Be it municipal children’s councils or national youth organizations: the effort to promote children in politics is ongoing. To nobody’s surprise, the kids reach the exact conclusions that the adults want them to reach.
Italy’s funding threat will force the next European Commission to make fundamental choices
In a recent statement, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Luigi de Maio said that if the European Union cannot agree on a comprehensive redistribution system of migrants coming from Africa, the government could withhold funds to Brussels. This would be a first in the history of the EU, and presents some key questions about the federalism […]
“Fraktiounszwang”: How Luxembourgish MPs let themselves be bullied into following the party line
“Who’s in favour? Who’s against? Who abstains?” The questions asked by parliamentary chairman Mars Di Bartolomeo (LSAP) aren’t that different from those of any other parliament in Europe. Yet Luxembourg is different, if only due to its size. Indeed, any legislature that could fit into your average pizzeria is unquestionably small. But, with only 60 […]
Credit card or flights: extra fees are a good thing
Be it credit card fees or extra fees on airlines, politicians are trying to crack down on extra charges in the name of protecting the consumer. In reality, they do quite the opposite.
Quoted by CNS News
I was quoted by the American news outlet CNS News on the topic of Nazi protests in Chemnitz, Germany. You can read the full article here.
“Do I know you?” Luxembourg’s intense focus on individual candidates for election
The campaign leading up to Luxembourg’s parliamentary elections on 14 October has been quite the sideshow. Don’t be surprised if, during your visit to the Schueberfouer funfair in Luxembourg City, someone in a suit and coloured tie hands you a flyer, a pen, some chewing gum, a fan or some other gadget to mark the […]
EU institutions are back from their holidays, and so are Macron’s demands
Brussels has woken back up; but it’s not only the trams and metros that are seeing themselves filled to the last remaining standing spot, the political machinery has also been rebooted. For French president Emmanuel Macron, the pitch is out for his EU reforms; but unlike last time, the EU now has other priorities.
Germany’s Nazis surf on empty dialogue
The German city of Chemnitz, in the state of Saxony, is seeing large protests by neo-Nazis, following a fatal stabbing of a German citizen by refugees. The men arrested in the case are a 22-year old Iraqi and a 23-year-old Syrian, who are now being charged with voluntary manslaughter.
After decades of communism, Central Europe and Eastern Europe are seeing the end of the tunnel
Since the end of communism, countries suffering from the economic destruction of collectivism have risen out of the ashes, and are turning into prosperous and modern countries. Time to celebrate!
Elon Musk’s promises on reusable rockets need to be met with more scepticism
Elon Musk’s rise to fame through SpaceX, his Tesla car brand, and his extravagant personality as a whole, comes with questions about his efficacy vis-a-vis his promises. SpaceX itself published a video in September last year mocking its regular failures in landing rocket boosters. Those spectacular “fails” might be amusing to viewers, but it becomes more nuanced […]
Bill Wirtz 