07/12 – Today’s headlines from across the EU

EUROPEAN HEADLINES

FT Europe – National Front set for historic French result. France’s far-right National Front party appeared on course for a historic result in regional elections yesterday, winning more than 30 per cent of the vote and leading the country’s two mainstream parties, according to an official partial count.

WSJE – Migrants resist relocation. Thousands camped in Calais hold on to hopes of reaching Britain.

INYT – US seek to adapt as terrorism evolves. The Inland Regional Centre in San Bernardino, California, where 14 people were killed. Officials said the President’s speech would focus on what the government is doing to keep people safe.

BBC Europe – France elections: Le Pen says political elite ‘crumbling’.The triumphant leader of the far-right National Front (FN), Marine Le Pen, says French voters rejected the “old political class” in regional elections that put her party top. Nearly one-third of voters backed the anti-immigration FN, which won in six out of France’s 13 regions.

BALTIC STATES

Baltic Times – Latvian Prime Minister Straujuma resigns. The time has come to create a new government, Straujuma said. “New ideas, new input, and new energy is needed to make further efforts on the basis of what has already been accomplished.”

FRANCE

Le Monde – The shadow of ISIS over the attack in California. Two days after the shooting in San Bernardino, California, the FBI favours the hypothesis of a “terrorist attack.”

Regional elections: the National Front creates a bombshell event. The French far-right party tops the first round of elections. Marine Le Pen and Marion Maréchal-Le Pen in a strong position.

GERMANY

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) – Sigmar Gabriel accuses Saudi Arabia of supporting terrorism. “It is time to stop looking away.” SPD leader warns of the danger of Salafism.

Sueddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) – The West wants to pay for climate damage. Industrialised countries are planning insurance for natural disasters. $420 million commitment to boost the negotiations in the decisive week of the conference in Paris.

ITALY

La Repubblica – Le Pen shocks France. The FN has triumphed in the ballot box and won the first round of regional elections with 29% of the vote. The Socialist Party says it is ready to withdraw from certain election races to beat the FN in the second round.

Il Sole 24 Ore – Almost 8000 offences per day: alert on robberies and pickpocketing. Complaints decline compared to 2013, -2.7%. Thefts represent half of the complaints.

POLAND

Gazette Wyborcza – President does not execute the judgment. The Constitutional Court ruled that President of Poland was obliged to swear three judges appointed legally by the Sejm of the previous term. The ruling comes in force as soon as it has been published in the Journal of Law. Meanwhile PiS Government suspends publication of the Court’s verdict.

SPAIN

El País – The EU urges Spain to complete the Labour reform and to make readjustments after the 20 December election. The European Commission warns in its report on Spain’s rescue that the new government will have to meet deficit goals.

Expansión – Record consumer credit for Christmas. The Spanish bank is to dedicate €1.7 million to personal credits in December, meaning a 30% increase.

The Times = Commuters put on terror alert. Police warning after man is stabbed at Tube station. Suspect said that attack was for “Mother Syria.”

The Guardian – “We never thought this could happen again.” 60,000 left without power by Storm Desmond. PM to chair Cobra meeting as army joins rescue. Victims of 2009 floods aghast at new devastation.