I'm back in Melbourne after a three-week trip around Europe – mostly Germany, Austria, Spain and Belgium. So expect blogging to start returning to a normal frequency (one or two posts a day). And there's plenty of available material in European events as well as the rest of the world. Some of the topics I … Continue reading Back at my desk
Germany coalition update
European coalitions work quite differently from Australian ones.
Election preview: Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev will be re-elected tomorrow, but at least the opposition is having a go this time.
When in doubt, vote no?
Irish voters decide to keep their Senate after all. Meanwhile, British politicians are arguing about giving their voters the opportunity to decide whether to keep EU membership.
On getting rid of a Senate
Ireland's voters may decide tomorrow to abolish their Senate. Could it happen in Australia as well?
Silvio Berlusconi’s worst day yet
The Berlusconi drama seems to have had a lot of last acts. But Wednesday's was an important one, with Italy's economic and political stability at stake.
As expected in Austria
Austria's election result was in line with the opinion polls. There'll now be a period of talks on a new coalition, but it looks like ending with the incumbents back in office.
Election preview: Austria
While Germany is trying to build a grand coalition, Austrians seem pretty unhappy with theirs. Yet it will probably survive today's vote through lack of a viable alternative.
Iran: deal or no deal?
The prospects for a deal regarding Iran's nuclear program look better than they have for a long time. The Israeli government isn't happy about the idea, for reasons that may not be quite what they seem.
Centrism triumphant – sort of
The organ of French liberal opinion has an interesting view on Angela Merkel's victory.
The World is Not Enough 