2010s in European history

Last updated

The history of Europe during the 2010s covers political events which took place on the continent between 2010 and 2019.

Contents

International events in Europe


History by country

Albania

The 2011 Albanian opposition demonstrations were a series of anti-government protests in cities around Albania following 18 months of political conflict over alleged electoral fraud by the opposition. Demonstartions were called for by parliamentary opposition parties, which include the Socialist Party and the Unity for Human Rights Party. The public outcry resulted in the resignation of the deputy prime minister. On 21 January, a protest in Tirana led to the killings of three demonstrators by the Republican Guard during a rally in front of Prime Minister Sali Berisha office, while fourth person died several days later.

Parliamentary elections were held in Albania on 23 June 2013. [1] The result was a victory for the Alliance for a European Albania led by the Socialist Party and its leader, Edi Rama. [2] Incumbent Prime Minister Sali Berisha of the Democratic Party-led Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration conceded defeat on 26 June, [3] widely viewed as a sign of growing democratic maturity in Albania. [4]

The 2017 Albanian opposition protests were a series of anti-government protests, largely in Tirana, which centered around government corruption, the illicit drug situation in Albania, [5] fear of electoral fraud in the parliamentary elections, and alleged manipulation of the voting process by the Socialist government. [6] [7] They were followed by the 2019 protests calling for the cancellation of the 2019 Albanian local elections, fresh elections, resignation of prime minister Edi Rama and his entire cabinet and the installation of a new technocrat government. [8]

Austria

In the 2013 legislative election the Social Democratic Party of Austria and the Austrian People's Party lost 5 seats and 4 seats, respectively, but with a total of 99 seats they remained in majority. On 14 October 2013 the two parties began government formation talks with each other, which resulted in the grand coalition of the Second Faymann government that was appointed by President of Austria Heinz Fischer. On 17 May 2016, it was succeeded by the Kern government, following Faymann's resignation amidst the 2016 presidential election.

The First Kurz government was formed after the 2017 legislative election. Sebastian Kurz, chairman of the centre-right Austrian People's Party, known by its initials in German as ÖVP, reached an agreement on a coalition with the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), setting the stage for Kurz to become chancellor of Austria—the youngest head of government in Europe—for the first time. [9]

The Ibiza affair was a political scandal in Austria involving Heinz-Christian Strache, the former vice chancellor of Austria and leader of the Freedom Party (FPÖ), and Johann Gudenus, a deputy leader of the Freedom Party. The scandal caused the collapse of the Austrian governing coalition on 18 May 2019 and the announcement of an early election. [10] [11]

Belarus

The 2010 Belarusian protests were mass protest actions in Belarus against the results of the 2010 Belarusian presidential election, which took place on December 19, 2010, and were brutally dispersed. Between 10,000 and 60,000 people took part in the protest on October Square and Independence Square in Minsk. These were followed by the 2011 Belarusian protests. The 2017 Belarusian protests also followed later.

Belgium

Following the Belgian general election held on 13 June 2010, a process of cabinet formation started in Belgium. The election produced a very fragmented political landscape, with 11 parties elected to the Chamber of Representatives, none of which won more than 20% of the seats. The Flemish-Nationalist New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), the largest party in Flanders and the country as a whole, controlled 27 of 150 seats in the lower chamber. The Francophone Socialist Party (PS), the largest in Wallonia, controlled 26 seats. Cabinet negotiations continued for a long time. On 1 June 2011, Belgium matched the record for time taken to form a new democratic government after an election, at 353 days, held until then by Cambodia in 2003–2004. [12]

On 11 October 2011, the final agreement for institutional reform was presented to the media. A government coalition was named on 5 December 2011 and sworn in after a total of 541 days of negotiations and formation on 6 December 2011, [13] and 589 days without an elected government [14] with Elio Di Rupo named Prime Minister of the Di Rupo I Government. It was the first time that the Belgian prime minister had been openly gay, as Di Rupo became the world's first male openly gay head of government (and second of any gender, after Iceland's Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir). [15] Elio Di Rupo also became the first native French-speaking prime minister since 1979 and the first prime minister from Wallonia since 1974 and first socialist prime minister since 1974.

The Michel I Government was the Federal Government of Belgium formed following the 2014 Belgian government formation and sworn in on 11 October 2014. The administration was a centre-right coalition of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), the Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V), the Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Open Vld) and the Reformist Movement (MR). The prime minister was Charles Michel. The government had an agenda of socio-economic reforms, especially through austerity measures, with its priorities being improving Belgium's economic competitiveness and reducing unemployment. It fell in December 2018 over the Global Compact for Migration. It was followed by the Michel II Government as a centre minority coalition cabinet of Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V), the Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Open Vld) and the Reformist Movement (MR). On 26 October 2019, it was announced that Sophie Wilmès would take over the role of Prime Minister from Michel on 1 November 2019, and form a new government as the first ever female Prime Minister of Belgium. [16]

Premierships

Official portrait, 2019 Charles Michel (49467991288).jpg
Official portrait, 2019

Charles Michel (French: [ʃaʁlmiʃɛl] ; born 21 December 1975) is a Belgian politician who served as the president of the European Council from 2019 to 2024. He previously served as the prime minister of Belgium between 2014 and 2019. Michel became the minister of development cooperation in 2007 at age thirty-one, and remained in this position until elected the leader of the Francophone liberal Reformist Movement (MR) in February 2011. He led MR to the 2014 federal election, where they emerged as the third-largest party in the Chamber of Representatives. After coalition negotiations, Michel was confirmed as Prime Minister of a MR-N-VA-OVLD-CD&V government. He was sworn in on 11 October 2014, becoming the youngest Belgian prime minister since Jean-Baptiste Nothomb in 1841.

In December 2018, the government collapsed following internal disagreements over the handling of the Global Compact for Migration, with the N-VA withdrawing from the cabinet. Michel subsequently tendered his resignation and remained in office in a caretaker capacity. [17] At the 2019 federal election shortly afterwards, MR lost a number of seats, although Michel remained in office as interim prime minister during coalition negotiations. Weeks after the federal election, on 2 July 2019, the European Council voted to appoint Michel as its new president. He took over from Donald Tusk at a ceremony on 29 November 2019, formally beginning his term on 1 December 2019. [18] [19] In January 2024, he announced he would step down as president of the European Council to run in the 2024 European Parliament election, before reversing his decision within the same month and declaring he would finish his current mandate. [20] [21]

Despite three parties (all but N-VA) having been part of the preceding Di Rupo Government as well, the programme of this coalition differs substantially from the previous one. The emphasis is on socio-economic reforms, especially through austerity measures. Important goals for the parties include helping businesses become more competitive, and increasing job growth.

The announced measures were met by protests primarily from the labour unions, which argued that the measures favour employers and disproportionately burden employees and families. The unions, ACV/CSC, ABVV/FGTB and ACLVB/CGSLB, which play an important and institutionalised role in Belgium's political process, did not accept the government's offer for dialogue, maintaining that the government was not seriously inclined to reconsider any of the measures. Instead, the unions organised several regional and national strikes in November and December 2014, culminating in a one-day general strike on 15 December. [22]

One of the federal executive's flagship measures was tax reform, or tax shift , aimed, among other things, at reducing the cost of labour. It took effect on 1 January 2016. [23] [24] [25]

Following the 22 March 2016 attacks in Brussels, Interior Minister Jan Jambon and Justice Minister Koen Geens submitted their resignations. They were refused by the Prime Minister. [26]

Another reform of the executive consists of increasing the age of retirement. It will thus increase from 65 to 66 in 2025 and from 66 to 67 in 2030 in order to finance the future cost of pensions. This measure, strongly criticized by the unions, provoked numerous strikes and demonstrations. [27]

An often recurring subject was whether or not a capital gains tax should be introduced, together with a general tax reform. In the summer of 2017, the corporate gains tax was announced to be reduced from 33.99% to 29% starting 2018 and further down to 25% from 2020 whereas a capital gains tax of 0.15% on gains on financial securities was introduced for wealthier citizens holding accounts of at least 0.5 million Eur in value. Meanwhile the first 627 Eur of income through dividends became tax exempt.

Other measures taken by the government include the purchase of F-35s to replace the Belgian army's F-16s, the abandonment of nuclear power by 2025, the removal of abortion from the penal code and the launch of a public investment pact in cooperation with the private sector. [28] [29]

The government presided over the arrest of suspects who were accused of playing a role in the Paris attacks of November 2015, as well as a terrorist attack in Brussels in March 2016.

In December 2018, a political crisis emerged over whether to sign the Global Compact for Migration; N-VA was against whereas the other three parties supported it. On 4 December the Prime Minister of Belgium, Charles Michel, announced that the issue would be taken to parliament for a vote. [30] On 5 December, parliament voted 106 to 36 in favor of backing the agreement. [31] Michel stated that he would endorse the pact on behalf of the parliament, not on behalf of the divided government. [32] Consequently, N-VA quit the government; the other three parties continue as a minority government (Michel II).

