairs ministers meet in Warsaw – I will let you know tomorrow morning.
And so, that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
See you 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.
Serbian students set off on two-day protest march north to Novi Sad
Hundreds of Serbian university students on Thursday started an 80-kilometer (50 mile) march from Belgrade toward the northern city of Novi Sad, the latest endeavor in their expanding protest movement over a deadly overhang collapse in November that killed 15 people, Associated Press reports.
The march will end in two days in Novi Sad, in time for a massive blockade of the city bridges on Saturday. The date marks three months since the huge concrete construction at the railway station in Novi Sad crashed on people below, on Nov. 1.
What started as a protest against suspected corruption in construction contracts has developed into the most serious challenge in years to the country’s powerful populist leader, president Aleksandar Vučić.
AP says that students were greeted along the way by cheering citizens, honking their car horns or coming out of their homes with offers of refreshments, fruit or pancakes.
“This march is our way of showing support for our colleagues from Novi Sad.” said Tatjana Gogic, a biology student told AP. “We want also to show how persistent we are and that we do not plan to stop any time soon unless our demands are fulfilled.”
