Amsterdam bans creation of new hotels
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
Despite the low voter turnout of about 27%, France re-elects most of its regional presidents
Mainstream candidates delivered a stinging setback on both France’s far-right Rassemblement National (National Rally) and La République En Marche! in the second round of the regional elections on 27 June 2021. Voter turnout was at a record low, yet both parties, which are propped up as the main contenders in France’s presidential race next year, failed to take a single region.
While the voter turnout was troublingly low, at around 27%, the majority of voters renewed their confidence for the next six years in the presidents in place since 2015. Only three overseas regions turned to the left: La Réunion, Martinique and Guyana.
The region Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur (PACA) was one of the most likely to ultimately elect the far-right National Rally, but Le Pen’s party was soundly defeated. Exit polls suggested that the Les Républicains candidate, Renaud Muselier, had polled a convincing 56.6% of the votes against the RN’s Thierry Mariani’s 43.4%.
This is a bitter disappointment both for the party and Marine Le Pen, as she claimed local democracy was suffering a “profound crisis” and criticised the alliances made between her political rivals to prevent a far-right victory.
Considering the low voter turnout and the fact that supporters of more extreme political candidates tend to swarm the polling stations, this result is an upset.
Le Pen’s party was supposed to have a majority in at least five regions, according to pre-election polling, however, they ended up on top in the first round only in PACA, and by a narrow margin at that.
At the same time, the traditional “republican front” alliance held in the region. This is the alliance of rival parties from across the political aisle aiming to prevent the far-right candidate from gaining any political power. In the case of PACA, this even included the withdrawal of the Socialist party and left-wing alliance candidate.
Because this is the last election before the presidential race next year, it is very tempting to extrapolate some general tendencies about what is to come. However, analysts warn that, because of the low voter turnout, this election should not be taken as a portrait of national opinion.
Macron’s party, La République En Marche! (LREM) was founded after France’s last regional elections - this was its first time running in this format, and it failed to win a single region. Despite sending several ministers to campaign and Macron himself embarking on a nationwide tour – that saw him slapped by an onlooker at one point – in some regions LREM did not muster the required 10% to even make it to round two.
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Legislators and magnates have to await a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice
The building will then serve as the site for a new museum dedicated to Finnish-Russian relations
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
In addition, the federal government has launched the National Week of Action against Bicycle Theft to raise awareness of the issue and the new solution
The facility will replace the need to have water supplied by tankers from Valencia
Modern traffic lights do more than regulate the flow of vehicles at crossroads, they also collect enormous amounts of data
Experimenting with public transport provision in Germany is clearly in a state of creative fervour
Legislators and magnates have to await a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice
It also set the standards for a better European parking card for people with disabilities
Experimenting with public transport provision in Germany is clearly in a state of creative fervour
It also set the standards for a better European parking card for people with disabilities
Italian cities and regions continue experimenting with creative proposals to curb overtourism effects
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team