On 18 December 2018, Michel submitted the cabinet's resignation to the King, who accepted it on 21 December. [33]

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Following the general election on 3 October 2010, a process of formation of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Council of Ministers had begun. The resulting election produced a fragmented political landscape without a coalition of a parliamentary majority more than a year after the election. The centre-left Social Democratic Party, the largest party in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Bosnian Serb autonomist Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, the largest party in Republika Srpska, each had 8 MPs of the total 42 MPs of the House of Representatives (28 from the Federation and 14 from Republika Srpska). Similarly, a crisis of government was also present at the local levels, as well as the Federal entity. In late 2011, the Council of Ministers (i.e. the national government) had been solved, however the country remained in a situation of perpetual political crisis, especially the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. After months of dysfunction and arguments about legality, the entity's short-lived Federal Government had collapsed in February 2013.

The 2014 unrest in Bosnia and Herzegovina was a series of demonstrations and riots that began in the northern town of Tuzla on 4 February 2014 but quickly spread to multiple cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Sarajevo, Zenica, Mostar, Jajce, and Brčko, [34] [35] among others, for social reasons and with the aim of overthrowing the government. [36] [37] The riots were the most violent scenes the country had seen since the end of the Bosnian War in 1995. [35] [38] The rioting largely took place in the entity of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the same level of unrest or activism did not occur in Republika Srpska. [39]

Bulgaria

Following the 2013 Bulgarian protests against the Borisov cabinet of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov over government austerity measures encouraged by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund during the recession [40] and high utility bills, the Borisov government resigned and brought forward the Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2013, which saw a very low voter turnout. [41] Though Borisov's party Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) won a plurality with 97 deputies in the National Assembly, it could not form a government and gave up its mandate. The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) led the government under technocratic Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski. [42] The left-wing government of Plamen Oresharski was approved by the 120 members of the BSP and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms. [43] Outside support to the Oresharski Government was also given by nationalist party Ataka, [44] dubbed by some sources as the "hidden coalition partner", [45] or Siderov's "golden finger", [46] and regarded as a key instrument for allowing the Parliament to proceed with its functions, [47] until June 2014. [48]

Croatia

Croatia finished accession (membership) negotiations on 30 June 2011 and signed the Treaty of Accession on 9 December 2011, setting it on course to become the bloc's 28th member state. A referendum on the EU accession of the Republic of Croatia was held on 22 January 2012. The EU accession referendum passed with 66.27% votes cast in support, 33.13% against the proposed joining of the EU and 0.60% invalid or blank votes; it also passed in all Croatian counties. The ratification process was concluded on 21 June 2013, and entry into force and accession of Croatia to the EU took place on 1 July 2013. [49]

France

Presidents

Hollande in 2015 Francois Hollande 2015.jpeg
Hollande in 2015

François Gérard Georges Nicolas Hollande (French: [fʁɑ̃swaʒeʁaʁʒɔʁʒ(ə)nikɔlaɔlɑ̃d] ; born 12 August 1954) is a French politician who served as President of France from 2012 to 2017. Before his presidency, he was First Secretary of the Socialist Party (PS) from 1997 to 2008, Mayor of Tulle from 2001 to 2008, as well as President of the General Council of Corrèze from 2008 to 2012. He also held the 1st constituency of Corrèze seat in the National Assembly for the third time, first from 1988 to 1993, then from 1997 until 2012 and was reelected in 2024.

Born in Rouen and raised in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hollande began his political career as a special advisor to newly elected President François Mitterrand before serving as a staffer for Max Gallo the government's spokesman. He became a member of the National Assembly in 1988 and was elected First Secretary of the PS in 1997. Following the 2004 regional elections won by the PS, Hollande was cited as a potential presidential candidate, but he resigned as First Secretary and was immediately elected to replace Jean-Pierre Dupont as President of the General Council of Corrèze in 2008. In 2011, Hollande announced that he would be a candidate in the primary election to select the PS presidential nominee; he won the nomination against Martine Aubry before he was elected to the presidency (becoming also, ex officio , Co-Prince of Andorra) on 6 May 2012 in the second round with 51.6% of the vote, defeating incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy.

During his tenure, Hollande legalized same-sex marriage by passing Bill no. 344, reformed labour laws and credit training programmes, signed a law restricting the cumul des mandats , and withdrew French forces in Afghanistan, [50] [51] in addition to concluding an EU directive on the protection of animals in laboratory research through a Franco-German contract. Hollande led the country through the January and November 2015 Paris attacks, as well as the 2016 Nice attack. He was a leading proponent of EU mandatory migrant quotas and NATO's 2011 military intervention in Libya. He also sent troops to Mali and the Central African Republic with the approval of the UN Security Council in order to stabilise those countries, two operations however largely seen as failures. He drew controversy among his left-wing electoral base for supporting the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen. [52] [53] [54]

Under Hollande’s presidency, Paris hosted the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, and his efforts to bring the 2024 Summer Olympics to the city were successful. However, with domestic troubles – in particular due to Islamic terrorism – over the course of his tenure, and unemployment rising to 10%, [55] he faced spikes and downturns in approval rates, ultimately making him the most unpopular head of state under the Fifth Republic. [56] [57] On 1 December 2016, he announced he would not seek reelection in the 2017 presidential election, for which polls suggested his defeat in the first round.
Macron in 2024 Emmanuel Macron August 2024.jpg
Macron in 2024

Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron (French: [emanɥɛlmakʁɔ̃] ; born 21 December 1977) is a French politician who has served as President of France since 2017. He previously was Minister of Economics, Industry and Digital Affairs under President François Hollande from 2014 to 2016 and deputy secretary-general to the president from 2012 to 2014. He has been a member of Renaissance since he founded it in 2016.

Born in Amiens, Macron studied philosophy at Paris Nanterre University. He completed a master's degree in public affairs at Sciences Po and graduated from the École nationale d'administration in 2004. He worked as a senior civil servant at the Inspectorate General of Finances and as an investment banker at Rothschild & Co. Appointed Élysée deputy secretary-general by President François Hollande shortly after his election in May 2012, Macron was one of Hollande's senior advisers. Appointed Minister of Economics, Industry and Digital Affairs in August 2014 in the second Valls government, he led a number of business-friendly reforms. He resigned in August 2016, in order to launch his 2017 presidential campaign. A member of the Socialist Party from 2006 to 2009, he ran in the election under the banner of En Marche, a centrist and pro-European political movement he founded in April 2016.

Partly as a result of the Fillon affair which sank the Republican nominee François Fillon's chances, Macron topped the ballot in the first round of voting, and was elected President of France on 7 May 2017 with 66.1% of the vote in the second round, defeating Marine Le Pen of the National Front. At the age of 39, he became the youngest president in French history. In the 2017 legislative election in June, his party, renamed La République En Marche! (LREM), secured a majority in the National Assembly. Macron was elected to a second term in the 2022 presidential election, again defeating Le Pen, thus becoming the first French presidential candidate to win reelection since Jacques Chirac defeated Jean-Marie Le Pen in 2002. His centrist coalition lost its absolute majority in the 2022 legislative election, resulting in a hung parliament and the formation of France's first minority government since the fall of the Bérégovoy government in 1993. In early 2024, Macron appointed Gabriel Attal as Prime Minister, youngest head of government in French history and first openly gay man to hold the office, to replace Élisabeth Borne, the second female Prime Minister of France, after a major government crisis. Following crushing defeat at the 2024 European Parliament elections, Macron dissolved the National Assembly and called for a snap legislative election which resulted in another hung parliament and electoral defeat for his ruling coalition. It was only the third time in the French Republic's history that a president lost an election he called of his own initiative. 59 days after the election, Macron appointed Michel Barnier, a conservative political figure and former chief Brexit negotiator, as Prime Minister.

During his presidency, Macron has overseen several reforms to labour laws, taxation, and pensions; and has pursued a renewable energy transition. Dubbed "president of the rich" by political opponents, increasing protests against his domestic reforms and demanding his resignation marked the first years of his presidency, culminating in 2018–2020 with the yellow vests protests and the pension reform strike. In foreign policy, he called for reforms to the European Union (EU) and signed bilateral treaties with Italy and Germany. Macron conducted €40 billion in trade and business agreements with China during the China–United States trade war and oversaw a dispute with Australia and the United States over the AUKUS security pact. From 2020, he led France's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination rollout. In 2023, the government of his prime minister, Élisabeth Borne, passed legislation raising the retirement age from 62 to 64; the pension reforms proved controversial and led to public sector strikes and violent protests. He continued Opération Chammal in the war against the Islamic State and joined in the international condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Germany

Chancellors

Merkel in 2007 Angela Merkel 24092007.jpg
Merkel in 2007

Angela Dorothea Merkel (German: [aŋˈɡeːladoʁoˈteːaˈmɛʁkl̩] ; [a] née  Kasner; born 17 July 1954) is a German retired politician who served as Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021. She is the only woman to have held the office. She previously served as Leader of the Opposition from 2002 to 2005 and as Leader of the Christian Democratic Union from 2000 to 2018. [65] During her chancellorship, Merkel was frequently referred to as the de facto leader of the European Union (EU) and the most powerful woman in the world.

