End of the Line?
Triple Political Turmoil: Starmer Plummets, Macron’s Core Reform Halted, and Zelensky Rocked by Corruption
The political landscape in Europe is unstable as UK PM Keir Starmer battles an internal revolt, Ukrainian President Zelensky faces a major corruption scandal, and French President Macron suffers a devastating defeat as his core pension reform is shelved.
A series of political crises and scandals is unsettling the stability of governments in three major European capitals this week. Leaders in London, Kyiv, and Paris are confronting serious challenges that directly threaten their authority, ranging from internal party revolts to massive corruption probes and legislative defeats.
Keir Starmer Battles Growing Revolt in London
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is fighting for the stability of his premiership amidst a growing internal revolt within the Labour Party, less than 18 months after his landslide victory in July 2024.
The cracks in Labour’s leadership exploded into public view following anonymous briefings to journalists from Starmer's allies, who claimed the Prime Minister would "fight any attempt to remove him", even though no formal challenge had been declared. This move sparked outrage, with Labour ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs) condemning the briefings as reflective of a "toxic culture" and out-of-touch leadership in Downing Street.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting, at the center of the leadership rumors, was forced to publicly deny any plans to contest the leadership, calling the leaks "damaging attacks." Starmer, whose approval ratings are sinking in the polls, has tried to calm the unrest but has reportedly failed to quell the concerns of his MPs.
The tension was further heightened by the resignation of Deputy Leader Angela Rayner and the firing of UK Ambassador to the U.S., Peter Mandelson, over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is also facing criticism for planning to break an election promise by not raising taxes.
Despite the deep unrest, party officials admit that removing Starmer at this stage remains nearly impossible, as it requires the support of 20% of Labour MPs to trigger a contest, a move unprecedented against a sitting party Prime Minister. Attention is now focused on the upcoming government budget on November 26 and local elections next spring as tests that will ultimately determine Starmer’s political survival.
Massive Corruption Scandal Hits Zelensky’s Government
In Ukraine, one of the biggest corruption scandals since the start of the war has erupted, threatening to undermine the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky. The scandal involves suspected bribery and money laundering totaling approximately $100 million at the national nuclear energy company, Energoatom.
Two top government officials, Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk, submitted their resignations after the allegations surfaced. According to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), senior officials at the Energy Ministry and Energoatom allegedly demanded kickbacks of 10% to 15% of the contract values for constructing vital protection systems over energy infrastructure, infrastructure repeatedly targeted by Russian attacks.
The 15-month investigation, code-named "Midas," included over a thousand hours of wiretapping and 70 raids on the homes of top officials, including businessman Timur Mindich, a close associate who co-founded a production company with Zelensky.
The case has provoked massive public anger, especially with Russia intensifying attacks on the power grid ahead of winter, leading to severe power cuts. Public fury is fueled by the claim that the corruption made the power supply more vulnerable. Zelensky condemned the corruption as "intolerable during a time of war" and ordered that all those involved be prosecuted.
The scandal presents a major test for Zelensky, both with the frustrated Ukrainian public and with Western partners whose military and financial support he continues to seek. EU Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas called the scandal "deeply regrettable" and urged Kyiv to decisively root out corruption, emphasizing that "there is no place for corruption, especially not now," as Ukraine pursues EU membership.
Macron’s Key Reform Buried by Political Defeat
French President Emmanuel Macron suffered a sharp political setback yesterday after members of the National Assembly voted to suspend his pension reform, one of the flagship policies of his term. The reform, which aimed to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, has been frozen until at least January 2028, effectively shelving it until after the end of Macron’s current mandate.
The vote saw 255 MPs vote for the suspension against 146 who opposed it. The defeat occurred during budget debates when Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s struggling government was forced to accept demands from the Socialists, a key coalition faction, to avoid yet another confidence vote.
The suspension severely undercuts Macron’s austerity measures aimed at reducing France’s immense deficit, the largest in the Eurozone. It signals another major retreat for the unpopular President, who has struggled to maintain a parliamentary majority since the last elections. While some of his allies abstained to prevent the government from collapsing entirely, the loss is widely viewed as a direct blow to Macron's authority and his ability to push through further reforms.
The suspension has been celebrated by the left-wing opposition, marking a major halt to the policy that triggered massive street protests across France two years ago. Less than two years before his term ends, Macron is left with a weak government and a hostile, fragmented parliament.