Alexander Stubb will be Finland’s next president. Stubb, who has also served as Finland’s foreign, finance, and European affairs minister, is the center-right candidate of the National Coalition Party and received 51.6% of the votes. Foreign and security policy are at the top of Stubb’s agenda, including maintaining a hard line toward Russia and supporting Ukraine.
Hungary’s first female president, Katalin Novak, steps down. She resigned after mounting criticism for pardoning a man convicted of covering up sex abuse at an orphanage. Hungarian presidents, elected for five-year terms, hold a predominantly ceremonial role, but they still have some power as they can kick back laws to the parliament for a second look or send them to a constitutional court.
Shortly after Novak’s resignation, Judit Verga announced her withdrawal from public politics. She had also signed the controversial pardon while serving as Hungary’s Minister of Justice. Verga is a member of parliament and the leading candidate for the European Parliament elections. Both politicians are Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s strongest allies.
Climate change and the lack of drinking water. Record-high temperatures and below-average rainfall driven by climate change in Spain have led to a lack of drinking water. Since last year, residents of the small town of Pozoblanco in Andalucía have had to get their water from tankers, as the tap water was declared unfit for human consumption.
Rights
According to EU Directive 77/486, Denmark is obliged to provide mother tongue education to children from EU/EEA member states: In practice, it means that the municipalities (kommune) have to provide this opportunity, if a minimum of 12 children (age 6 – 15) with the same mother tongue from the same municipality ask for it. Does it replace Danish education? No. It is a supplementary class after hours or on weekends. How do I get it? Call your municipality about “Modersmålsundervisning” or ask at your children’s school. If they don’t know what it is, inform them about their obligation.