Merkel was born in Hamburg in West Germany. Her family moved to East Germany when she was an infant. Merkel obtained a doctorate in quantum chemistry in 1986 and worked as a research scientist until 1989. [66] She then entered politics in the wake of the Revolutions of 1989, briefly serving as deputy spokeswoman for the first democratically elected government of East Germany led by Lothar de Maizière. Following German reunification in 1990, Merkel was elected to the Bundestag for the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. As the protégée of chancellor Helmut Kohl, Merkel was appointed as Minister for Women and Youth in 1991, later becoming Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety in 1994. After the CDU lost the 1998 federal election, Merkel was elected general secretary of the party. She then became the party's first female leader, and the first female leader of the Opposition, two years later.

Following the 2005 federal election, Merkel was elected chancellor, leading a grand coalition consisting of the CDU, the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). She was the first woman to be elected chancellor, and the first chancellor of reunified Germany to have been raised in the former East Germany. [b] In the 2009 federal election, the CDU obtained the largest share of the vote, and Merkel subsequently formed a coalition government with the Free Democratic Party (FDP), an alliance more favourable to the CDU than the grand coalition. [68] In the 2013 federal election, the CDU won a landslide victory and formed a second grand coalition with the SPD, after the FDP lost all of its representation in the Bundestag. [69] In the 2017 federal election, Merkel led the CDU to become the largest party for the fourth time, resulting in the formation of a third grand coalition with the SPD. [70]

In foreign policy, Merkel emphasised international cooperation, both in the context of the EU and NATO, and initiating the Russian reset and strengthening of Eurasian and transatlantic economic relations. In the first half of 2007, Merkel served as president of the European Council and played a central role in the negotiation of the Treaty of Lisbon and the Berlin Declaration. Merkel's governments managed the global 2007–2008 financial crisis and the European debt crisis. She negotiated the 2008 European Union stimulus plan, which focused on infrastructure spending and public investment to counteract the Great Recession. In domestic policy, Merkel's Energiewende programme supported the development of renewable energy sources and eventually phased out the use of nuclear power in Germany. Despite the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea, which prompted sanctions around the world, she initiated the construction of the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipelines to Russia and protected their construction from United States sanctions imposed in 2019. Reforms to the Bundeswehr , health care reform, the 2010s European migrant crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic were major issues during her chancellorship. Merkel stepped down as leader of the CDU in 2018 and did not seek a fifth term as chancellor in the 2021 federal election. Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, her legacy came under increased scrutiny both in Germany and abroad for her relatively good relations with Russia and increasing the German economy's dependence on Russia, as well as the downsizing of the military that occurred during her tenure. [71] [72]

Hungary

The Őszöd speech which was followed by mass protests led Fidesz to winning a supermajority in the 2010 election. In 2011, the new Hungarian constitution was adopted in the parliament and in 2012 it became effective, although it was subject to controversies due to its consolidation of power to Fidesz. The party's majority of seats remained after the 2014 election, and following the escalation of the migrant crisis, Fidesz began using right-wing populist and anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Because of Orbán's curtailing of press freedom, erosion of judicial independence and undermining of multiparty democracy, many political scientists and watchdogs consider Hungary to have experienced democratic backsliding during Orbán's tenure. [73] [74] [75] Orbán's attacks on the European Union while accepting its money and funneling it to his allies and family have also led to characterizations of his government as a kleptocracy. [76] Orbán defends his policies as "illiberal democracy." [77] [78]

Italy

The 2013 Italian general election led to a major change in the country's political landscape, as the traditional center-right and center-left parties were challenged by the new Five Star Movement, a populist party led by comedian Beppe Grillo. [79] None of the three main alliances – the centre-right led by Silvio Berlusconi, the centre-left led by Pier Luigi Bersani and the Five Star Movement – won an outright majority in Parliament. After a failed attempt to form a government by Bersani, then-secretary of the Democratic Party (PD), and Giorgio Napolitano's re-election as President, Enrico Letta, Bersani's deputy, received the task of forming a grand coalition government. The Letta Cabinet consisted of the PD, Berlusconi's The People of Freedom (PdL), Civic Choice (SC), the Union of the Centre (UdC) and others. [80]

Following the election of Matteo Renzi as Secretary of the PD in December 2013, there were persistent tensions culminating in Letta's resignation as prime minister in February 2014. Subsequently, Renzi formed a government based on the same coalition (including the NCD), but in a new fashion. [81] The new Prime Minister had a strong mandate from his party and was reinforced by the PD's strong showing in the 2014 European Parliament election [82] and the election of Sergio Mattarella, a fellow Democrat, as president in 2015. While in power, Renzi implemented several reforms, including a new electoral law (which would later be declared partially unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court), a relaxation of labour and employment laws (known as Jobs Act) with the intention of boosting economic growth, a thorough reform of the public administration, the simplification of the civil trial, the recognition of same-sex unions (not marriages) and the abolition of several minor taxes. [83] [84] As a result of the Libyan civil war, a major problem faced by Renzi was the high level of illegal immigration to Italy. During his tenure, there was an increase in the number of immigrants rescued at sea being brought to southern Italian ports, prompting criticism from the M5S, FI and Northern League (LN), [85] [86] and causing a loss of popularity for Renzi. [87]

In the 2018 Italian general election, no political group or party won an outright majority, resulting in a hung parliament. [88] In the election, the right-wing alliance, in which Matteo Salvini's League (LN) emerged as the main political force, won a plurality of seats in the Chamber of Deputies and in the Senate, while the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) led by Luigi Di Maio became the party with the largest number of votes. The centre-left coalition, led by Matteo Renzi, came third. [89] As a result, protracted negotiations were required before a new government could be formed. On 31 May 2018, following 88 days of negotiations and several impasses, law professor Giuseppe Conte was appointed as the prime minister with support from the League and the Five Star Movement, even though not having run for the Italian Parliament. Matteo Salvini of the League and Luigi Di Maio of the Five Star Movement were also appointed as vice premiers, [90] thus forming the 66th Italian government since World War II. [91] The formation of a new government avoided the possibility of immediate new elections. [92] The coalition government was formed between the Lega Nord and Five Star Movement, becoming the first fully populist government in Western Europe. [79]

During the 2019 Italian government crisis, Deputy Prime Minister Salvini announced a motion of no confidence against Conte, after growing tensions within the majority. Salvini's move came right after a vote in the Senate regarding the progress of the Turin–Lyon high-speed railway, in which the Lega voted against an attempt of the M5S to block the construction works. Many political analysts believe the no confidence motion was an attempt to force early elections to improve Lega's standing in Parliament, ensuring Salvini could become the next Prime Minister. On 20 August, following the parliamentary debate in which Conte harshly accused Salvini of being a political opportunist who "had triggered the political crisis only to serve his personal interest", the Prime Minister resigned his post to President Sergio Mattarella. This provoked the resignation of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, [93] and resulted in the formation of a new cabinet led by Conte himself. [94]

Russia

Russia re-elected Vladimir Putin as the president in 2012 Russian presidential election. The election was marred by claims of fraud, contributing to the 2011–2013 Russian protests. [95] Under Putin, Russia engaged in a more aggressive foreign policy, with the 2014 Annexation of Crimea and intervention in Ukraine following the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, the 2015 intervention in the Syrian Civil War, and interference in the 2016 United States elections.

Spain

Since the 2008–2014 Spanish financial crisis began, Spain had had one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe, reaching a eurozone record of 21.3%. [96] [97] The number of unemployed people in Spain stood at 4,910,200 at the end of March 2011, up about 214,000 from the previous quarter, [98] while the youth unemployment rate stands at 43.5%, the highest in the European Union. [99] In September 2010 the government approved a sweeping overhaul of the labour market designed to reduce unemployment and revive the economy. [100] [101] Large trade unions such as CCOO and Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT), among other minor ones, rejected the plan because it made it easier and cheaper for employers to hire and fire workers. Trade unions called for the first general strike in a decade, on 29 September 2010. [102]

The anti-austerity movement in Spain, also referred to as the 15-M Movement [103] and the Indignados Movement, [104] was a series of protests, demonstrations, and occupations against austerity policies in Spain that began around the local and regional elections of 2011 and 2012. [105] [104] First starting on 15 May 2011, many of the subsequent demonstrations spread through various social networks such as Real Democracy NOW (Spanish: Democracia Real YA) and Youth Without a Future (Spanish: Juventud Sin Futuro). [106] According to RTVE, the Spanish public broadcasting company, between 6.5 and 8 million Spaniards participated in these events. [107]

Catalonia

The 2009–2011 Catalan independence referendums, a series of non-binding and unofficial referendums, "popular votes" (consultes populars), took place in municipalities around Catalonia. In them voters indicated whether they supported Catalan independence from Spain. The first such referendum took place in Arenys de Munt on 13 September 2009: there followed votes in Sant Jaume de Frontanyà on 12 December and in 166 other municipalities on 13 December. Another vote ensued in April 2011 in Barcelona. Provisional figures for the 13 December vote suggest a turnout of around 200,000 (30% of those eligible to vote).

