By Pierre Lefevre
Paris-based political reporter. Bylines from Paris, Rome and Madrid. Closely follows elections and coalition politics.
Von der Leyen launches refinery dialogue as EU fuel security tightens
European refining capacity has dropped by a fifth since 2009, leaving the bloc more dependent on imported diesel and jet fuel. Ursula von de
Trump defers diesel tax for truckers as fuel costs bite before US midterms
Trump signed an executive order deferring tax payments on red-dyed diesel used on public roads. The move aims to ease fuel costs for trucker
Sánchez turns housing crisis into electoral asset, analyst says
Housing has been one of Sánchez's biggest policy failures, but he has turned it into an electoral issue. A PP-VOX coalition could shift Spai
EU moves to speed up deportations and tighten external borders
EU interior ministers have approved measures to accelerate deportations and tighten border controls. The plan includes return hubs and a str
Barcelona housing protest turns violent as police clash with demonstrators
A housing protest in Barcelona drew tens of thousands before turning violent, with barricades and fires. Police arrested 13 people and repor
Spain's Socialist Bastion Crumbles as Sánchez Calls Snap Vote
Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez has called a snap election for 29 November after weeks of protests over housing and the fallout from the Ceuta bord
Kosovo police disperse protesters demanding limits on war crimes court
Riot police in Pristina fired tear gas and used a water cannon to disperse hundreds of demonstrators outside parliament on Monday night. The
France's debt spiral: how a political impasse is shaking European markets
French 10-year bond yields have reached their highest level since 2002, and the gap with German Bunds is the widest since the eurozone crisi
Quebec separatists win election but fall short of majority, vow new referendum
The Parti Québécois won Quebec's provincial election but fell short of a majority, complicating its push for another independence referendum
Exiled Russian and Belarusian journalists on reporting from abroad
Two exiled opposition journalists explain how they keep reporting on Russia and Belarus from abroad. They face terrorism charges, censorship
Spain's growth paradox: housing and inflation test Sánchez before snap vote
Spain's GDP grew 2.8% in 2025, yet housing protests and 5% inflation define the political mood. Pedro Sánchez faces a snap election on 29 No
French students clash with police in Marseille and Lille over funding cuts
Students in Marseille and Lille barricaded schools and clashed with police as protests over education funding intensified. Blockades have sp