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Sophia Russack @sophia-russack.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Not only did four (probably) CDU MPs vote for the AfD's candidate for Landtag president (a further sign that the Brandmauer is crumbling). Also, the smooth cooperation between AfD and BSW points to Ulrich Siegmund's likely election as minister-president in December. www.faz.net/-3bude4?shar...

faz.net

AfD stellt Landtagspräsidenten - Brandmauer bröckelig?

Tobias Rausch ist der erste AfD-Landtagspräsident. Gewählt wurde er auch von vier Abgeordneten, die nicht AfD oder BSW angehören. Wird nun auch die Wahl eines AfD-Regierungschefs wahrscheinlicher?

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Sophia Russack @sophia-russack.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

The Commission will announce a new enlargement strategy today and will propose that candidate countries send a Commissioner to Brussels before joining the EU. Enlargement should come with a debate on the size of the College, which is already very (over?)large. #enlargement

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Bettina Kohlrausch @bettikohlrausch.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Wenn man die Brandmauer nur als performativen Akt und nicht als intellektuelle Haltung versteht, kann sie übrigens auch nicht funktionieren.

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Sophia Russack @sophia-russack.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

As @eddywax.bsky.social reports, the #Commission wants more #QMV when and for enlarging. I've been arguing that this is crucial. There's no shortage of ideas on how to do this (incl. making QMV more acceptable via e.g. safety nets). But, as always, what's missing is political will of Member States

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Fun fact: These 13 EU countries calling for a 'deep cleaning' of EU laws have well enough votes for a blocking minority to block new EU laws, and are just a few countries away from a pro-active majority (with France being the big one not signing):

euronews.com

13 EU countries call for 'deep cleaning' of European laws

Austria is leading a new alliance on regulatory simplification, pushing for a systematic review of how new rules would impact businesses and a "deep cleaning" of existing rules to be conducted during ...

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

For all the granular analysis, the recent election results really feel like a symbol of the end of the old German party system. FDP practically gone, CDU fail to get into a regional parliament for the first time, SPD except in MV an also-ran.

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Sophia Russack @sophia-russack.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

My take on #SOTEU 🎙️🇪🇺 Von der Leyen finally names the far-right threat, but no remedies. Also no QMV reform. Mention of a vague "Congress of Europe" and Canada as an associate member. Long on symbolism, short on detail. Full piece + 14 more takes 👇 www.foederalist.eu/2026/09/sote...

foederalist.eu

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SWP Europe @swp-europe.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Neu in der aktuellen Ausgabe der integration @iep-berlin.de - @nvondarza.bsky.social & @sophia-russack.bsky.social zeigen, dass das EP zunehmend wie eine Minderheitsregierung funktioniert: die EVP als Königsmacherin, mal mit der Mitte, mal mit Rechtsaußen. 4 Mehrheitsmuster seit 2024 im Überblick.

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Sophia Russack @sophia-russack.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

🇨🇦 On the "associate member" debate: Carney floated it, von der Leyen endorsed it. As we proposed in 2023: single-market focus, opt-out from deeper political integration (JHA, EU citizenship), still bound to EU values, reduced budget contribution www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/aussenpol... #SOTEU

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Sophia Russack @sophia-russack.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

🇪🇺🎙️ It's #SOTEU day! Von der Leyen gives her 6th State of the Union today, the 2nd of her current term - a ritual with no basis in the EU Treaties, born from a 2010 EP-Commission pact. Meant to boost accountability, it's also become a presidential power show. Next: the 2027 Work Programme in October

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

First nation-wide poll (as far as I remember) that puts the AfD at 30 % across Germany. This is well beyond of what used to be seen as their maximum ceiling of voter potential:

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Sophia Russack @sophia-russack.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Happy rentrée, dear Brussels bubble - and let's see how political trends and dynamics in EU governance will unfold this autumn. Btw, soon the new leadership of the EP (President, Vice-Presidents, Committee Chairs...) will be elected 👀

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Sophia Russack @sophia-russack.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

🗳️ Yesterday, the EP’s plenary adopted its position on stricter migration rules, with the ‘Venezuela majority’ comprising the EPP, ECR, PfE, and ESN. The German dpa had recently revealed that these four groups had actively coordinated a position on this. 1/6

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Sophia Russack @sophia-russack.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Last weekend, the German DPA revealed close cooperation between the EPP and far-right groups in the European Parliament, including ESN. I’m surprised by two things: 1/

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Sophia Russack @sophia-russack.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Looking forward to our session today! 🗣️🎤👇🏻

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UCL European Institute @uclei.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Such a privilege to be in Brussels last week with the bright young minds studying European Social & Political Studies at UCL. They loved the interactive talks with leading think-tankers @heathergrabbe.bsky.social, senior fellow @bruegel.org & @sophia-russack.bsky.social, researcher @ceps.eu.

