Previously In Europe

This week we discuss the Portuguese elections, while Hugh is in China. Why didn't he go to Macau... the coward!Support us on Patreon!WE HAVE A T-PUBLIC STORE what a fashionable way to support our podcastWe now have a website that you can find here!Feel free to send us an email at PreviouslyInEurope@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @PrevInEuropeIf you can please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and if you can't do that tell a friend, this stuff really helps us outAlso, have you considered Matteo Renzi?

This week we discuss whether Margrethe Vestager's Time As European Commissioner for Competition is actually good or not. Also why have a competition commissioner exactly?Support us on Patreon!WE HAVE A T-PUBLIC STORE what a fashionable way to support our podcastWe now have a website that you can find here!Feel free to send us an email at PreviouslyInEurope@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @PrevInEuropeIf you can please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and if you can't do that tell a friend, this stuff really helps us outAlso, have you considered Matteo Renzi?Show NotesNo Election Left BehindAustrian ElectionFun Kurz CornerSo there was the thing about shredding hard drives... to help fuel conspiracy theories?https://metropole.at/schreddergate-kurz-social-media-manager-secretly-destroys-hard-drives-at-reisswolf/"But, instead of handing them over to the Reisswolf employees, he insists on (not just erasing but) “shredding” the data carriers himself. ""He then collects all the shredded pieces and takes them wi

This week we discuss whether Margrethe Vestager's Time As European Commissioner for Competition is actually good or not. Also why have a competition commissioner exactly?Support us on Patreon!WE HAVE A T-PUBLIC STORE what a fashionable way to support our podcastWe now have a website that you can find here!Feel free to send us an email at PreviouslyInEurope@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @PrevInEuropeIf you can please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and if you can't do that tell a friend, this stuff really helps us outAlso, have you considered Matteo Renzi?Show NotesHave you consideredMargrethe Vestager's Time As European Commissioner for CompetitionVestager is apparently the inspiration for Borgen - or the Danish West Wing as nobody calls it. A liberal who lead an aggressively centrist party and was referred to in the Danish media as the most powerful person in the government despite not actually being the leader. This secured her the commissionership for Denmark (or possibly they were trying to get ri

This week we discuss Spain's upcoming election and how we got here. I blame everyone, but especially you.Support us on Patreon!WE HAVE A T-PUBLIC STORE what a fashionable way to support our podcastWe now have a website that you can find here!Feel free to send us an email at PreviouslyInEurope@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @PrevInEuropeIf you can please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and if you can't do that tell a friend, this stuff really helps us outAlso, have you considered Matteo Renzi?Show NotesAlso HappeningThe great disappointment of Pedro Sanchez¡Mi nombre es pedro sanchez y soy una decepción!I hear that Sanchez and read a pollSort of... he's banking on another version of this same negotiation where he has a few more seats and can have a slightly different version of the same argument with Podemos?...or the horrible possibility of the Cs coming around to Sanchez?Maybe not - "Rivera offered his party’s abstention in any forthcoming investiture debate if the PSOE promised not to increase taxes,

This week we discuss the problem children of the proposed von der Leyen commission and whether or not we deserve this...Support us on Patreon!WE HAVE A T-PUBLIC STORE what a fashionable way to support our podcastWe now have a website that you can find here!Feel free to send us an email at PreviouslyInEurope@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @PrevInEuropeIf you can please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and if you can't do that tell a friend, this stuff really helps us outAlso, have you considered Matteo Renzi?Show NotesHave you considered...The von der Leyen CommissionThe Politico Europe org chart is good to get an overall view of hierarchy https://www.politico.eu/article/european-commission-president-elect-ursula-von-der-leyen-actual-organization-chart-commissioners-portfolios/ I count: EPP 9 S&D 10 Renew 6 ECR (because Poland) 1 Greens/EFA: 1(sort of... we'll get to that) They also did a good short summary when they were originally announced: https://www.politico.eu/article/meet-the-commissioners-pr

This week we discuss Ireland and the litany of disasters that is its current government but ignore that, look at Varadkar's socks. Support us on Patreon! WE HAVE A T-PUBLIC STORE what a fashionable way to support our podcast We now have a website that you can find here! Feel free to send us an email at PreviouslyInEurope@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @PrevInEurope If you can please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and if you can't do that tell a friend, this stuff really helps us out Also, have you considered Matteo Renzi? Show Notes Also happening... Irish Government Long discussion and coverage in the Irish times both in articles and podcasts regarding how Varadkar appears reasonable, has chill body language and is generally very organised compared to Johnson on his visit on Monday... So relatively gushing praise for a minority government leader of an unpopular government... Recentish (May) polling has the Government approval a little above 30% and in March it was at 38%. Varadkar is consistently hig

This week we discuss the Brexit thick word soup and why the UK needs reform of everything instead. Support us on Patreon! WE HAVE A T-PUBLIC STORE what a fashionable way to support our podcast We now have a website that you can find here! Feel free to send us an email at PreviouslyInEurope@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @PrevInEurope If you can please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and if you can't do that tell a friend, this stuff really helps us out Also, have you considered Matteo Renzi? Show Notes Also happening... That Leaving the EU thing With a heavy heart we have been forced to return to that thing we usually ignore because nothing happens with it. There's a funny article in Foreign Policy that seems to argue the strength of the Italian President as a political figure is the reason Italy is super okay now and the UK is not... so like... it's the systems fault? Umm.. I guess. Though the probably many things? https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/08/30/britain-cant-afford-the-queens-weakness-anymore/

