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Thursday, October 30, 2025

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https://nordictimes.com/europe/georgian-dream-wins-the-election-opposition-rejects-the-results/

Europe

Georgian Dream wins the election – opposition rejects result

Updated October 28, 2024, Published October 28, 2024 – By Editorial staff
Representatives of Georgian Dream during election rally.
3 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, won this weekend's elections with over 54% of the vote.

But the pro-Western opposition refuses to accept the result, and the country's president goes so far as to claim that they are "victims of a Russian special operation".

According to the country's electoral authority, Georgian Dream won a clear majority of the vote, while the four main opposition parties together received around 38% - but the election was chaotic as both the ruling party and the opposition declared themselves the winners on Saturday night.

– We do not accept stolen election results and we are not going to recognize these stolen results. The victory won by the Georgian people does not belong to any one party, but belongs to the entire country and the opposition, which was jointly given a mandate of trust by the Georgian people, said opposition leader Tina Bokuchava.

The opposition, which wants Georgia to move closer to the EU and the West, claims that the vote count was rigged and the results manipulated - allegations that are denied by the election authorities.

The country's president, Salomé Zurabishvili, who also belongs to the opposition, claims without presenting any evidence that the election results were manipulated by Russian interference.

– We became witnesses and victims of a Russia special operation, she said, calling on opposition supporters to protest in the capital on Monday.

Risk of violence

Already on Saturday, there were reports of violence and clashes outside several polling stations as opposition and government supporters clashed, and it is considered likely that the situation will escalate further on the streets today and in the coming week.

The pro-Western opposition and its allies in the EU and the US have long criticized the Georgian Dream for refusing to impose sanctions on Russia or cease trade and other cooperation, and the party has frequently been described as "pro-Russian".

The ruling party's own representatives say they are on the side of the Georgian people, and that the opposition parties want to drag the country into war with its neighbor Russia.

According to observers, the Georgian Dream's success is largely due to its focus on strengthening Georgian identity and traditions and the conservative world in general. It has also promised to invest in economic development and poverty reduction.

It should also be noted that Western organizations such as the OSCE and NATO have also publicly made allegations of irregularities linked to the elections and that the EU is calling for a thorough investigation of the electoral process.

Moldova said yes to the EU

Moldova also held an important election recently, with a referendum on 20 October on future EU membership and the inclusion of EU provisions in the country's constitution. The referendum was very close, but according to official data, the "yes" side narrowly won with 50.2% to 49.6% of the vote.

Shortly after the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022, Moldova applied for NATO membership, and although negotiations have not yet started, the country's leaders are hopeful that membership will be granted before 2030.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/europe/riots-erupt-in-dublin-following-assault-on-ten-year-old/

Europe

Riots erupt in Dublin following assault on ten-year-old

Migrant violence

Published October 22, 2025 – By Editorial staff
Large crowds gathered outside the asylum accommodation in Saggart, Ireland, where protests soon turned into riots
3 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

An asylum-seeking man in his 30s with a deportation order has been arrested, suspected of sexual assault against a 10-year-old girl in Dublin, Ireland.

The incident quickly triggered violent riots when thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the asylum accommodation in the suburb of Saggart.

The assault allegedly took place on Monday near the former Citywest Hotel, which now functions as permanent asylum accommodation. The man came to Ireland from an African country approximately six years ago, reports the Irish Times.

The victim, a 10-year-old girl, had been in the care of Tusla, the Irish Child and Family Agency, since earlier this year due to what the agency describes as "significant behavioral issues". The girl was being cared for at a special facility where staff were available around the clock.

According to Tusla, the girl escaped from staff during a planned outing in central Dublin, after which she was reported missing to police. She was later found at a relative's home but escaped from there again, and thereafter only maintained phone contact with staff without revealing her exact location.

The girl later told staff that she had been involved in a serious incident, and through the information she provided, staff were able to determine where she was and contacted police.

Received rejection of asylum application

The suspected man had his asylum application rejected in 2024, according to Irish media. Since March of this year, there has been a deportation order against him, but he has not left the country.

The man is being held for questioning and police have 24 hours to press charges or release him.

Several thousand demonstrators gathered on Tuesday outside the asylum accommodation. The situation quickly escalated when the protests turned into full-scale riots where some participants threw projectiles at police, fired fireworks, and set fire to at least one police car.

