GERMANY: Belarusian opposition figures win Charlemagne Prize

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Veronika Zepkalo and Maria Kolesnikova received the 2022 Charlemagne Prize. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the Belarusian activists were the "bravest women in Europe."

Read more at: Belarusian opposition figures win Charlemagne Prize | News | DW | 26.05.2022

Eurovision - the Netherlands: Italy's raucous glam rock takes Eurovision by storm - by Stephanie van den Berg

Italy's entry, glam rock band Maneskin, won the Eurovision song contest, as the world's most popular live music event was held in the Netherlands after being canceled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Italian's raucous "Zitti E Buoni" beat out professional jury favourites Switzerland and France, sweeping the public vote which counts for half the points. Victoria de Angelis of Maneskin told a press conference the win was an important boost for Italy, one of the European countries worst hit by COVID-19.

Read more at: Italy's raucous glam rock takes Eurovision by storm | Reuters

Netherlands election: Mark Rutte set to win big – but what next?

The outgoing prime minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, appears headed for a comprehensive victory and fourth successive term in office as the Dutch go to the polls in national elections on Monday, with voting spread over three days due to coronavirus restrictions.

Polls predict Rutte, who has headed three coalition governments of different political complexions since 2010, and his centre-right People’s party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) will win twice as many parliamentary seats as his nearest rival

Read more at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/15/netherlands-election-mark-rutte-set-to-win-big-but-what-next

Brexit: Irish Vice PM Leo Varadkar: "A Biden win could spur better Brexit deal for EU - and spell dark clouds for Boris Johnson– by Shawn Pogatchnik

A President-elect Biden could help the EU to clinch a better Brexit deal with Britain, Irish Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has told his party’s lawmakers.

Two lawmakers from Varadkar’s Fine Gael have said the deputy prime minister expressed hopes of a Biden victory at a parliamentary meeting of the party’s lawmakers Wednesday night.

They said Varadkar described Biden as “a genuine friend to Ireland,” citing his Irish roots and keen interest in defending the U.S.-brokered 1998 Good Friday peace accord for Northern Ireland. They said Varadkar described President Donald Trump’s interest in Ireland as confined primarily to the fortunes of his Doonbeg golf resort on Ireland’s Atlantic coast.

Read more at: Leo Varadkar: A Biden win could spur better Brexit deal for EU – POLITICO

Canada - election: Trudeau's Liberals win but lose majority

Despite a bumpy first term, Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party earns a second, narrow election win.

Read more at: Canada election: Trudeau's Liberals win but lose majority - BBC News

Poland: Poland's ruling PiS party wins most votes, according to exit polls

Poland's ruling PiS party wins most votes, according to exit polls

Read more at:
https://p.dw.com/p/3RDY6

Portugal: Socialists tipped to win in upcoming general elections

Portugal heads to the polls with Socialists tipped to win,

Read more at:
https://p.dw.com/p/3Qmut

France election: Macron party set for big parliamentary win

The centrist party of French President Emmanuel Macron looks on course to win a landslide victory following the first round of parliamentary elections.

Projections show La Republique en Marche (Republic on the Move) and its MoDem ally set to win up to 445 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly.

The final outcome will be decided at a run-off next Sunday.

Mr Macron's party was established just over a year ago and many candidates have little or no political experience.

Read more: France election: Macron party set for big parliamentary win - BBC News