Nov 9, 2026, 04:30 AM UTC

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to officially propose Ilse Aigner to succeed Frank-Walter Steinmeier as Federal President. The 61-year-old CSU politician and current president of the Bavarian state parliament is scheduled for official nomination on Monday, ahead of the vote by the Federal Assembly on January 30.

If elected, Aigner would become both the first woman and the first CSU politician to serve as Germany's head of state. Addressing the nomination on social media, Aigner wrote that "Mein Anspruch war und ist es, Präsidentin für alle zu sein." While her candidacy is widely supported within the conservative CDU/CSU alliance, reports suggest some internal irritation over how the nomination process was handled by leadership.

Sources: Der Spiegel, Der Standard, DW, FAZ, Tagesschau.

Swedish Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson announced plans on Sunday to form a minority coalition government with the Centre Party and the Green Party, proposing that the Left Party serve as a support partner outside the cabinet.

Speaking at a news conference in Stockholm, Andersson stated she intends to spend the coming week working toward a government comprising the Social Democrats, Centre Party, and Greens "in close cooperation with the Left Party." She noted that if the Left Party refuses a supporting role, only a centrist government would be viable in practice.

However, Left Party official Ida Gabrielsson reiterated her party's demand for cabinet seats, responding on social media that "S and C know that we cannot say yes to this."

Sources: Dagens Industri, Svenska Dagbladet, Dagens Nyheter, TV 2 Nyheter, Berlingske.

Polish authorities have declared two days of national mourning and launched a counter-terrorism investigation following an attack on the Rynek Główny main square in Kraków that left six people dead and 15 wounded.

The incident occurred around 15:00 local time when a vehicle drove across the crowded market square as a shooter opened fire on bystanders. Eyewitnesses described widespread panic on the square as tourists and locals attempted to assist the injured before emergency services cordoned off the area.

Poland's national prosecutorial office confirmed that the assault is being treated as a terrorist offense under national law. Authorities have heightened security measures across the country while forensic and law enforcement investigations into the attack continue.

Sources: VG, TV 2 Nyheter, Aftenposten, Berlingske, Svenska Dagbladet

Following the defeat of Aleksandar Vučić's ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in the October 25 parliamentary elections, Serbia is undergoing a major political transition. Over 480,000 registered voters are currently casting ballots for members of national minority councils to oversee identity, education, and official language rights.

The political shifts follow public controversy surrounding state security wiretapping operations and remarks by Vučić, who warned in a recently circulated video that prosecutors, police, and activists would "everyone will answer." Amid these developments, Vučić indicated plans to resign as president within three to four months, setting the stage for presidential elections that must be held by December 27. Meanwhile, post-election talks continue regarding government formation and security service overhauls.

Sources: Dan, Danas, Index, N1, Vijesti

Spain’s labor movement faces internal division ahead of the planned 24-hour general strike on 11 November. Originally initiated by grassroots citizen groups over housing concerns, major confederations CCOO and UGT joined the call, creating an unprecedented dynamic just weeks before national elections.

However, several prominent trade unions—including USO, CSIF, Fetico, SLT, and Valorian—have explicitly distanced themselves from the protest. These organizations questioned the political timing of the mobilization during an active election campaign and raised concerns over the transparent management of the initiative. Meanwhile, critical commentators frame the action as a political maneuver intended to counter unfavorable polling trends. The split leaves the upcoming stoppage in an exceptionally uncertain state amid broader socioeconomic frustration.

Sources: Canarias7, El Mundo, La Vanguardia