https://votetimes.com/en/Politics without the noiseenhttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/03/urda-rail-crash-government-adif-measures-victims-aid/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/03/urda-rail-crash-government-adif-measures-victims-aid/Tue, 03 Nov 2026 13:00:00 GMTThe Council of Ministers passed a decree-law on 3 November; the transport minister also announced two-controller checks in degraded operation and fewer trains on Madrid-Seville.Governmentshttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/03/madrid-puerta-del-sol-camp-cleared-police/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/03/madrid-puerta-del-sol-camp-cleared-police/Tue, 03 Nov 2026 12:30:00 GMTThe central government's delegation says it passed without violent disorder; the camp's spokespeople call it violent. There is no official injury count.Institutionshttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/03/italy-regions-health-fund-2027-budget/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/03/italy-regions-health-fund-2027-budget/Tue, 03 Nov 2026 10:40:00 GMTThe draft law adds 7.1 billion euros over three years. Regional leaders and Gimbe, an independent health foundation, say that falls well below what was sought.Governmentshttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/03/germany-steinmeier-successor-merz-candidate/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/03/germany-steinmeier-successor-merz-candidate/Tue, 03 Nov 2026 08:50:00 GMTThe chancellor told CDU officials on 2 November he will put forward a joint candidate. The CSU already backs Ilse Aigner, and the vote is set for 30 January 2027.Institutionshttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/03/ukraine-russia-us-talks-abu-dhabi/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/03/ukraine-russia-us-talks-abu-dhabi/Tue, 03 Nov 2026 06:00:00 GMTSteve Witkoff says Washington will mediate working-level negotiations. The sources we checked carry no response from Kyiv or Moscow to the announcement.Diplomacyhttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/california-ballots-supreme-court-noncitizen-list/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/california-ballots-supreme-court-noncitizen-list/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 21:00:00 GMTThe request covers the mail ballots of more than 20,000 voters the administration says are likely not citizens. Two courts refused it, California calls the list unreliable, and the justices have not ruled.Electionshttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/germany-gen-z-riots-dispute-over-blame/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/germany-gen-z-riots-dispute-over-blame/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 20:55:00 GMTHesse's interior minister says no comparable rally may take place on 20 November, and he and Germany's federal minister point to the far left and a 'migrant' milieu. The sources read publish no data behind that label.Governmentshttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/china-laliga-mbappe-beijing-state-pressure/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/china-laliga-mbappe-beijing-state-pressure/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:45:30 GMTThe foreign ministry says it takes Mbappé's apology seriously; state group CMG says there is nothing to discuss. The suspension was still in place on 1 November, and we have found no reaction from Spain's government.Diplomacyhttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/eu-deficit-rule-governments-brussels-procedure/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/eu-deficit-rule-governments-brussels-procedure/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:45:30 GMTEurostat's figures are no longer just bookkeeping: Belgium's budget row has reached the king, France seeks 54 billion euros with parliament still to convince, and Italy missed leaving the procedure by a decimal point.Institutionshttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/greece-passes-social-media-ban-under-15/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/greece-passes-social-media-ban-under-15/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:10:13 GMTPASOK abstained and five parties voted against. The government now answers the opposition with a Brussels decision that delays other national laws and spares the Greek one.Governmentshttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/sakharov-prize-2026-international-criminal-court/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/sakharov-prize-2026-international-criminal-court/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:10:13 GMTThe 2026 prize comes about two weeks after Washington announced new sanctions against the court. Brussels is weighing how to shield it.Institutionshttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/witkoff-putin-st-petersburg-hubbard/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/witkoff-putin-st-petersburg-hubbard/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:10:13 GMTAfter meeting Trump's envoy on 21 October, Putin agreed in principle to negotiate again with the US and Ukraine after 10 November, according to the Kremlin. No date or venue has been reported.Diplomacyhttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/romania-niculescu-minority-government/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/romania-niculescu-minority-government/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:10:00 GMTParliament gave him 280 votes on 20 October, ending a crisis that began in May. The Social Democrats and the liberals already say they will review their support.Governmentshttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/cis-vs-private-polls-gap-spain-election/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/cis-vs-private-polls-gap-spain-election/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 12:50:00 GMTWith fieldwork overlapping in October, one poll puts the Socialists almost 12 points ahead and another puts the conservatives 6 ahead. Who ran each poll, which technical sheet we read and what is missing.Electionshttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/burnham-slavery-apology-commonwealth-summit/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/burnham-slavery-apology-commonwealth-summit/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 11:33:25 GMTThe UK prime minister says he will listen to calls for a formal apology for the slave trade, but rules out reparations and offers help with debt instead.Diplomacyhttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/de-wever-resignation-king-belgium-budget/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/de-wever-resignation-king-belgium-budget/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 11:33:25 GMTBart De Wever tendered his government's resignation after talks on the 2027 budget failed. King Philippe has not accepted it, and they meet again on Friday 6 November.Governmentshttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/french-senate-passes-rioters-pay-bill/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/french-senate-passes-rioters-pay-bill/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 11:33:25 GMTThe 'casseurs-payeurs' bill would let the state claim up to €10,000 per person and seize part of their benefits. It now goes to the National Assembly, its more uncertain test.Institutionshttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/israel-election-no-majority-netanyahu/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/israel-election-no-majority-netanyahu/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 11:33:25 GMTOn the published count, Netanyahu's bloc has 53 seats, the opposition 48 and the Arab parties a record 19. Two dates are already fixed: 4 and 10 November.Electionshttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/poland-constitutional-tribunal-standoff-police/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/poland-constitutional-tribunal-standoff-police/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 11:33:25 GMTThe announced suspension of Tribunal president Bogdan Święczkowski has produced two rival accounts of who runs the court: restoring the rule of law, or a coup.Institutionshttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/puente-stays-urda-crash-election-campaign/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/puente-stays-urda-crash-election-campaign/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 11:33:25 GMTÓscar Puente is due to appear before parliament's standing committee on 3 November, with the Cortes dissolved and a general election on 29 November.Governmentshttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/us-midterms-early-vote-polls-guide/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/us-midterms-early-vote-polls-guide/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 11:33:25 GMTMore than 53 million ballots are already in and Democrats lead the polling averages. Neither fact decides who controls Congress: a guide to reading 3 November.Elections