The 2012 Catalan independence demonstration was a protest march which occurred in central Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain, on 11 September 2012 during the National Day of Catalonia. [108] [109] [110] Many newspapers and other news agencies described it as a "historic" demonstration and considered it to be the biggest protest march ever held in Catalonia since the restoration of democracy in Spain, [111] [112] [113] [114] [115] [116] surpassing other major demonstrations, including the 2010 Catalan autonomy protest. [117] [118]

A non-binding Catalan self-determination referendum was held on Sunday, 9 November 2014, to gauge support on the political future of Catalonia. While also referred to as "Catalan independence referendum", [119] [120] [121] the vote was rebranded as a "participation process" by the Government of Catalonia, after a "non-referendum popular consultation" on the same topic and for the same date had been suspended by the Constitutional Court of Spain. [122]

The 2017–2018 Spanish constitutional crisis started after the law intending to allow the 2017 Catalan independence referendum was denounced by the Spanish government under Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and subsequently suspended by the Constitutional Court until it ruled on the issue. [123] [124] Some international media outlets have described the events as "one of the worst political crises in modern Spanish history". [125]

The Catalan independence referendum of 2017 was held on 1 October 2017 in the Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia, passed by the Parliament of Catalonia as the Law on the Referendum on Self-determination of Catalonia and called by the Generalitat de Catalunya. [126] [127] [128] It was declared unconstitutional [129] [130] [131] on 7 September 2017 and suspended by the Constitutional Court of Spain after a request from the Spanish government, who declared it a breach of the Spanish Constitution. [132] [133] [134] Additionally, in early September the High Court of Justice of Catalonia had issued orders to the police to try to prevent it, including the detention of various persons responsible for its preparation. [135] [136] [137] Due to alleged irregularities during the voting process as well as to the use of force by the National Police Corps and Civil Guard, international observers invited by the Generalitat declared that the referendum failed to meet the minimum international standards for elections. [138] [139] [140]

On 27 October, the Catalan parliament voted in a secret ballot to unilaterally declare independence from Spain, with most deputies of the opposition boycotting a vote considered illegal for violating the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Spain, as the lawyers of the Parliament of Catalonia warned. [141] [142] [143] As a result, the government of Spain invoked the Constitution to remove the regional authorities and enforce direct rule the next day, [144] [145] [146] with a regional election being subsequently called for 21 December 2017 to elect a new Parliament of Catalonia. [147] Puigdemont and part of his cabinet fled to Belgium after being ousted, [148] as the Spanish Attorney General pressed for charges of sedition, rebellion and misuse of public funds against them. [149] [150] [151]

The trial of Catalonia independence leaders began on 12 February 2019 in the Supreme Court of Spain, in which 12 people were tried, including the previous vice president Oriol Junqueras of the regional government and most of the cabinet as well as political activists Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart and the former Speaker of the Parliament of Catalonia Carme Forcadell. Nine of the 12 accused received prison sentences for the crimes of sedition; of them, four were also found guilty of misuse of public funds. Their sentences ranged from 9 to 13 years. The remaining three accused were found guilty of disobedience and were sentenced to pay a fine but received no prison term. The court dismissed the charges of rebellion. [152] The verdict delivered by the Supreme Court sparked multiple protests across the region.

United Kingdom

Following the 2010 general election, negotiations led to David Cameron becoming prime minister as the head of a coalition government with the Liberal Democratsthe youngest holder of the office since the 1810s and the first coalition government in the country's history since World War II. [153] [154] His premiership was marked by the effects of the Great Recession; these involved a large deficit in government finances that his government sought to reduce through austerity measures. His administration passed the Health and Social Care Act and the Welfare Reform Act, which introduced large-scale changes to healthcare and welfare. He also enforced stricter immigration policies, [155] introduced reforms to education and oversaw the 2012 London Olympics. The government privatised the Royal Mail and some other state assets, and legalised same-sex marriage in England and Wales. The Scottish National Party (SNP) became dominant in Scotland over the decade, with a referendum on Scottish independence held in 2014, returning a negative result.

When the Conservatives secured an unexpected majority in the 2015 general election, Cameron remained as prime minister, this time leading a Conservative-only government. Meanwhile, the Conservative's coalition partner, the Liberal Democrats, saw their worst result in the party's modern history. Also in 2015, the Labour Party elected Jeremy Corbyn as its leader, who was considered the most left-wing leader of the party since Michael Foot (1980–83). [156] Cameron's second ministry was dominated by the 2016 referendum on the UK's continuing membership of the EU. Cameron introduced the referendum in order to fulfill a manifesto pledge, but campaigned on the side of the "remain" vote, along with most of the other major parties. Some members of the Conservatives, as well as the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and UK Independence Party (UKIP), campaigned to "leave." The "leave" vote unexpectedly won, and a few hours later Cameron announced he would resign. [157] A leadership election was held and Cameron was succeeded by Theresa May. [157] [158]

May became the UK's second female prime minister after Margaret Thatcher, as well as the first woman to hold two of the Great Offices of State. She began the process of withdrawing the UK from the European Union, triggering Article 50 in March 2017. The following month, she announced a snap general election, with the aims of strengthening her hand in Brexit negotiations and campaigning on "strong and stable" leadership. [159] [160] This election resulted in a hung parliament, in which the Conservatives actually losing seats, despite the party winning its highest vote share since 1983. The loss of an overall majority prompted her to enter a confidence and supply arrangement with the DUP of Northern Ireland to support a minority government. After versions of her draft withdrawal agreement were rejected by Parliament three times, she resigned in 2019 and was succeeded by Boris Johnson, her former Foreign Secretary. Following further defeats in Parliament, Johnson prorogued parliament, an act deemed illegal by the Supreme Court. Johnson then called a snap election in 2019, where he campaigned on a platform to "Get Brexit Done." The Conservatives won the largest majority in the House of Commons since the 1987 election, leading to the passing of a Brexit deal early in the next decade. [161]

Premierships

Official portrait, 2010 Prime Minister David Cameron - official photograph (8947770804).jpg
Official portrait, 2010

David Cameron's tenure as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom began on 11 May 2010 when he accepted an invitation of Queen Elizabeth II to form a government, succeeding Gordon Brown of the Labour Party, and ended on 13 July 2016 upon his resignation following the 2016 referendum that favoured Brexit, which he had opposed. As prime minister, Cameron also served simultaneously as First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Leader of the Conservative Party.

Following the 2010 general election, Cameron became prime minister at the head of a coalition government between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, as no party had gained an overall majority in the House of Commons for the first time since the February 1974 general election. He appointed Nick Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Deputy Prime Minister. Between them, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats controlled 363 seats in the House of Commons, with a majority of 76 seats. [162]

Cameron's premiership was marked by the effects of the 2007–2008 financial crisis and the Great Recession; these involved a large deficit in government finances that his government sought to reduce through austerity measures. His administration passed the Health and Social Care Act and Welfare Reform Act, which introduced large-scale changes to healthcare and welfare. It also enforced stricter immigration policies, [163] introduced reforms to education and oversaw the 2012 London Olympics. It privatised the Royal Mail and legalised same-sex marriage in Great Britain. After the 2015 general election, he remained as prime minister, this time leading a Conservative-only government with a parliamentary majority of 12. To fulfil a manifesto pledge, Cameron introduced a referendum on the UK's continuing membership of the European Union in 2016. He supported the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign. Following the success of the Leave vote, Cameron resigned as prime minister and was succeeded by Theresa May, his Home Secretary.

As prime minister, Cameron was credited for helping to modernise the Conservative Party and reducing the deficit. However, he was subject to a level of criticism for the 2015 manifesto commitment to implement the referendum on the UK's continued membership of the EU and his vocal support for remain, which ultimately led to his resignation as prime minister. This led to a sustained period of political instability. The austerity measures introduced by Cameron's Chancellor George Osborne failed to reduce unemployment, lower interest rates and stimulate growth, and were linked to worsened inequality and poverty and a rise in political instability. In historical rankings of prime ministers, academics and journalists have ranked him in the third and fourth quintiles.
Official portrait, 2016 Theresa May official portrait.jpg
Official portrait, 2016

Theresa May's tenure as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom began on 13 July 2016 when she accepted an invitation of Queen Elizabeth II to form a government, succeeding David Cameron, and ended on 24 July 2019 upon her resignation. May's premiership was dominated by Brexit, terrorist attacks in Westminster, the Manchester Arena and London Bridge, the Grenfell Tower fire, and the Salisbury poisonings. As prime minister, May also served simultaneously as First Lord of the Treasury, and as Minister for the Civil Service. She also served as Leader of the Conservative Party.

