Latest European Parliament News
President Macron names centrist ally Bayrou as France's next prime minister
PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday named centrist ally François Bayrou as prime minister in an effort to address the country's deep political crisis, after a historic parliamentary vote ousted the previous government last week. Bayrou, 73, a crucial partner in...
EU nations agree a crackdown on migrant smugglers. Some fear it may target people trying to help
BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union countries agreed on Friday a draft law aimed at preventing and countering migrant smuggling, which critics say could be used to target people or charity groups that try to help migrants in trouble. The aim of the new law is to broaden the definition...
Demonstrators again converge on Georgia's parliament after the country's EU bid was suspended
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — Thousands of demonstrators in the Georgian capital converged on parliament again on Tuesday, venting outrage against the governing party's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union. Like on five previous nights, riot police used water...
Algeria facing growing calls to release French-Algerian author Boualem Sansal
Politicians, writers and activists have called for the release of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, whose arrest in Algeria is seen as the latest instance of the stifling of creative expression in the military-dominated North African country. The 75-year-old author, who is an...
High-stakes trial that could derail presidential ambitions of France's Marine Le Pen wraps up
PARIS (AP) — Marine Le Pen’s trial is ending with one key question: will France’s leading far-right figure be able to run in the next presidential race? Her lawyer spoke Wednesday for the last time at the trial in Paris on charges of embezzling European Parliament funds. ...
French prosecutors seek a 2-year prison sentence and ineligibility period against Marine Le Pen
PARIS (AP) — Paris prosecutors on Wednesday requested a 2-year prison sentence for far-right leader Marine Le Pen and an additional 5-year period of ineligibility to run for office, in a trial over the suspected embezzlement of European Parliament funds where her ability to participate in the...
Venezuelan opposition leaders win the EU’s top human rights prize
BRUSSELS (AP) — Venezuelan opposition leaders Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia have won the European Union’s top human rights honor, the Sakharov Prize, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced Thursday. Machado was set to run as the democratic...
France’s far-right leader Marine Le Pen faces court on charges of embezzling EU funds
PARIS (AP) — French far-right leader Marine Le Pen strongly denied committing any wrongdoing at a Paris court Monday as she and her National Rally party stand trial over the suspected embezzlement of European Parliament funds. The nine-week trial is a critical juncture for Le Pen,...
France's Le Pen denies wrongdoing as she and her party go on trial accused of embezzling EU funds
PARIS (AP) — French far-right leader Marine Le Pen denied violating any rules as she and her National Rally party and two dozen others went on trial on Monday, accused of embezzling European Parliament funds, in a case that has the potential to derail her political ambitions. Le...
