From Scotland’s new First Minister, to EU-China security saga, to unrest in Jerusalem – this is what Europe has been talking about this week.
Kings’ troubles
On Monday, Humza Yousaf was narrowly elected the new Scottish National Party leader and, therefore, he is poised to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as Prime Minister of Scotland. King Humza is officially the youngest leader in the party’s history and the first Muslim to lead a significant U.K. party. The new party boy declared he wanted to put the drive for independence into “fifth gear” … BUT BUT BUT: Labour leader (and very likely future Prime Minister) Keith Starmer is hoping to capitalise on the narrative that Yousaf did a dismal job of running the health and justice departments, as well as during his stint in transport.
Meanwhile, King Charles III (this time, we talk about the real King) had to cancel his three-day visit to France after a request by President Emmanuel Macron following many cities (including Paris and Bordeaux) caught up in violence. The decision is a significant loss of face for France and President Macron, le roi mis à feu.
The Pilgrim Leaders
Europe is waking up to the security threat identified by Washington on China. Earlier this month, the Dutch government buckled to U.S. pressure and said that it would impose export restrictions on crucial machinery for microchip making destined for China. Several EU countries are also instructing their officials to stay off TikTok. However, the leaders of the EU institutions have as many opinions as there are Member States’ capitals. The sentiment is that Europe somehow believes it can talk China out of deepening ties with Russia, notwithstanding Xi’s declared marriage with Putin (love is blind…). Besides Macron, who leaves for Beijing on April 4, the Chinese President will also receive European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who will travel with the French president and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. All eyes will be on whether Macron can extract new pledges on Ukraine from Xi. Let’s not forget that Macron’s optimism over Putin’s good intentions and diplomatic grandeur led exactly to… nothing (except maybe for an easy victory over Marine Le Pen).
Nightmare before May
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is probably facing the most complex challenge of his long tenure as leader of the Likud party and the Jewish State. On Sunday, thousands of protesters from all over the small country took to the streets of Jerusalem after Netanyahu decided to fire his defence minister for objecting to the judicial reform the PM and the far-right parties are carrying on. Monday’s announcement to postpone the reform follows calls for action (aka political overstepping) from President Isaac Herzog and pressing from the United States over fears of a general long-term strike and disorders turning into violence. The reform will be discussed after multiple negotiations with the opposition leaders during the Knesset session in May. Meanwhile, we know for sure that Bibi will need some help sleeping, knowing that his allies from the far-right will not accept watered-down compromises. By the way, aren’t popcorns too American for Iranian regime leaders?
