A French court found Marine Le Pen and 24 others guilty of misusing over €4 million in European Parliament funds, with Le Pen personally liable for €474,000. Le Pen received the harshest sentence, including a four-year prison term (two years suspended) and a ban on holding public office, immediately enforced by the court due to the crime’s severity. The National Rally party was also fined €2 million, potentially reducible to €1 million. While many received fines and suspended sentences, the court’s swift action against Le Pen’s eligibility sparked immediate controversy.
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The European Parliament overwhelmingly adopted a resolution condemning Russia’s historical revisionism and disinformation campaign regarding its war in Ukraine. The resolution urges the EU to strengthen counter-disinformation efforts, including enhanced sanctions against Russian media outlets and increased support for independent Russian media. Furthermore, Parliament expressed serious concern over social media companies relaxing fact-checking policies, potentially exacerbating the spread of Russian propaganda. The resolution calls for stricter enforcement of the Digital Services Act to combat this threat.
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The recent European Parliament elections have sparked interesting trends in Nordic countries, with left-wing parties gaining ground while the far-right sees a decline in support. Unlike in France or Germany, where media reports emphasized a far-right surge, countries like Denmark, Finland, and Sweden witnessed surprising victories for leftist and green parties. In Denmark, the Green Left Party emerged as the largest party, while in Sweden, the far-right Swedish Democrats faced defeat for the first time in their history.
These results highlight a shift in political dynamics, with left-wing parties resonating with voters over far-right ideologies. The success of socialist and green parties in these countries signals a growing appetite for progressive policies and a rejection of right-wing rhetoric.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker