Soure: European Social Survey, June 25, 2020

How citizens would vote on a referendum on EU Membership

Historical monuments do matter. Instead of tearing down memorials to controversial figures, more important is to look history in the eye and reflect on our awkward relationship to it. Activists  are deluding themselves if they think that removing a statue will make any difference to inequalities of race, class or gender. Rather than insisting that statues should come down, they need to engage in the politics needed to bring about real change. The act of understanding history relies on recognising how the past informs the present, and not editing out parts we don’t like.

Countries with highest share of plug-in EV in New Passenger Car Sales (2019)

1. Norway: 55.93%
2. Iceland: 17.79%
3. Netherlands: 15.01%
4. Sweden: 11.35%
5. Finland: 6.89%
6. Portugal: 5.67%
7. Switzerland: 5.61%
8. Denmark: 4.17%
9. Ireland: 4.09%
10. Austria: 3.47%
11. Belgium: 3.23%
12. United Kingdom: 3.15%
13. Germany: 3.02%
14. France: 2.77% 

Author: Stephen Edward Schmidt (American communications and public affairs strategist who has worked on Republican political campaigns including those of President George W. Bush, California Governor Arnold Shwarzenegger, and Arizona Senator John Mc Cain. He was a Vice Chair at the public relations firm Edelman until he stepped down in July 2018. In June 2018, Schmidt renounced the Republican Party as ‘fully the party of Trump”.

Trump and Biden see Russia and particularly its president, Vladimir Putin, in diametrically opposed ways. Trump sees a strongman with whom he can make deals; Biden sees a reckless, cruel regime led by a dictatorial leader that is, by its very nature, opposed to American values and interests. The November election could well determine whether Russia becomes a US partner or a US enemy, with striking implications for Europe.

Trump on Russia

Key Issues

Most Corrupt Countries

Source: Freedom House 2019 Annual Report

Based on Access to political rights and civil liberties, right to vote, freedom of expression and equality before the law.

Source: Council on Foreign Relations