May was elected unopposed after her opponent, Andrea Leadsom, withdrew from the final round of the 2016 leadership election; May became Conservative leader on 11 July 2016, and she became prime minister two days later. She began the process of withdrawing the UK from the European Union, triggering Article 50 in March 2017. The following month, she announced a snap general election, with the aims of strengthening her hand in Brexit negotiations and highlighting her "strong and stable" leadership. This resulted in a hung parliament in which the number of Conservative seats had fallen from 330 to 317, despite the party winning its highest vote share since 1983. The loss of an overall majority prompted her to enter a confidence and supply arrangement with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of Northern Ireland to support a minority government.

May carried out the Brexit negotiations with the European Union, adhering to the Chequers Plan, which resulted in her draft Brexit withdrawal agreement. She also announced a £20 billion increase in funding to the National Health Service through the NHS Long Term Plan, established the first-ever Race Disparity Audit and launched a 25 Year Environment Plan, amending the Climate Change Act 2008 to end the UK's contribution to global warming by 2050. Unemployment in the United Kingdom fell to record lows, the lowest jobless rate since 1975. Her government also passed legislation cracking down on knife crime and giving extra powers to law enforcement and intelligence services to combat terrorism, published the 2017 Industrial Strategy White Paper [164] and signed an immigration treaty with France to stem illegal border crossings in January 2018. [165]

Although May did not succeed in getting much of her Brexit legislation through Parliament, her government was nevertheless responsible for passing the Great Repeal Act and for negotiating and approving the near-entirety of the UK's terms of exit from the EU. [166] Three budgets were passed during her tenure: the first in March 2017, the second in November 2017 and the third and final in October 2018. May was also a prominent figure in leading the international condemnation and response to Russia over the Salisbury poisonings of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in March 2018. May survived two votes of no confidence in December 2018 and January 2019, but after versions of her draft withdrawal agreement were rejected by Parliament three times and her party's poor performance in the May 2019 European Parliament election, she left office on 24 July and was succeeded by Boris Johnson, her former Foreign Secretary. May is viewed unfavourably in historical rankings and public opinion of British prime ministers.
Official portrait, 2019 Boris Johnson official portrait.jpg
Official portrait, 2019

Boris Johnson's tenure as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom began on 24 July 2019 when he accepted an invitation of Queen Elizabeth II to form a government, succeeding Theresa May, and ended on 6 September 2022 upon his resignation. Johnson's premiership was dominated by Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the cost of living crisis. As prime minister, Johnson also served simultaneously as First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union, and Leader of the Conservative Party.

Johnson defeated Jeremy Hunt in the 2019 Conservative Party leadership election on 23 July 2019, and was appointed prime minister the following day. He re-opened Brexit negotiations with the European Union and in early September he prorogued Parliament; the Supreme Court later ruled the prorogation to have been unlawful. After agreeing to a revised Brexit withdrawal agreement but failing to win parliamentary support, Johnson called a snap general election to be held in December 2019, which the Conservative Party won. During Johnson's premiership, the government responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by introducing various emergency powers to mitigate its impact and approved a nationwide vaccination programme. He also responded to the Russian invasion of Ukraine by imposing sanctions on Russia and authorising foreign aid and weapons shipments to Ukraine. [167]

In the Partygate scandal it was found that numerous parties had been held at 10 Downing Street during national COVID-19 lockdowns, and COVID-19 social distancing laws were breached by 83 individuals, including Johnson, who in April 2022 was issued with a fixed penalty notice. The publishing of the Sue Gray report in May 2022 and a widespread sense of dissatisfaction led in June 2022 to a vote of confidence in his leadership amongst Conservative MPs, which he won. In July 2022, revelations over his appointment of Chris Pincher as deputy chief whip of the party while knowing of allegations of sexual misconduct against him led to a mass resignation of members of his government and to Johnson announcing his resignation as prime minister. Following the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election, Johnson was succeeded as prime minister by Liz Truss, his foreign secretary.

Johnson is seen by many as a controversial figure in British politics. [168] [169] His supporters have praised him for being humorous, witty, and entertaining, [170] with an appeal reaching beyond traditional Conservative Party voters, making him, in their view, an electoral asset to the party. [171] [172] Conversely, his critics have accused him of lying, elitism, cronyism and bigotry. [173] [174] [175] As prime minister, his supporters praised him for "getting Brexit done", overseeing the UK's COVID-19 vaccination programme, which was amongst the fastest in the world, and being one of the first world leaders to offer humanitarian support to Ukraine following the Russian invasion of the country. [176] [177] [178] Within Ukraine, Johnson is praised by many as a supporter of anti-Russian sanctions and military aid for Ukraine. [179] His tenure also saw several controversies and scandals, and is viewed as the most scandalous premiership of modern times by historians and biographers alike. [180]

See also

Notes

  1. The English pronunciation of her first name could be /ˈɑːŋɡələ/ AHNG-gə-lə (a closer approximation of the German) or /ˈæŋɡələ/ ANG-gə-lə. The English pronunciation of her last name is either /ˈmɛərkəl/ MAIR-kəl (reported for American English and a closer approximation of the German) or /ˈmɜːrkəl/ MUR-kəl (reported for British English by the Oxford and Merriam-Webster dictionaries, which base their editing on actual usage rather than recommendations). [58] [59] [60] In German, her last name is pronounced [ˈmɛʁkl̩] , [61] [62] and her first name is pronounced [ˈaŋɡela] or [aŋˈɡeːla] , [63] but according to her biographer Langguth, Merkel prefers the latter pronunciation, with stress on the second syllable. [64]
  2. This is significant in so far as East Germany has remained economically and socially disadvantaged post-reunification. [67] See also Economic history of the German reunification and New states of Germany.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guy Verhofstadt</span> Prime Minister of Belgium from 1999 to 2008

Guy Maurice Marie Louise Verhofstadt is a Belgian liberal and European federalist politician. He is a former prime minister of Belgium. He was a member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Belgium from 2009 until 2024.

The Republican Left of Catalonia is a pro-Catalan independence, social democratic political party in the Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia, with a presence also in Valencia, the Balearic Islands and the French department of Pyrénées-Orientales. It is also the main sponsor of the independence movement from France and Spain in the territories known as Catalan Countries, focusing in recent years on the creation of a Catalan Republic in Catalonia proper. Its current president is Oriol Junqueras and its secretary-general is Marta Rovira. The party is a member of the European Free Alliance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artur Mas</span> Spanish politician (born 1956)

Artur Mas i Gavarró is a Catalan politician. He was president of the Government of Catalonia from 2010 to 2015 and acting president from September 2015 to 12 January 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catalan independence movement</span> Catalan independence movement in Spain

The Catalan independence movement is a social and political movement which seeks the independence of Catalonia from Spain.

Citizens, officially Citizens–Party of the Citizenry, is a liberal political party in Spain.

The Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006 provides Catalonia's basic institutional regulations under the Spanish Constitution of 1978. It defines the rights and obligations of the citizens of Catalonia, the political institutions of the Catalan community, their competences and relations with the rest of Spain, and the financing of the Government of Catalonia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oriol Junqueras</span> Politician and historian from Catalonia, Spain (born 1969)

Oriol Junqueras i Vies is a Catalan politician and historian. A former mayor of the municipality of Sant Vicenç dels Horts in Catalonia, Junqueras served as Vice President of Catalonia from January 2016 to October 2017, when he was removed from office following the Catalan declaration of independence and entered prison until June 2021 for his role in organizing the 2017 Catalan independence referendum. He is president of the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC). Born in 1969 in Barcelona, Junqueras grew up in the municipality of Sant Vicenç dels Horts. After graduating from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, he taught history at the university.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Catalan self-determination referendum</span>

A non-binding Catalan self-determination referendum, also known as the Citizen Participation Process on the Political Future of Catalonia, was held on Sunday, 9 November 2014, to gauge support on the political future of Catalonia. While also referred to as "Catalan independence referendum", the vote was rebranded as a "participation process" by the Government of Catalonia, after a "non-referendum popular consultation" on the same topic and for the same date had been suspended by the Constitutional Court of Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brexit</span> The United Kingdoms withdrawal from the European Union

Brexit was the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 European Parliament election in Gibraltar</span> 2019 election of members of the European parliament in Gibraltar

European Parliament elections were held in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar on 23 May 2019. They were held as part of the European Union-wide elections after the date of United Kingdom withdrawal was delayed by the UK government. This was Gibraltar's final participation in a European Parliament election before the withdrawal took place on 31 January 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Declaration of the Initiation of the Process of Independence of Catalonia</span>

After pro-independence parties won a majority of seats in the Catalan election on 27 September 2015, the Declaration of the Initiation of the Process of Independence of Catalonia was issued on 9 November 2015. The declaration declares the start of the process to create an independent Catalan state in the form of a republic and proclaims the start of a participative, open, integrating and active citizens' constituent process to lay the foundation for the future Catalan Constitution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carles Puigdemont</span> Politician and journalist from Catalonia, Spain (born 1962)

Carles Puigdemont i Casamajó is a Catalan politician and journalist from Spain. He has been the President of Together for Catalonia (Junts) since 2024, having previously held the office from 2020 to 2022. He served as the 130th President of the Government of Catalonia from 2016 to 2017. His government held an independence referendum, which culminated in the unsuccessful Declaration of independence of Catalonia and his removal from office. He then served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2019 to 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detlef Seif</span> German politician

Detlef Seif is a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) who has been a Member of the German Bundestag since 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proposed second Scottish independence referendum</span> Possible future referendum

A second referendum on Scotland becoming independent of the United Kingdom (UK) has been proposed by the Scottish Government. An independence referendum was first held on 18 September 2014, with 55% voting "No" to independence. The Scottish Government stated in its white paper for independence that voting Yes was a "once in a generation opportunity to follow a different path, and choose a new and better direction for our nation". Following the "No" vote, the cross party Smith Commission proposed areas that could be devolved to the Scottish Parliament; this led to the passing of the Scotland Act 2016, formalising new devolved policy areas in time for the 2016 Scottish Parliament election campaign.

