Thursday, June 26, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

Crisis for von der Leyen – no-confidence vote expected

Published today 14:14
– By Editorial Staff
Ursula von der Leyen (archive photo).
2 minute read

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen now faces a potential no-confidence vote following the so-called “Pfizergate” scandal.

The initiative comes from right-wing members of the European Parliament but has also gained support from certain social democratic and liberal party groups, who criticize the lack of transparency in the Commission’s work.

The background is a court decision from May this year, where the European Court of Justice ruled that the Commission wrongfully refused to release text messages between von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla regarding vaccine procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These contracts were totally unprecedented in a totally unprecedented context, said an EU official before the ruling.

The court found that the Commission’s claim that the messages had “disappeared” was not sufficiently substantiated, which violates EU administrative statutes on transparency and oversight.

The no-confidence motion was initiated by Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea, who has secured over 72 signatures – enough to force a vote in parliament.

Two-thirds majority required

Dismissing the entire Commission requires a two-thirds majority, which is currently considered unlikely. Despite this, the no-confidence vote is expected to create political repercussions.

Von der Leyen may, for instance, be forced to make concessions to Parliament in light of the situation. Particularly regarding issues of transparency, document management, and openness in decision-making.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla. Montage: TNT-Manuel Lopez/Pascal Bitz/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

The scandal has also highlighted a broader debate about how EU leadership handles documentation and accountability. Many argue that digital communications – such as text messages and chat messages – must be included in public records when concerning decisions of major public interest.

The vote on the no-confidence motion is preliminarily planned for the coming months. No official date has been set yet, but expectations are that the vote will take place shortly after sufficient members have backed the initiative.

According to current EU legal procedures, the European Commission normally has two months to appeal the European Court of Justice’s decision from when the ruling was issued. This gives the Commission an opportunity to formally challenge the court’s assessment before any further actions are taken.

Even if Ursula von der Leyen survives the vote, it will likely leave lingering concerns about the Commission’s transparency and her ability to pursue her policies without internal resistance.

What does a motion of no confidence against the European Commission mean?

  • A motion of no confidence is directed at the entire European Commission, not just the President.
  • If the European Parliament approves the motion, the entire Commission must resign collectively.
  • To dismiss the Commission, a two-thirds majority of Members of the European Parliament is required.
  • A motion of no confidence is rare and is considered a serious political expression of lack of confidence.
  • Even if a motion of no confidence does not lead to resignation, it can weaken the Commission's leadership and force political concessions, particularly on issues of transparency and accountability.

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German police raids target 170 suspected thought criminals

The threat to freedom of speech

Published today 10:35
– By Editorial Staff
10,732 hate-related cybercrimes were registered during 2024 - a 34 percent increase compared to 2023 and almost a fourfold increase since 2021.
2 minute read

Early morning on June 25, German police conducted over 170 house searches in a coordinated operation targeting individuals suspected of insulting government officials or expressing political views that violate current legislation.

The operation was led by the Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt) and marked the twelfth national operation against so-called politically motivated crimes of this nature.

The operation primarily targeted individuals who had published nationalist and immigration-critical content, but also individuals with links to alleged religious extremism and left-wing extremist movements.

According to reports, two-thirds of the suspects had made “far-right” statements. Several are also being investigated for violations of a paragraph in the German Criminal Code that prohibits insults against politicians – a law that has been increasingly applied in recent years.

Particularly politicians from The Green Party have, according to media reports, chosen to pursue legal action against individuals who have insulted them. The current legislation has resulted in fines for people who have called politicians “idiots” or published derogatory images.

“Digital arsonists”

The raids began at six o’clock in the morning, during which a large number of computers, mobile phones, and tablets were seized.

– Digital arsonists must not be able to hide behind their cell phones or computers, declared Herbert Reul (CDU), Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, in a comment.

– Many people have forgotten the difference between hatred and opinion, but it’s so simple: If you don’t do it in the real world, it’s not appropriate to do it digitally. It’s time for more attitude, offline and online.

According to Germany’s Federal Police, a total of 10,732 crimes related to so-called hate posts online were registered during 2024 – an increase of about 34 percent compared to the previous year. Compared to 2021, the number has almost quadrupled.

Harsh criticism

German legislation regarding alleged hate propaganda and insults has long been subject to international criticism, and high-ranking U.S. politicians have repeatedly expressed concern about how these laws affect freedom of expression. U.S. Vice President JD Vance has called them stifling and claimed they limit the possibility of free opinion formation.

At the Munich Security Conference earlier this year, Vance suggested that U.S. support for NATO could be affected by how Germany handles freedom of speech issues.

– Insulting someone is not a crime, and criminalizing speech is going to put real strain on European-US relationships. This is Orwellian, and everyone in Europe and the US must reject this lunacy, he urged on another occasion when German repression against dissidents came to light.

German politicians have defended their legal practice, claiming that the legislation aims to counter harmful rhetoric while maintaining a balance between freedom of expression and protection against hate crimes.

British pupils in minority at one in four schools

Population replacement in the West

Published 9 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
In 72 schools, there are no longer any white pupils at all - and in hundreds of others, there are only a small number of white pupils.
2 minute read

White British children are now in the minority in a quarter of all schools in England, according to an analysis by The Telegraph based on official school statistics from early 2025.

Of the more than 21,500 schools included in the statistics, 72 have no white pupils at all, while in another 454 schools they make up less than two percent of the student body.

The demographic transformation is most noticeable in the country’s larger cities. At Rockwood Academy in Birmingham, none of the school’s 1,084 pupils were registered as “white British”, according to the newspaper. At Loxford School in Redbridge, east London, only 12 of the school’s 2,779 pupils were white British.