This episode Hugh and Ciarán discuss the EU rotating presidency, what is it? Should it exist? Support us on Patreon! WE HAVE A T-PUBLIC STORE what a fashionable way to support our podcast We now have a website that you can find here! Feel free to send us an email at PreviouslyInEurope@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @PrevInEurope If you can please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and if you can't do that tell a friend, this stuff really helps us out Also, have you considered Matteo Renzi? Show Notes Pie in the sky A Better Rotating EU Presidency The rotating presidency as it currently exists is part of the intentionally confusing bullshit... It's often referred to as rotating EU presidency.. which is misleading since it's presidency of the Council of the European Union. The one with the 28 government ministers changing depending on the topic under discussion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_the_Council_of_the_European_Union -------------- - Rotates every 6 months - groups of 3 decide on 18 mon

Healthcare models in the EU A lot of focus, especially in the US is on "Europe has universal social medicine" but the reality is much more complicated. Could do some examples such as: - Germany's weird insurance system - Ireland is garbage - The NHS - Whatever Sweden does??? - Greece and economic problems does what? The EU does health good? Well... sort of? It's not done at an EU level so you have different systems per country and even then access will differ even if the system sounds the same. Health insurance card thing (E111)? Get it out of the way quickly because for those from outside the EU it probably seems confusing. Since 2004/05 there's been a card for all the EEA countries and Switzerland which makes traveling in Europe easier - the idea being you're covered by your home country's system so the state you're visiting will get reimbursed by your country of residence, where you qualify for health coverage anyway. It's for emergency care and ongoing care for chronic illnesses (e.g. you can't

This Hugh and Ciarán discuss the possible demise of the nightmare coalition... Support us on Patreon! WE HAVE A T-PUBLIC STORE what a fashionable way to support our podcast We now have a website that you can find here! Feel free to send us an email at PreviouslyInEurope@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @PrevInEurope If you can please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and if you can't do that tell a friend, this stuff really helps us out Also, have you considered Matteo Renzi? Show Notes Have you considered Matteo Renzi? Timeline: - Someone in la Lega can read polls apparently (they could win 37% of the vote) - Salvini announced he was putting in a no confidence vote in his own government... after only 14 months - This day last week our pal Renzi started talking about a caretaker government - Salvini said everyone is a self interested politician other than him "Under-the-table stitch-ups, palace intrigues, technocrat or caretaker administrations will not stop Italians who want a strong government,"

A solo episode with Hugh in response to a Patreon question box question. What is up with the Albanian local elections? What's the deal with that? Support us on Patreon! WE HAVE A T-PUBLIC STORE what a fashionable way to support our podcast We now have a website that you can find here! Feel free to send us an email at PreviouslyInEurope@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @PrevInEurope If you can please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and if you can't do that tell a friend, this stuff really helps us out Also, have you considered Matteo Renzi? Show Notes Also happening... Albania is a place still From our suggestion box Diarmuid Burke asks: The 2019 Albanian local elections. Loads of major parties didn't take part in protest of the Government and the whole thing looks to be a shit show. Background People may remember there were mass protests against rises in student tuition fees that went on for months earlier this year... that was something very much on the surface of what is a barely functioning system.

This week we discuss is the Ukraine elections, oh boy that Servent of the People party, is ho boy, oof. In our "No Elections Left Behind" section! Support us on Patreon! WE HAVE A T-PUBLIC STORE what a fashionable way to support our podcast We now have a website that you can find here! Feel free to send us an email at PreviouslyInEurope@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @PrevInEurope If you can please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and if you can't do that tell a friend, this stuff really helps us out Also, have you considered Matteo Renzi? Show Notes Ukrainian parliamentary election https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Ukrainian_parliamentary_election Genuinely unprecedented and unique election: - First ever in Ukrainian history since independence to have a majority - 60% of new members of parliament will be first time politicians - major parties took enormous hits across the board (https://www.rferl.org/a/zelenskiy-on-course-for-majority-in-parliament/30069728.html) What's their deal? Zelensky

It's a solo episode with mem, Ciarán! Enjoy my take on the current government formation in Spain, which just seems like the PSOE has kinda reluctantly stumbled into the correct decision.