After the British EU membership referendum held on 23 June 2016, in which a majority voted to leave the European Union, the United Kingdom experienced political and economic upsets, with spillover effects across the rest of the European Union and the wider world. Prime Minister David Cameron, who had campaigned for Remain, announced his resignation on 24 June, triggering a Conservative leadership election, won by Home Secretary Theresa May. Following Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn's loss of a motion of no confidence among the Parliamentary Labour Party, he also faced a leadership challenge, which he won. Nigel Farage stepped down from leadership of the pro-Leave party UKIP in July. After the elected party leader resigned, Farage then became the party's interim leader on 5 October until Paul Nuttall was elected leader on 28 November.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Catalan independence referendum</span> Referendum held in Catalonia

An independence referendum was held on 1 October 2017 in the Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia, passed by the Parliament of Catalonia as the Law on the Referendum on Self-determination of Catalonia and called by the Generalitat de Catalunya. The referendum, known in the Spanish media by the numeronym 1-O, was declared unconstitutional on 7 September 2017 and suspended by the Constitutional Court of Spain after a request from the Spanish government, who declared it a breach of the Spanish Constitution. Additionally, in early September the High Court of Justice of Catalonia had issued orders to the police to try to prevent the unconstitutional referendum, including the detention of various persons responsible for its preparation. Due to alleged irregularities during the voting process, as well as the use of force by the National Police Corps and Civil Guard, international observers invited by the Generalitat declared that the referendum failed to meet the minimum international standards for elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brexit negotiations</span> Negotiations for the UKs withdrawal from the EU

Between 2017 and 2019, representatives of the United Kingdom and the European Union negotiated the terms of Brexit, the UK's planned withdrawal from membership of the EU. These negotiations arose following the decision of the Parliament of the United Kingdom to invoke Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, which in turn followed the UK's EU membership referendum on 23 June 2016 in which 52% of votes were in favour of leaving.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017–2018 Spanish constitutional crisis</span> Political conflict over Catalan independence

A constitutional crisis took place in Spain from 2017 to 2018 as the result of a political conflict between the Government of Spain and the Generalitat de Catalunya under the then-President Carles Puigdemont —the government of the autonomous community of Catalonia until 28 October 2017— over the issue of Catalan independence. It started after the law intending to allow the 2017 Catalan independence referendum was denounced by the Spanish government under Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and subsequently suspended by the Constitutional Court until it ruled on the issue. Some international media outlets have described the events as "one of the worst political crises in modern Spanish history".

As a result of the advisory 2017 Catalan independence referendum, reactions came from a multitude of avenues, including the domestic central state and other official bodies, as well as international commentary. Whilst the government and non-government community in Catalonia defended the vote, most of the international community either defended Spain's "territorial integrity" or simply criticised the central police's overhanded response. Other sub-national entities also supported Catalonia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catalan declaration of independence</span> Unrecognised declaration of independence (2017)

The Catalan declaration of independence was a resolution that was passed by the Parliament of Catalonia on 27 October 2017. While the text proclaims the independence of Catalonia from Spain and the establishment of an independent Catalan Republic, the declaration itself did not receive recognition from the international community and it produced no legal effect.