Police were forced to deploy reinforcements and used a water cannon to gain control of the situation, and an area has been cordoned off as a crime scene outside the hotel.

"Fundamental duty to protect children"

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin acknowledges that authorities have failed to protect the girl.

— It is the fundamental duty of the state to protect the children of the state, and irrespective of the complexity or severity of any case, that duty must be fulfilled, he says.

Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris calls the case "horrifying" but appeals to the public to show restraint.

— It's important that we have an opportunity to establish the facts, and that the agencies also have an opportunity to present those facts, he argues.

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan condemns the attacks on police and says that "peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. Violence is not".

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/europe/portugal-set-to-ban-burqas/

Europe

Portugal set to ban burqas

Published October 21, 2025 – By Editorial staff
NOTE: The image is an archive photo from Denmark, 2021.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Portuguese Parliament has voted to ban face coverings in most public spaces.

The proposal was initiated by the Chega party and is justified as a measure to strengthen gender equality and women's rights in society.

Burqas and niqabs are expected to be banned in public places in Portugal if the bill is approved by the country's president.

The measure applies when these are worn for "reasons related to gender and religion" and carries fines of between €200 and €4,000 for violations. Anyone who forces someone to wear a face covering also risks up to three years in prison.

If the law comes into force, Portugal would join other European countries that have already introduced full or partial bans on burqas and niqabs, including France, Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa can, however, veto the bill or refer it to the constitutional court for review.

André Ventura, leader of the Chega party, said during the debate: – Protecting female members of parliament, your daughters, our daughters, from having to use burqas in this country one day.

Women from left-wing parties oppose the proposal

Several female parliamentarians from left-wing parties opposed the proposal and confronted Ventura in the chamber, but the bill was approved with support from the center-right coalition governing the country.

– This is a debate on equality between men and women. No woman should be forced to veil her face, declared Andreia Neto from the Social Democratic Party before the vote.

Only a small minority of Muslim women in Europe wear full face coverings, and in Portugal they are very rare. However, due to immigration from Muslim countries, their use is gradually increasing.

Full veils such as niqabs and burqas have long been a highly controversial issue in Europe, where critics argue that they symbolize gender discrimination, religious fundamentalism, or may pose a security threat.

The bill in Portugal has therefore become a central issue in the debate about balancing religious freedom, gender equality, and security. If finally approved, it is expected to resemble the rules already in place in several other EU countries.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Portugal and the burqa ban

  • Ban on: Burqa and niqab in public places in Portugal
  • Origin of the bill: Introduced by the Chega party (a Portuguese right-wing populist party)
  • Fines: €200–€4,000 for violations
  • Imprisonment: Up to three years for anyone who forces someone to wear a burqa or niqab
  • President's role: Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa can veto or refer the proposal to the constitutional court
  • European comparisons: Similar to laws in France, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands
  • Background: Only a small minority of Muslim women wear face coverings in Portugal. However, the trend is increasing somewhat due to immigration

https://nordictimes.com/europe/slovakia-eu-must-prioritize-economy-over-ukraine/

Europe

Slovakia: EU must prioritize economy over Ukraine

The new cold war

Published October 17, 2025 – By Editorial staff
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's Slovakia is one of the few EU countries that has refused to deliver weapons to Ukraine and opposed Ukrainian NATO membership.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico accuses the EU of concealing its own fundamental problems by constantly focusing on Ukraine – and refuses to discuss new Russia sanctions until the union's economic crisis is taken seriously.

Ahead of next week's European Council summit, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is launching a frontal attack on the EU's priorities. In a post on X, he states that the union's constant focus on Ukraine masks its inability to handle the bloc's own serious challenges.

At the summit, EU leaders are expected to discuss increased defense spending, military cooperation and continued support for Kyiv. But Fico argues this is happening at the expense of more urgent problems within the union.

"Not interested"

On Wednesday, the Slovak leader stated that he is "more and more convinced" that the EU, by ""constantly discussing Ukraine, we in the EU are covering up our inability to deal with our most fundamental challenges and problems". He says he has raised the issue with European Council President António Costa.

