Ep 118, presented by BP: Georgian President Salomé Zourabichvili

In our just-released podcast, we review the week in European politics and speak to the president of a small country with big geopolitical challenges.

"Protecting the European way of life” and other curious job titles in the next European Commission are causing ever more consternation and confusion, particularly in the European Parliament. Our quartet of journalists from the EU's key capitals debate those concerns and asks what the kerfuffle tells us about how President-elect Ursula von der Leyen operates.

And just when you thought Italian politics had calmed down... Former PM Matteo Renzi and his allies have broken away from the governing Democratic Party. Our correspondent in Rome, Silvia Sciorilli-Borrelli, tells us what it means for Italy and Europe.

Our special guest is Georgian President Salomé Zourabichvili, who’s trying to bring her country closer to the EU even as she accepts it won't be joining the bloc — at least not for a long time to come. At the same time, she has to manage a standoff with Russia, which occupies 20 percent of Georgia's territory. POLITICO’s Rym Momtaz caught up with Zourabichvili during a visit to Paris.

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