References

  1. "Country Profile: Albania". IFES Election Guide. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  2. Robinson, Matt (25 June 2013). "Albanians hand Socialists a landslide, wait on PM to concede". Reuters. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  3. "Berisha jep dorëheqjen". Top Channel. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  4. Koleka, Benet (26 June 2013). "Albanian leader concedes defeat, soothes fears of poll dispute". Yahoo. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  5. "Albania: Europe's cannabis paradise - Europe - DW - 02.01.2017". DW.COM.
  6. "Albanian protesters rally, pitch tent to demand free elections". 18 February 2017 via Reuters.
  7. "Albania Opposition Ignores EU Call to End Protests". 23 February 2017.
  8. "Protesters in Albania again demand Prime Minister Rama quit". Deutsche Welle . DW News. 9 July 2019.
  9. "Kurz Set to Become Austrian Chancellor, Backed by Nationalists". Bloomberg. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  10. "Austria chancellor calls for snap election after corruption scandal". BBC News. 18 May 2019. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  11. Bennhold, Katrin; Schuetze, Christopher F. (18 May 2019). "Austrian Leader Calls for Snap Election After Far-Right Vice Chancellor Resigns" . The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  12. "La Belgique sans gouvernement: le Cambodge a fait mieux". L'Echo. 30 March 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
  13. "New government sworn in at Laken Castle". FlandersNews.be. 6 December 2011. Archived from the original on 7 December 2011.
  14. Belgium ends record-breaking government-free run. CNN, 2011-12-06.
  15. Jackson, Patrick (2 December 2011). "Profile: Belgium's Elio Di Rupo". BBC News. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
  16. "Sophie Wilmès (MR) wordt nieuwe premier in lopende zaken: "Alles aan doen om de stabiliteit te verzekeren"" [Sophie Wilmès (MR) to become new Prime Minister of caretaker cabinet: "Give it all to ensure stability"] (in Dutch). vrt.be. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  17. Dunst, Charles (21 December 2018). "Charles Michel to head Belgian caretaker government – POLITICO". Politico.eu. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  18. "Charles Michel takes over from Donald Tusk as President of the European Council". General Secretariat of the Council. Press release. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 2019-11-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  19. @eucopresident (29 November 2019). "It's time: I am handing over the #EUCO bell & this Twitter account to my friend @CharlesMichel. Best wishes, Mr President! Thank you all for accompanying me over the last 5 years! https://europa.eu/!Yd78Cd Don't worry, I will continue tweeting on @donaldtusk and @donaldtuskEPP" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  20. "EU's Charles Michel to quit Council presidency, run as MEP – DW – 01/07/2024". dw.com. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  21. "Charles Michel pulls out of EU election race – Politico – 01/26/2024". politico.eu. 26 January 2024. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  22. "Belgium grinds to a halt for one-day general strike". The Guardian . 2014-12-15. Retrieved 2014-12-15.
  23. "Tax shift: voici ce qui va changer pour votre portefeuille". Le Soir (in French). Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  24. "Le Tax shift pour les nuls". Communes, régions, Belgique, monde, sports – Toute l'actu 24h/24 sur Lavenir.net (in French). Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  25. Newmedia, R. T. L. "Le tax shift prend effet dans quelques jours: voici quel sera l'impact sur votre salaire". RTL Info (in French). Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  26. "Jan Jambon et Koen Geens ont présenté leur démission, Charles Michel les refuse". Le Soir Plus (in French). 2016-03-24. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  27. "Manifestation contre la réforme des pensions: le point sur la situation". Communes, régions, Belgique, monde, sports – Toute l'actu 24h/24 sur Lavenir.net (in French). Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  28. "La Chambre approuve la loi qui sort l'IVG du Code pénal mais ne la dépénalise pas". RTBF Info (in French). 2018-10-04. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  29. "Bilan du gouvernement Michel: d'abord et surtout du socio-économique". RTBF Info (in French). 2018-12-08. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  30. Casert, Raf (4 December 2018). "Dispute over UN migration pact fractures Belgian government". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 4 December 2018.
  31. "Belgian PM wins backing for UN migration pact". France 24. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  32. "Belgian PM Charles Michel wins backing for UN migration pact". www.timesnownews.com. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  33. "Michel dient ontslag van de regering in: 'Ik ga naar de koning'". 18 December 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  34. "Oko 50 ljudi okupilo se na protestima u Prijedoru" [About 50 people gathered to protest in Prijedor] (in Bosnian). BA: Avaz. 8 February 2014. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  35. 1 2 "Mirni protesti u Bijeljini" [Peaceful protests in Bijeljina] (in Croatian). BA: Haber. 9 February 2014. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  36. "Thousands turn out for second day of Bosnian anti-government protests". EuroNews. 7 February 2014. Archived from the original on 7 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  37. "Dismal outlook in Bosnia prompts violent protest". DW. DE. 7 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  38. "Solidarity with the workers and youth of Bosnia and Hercegovina! US and EU hands off Bosnia!". Rakovsky Center. 10 February 2014. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  39. "Who is behind Bosnia's riots?". Al Jazeera. 10 February 2014.
  40. "ITUC Frontlines Report 2012: Section on Bulgaria". Novinite. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  41. Kotseva, Antonia (30 December 2013). "Събитията от 2013 г., които ще оставят белези" (in Bulgarian). novinite.bg. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  42. Nekov 2013, p. 391.
  43. "2nd LD Writethru: Bulgarian parliament elects new government|chinadaily.com.cn". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  44. "Mass rallies grip Bulgarian politics" . Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  45. "Тежката равносметка за годината на "Орешарски", протести, скандали, трудно работещ парламент..." (in Bulgarian). Bulgariautre.bg. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  46. Smilov, Daniel (12 June 2020). "Протестите от 14 юни 2013: да видим каква е България седем години по-късно" (in Bulgarian). dw.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  47. Nekov 2013, p. 46.
  48. "Сидеров поиска незабавна оставка на кабинета и избори на 20 юли (видео + обновена)" (in Bulgarian). novini.bg. 11 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 June 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  49. "EU Summit: Accession Treaty with Croatia to be signed in 2011". eu2011.hu. 27 June 2011. Archived from the original on 30 June 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  50. Chrisafis, Angélique (13 January 2013). "Mali: high stakes in 'Hollande's war'". The Guardian . London. Archived from the original on 18 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  51. Fouquet, Helene (26 January 2012). "Socialist Hollande Pledges Tax Breaks End, Eased Pension Measure". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  52. "EU must be firm on 'hard' Brexit, says Hollande". Sky News. 7 October 2016. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  53. Chrisafis, Angelique (7 October 2016). "UK must pay price for Brexit, says François Hollande". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  54. Horobin, William (1 December 2016). "French President François Hollande Says He Won't Run for Re-Election". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN   0099-9660. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  55. "Why is François Hollande so unpopular in France?". RFI. 6 May 2013. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  56. Chrisafis, Angelique (29 October 2013). "François Hollande becomes most unpopular French president ever". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  57. "Nearly 90 percent of the French now disapprove of their president". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 2016-12-04.
  58. "Merkel, Angela" Archived 7 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine (US) and "Merkel, Angela". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 10 February 2020.
  59. "Merkel". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary . Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  60. Wells, J. C. (2008). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary. Pearson Education Limited.
  61. Mangold, Max, ed. (1995). Duden, Aussprachewörterbuch (in German) (6th ed.). Dudenverlag. p.  501. ISBN   978-3-411-20916-3. Merkel ˈmɛrkl̩
  62. Krech, Eva-Maria; Stock, Eberhard; Hirschfeld, Ursula; Anders, Lutz Christian; et al., eds. (2009). Deutsches Aussprachewörterbuch (1st ed.). Walter de Gruyter. p. 739. ISBN   978-3-11-018202-6. Merkel mˈɛʶkl̩
  63. Mangold, Max, ed. (1995). Duden, Aussprachewörterbuch (in German) (6th ed.). Dudenverlag. p.  139. ISBN   978-3-411-20916-3. Angela ˈaŋɡelaauch:aŋˈɡeːla.
  64. Langguth, Gerd (2005). Angela Merkel (in German). Munich: dtv. p. 50. ISBN   3-423-24485-2. Merkel wollte immer mit der Betonung auf dem 'e' Angela genannt werden. (Merkel always wanted her first name pronounced with the stress on the 'e'.)
  65. Government continues as acting government Archived 15 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine , bundeskanzlerin.de, 24 October 2017
  66. Miller, Saskia (20 April 2020). "The Secret to Germany's COVID-19 Success: Angela Merkel Is a Scientist". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 2 May 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  67. "The Price of a Failed Reunification". Spiegel International. 5 September 2005. Archived from the original on 20 November 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
  68. "Germany's Merkel begins new term". BBC. 28 October 2009. Archived from the original on 31 October 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  69. "German Chancellor Angela Merkel makes a hat-trick win in 2013 Elections". Archived from the original on 26 September 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  70. Oltermann, Philip; Connolly, Kate (14 March 2018). "Angela Merkel faces multiple challenges in her fourth term". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 March 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  71. "Angela who? Merkel's legacy looks increasingly terrible". The Economist. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  72. "In Germany, Angela Merkel's legacy is being re-evaluated critically". Le Monde. 12 October 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  73. Lee, Frances E. (3 September 2019). "Populism and the American Party System: Opportunities and Constraints". Perspectives on Politics. 18 (2): 371. doi: 10.1017/s1537592719002664 . ISSN   1537-5927.
  74. "What to do when Viktor Orban erodes democracy". The Economist . Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  75. Kingsley, Patrick (10 February 2018). "As West Fears the Rise of Autocrats, Hungary Shows What's Possible". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  76. "The EU is tolerating—and enabling—authoritarian kleptocracy in Hungary". The Economist. 5 April 2018. ISSN   0013-0613 . Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  77. "Full text of Viktor Orbán's speech at Băile Tuşnad (Tusnádfürdő) of 26 July 2014". The Budapest Beacon. 30 July 2014.
  78. "Hungarian PM sees shift to illiberal Christian democracy in 2019 European vote". Reuters. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2020. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Saturday that European parliament elections next year could bring about a shift toward illiberal "Christian democracy" in the European Union that would end the era of multiculturalism.
  79. 1 2 Garzia, Diego (April 16, 2019). "The Italian election of 2018 and the first populist government of Western Europe". West European Politics. 42 (3): 670–680. doi:10.1080/01402382.2018.1535381. hdl: 1814/69628 . ISSN   0140-2382. S2CID   158503952.
  80. Dionisi, Brenda (9 May 2013). "It's a governissimo!". The Florentine. Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  81. "Renzi: con 47, 8 anni di media, è il governo più giovane di sempre". Corriere Della Sera. 21 February 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  82. "UPDATE 2-Renzi's triumph in EU vote gives mandate for Italian reform". Reuters. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  83. "Italy Prime Minister Mattro Renzi on Senate Reform". Bloomberg. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  84. "Renzi Gives Italians Lower Taxes, Higher Cash Use to Back Growth". Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg. 15 October 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  85. "Italy PM Renzi attacks northern regions for refusing migrants". BBC News. 8 June 2015
  86. "Italy coastguard: 3,000 migrants rescued in one day in Mediterranean". The Guardian . 23 August 2015.
  87. "L'analisi del sondaggista: "Con l'immigrazione, Renzi perde tra i 2 e i 4 milioni di voti"" (in Italian). Ilgiornale.it. 25 August 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  88. Sala, Alessandro (3 April 2018). "Elezioni 2018: M5S primo partito, nel centrodestra la Lega supera FI".
  89. "Elezioni politiche: vincono M5s e Lega. Crollo del Partito democratico. Centrodestra prima coalizione. Il Carroccio sorpassa Forza Italia". 4 March 2018.