The trend is particularly prominent in areas such as London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford, and Leicester. In London, white British children are in the minority in all but one of the 32 boroughs Bromley where they account for 50.3 percent of the population. In Newham and Harrow, the corresponding figures are as low as five and seven percent, respectively.

The school census data demonstrates that the white British share of the young population is in decline in many areas”, writes the newspaper.

“A nation of strangers”

Recently, The Nordic Times drew attention to another British report that predicts that white Britons as a group will be in the minority in the UK as early as the beginning of the 2060s. The forecast is based on analyses of migration, birth rates, and mortality, and indicates that the proportion of white Britons could decline from around 73 percent today to around 33.7 percent by the end of the century.

The study was conducted by Professor Matt Goodwin at Buckingham University. He believes that this development raises “deep questions about Britain’s ability to absorb and manage this scale of demographic change“.

Goodwin also warns that the trend is likely to cause “considerable anxiety, concern and political opposition” among voters – something he believes the country must actively address to avoid “considerable political turbulence and polarisation in the years and decades to come”.

– By the end of this century, most people on these islands will not be able to trace their roots in this country back more than one or two generations. This raises enormous questions about our leaders’ ability to bring people together around a common identity, values and culture, and avoid the risk of becoming what Sir Keir Starmer called in May ‘a nation of strangers’“, he notes.

Thousands rally in London to oppose welfare cuts

Welfare collapse

Published 9 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
2 minute read

Thousands of people demonstrated in London on Saturday, June 7, against the Labour government’s decision to cut welfare spending while increasing defense spending. The protest challenges the British government’s economic priorities.

The demonstration was organized by the People’s Assembly and the Stop the War Coalition under the slogan “Welfare Not Warfare” and stretched from Portland Place to Whitehall, reports The Independent.

The protests criticize Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision to increase defense spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027–2028, with a target of 3 percent in the next term, according to the new Strategic Defense Review.

At the same time, the government has proposed removing the winter fuel allowance, maintaining the two-child limit for benefits, and cutting support for people with disabilities.

The organizers describe these decisions as political rather than necessary economic choices.

Healthcare, housing, and education

Martin Cavanagh, president of the Public and Commercial Services Union, called in his speech for resources to be redirected to healthcare, housing, and education.

The demonstration was lined with union flags and placards bearing slogans such as “Tax the Rich”, “No to Austerity 2.0”, and “Nurses not nukes”.

Angela Grant from the DWP group emphasized that many people are suffering from hunger and inadequate healthcare, while the government is increasing military spending.

According to reports, support for the demonstration came from large parts of the UK, with buses bringing activists to London.

The Labour government: Increased security threat

The government justifies its priorities with an increased security threat from Russia, citing, among other things, the planned military aid to Ukraine, which includes large quantities of drones. Critics, including several trade unions, argue that welfare is being sacrificed for military ambitions.

The protest followed earlier demonstrations since Keir Starmer took office as prime minister, and discontent has grown after budget proposals and adjustments that protesters say will worsen welfare for ordinary people.

The protesters ended with a clear demand: the government must reconsider its priorities and provide more support for social needs.

While Labour emphasizes national defense preparedness as a priority, concerns about the future of welfare are growing – which the protests clearly signal.

White Britons will be in the minority in 40 years

Population replacement in the West

Published 6 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Pakistani protesters in London - a common sight.
2 minute read

A new report predicts that white Britons will be a minority in Britain within four decades.

By analyzing migration, birth rates and mortality by the end of the century, researchers conclude that the proportion of white Britons could fall from today’s 73% to 57% by 2050 – and fall below 50% by 2063.

The research is led by Professor Matt Goodwin of Buckingham University. According to the analysis, the proportion of white British people could fall as low as 33.7% by the end of the century.

Meanwhile, the proportion of foreign-born and second-generation immigrants is expected to rise from less than 20% to 33.5% within the next 25 years. By 2100, it is estimated that six out of ten UK residents will either have been born abroad or have at least one immigrant parent. The Muslim population, currently around 7%, is expected to grow to 11.2% in 25 years, reaching 19.2% by the turn of the century.

Professor Goodwin, also an honorary professor at Kent University, stresses that the research is based on data from the UK Office for National Statistics and the 2022 census. He says the projections raise “deep questions about Britain’s ability to absorb and manage this scale of demographic change“.

According to him, the development risks raising “considerable anxiety, concern and political opposition” among voters who advocate reducing immigration to preserve “the symbols, traditions, culture and ways of life of the traditional majority group“.

“A nation of strangers”

– Their concerns will need to be acknowledged, respected and addressed if Britain is to avoid considerable political turbulence and polarisation in the years and decades to come, he stresses.

The report is published in the wake of record net migration of 906,000 under the ostensibly Conservative Tory government in 2023. Meanwhile, Labour has unveiled a White Paper in June with proposals to restrict migrants’ rights to live, work and study in the country but many are skeptical that politicians really have the will to stop, or even slow down, mass migration.

– By the end of this century, most people on these islands will not be able to trace their roots in this country back more than one or two generations. This raises enormous questions about our leaders’ ability to bring people together around a common identity, values and culture, and avoid the risk of becoming what Sir Keir Starmer called in May ‘a nation of strangers’, the researcher stresses.

The 2022 census already revealed that whites have become a minority in major British cities such as London and Birmingham. London in particular has been ruled for the past 10 years by the British-Pakistani mayor Sadiq Khan who himself is very much in favor of mass immigration from the Third World.

– Our capital’s diversity is our greatest strength, he said a few years ago, expressing disappointment that this diversity was not celebrated wholeheartedly enough – and that many of London’s streets and public spaces still bore names associated with the colonial era.

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