EU Confidential Between a smack and a hard place — Poland votes, Orbán provokes, and Brussels shows its teeth
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May 30, 2025 Join Nick Vinocur, an Editor at large for Politico, Jan Cienski, Defense Editor at Politico, and Clea Caulcutt, senior correspondent in Paris, as they delve into Europe’s political tumult. They analyze the tight presidential race in Poland and the impact of far-right candidates on the youth. Tensions rise over Hungary’s ban on pride parades as Brussels confronts LGBTQ+ issues, while France faces backlash over its diplomacy with Hungary. Plus, discussions on the EU’s shifting stance on Israel and implications in Gaza create a charged atmosphere.
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Macron Slap Incident
- Brigitte Macron pushed Emmanuel Macron's face in a moment caught by Associated Press during a Vietnam trip.
- The incident was later described as a private squabble and quickly resolved with smiles on another trip.
Poland's Complex Vote Dynamics
- Poland's presidential runoff is a statistical dead heat between conservative Nowrowski and liberal Trzaskowski.
- Some far-right voters lean toward the liberal candidate due to dissatisfaction with major parties and economic libertarianism.
Polish Scandals Don’t Shift Polls
- Nowrowski is facing repeated scandals including possible drug use during a debate and mismanagement at a government institute.
- However, these scandals don't significantly affect voter support due to strong partisan loyalty reminiscent of U.S. politics.