  90. Jason Horowitz, Italy’s Populist Parties Win Approval to Form Government, New York Times (May 31, 2018).
  91. Jamie McGeever, Populism surge intensifies spotlight on economic, market orthodoxy, Reuters (June 1, 2018).
  92. "L'analisi/19 marzo: Di Maio si apre a dialogo, Colle dà tempo ma a luglio è deadline - Politica". 11 March 2018.
  93. Borrelli, Silvia Sciorilli (August 20, 2019). "Italian PM Conte resigns". POLITICO.
  94. "Governo, Conte annuncia i ministri: Gualtieri all'Economia, Lamorgese all'Interno, Di Maio agli Esteri. Fraccaro sottosegretario alla presidenza dopo lite tra il premier e il capo politico M5S". la Repubblica. September 4, 2019.
  95. Barry, Ellen; Schwirtz, Michael (March 5, 2012). "Observers Detail Fraud in Russian Election Won by Putin". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  96. "Spain unemployment hits record high". BBC News. 2013-04-25. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  97. Alomon, Kyle (14 July 2011). "Who's got the highest (and lowest) unemployment rates?". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  98. "Unemployment in Spain rises sharply to 21.3 percent". EITB . Archived from the original on 3 May 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  99. "El desempleo juvenil alcanza en España su mayor tasa en 16 años". La Voz de Galicia. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  100. Buck, Tobias (18 December 2013). "OECD hails Spain's labour market reform". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  101. Donadio, Rachel; Fuchs, Dale (2010-02-17). "Spanish Premier Insists Economic Recovery Is Near". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  102. "Spain overhauls labour market, as unions plan general strike". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  103. "Tahrir Square in Madrid: Spain's Lost Generation Finds Its Voice". Der Spiegel. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  104. 1 2 Rainsford, Sarah (14 October 2011). "Spain's 'Indignants' lead international protest day". BBC. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  105. Vanden, Harry E.; Funke, Peter N.; Prevost, Gary (2017-03-16). The New Global Politics: Global Social Movements in the Twenty-First Century. Taylor & Francis. ISBN   978-1-315-52228-9.
  106. Alcaide, Soledad (17 May 2011). "Movimiento 15-M: los ciudadanos exigen reconstruir la política (15-M Movement: citizens demand political reconstruction)". El País. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  107. "Ipsos Public Affairs' statistic about Spanish protests". RTVE. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  108. Khazan, Olga (11 September 2012). "Catalonia rallies for independence on 'Catalan National Day'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  109. "Catalonia 'National Day' protest in Barcelona". Euro News. 12 September 2012. Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  110. Goodman, Al (12 September 2012). "Throngs push Catalan independence amid Spain's economic crisis". Madrid. CNN. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  111. "Catalanes realizan manifestación histórica para reclamar su independencia" (in Spanish). Semana.com. 11 September 2012. Archived from the original on 24 November 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  112. "La prensa internacional reconoce la histórica manifestación de la Diada" (in Spanish). La Vanguardia.com. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  113. Reino, Cristian (12 September 2012). "Una manifestación histórica exige la independencia de Cataluña" (in Spanish). Barcelona. HOY.es. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  114. "Cataluña acoge hoy una manifestación independentista histórica" (in Spanish). Barcelona. Ine.es. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  115. "1,5 milions de persones demanen la independència de Catalunya en una manifestació rècord" (in Catalan). Barcelona. 324. 11 September 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  116. "Empieza la lucha por capitalizar la histórica manifestación de Barcelona" (in Spanish). GARA. 13 September 2012. Archived from the original on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  117. Rico, Jose; Julve, Rafa (12 September 2012). "Goleada independentista, la mayor manifestación en BCN" (in Spanish). elPeriódico.com. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  118. "Catalan protesters rally for greater autonomy in Spain". BBC News. 10 July 2010. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  119. "Catalonia president signs independence referendum decree". BBC News. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  120. Moffett, Matt. "Catalan Leader Signs Decree for Independence Referendum". WSJ. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  121. "Catalonian leader orders referendum on independence from Spain". Reuters. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  122. "Non-referendum popular consultation on the political future of Catalonia 2014". Generalitat de Catalunya. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  123. "Spain Catalonia: Court blocks independence referendum". BBC News. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  124. Strange, Hannah (7 September 2017). "Spain's constitutional court suspends Catalan referendum law". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  125. Stothard, Michael (20 September 2017). "Spanish national police raid Catalan government headquarters". Financial Times. Madrid. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  126. Giles, Ciaran; Parra, Aritz (17 October 2017). "Spain: Top court officially rules Catalan referendum illegal". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  127. "El gobierno de Cataluña convocó para el 1 de octubre el referéndum de autodeterminación". Infobae (in Spanish). 6 September 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  128. Jones, Sam (6 September 2017). "Catalonia to hold independence vote despite anger in Madrid". The Guardian . Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  129. "Why the referendum on Catalan independence is illegal". The Economist . 26 September 2017.
  130. "How to Stage an Illegal Referendum". Bloomberg.com. 20 September 2017.
  131. Alandete, David (10 October 2017). "Independence in Catalonia – now what?". El País .
  132. "Spain Catalonia: Court blocks independence referendum". BBC News. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  133. "Recurso de inconstitucionalidad n.º 4334-2017, contra la Ley del Parlamento de Cataluña 19/2017, de 6 de septiembre, del Referéndum de Autodeterminación" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 6 September 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  134. Duarte, Esteban (11 September 2017). "Catalan Separatists Plot Show of Force in Battle With Madrid". Bloomberg. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  135. Carranco, Rebeca; García, Jesús (21 September 2017). "La justicia desmonta la organización del referéndum ilegal de Cataluña". El País (in Spanish).
  136. "Una juez ordena a Google eliminar la aplicación sobre el referéndum catalán". Reuters (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2017-10-05.
  137. "Catalonia's Superior Court also orders Catalan Police to close off planned polling stations". El Nacional.
  138. Colomé, Jordi Pérez (3 October 2017). "La misión de observadores concluye que el referéndum no cumple los "estándares internacionales"". El País (in Spanish). "La Misión debe concluir que el referéndum, tal y como se hizo, no puede cumplir con los estándares internacionales" The Mission must conclude that the referendum, as it was done, can not meet international standards
  139. "Did the referendum comply with basic voting regulations?". El País . 3 October 2017.
  140. Gallego-Díaz, Soledad (5 October 2017). "Mediaciones e instituciones". Hoy por hoy (in European Spanish). Cadena SER.
  141. "Un Parlament semivacío consuma en voto secreto la rebelión contra el Estado". El Mundo (in Spanish). 27 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  142. "Los letrados del Parlament advierten de que la votación de la DUI es ilegal". 20 minutos (in Spanish). 27 October 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  143. "PPC, PSC y Ciudadanos abandonarán el Parlament si se vota la resolución de Junts pel Sí y la CUP". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 27 October 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  144. "Catalan crisis: Regional MPs debate Spain takeover bid". BBC. 26 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  145. "Catalan crisis: Spain PM Rajoy demands direct rule". BBC. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  146. "Catalonia's longest week". BBC News. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  147. "Catalonia independence: Rajoy dissolves Catalan parliament". BBC News. Barcelona, Madrid. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  148. "Sacked Catalan leader 'in Belgium'". BBC News. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  149. Guindal, Carlota (30 October 2017). "La Fiscalía se querella contra Puigdemont y el Govern por rebelión y sedición". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  150. Jones, Sam (30 October 2017). "Spanish prosecutor calls for rebellion charges against Catalan leaders". The Guardian. Barcelona. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  151. "Catalan independence: Spain high court summons dismissed leader". BBC News. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  152. "Spain court gives Catalan leaders long jail terms". BBC . 14 October 2019.
  153. "TIMELINE-UK coalition government's first year in power". Reuters. May 10, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  154. Hough, Andrew (11 May 2010). "David Cameron becomes youngest Prime Minister in almost 200 years". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 13 May 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  155. Morris, Nigel (22 May 2014). "David Cameron sticks to his guns on immigration reduction pledge even while numbers rise" . The Independent . London, England: Independent Print Ltd. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  156. "Who is Jeremy Corbyn: The Most Left-Wing Leader of the Labour Party". InsideOver. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  157. 1 2 "EU referendum: UK votes to leave in historic referendum". BBC News . 24 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  158. Stewart, Heather; Mason, Rowena; Syal, Rajeev (24 June 2016). "David Cameron resigns after UK votes to leave European Union". The Guardian . London, England. PM announces resignation following victory for leave supporters after divisive referendum campaign
  159. Crace, John (9 July 2018). "Political crises don't come much bigger than Brexit". GQ . Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  160. "General election 2017: Why did Theresa May call an election?". BBC News . 9 June 2017. Archived from the original on 5 September 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  161. "The world this week – Blue Wave: Biggest Conservative win since 1987". France 24. December 14, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  162. Lyall, Sarah (25 June 2014). "Britain's Improbable New Leaders Promise Big Changes". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 May 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  163. Morris, Nigel (22 May 2014). "David Cameron sticks to his guns on immigration reduction pledge even while numbers rise". The Independent . London, England: Independent Print Ltd. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  164. Clark, Greg (27 November 2017). "Industrial Strategy: building a Britain fit for the future". gov.uk. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  165. "Calais migrants: UK and France sign new treaty". BBC. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  166. Holder, Josh (18 October 2019). "How much of Johnson's 'great new deal' is actually new?". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  167. "UK Gives £1 Billion to Ukraine to Help Fund Offensive Operations". Bloomberg.com. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  168. Davies, Guy (23 July 2019). "Meet Boris Johnson: The UK's controversial new prime minister". ABC News. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  169. Blitz, James (23 July 2019). "Why is Boris Johnson such a divisive figure?" . Financial Times . Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  170. Gimson 2012, p. 20.
  171. Kirkup, James (7 January 2015). "Boris Johnson goes looking for Conservative friends in the north" . The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  172. Purnell 2011, p. 327.
  173. Edwards & Isaby 2008, p. 110.
  174. Conn, David; Pegg, David; Evans, Rob; Garside, Juliette; Lawrence, Felicity (15 November 2020). "'Chumocracy': how Covid revealed the new shape of the Tory establishment". The Observer . Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  175. Purnell 2011, p. 365.
  176. "'Get Brexit Done.' The Slogan That Won Britain's Election". Time. 13 December 2019. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  177. Editorial (1 February 2021). "The Guardian view on the vaccine rollout: the state we're in". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 15 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  178. "Boris Johnson's support for Ukraine was special, President Zelensky says". BBC News. 7 July 2022. Archived from the original on 15 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  179. Spencer, Richard (24 April 2022). "Ukrainians rename Odesa road as Boris Johnson Street". The Times. Archived from the original on 4 May 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  180. "The most controversial PM since Lloyd George: historians on Boris Johnson". The Observer . 4 September 2022. Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.

Bibliography