Opinion and Analysis
Read the latest opinion and analysis from across Europe.
OPINION: Le Pen's future hangs in the balance, and France is heading for a messy constitutional row
Marine Le Pen’s hopes of becoming President of the Republic in 2027 may end on Monday, writes John Lichfield.
OPINION: In the shadow of Putin, France cannot afford to indulge in another pension drama
Amid the worsening international situation, domestic attention in France has returned to the never-quite-buried issue of the raising of the pension age from 62 to 64. Will France really indulge itself in another pension row with everything else that is going on, asks John Lichfield?
OPINION: Macron is no warmonger, whatever France's pro-Putin billionaire says
The far-right media empire of the ultra-Catholic, Breton billionaire Vincent Bolloré has gone full-bore Vichy, writes John Lichfield.
5 tips for surviving Deutsche Bahn's new Paris to Berlin 'direct' train link
Europe has a new direct train link between two of its great capital cities, but The Local's Emma Pearson finds out the Paris to Berlin route isn't always quite as "direct" as promised. Perhaps no surprise given it's run by Deutsche Bahn.
OPINION: France and the UK may be willing to send troops to Ukraine, but do they have the military strength?
If the United States will no longer fight for democracy, who will?
OPINION: Macron's Trump talks made him a hero in America, but delusional to some in France
In America, or in half of America, Emmanuel Macron is a hero - writes John Lichfield - the man who fact-checked Donald Trump on live television.
OPINION: Merz is on top but the Left are surprise winners in Germany's dramatic election
After a close-run election, a new German parliament is coming together. Our columnist Brian Melican shares who the vote winners and losers are, and what the results mean for the next government.
Can Germany’s next leaders reach a deal on immigration, benefits and the economy?
German election winners, the conservatives, have started initial coalition talks with the SPD. But experts warn that forming a functioning government is just one of many challenges politicians need to overcome to tackle far-right gains.
OPINION: There's more to Macron's Ukraine summit than meets the eye
In the days after French president Emmanuel Macron's emergency Paris summit on Ukraine, there has been disappointment at the lack of an outcome - John Lichfield argues that the summit was not as pointless as it seemed, and Macron's efforts may yet bear fruit.
OPINION: No, minister, having imperfect French is not due to a 'lack of effort'
France's interior minister believes that "when a legally resident foreigner has not mastered French after several years, it's because he or she has not made the effort". The Local France's Editor and French learner Emma Pearson strongly disagrees.
OPINION: AI is unstoppable, so I'd rather it was French than American or Chinese
This week I conducted an experiment - writes John Lichfield - I wanted to write about this week's global Artificial Intelligence summit in Paris. I could not make up my mind whether AI is a) a good thing or b) a bad thing. So I asked three AI sites to help me write the column.
OPINION: With Merz in charge, foreigners in Germany can expect volatile months ahead
With just over a week until Germany goes to the polls, it looks certain that Friedrich Merz will lead the next government. But what kind of chancellor will he be? Given recent events, expect a political rollercoaster, writes columnist Brian Melican.
OPINION: France's crafty PM may just pull off a Columbo-style surprise
There is something reminiscent of Lieutenant Columbo about François Bayrou - writes John Lichfield. He makes a shambolic first impression which may or may not be a ruse. He succeeds where others fail.
OPINION: France's good cop-bad cop with Trump is doomed to fail without EU
Donald Trump says Europe is “treating the United States bad” - writes John Lichfield. Import tariffs, threatened against China and Canada, are “on the way”, he says, for the European Union and presumably for Britain.
Are non-EU property buyers really to blame for Spain's housing crisis?
Spain's Prime Minister has justified taxing or even banning non-EU non-residents from buying Spanish homes because they want "to speculate", but the stats prove there are far bigger fish to fry in Spain's housing crisis.
OPINION: Why there's no way of stopping the rise of the far-right AfD in Germany
With a month until Germany votes in the nationwide election, Brian Melican examines the growing influence of the AfD during the campaign – and explains why, in the short term, there is no way of stopping the far-right party’s rise in the polls.
Why is dual citizenship still so controversial in Germany?
Germany's dual citizenship reform was hailed as a modern step forward by many. But conservatives - and others - can't stop talking about its problems. Rachel Loxton analyses why the reform is so controversial in Germany and what effect it has.
OPINION: France's new PM will survive the week, he may not survive the month
François Bayrou has been France's prime minister for one month and two days, writes John Lichfield. He will probably survive the week. He may not last much beyond the end of the month.
Why 2025 is the 'ox year' for Sweden's government
This is the year on which the Swedish right-wing parties' decision to open up to the Sweden Democrats will be judged. Will far-reaching reforms to migration, criminal justice and nuclear power be realised, asks The Local's Nordic Editor Richard Orange.
OPINION: Pensioners, not immigrants, are wrecking France
Here is a provocative statement - writes John Lichfield - the core economic problem for France is neither greedy immigrants nor feckless young people. It is people like me: oldies, baby boomers, pensioners.
Why are Spanish homes so cold?
Many foreigners who move to Spain are surprised by just how freezing Spanish winters can be, but they're equally shocked by how sometimes it's colder inside their Spanish homes than outdoors.
OPINION: Three reasons to be hopeful about France's new prime minister
With the appointment of centrist François Bayrou as France's new prime minister - the fourth PM this year - John Lichfield believes that there are reasons to hope that he may succeed in a very difficult job.
OPINION: French politicians are finally talking about compromise and cooperation
Something is happening - writes John Lichfield - the extraordinary meeting beside a Christmas tree in the indoor winter garden of the Elysée Palace on Tuesday may go down as an important moment in French politics. Alternatively, it could just turn out to be more blah-blah as France sinks deeper into political and financial crisis.