Fico then issues an ultimatum:

— I am not interested in dealing with new sanctions packages against Russia until I see, in the conclusions of the EC summit, political instructions for the European Commission on how to address the crisis in the automotive industry and the high energy prices that are making the European economy completely uncompetitive.

Automotive industry and energy prices in focus

The criticism doesn't come from nowhere when it comes to Slovakia. The country's economy is heavily dependent on automobile manufacturing, a sector under severe pressure from EU green policies and global competition. At the same time, Slovakia remains heavily dependent on Russian gas and crude oil under long-term contracts, despite Brussels demanding a complete phase-out of Russian energy imports by 2027.

Bratislava plans to present more concrete proposals on the automotive sector and energy prices at the summit than what is currently in the draft conclusions.

Fico continued:

— I refuse to let such serious issues be handled in the EC conclusions with general phrases, while detailed decisions and positions are devoted to aid for Ukraine and support for the war.

Divergent line

Slovakia stands out among EU countries in its stance on the war in Ukraine. Unlike most member states, the country has refused to deliver weapons to Ukraine, opposed Ukrainian NATO membership and repeatedly turned against EU sanctions on Russia.

The majority of EU countries maintain that Western support for Ukraine must continue and support rapid military rearmament, citing the alleged threat from Russia. The Kremlin has dismissed these claims as "nonsense" and accuses Western governments of using them as a pretext for increased military spending.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/europe/italian-editor-in-chief-we-are-importing-poverty/

Europe

Italian editor-in-chief: “We are importing poverty”

Migration crisis in Europe

Published October 16, 2025 – By Editorial staff
A group of migrants demonstrates in Treviso, Italy.
3 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Recent statistics from Istat, the Italian national statistics institute, show that people with immigrant backgrounds account for a significant portion of the country's absolute poverty. At the same time, poverty levels are declining among households where both parents are Italian.

The figures have once again fueled the debate about the socioeconomic consequences of mass immigration.

The statistics show that more than one-third of immigrants, 35.6 percent, live below the poverty line - a level that is five times higher than among the Italian population.

Maurizio Belpietro, editor-in-chief of the Italian daily newspaper La Verità and an influential political commentator, has written a widely discussed column in which he argues that Italy is effectively "importing poverty".

Belpietro highlights that while non-EU citizens make up less than one-tenth of the population, they nevertheless represent just over one-third of all those living in poverty.

"Of the 2.2 million households living in poverty, i.e., do not have enough income to support a minimum standard of living, 1.5 million are Italian and 733,000 are foreigners", he writes in the newspaper.

Poverty among mixed families

Among families where one parent is Italian and the other is foreign-born, the poverty rate is 30.4 percent, according to Istat. By comparison, families where both parents are Italian citizens have a poverty rate of 6.2 percent.

Political commentator Francesca Totolo has commented on the figures on X and questions the notion that labor immigration benefits the pension system.

"It is and will be Italians who have to pay for assistance, subsidies, housing, and pensions to foreigners without resources", she writes.

Large differences between immigrant groups

The debate about immigration's economic effects is also ongoing in other European countries. The argument that large-scale immigration would be the solution to pension system challenges has increasingly been questioned as research data is presented.

However, there are significant differences between different immigrant groups. EU citizens, particularly from certain member states, often contribute positively to the economy and tax revenues, while the pattern looks different for citizens from countries outside the union.

A Dutch study showed that migration had cost the state approximately €400 billion during the period 1995-2019, and in Germany, the annual costs of mass immigration are estimated at at least €50 billion.

At the same time, analysts emphasize that calculations of migration's economic costs often underestimate the actual expenses, which in reality tend to be significantly higher than the forecasts.

"Costs more than it brings in"

French researcher and author Jean-Paul Gourévitch stated in a radio interview with Radio Sud in 2021 that employment figures do not support the picture that immigration to France provides net economic gains.

— I have studied this topic extensively and today everyone in France, from the left to the right agrees that immigration costs more than it brings in, Gourévitch explained.

He pointed out that economists with different political backgrounds estimate the costs differently. Left-leaning analysts indicate an annual deficit of €6 to €10 billion, while right-leaning ones point to figures between €40 and €44 billion.

— My own scientific research shows that the deficit is €20 to €25 billion, he said in the interview.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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