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

To round up this week, here is my flash analysis of this month's EP plenary. This includes: - Power: Who won the votes? - Coalitions - Far-Right Watch: Votes on which the far-right was decisive - Group Coherence - The national view: How often MEPs from each EU country are part of the majority

open.substack.com

The less visible dominance of the EPP

EP 9-12 February 2026 Flash Analysis

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Thu Nguyen @onethuthree.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Two-speed Europe, coalitions of the willing, core Europe - all different labels currently circling in the debate for same idea that way forward is no longer at EU27. But the how is important, and I think different people understand different things by the concept. Quick thread on legal options:

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

In the discussion on using Enhanced Cooperation for single market deepening seem to forget that the EU treaties put a clear limit on Enhanced Cooperation - that it shall not undermine the single market or the economic cohesion of the EU:

Art 326 TFEU: Any enhanced cooperation shall comply with the Treaties and Union law.

Such cooperation shall not undermine the internal market or economic, social and territorial cohesion. It shall not constitute a barrier to or discrimination in trade between Member States, nor shall it distort competition between them.

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Thu Nguyen @onethuthree.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

A small bombshell on rule of law conditionality from Luxembourg today: Advocate-General Capeta finds in her opinion that Commission was not allowed to unfreeze EU funds to Hungary in December 2023 and proposes that the Court of Justice annul the decision: curia.europa.eu/site/upload/... Thread:

curia.europa.eu

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Dave Keating @davekeating.substack.com · 11/02/2026

#Merzoni, with the willing participation of 🇪🇺President von der Leyen, have formed a pact to dilute the power of the European Union and return it to national capitals in order to carry out corporate wishes. It is the opposite of Draghi's vision. Yet they are citing him as their inspiration.

davekeating.substack.com

The Merzoni plan would take Europe backwards, not forwards

EU leaders will gather for a castle retreat tomorrow with Mario Draghi, who will call for Europe to federate. But the German and Italian leaders are coming to the castle with a pact to weaken the EU.

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Jana Puglierin @jpuglierin.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Aside from the MSC, Secretary of State Rubio is visiting only two countries in Europe: Hungary and Slovakia. The threat of „civilizational erasure“ doesn’t seem quite so acute there.

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Dave Keating @davekeating.substack.com · 06/02/2026

President von der Leyen's 🇪🇺Commission took more meetings with American companies last year than companies from any other country. table.media/europe/analy...

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Deutschland Wählt / Österreich Wählt @de.whln.eu · 06/02/2026

THÜRINGEN | Sonntagsfrage Landtagswahl INSA/TA, OTZ, TLZ AfD: 38% (-1) CDU: 24% LINKE: 14% BSW: 7% SPD: 7% (+1) GRÜNE: 3% Sonstige: 7% Änderungen zur letzten Umfrage vom 11. Dezember 2025 Verlauf: whln.eu/UmfragenTH #ltwth

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Required watching for the EU bubble - investigative format "ARD Monitor" has done a research on the omnibus vote in the European Parliament and the origins of majority of the centre-right EPP with the far-right groups last November:

ardmediathek.de

Monitor: Rechtsextreme jubeln: EU-Brandmauer gefallen? - hier anschauen

Unionsparteien und Konservative im EU-Parlament warfen zuletzt den Grünen vor, gemeinsam mit der extremen Rechten gestimmt zu haben. Sie selbst bestreiten jede planmäßige Zusammenarbeit mit rechtsext...

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Sophia Russack @sophia-russack.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

Last week, Manfred Weber put forward institutional reform ideas to strengthen the EU’s unity (both neither nor new nor realistic): 1. Expand qualified majority voting in foreign policy; 2. merge the offices of the Commission and European Council presidents. /1

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Dave Keating @davekeating.substack.com · 27/01/2026

Guys, why why why why does European media so routinely repeat this falsehood?? Most 🇪🇺Council votes are by qualified majority, not unanimity, which is only reserved for foreign policy and taxation. This voting method on Monday for the Russian gas ban was in no way exceptional.

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Sophia Russack @sophia-russack.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

These disciplinary measures are interesting - and potentially another sign of the EU's party-politicisation and the EPP's current cross-institutional domination

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Sophia Russack @sophia-russack.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

What a week! So much happened that the motion of censure brought forward by the PfE against von der Leyen almost went unnoticed. Admittedly, there is a clear inflation effect: this was already the 4th motion in just half a year 🗳️ (1/6)

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Luise Quaritsch @luisequaritsch.eurosky.social · 22/01/2026

"The European Democracy Shield is an important step, but the Commission’s level of ambition does not yet match the scale of the threat we face." Yesterday, the EP rapporteur Tobé published his draft report on the European Democracy Shield. www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...

europarl.europa.eu

Statement by EUDS rapporteur Tomas Tobé on the publication of his draft report | News | European Parliament

The draft report outlining the findings and recommendations of the European Democracy Shield (EUDS) Special Committee was published today.

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Today, the European Parliament voted to put the Mercosur trade agreement to the European Court of Justice for review. It was a politically momentous decision, very tight and carried by an unusual majority, so it is worth looking a bit deeper into it.

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Sophia Russack @sophia-russack.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

Hello Bluesky - glad to finally be here! I will post EU institutional and democracy stuff, especially Commission presidentialisation, the (party-)politicisation of EU decision-making, inter-institutional dynamics, and the growing influence of far-right actors in the European Parliament and beyond!🇪🇺

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