My Republica

Guy Verhofstadt

The contributor for Republica.
news@myrepublica.com

Is COVID-19 killing democracy?

Published On: May 17, 2020 02:30 PM NPT By: Guy Verhofstadt

BRUSSELS – The economic consequences of the COVID-19 crisis occupy almost everyone’s thoughts and conversations. And for good reason: the European Union, for one, is headed toward the worst recession in its history, with the economy expected to shrink by 7-12% this year. But far less is being said about the danger the pandemic poses to democracy, even though the signals are similarly ominous.

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The battle for Britain

Published On: September 5, 2019 12:25 AM NPT By: Guy Verhofstadt

BRUSSELS – The Brexit “Leave” campaign has been billed as an effort to “take back control” by restoring “sovereignty” to the United Kingdom’s Parliament. It is thus deeply ironic that one of the first moves of the Brexiteers upon coming to power has been to suspend Parliament and shut down debate over the UK’s impending withdrawal from the European Union on October 31.

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Boris’s big lie

Published On: July 1, 2019 09:41 AM NPT By: Guy Verhofstadt

BRUSSELS – Three years after the United Kingdom’s Brexit referendum, the UK is no closer to figuring out how to leave the European Union, and what comes next, than it was when the result was announced. And now a Conservative Party leadership election to replace outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May is in full swing. To those of us watching from the outside, the debate between the candidates confirms that they have learned nothing whatsoever from the past two years of negotiations with the EU.

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Reclaiming Europe’s soul

Published On: May 8, 2019 12:30 AM NPT By: Guy Verhofstadt

The EU was once regarded as a bastion of hope for those living under tyranny, despotism, and kleptocracy. It is time to reclaim that mantle

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Europe must unite on China

Published On: March 31, 2019 01:25 AM NPT By: Guy Verhofstadt

BRUSSELS – When seeking investment capital and seemingly lucrative commercial deals, EU member-state governments do not always consider shared European interests. This has especially been the case with respect to China. Yet member states that pursue a relationship with China unilaterally endanger both themselves and the rest of Europe.

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Brexit and British politics

Published On: January 24, 2019 01:29 AM NPT By: Guy Verhofstadt

If British political leaders are to have any hope of uniting their bitterly divided country, they will have to lead by example

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Revolution Europe needs

Published On: December 20, 2018 12:30 AM NPT By: Guy Verhofstadt

The uprising that Europe needs will not happen in the streets of Paris or Brussels, but within the EU’s paralyzed institutions

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The Brexitization of European politics

Published On: November 3, 2018 12:10 AM NPT By: Guy Verhofstadt

BRUSSELS – Far from settling the question of the United Kingdom’s future, the 2016 Brexit referendum and subsequent negotiations with the European Union have triggered a full-blown identity crisis and culture war in Britain. Two years after the UK electorate voted by 52 percent  to 48 percent  to withdraw from the EU, it is safe to say that former Prime Minister David Cameron’s ploy to settle a long-running niche debate within the Conservative Party has backfired spectacularly.

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Drain the EU swamp

Published On: October 10, 2018 12:30 AM NPT By: Guy Verhofstadt

Instead of protecting populist governments that are looting EU funds, EU should ensure that all member-state governments are held to account

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Europe’s populist fifth column

Published On: September 6, 2018 12:30 AM NPT By: Guy Verhofstadt

Far-right populists are successfully politicizing the very institutions and legal instruments upon which European security depends

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Resolving migration crisis

Published On: July 10, 2018 12:30 AM NPT By: Guy Verhofstadt

African Union and EU must address the challenges raised by migration together, in particular the need to crack down on criminal gangs that ruthlessly exploit vulnerable people

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“America First” and Europe

Published On: June 12, 2018 01:00 AM NPT By: Guy Verhofstadt

Trump’s decision to subject the EU to import tariffs on steel and aluminum has unified European leaders in outrage and disgust

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Blueprint to save Iran deal

Published On: May 24, 2018 12:30 AM NPT By: Guy Verhofstadt

To salvage the nuclear deal and advance other diplomatic goals, the EU can leverage its economic relationship with Iran

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Stop funding illiberalism

Published On: May 8, 2018 12:30 AM NPT By: Guy Verhofstadt

It is unacceptable that EU taxpayer money is being used to prop up vanity projects of illiberal elites who show no compunction about undermining democratic institutions

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Breaking Brexit stalemate

Published On: April 4, 2018 12:30 AM NPT By: Guy Verhofstadt

It would be preferable to develop one overarching EU-UK governance framework to cover defense, economics, internal security, and other areas

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Tech vs democracy

Published On: February 28, 2018 12:30 AM NPT By: Guy Verhofstadt

In an age when most people get their news from social media, mafia states have had little trouble censoring social-media content that their leaders deem harmful

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Europe in Time of Trump

Published On: November 13, 2017 12:26 AM NPT By: Guy Verhofstadt

The transatlantic alliance, which for decades has safeguarded the West, is under severe strain. US President is responsible for this

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Federal Spain

Published On: November 7, 2017 12:30 AM NPT By: Guy Verhofstadt

Catalan radicals were wrong to call an illegal referendum. No one can govern democratically without the rule of law.

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Combating hatred

Published On: September 12, 2017 12:30 AM NPT By: Guy Verhofstadt

We owe it to those who suffered under past authoritarian regimes to together stand up now for democratic values.

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Trump threat

Published On: July 9, 2017 12:30 AM NPT By: Guy Verhofstadt

Most of the world has no confidence in Trump, whose favorability is below that of Bush,Jr when he left office.

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