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Good morning! Today, we’re looking forward to the release of inflation data for the eurozone. German inflation reached a two-year low yesterday, raising hopes that the European Central Bank will end its rate-rising cycle. In other news, our central Europe correspondent gives a preview of Slovakia’s upcoming election, while our environment correspondent analyzes European Commission data on green rule breaches. Have a great weekend!
Remember me? Former Slovak prime minister Robert Fico is making a political comeback that can be compared to “the phoenix rising from the ashes,” says Peter Bárdy, chief editor of online publication Aktuality and author of a new book on Fico. Fico and his Smer party are hoping to return to office in Saturday’s election, competing with the liberal Progressive Slovakia party led by Michal Šimečka, a former journalist and member of the European parliament.
In 2018, Fico was forced to resign amid mass protests following the murders of a journalist and his fiancée, who were investigating corruption. Fico has since been entangled in several court investigations, including alleged ties to organized crime. Despite these challenges, Fico survived an attempt in parliament to lift his immunity as a lawmaker last year. The upcoming election is seen as an opportunity for both Fico and Šimečka to benefit from the chaotic political climate in Slovakia.
Chart of the day: Lost homeland
The self-proclaimed republic of Nagorno-Karabakh has been extinguished as Azerbaijan takes control of the region, leading to the displacement of tens of thousands of people. Polina Ivanova reports on the exodus and the plight of those left homeless.
Slipping standards
Environmental regulations in the EU are facing challenges as politicians across the bloc seek to dilute green rules for electoral gain. However, the European Commission is still working to ensure member states adhere to environmental standards. In September, nearly one-third of the commission’s infringement proceedings were related to green issues, such as industrial pollution and water management. This suggests that either the commission is taking stronger action or member states are failing to meet standards. The publication of the commission’s infringement report raises concerns about the delay or removal of key environmental legislation scheduled for the rest of the year. This includes a potential revision of the EU’s REACH chemicals legislation and rules on microplastics, as well as new regulations to improve the sustainability of the food industry and animal welfare.
What to watch today:
– Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas visits her Finnish counterpart, Petteri Orpo.
– NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg visits Denmark to meet with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
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