Incumbents Emerge Bruised From Elections and Europe’s Place in the World with Nathalie Tocci

Why It Matters

The elections make欧ropean decision-making more unpredictable by weakening mainstream governing parties and increasing the influence of swing actors, raising the risk of blocages on EU policy and shifting the balance in debates over sovereignty, media independence, and relations with Russia.

Summary

Recent European votes produced bruised incumbents and fragmented outcomes. In Slovenia a late surge failed to deliver a clear victory to populist Janša, leaving a near tie that likely blocks an immediate shift toward a Viktor Orbán-style bloc in Brussels. Denmark’s snap election delivered historic lows for both traditional center-left and center-right parties, elevating centrist kingmaker Lars Løkke Rasmussen and making coalition formation highly uncertain. The results underscore rising volatility across small but strategically important EU members and complicate Europe’s internal consensus on issues from media freedom to Ukraine policy.

Original Description

Max and Donatienne discuss recent elections in Slovenia and Denmark, a referendum on judicial reforms in Italy, and Mark Rutte’s recent statements on the war in Iran. Then, they turn to a conversation with Nathalie Tocci, Director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), for a conversation on Europe’s place in the world.

(00:00) Intro

(00:50) Slovenia election

(04:40) Denmark election

(10:20) Italy judicial reform referendum

(15:58) Mark Rutte’s Sunday show appearances

(22:03) Nathalie Tocci

Learn more:

Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts (https://www.csis.org/podcasts/russian-roulette)

Europe Needs an ASAP Program for Air Defense (https://www.csis.org/analysis/europe-needs-asap-program-air-defense)