Our Patreon bonus episode on how to reform the EU. First we discuss the much touted Macron reform and then explain why they're lazy. The we have our own list of short and long term noodlings. This is the first of our bonus episodes supported by our generous Patreon supporters, unlocked after a month behind the cruel capitalist paywall - but what are you gonna do about it? Support us on Patreon! WE HAVE A T-PUBLIC STORE what a fashionable way to support our podcast We now have a website that you can find here! Feel free to send us an email at PreviouslyInEurope@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @PrevInEurope If you can please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and if you can't do that tell a friend, this stuff really helps us out Also, have you considered Matteo Renzi? Reform Europe Describe your idea for how to reform the EU If you think Macron is an asshole, maybe you can do better? Pappa Macron's Vision: Everyone remembers his fun letter: https://www.elysee.fr/emmanuel-macron/2019/03/04/for-european-renewa

This week we discuss the garbage that is the Greek elections, oh boy this electoral system is a hot mess. In our "No Elections Left Behind" section! Support us on Patreon! WE HAVE A T-PUBLIC STORE what a fashionable way to support our podcast We now have a website that you can find here! Feel free to send us an email at PreviouslyInEurope@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @PrevInEurope If you can please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and if you can't do that tell a friend, this stuff really helps us out Also, have you considered Matteo Renzi? Show Notes No Elections Left Behind 2019 Greek legislative election https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Greek_legislative_election Why pick one electoral system when you could do them all at once? So... there's 300 seats that go in this order: 3% national vote requirement to win seats and used to calculate who gets leftover seats 12 are national single constituency using PR There are 7 first past the post seats... (because they're small population constitu

This week we discuss the hot mess that has been the squabbling and horse trading over EU top jobs. It's a bad look. Have you considered any of them? We certainly hadn't... Support us on Patreon! WE HAVE A T-PUBLIC STORE what a fashionable way to support our podcast We now have a website that you can find here! Feel free to send us an email at PreviouslyInEurope@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @PrevInEurope If you can please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and if you can't do that tell a friend, this stuff really helps us out Also, have you considered Matteo Renzi? Show Notes Have you considered... Council President Charles Michel Be in the room is apparently good enough After losing an election and being likely kicked out of office once the dust settles but now he gets to live on as council president His party was never exactly winning anyway - he became PM in a very fractured coalition including the Flemish Nationalists... who eventually quit over the Compact for Migration from the UN... which really o

That would be nice... a Green New Deal. Hugh and Ciarán go through the idea of a European Green Deal and who's talking about it and how. Support us on Patreon! WE HAVE A T-PUBLIC STORE what a fashionable way to support our podcast We now have a website that you can find here! Feel free to send us an email at PreviouslyInEurope@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @PrevInEurope If you can please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and if you can't do that tell a friend, this stuff really helps us out Also, have you considered Matteo Renzi? Show Notes GND Stuff Hugh Read Not going to repeat their bullet points but the New Economics Foundation and DiEM25 (among others) is the best point by point plan around (though the site misses some details). https://www.gndforeurope.com/10-pillars-of-the-green-new-deal-for-europe The general point is you could do a successor to the Junker plan (European Fund for Strategic Investments) but make it both better and geared specifically towards Green investment via Bonds backed by t

That would be nice... an EU Wide Minimum Wage. Maybe it wouldn't be? At least not exactly as the S&D have previously said would be good. Support us on Patreon! WE HAVE A T-PUBLIC STORE what a fashionable way to support our podcast We now have a website that you can find here! Feel free to send us an email at PreviouslyInEurope@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @PrevInEurope If you can please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and if you can't do that tell a friend, this stuff really helps us out Also, have you considered Matteo Renzi? That would be nice... an EU Wide Min Wage At a public debate in Warsaw, Poland, Mr Timmermans said: "We need a minimum wage in the European Union. "Equal to 60 percent of the median wage in every member state, I mean." this factcheck from Euractiv is terrible https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-elections-2019/news/fact-check-is-equal-eu-minimum-wage-possible-as-bulgarian-socialists-claim/ doesn't go into supposed policy or really where the calculations are co

Support us on Patreon! WE HAVE A T-PUBLIC STORE what a fashionable way to support our podcast We now have a website that you can find here! Feel free to send us an email at PreviouslyInEurope@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @PrevInEurope If you can please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and if you can't do that tell a friend, this stuff really helps us out Also, have you considered Matteo Renzi? Show Notes Topic 1 2019 Danish general election Voting System D'Holdt method for multi-member constituencies with additional seats added to make up for proportional differences, i.e. to top up parties under-represented https://elections.oim.dk/media/10505/parliamentary-system-dk.pdf Results/ Polling Opinion polling https://www.politico.eu/2019-european-elections/denmark/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_2019_Danish_general_election Results - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Danish_general_election Context Article about the current state of the Red-Green Alliance in relation to mo

So I heard there was an election... Support us on Patreon! WE HAVE A T-PUBLIC STORE what a fashionable way to support our podcast We now have a website that you can find here! Feel free to send us an email at PreviouslyInEurope@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @PrevInEurope If you can please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and if you can't do that tell a friend, this stuff really helps us out Also, have you considered Matteo Renzi? Show Notes Topic 1 Lithuanian presidential election Russia-critical banker elected president of Lithuania A former central banker, and political independent, Gitanas Nauseda won Lithuania's presidential election on Sunday against centre-right former finance minister, Ingrida Simonyte, in the second round of the elections. Nauseda will replace president Dalia Grybauskaite, often dubbed the Baltic nation's 'Iron Lady'. She could not run again after two terms in the post. Nauseda has pledged to maintain Grybauskaite's strict tone toward Russia. https://euobserver.com/tickers/1450