标签： Europe

Micheál Martin, the Taoiseach of Ireland and leader of Fianna Fáil for 14 years, is under increasing pressure from senior party members to address the future of his leadership. This comes in the wake of a tumultuous presidential election campaign that saw the party’s candidate, Jim Gavin, withdraw due to controversy over overpaid rent by a tenant. Despite Gavin’s withdrawal, his name remained on the ballot, and the party’s leadership faced criticism for backing him over other potential candidates, including European Parliament member Billy Kelleher. The election ultimately resulted in a landslide victory for independent candidate Catherine Connolly, further exacerbating internal party tensions. Senior Fianna Fáil backbenchers, including TD John McGuinness, have called for a leadership discussion, citing “serious errors” in the campaign. However, TD Darragh O’Brien maintains that the “vast majority” of parliamentary party members still support Martin. The party has decided to postpone leadership talks until a review of the presidential campaign concludes in two weeks. Martin’s position has been significantly weakened by his staunch support for Gavin, and while some believe his time as leader is numbered, others speculate that a leadership change may not occur until after Ireland’s EU Council presidency ends in December 2026. This would also mean Martin would not assume the role of tánaiste in 2027, as per the coalition agreement with Fine Gael.

Lithuania’s Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė announced on Monday that the government has prepared plans to indefinitely shut its border crossings with Belarus. This decision comes in response to repeated disruptions at Vilnius Airport caused by suspected sightings of balloons allegedly used for smuggling cigarettes across the frontier. The National Security Commission convened after air traffic at Vilnius Airport was suspended on three consecutive evenings—Friday, Saturday, and Sunday—leading to widespread flight cancellations, diversions, and delays. Kaunas Airport, located farther from the Belarusian border, was also affected on Friday. These incidents follow similar disruptions earlier in the week and in recent months. Both Medininkai and Šalčininkai border crossings were temporarily closed following each balloon sighting, with the border guard service extending the closure for 24 hours on Sunday night. Prime Minister Ruginienė stated that the restrictions will remain in place until Wednesday, when the Cabinet will decide on a potential indefinite closure. The draft decision includes exemptions for diplomats, diplomatic mail, and EU citizens entering from Belarus. Lithuania, a member of both the EU and NATO, shares borders with Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave and Belarus, a key ally of Russia. Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, exiled in Lithuania, described the balloon incidents as a form of hybrid aggression by the Belarusian regime. She expressed support for Lithuania’s actions and called for stronger sanctions against those involved in cigarette smuggling.

Irish President Michael D. Higgins was admitted to St. James’s Hospital in Dublin on Sunday for treatment of a localized infection. According to a spokesperson, the President received antibiotics and is in “good spirits,” with plans to return to Áras an Uachtaráin, his official residence and workplace. Higgins will continue to serve in his role until the inauguration of his successor, Catherine Connolly, on November 11 at Dublin Castle. Connolly, an independent member of the Irish parliament, made history by securing a record-breaking 63% of first-preference votes in the presidential election. However, the unusually high number of spoiled votes—213,738—has drawn attention and calls for electoral reform. Connolly’s victory over Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys was officially confirmed on Saturday evening, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Ireland’s political landscape.

In a significant escalation of judicial pressure, Turkish prosecutors have leveled new espionage charges against Ekrem Imamoglu, the incarcerated mayor of Istanbul and a prominent opposition figure widely regarded as a formidable challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The charges, filed on Monday, are linked to an ongoing investigation into alleged connections between Imamoglu’s political campaign and a businessman arrested in July for reportedly conducting intelligence operations on behalf of foreign governments. Imamoglu’s former campaign manager, Necati Ozkan, and journalist Merdan Yanardag have also been implicated in the case. According to the state-run Anadolu Agency, Imamoglu, who is already in pretrial detention on corruption charges, is accused of unlawfully transferring personal data of Istanbul residents to secure international funding for his campaign. Imamoglu vehemently denied the allegations, dismissing them as ‘nonsense’ in a social media statement. ‘Even the claim that I burned down Rome would have been more credible than this nonsense,’ he remarked, vowing to intensify his resistance against what he described as a systemic effort to undermine Turkey’s future. The charges have further fueled accusations of a broader crackdown on opposition figures, particularly following the Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) significant gains in last year’s local elections. Imamoglu’s arrest in March had already sparked nationwide protests, with critics viewing it as part of a concerted effort to stifle dissent. Erdogan’s government maintains that the judiciary operates independently and that the investigations are solely focused on combating corruption.

In a decisive electoral victory, independent lawmaker Catherine Connolly has been elected as Ireland’s president for the next seven years. The 68-year-old left-wing politician secured 63% of the votes in Saturday’s election, defeating her center-right opponent, former Cabinet minister Heather Humphreys. Connolly’s win was bolstered by the unified support of Ireland’s left-leaning opposition parties, including Sinn Féin, positioning her as a vocal challenger to the country’s center-right government. Although the Irish presidency is largely ceremonial, it holds significant symbolic power on the global stage, and Connolly is expected to continue the tradition of being a unifying voice on major issues. She succeeds Michael D. Higgins, a popular president known for his outspoken views on international matters such as the Gaza conflict and NATO spending. Connolly, a mother of two, has a rich political and personal background. She grew up in social housing in Galway, one of 14 children, and has degrees in clinical psychology and law. Her political career began in 1999 as a Labour Party member of Galway City Council, and she later became the city’s mayor in 2004. Connolly has been an independent lawmaker since 2007 and made history in 2020 as the first woman to serve as deputy speaker of Parliament’s lower house. Known for her outspoken views, Connolly has been a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the European Union’s growing militarization. She has also defended Ireland’s tradition of military neutrality, calling for a referendum on government plans to alter the conditions for deploying Irish soldiers abroad. Connolly’s campaign emphasized social equality, inclusivity, and diversity, resonating strongly with younger voters. In her acceptance speech, she vowed to be an inclusive president and a voice for peace, pledging to champion diversity and Ireland’s unique identity.