Who Could Fill the EU's Leadership Vacuum?

[@markushaahr9194]

Those guys that put Napoleon in those little dark-age edits.

[@criticalThinkerLad]

If anyone has anything wonderful to say please contact the European Union you can write and call All info is on the European Union website 👍

[@shamusson]

There's nothing we can do.

[@reed6134]

I can.

[@lucabalistreri5755]

Militar Coup?

[@lukas54cz71]

Me too

[@Im_The_Immortal_Snail]

Ill vote for you lol

[@MarketsDriveTheWorld]

What you propose?

[@bigbear5844]

Thank you for your service.

[@goliathsteinbeisser3547]

I would not consider Scholz a leader. I have no idea what he stands for or what he wants. There is no discernable foreign policy paradigm, for example.

[@ctrlzed5132]

He is not a leader he is an administrator, he is not made to handle difficult times. He got elected on the principle that everything will fall back into normality after COVID-19, it did not.

[@alexandru5369]

So a German Kamala Harris i.e. an empty suit

[@mishaf19]

@@alexandru5369I’d disagree. Kamala from what I’ve seen as a pretty strong platform of fighting corps, supporting American allies, and staunchly anti-chinese and russian. Scholz, I have zero clue what he is.

[@FrankeNamensKarim]

The only thing I know is that he uses our taxes for Ukraine and Israel

[@mariamedeiros2091]

​@@mishaf19 She's a pro war imperialist neocon like Bush and others nothing really new coming from the USA...

[@kriegsmaschine4050]

I am sick of Europe having to depend on America for military protection or having to depend on Russia just to keep itself warm. We could be so much more but the bureaucrats who govern us are little men each and all. I want a new European vision to enter the stage

[@kristof6472]

"The bureacrats who govern us" lmao the reason why europe has no leader is because each time a western leader actually wants to represent europe we have eastern and southern populists whining about how their "autonomy" isnt respected

[@liamgartlan5961]

The question is. Are Europeans willing to give up on some of their social policies. Which take up a huge portion of a lot of eu countries budgets for military spending.

[@santostv.]

Europe works at different speeds, we are a bunch of countries pretending to like each other for economic reasons and to have no W unfortunately we couldn’t escape that still. The little mens and women have their own interests for their own countries making it difficult for any of them to sacrifice their own country for the benefit of the e.u.

[@VTh-f5x]

That is true literally for every failing country. The bureaucrats. Nothing special about europe.

[@TheBooban]

@@liamgartlan5961 The social policies are actually not the issue. The issue is our politicians are not generating a better economy. They are bad at practically everything they do.

[@vloh3097]

Mario Draghi, the eternal God-King of the European Union

[@12_terabyte57]

Between Merkel and whoever is the next ‘leader of Europe’, I have to say Macron had been filling up that hole quite nicely. It seems like Macron had been overseeing the transfer of the title to himself, until he lost the elections and subsequently lost a lot of his political power, which is why we’re all of a sudden left with no real candidate for the position. Schulz seems incapable for the position, Sanchèz and Meloni are seeing to much pushback by parties on the other side of the spectrum and Tusk isn’t relevant enough to a lot of Europe.

[@stijnlikeswine186]

Macron is incompetent. He's done nothing. If it's not French he doesn't like it. And let's be honest, the rest of Europe doesn't really like French ideas.

[@jaiswole8709]

I agree but Tusk would be the best new leader as Poland is leading the charge for Europe having a chance at strategic autonomy with it's swell in the arms industry

[@RafaelW8]

Damn. How far you've come, Poland. Good one mate

[@bognagruba7653]

None argument against Poland's leadership was presented in this video :)

[@RafaelW8]

@bognagruba7653 probably the biggest argument against Poland having a leading role in the EU, is that, most people wouldn't take it seriously. In the minds of many, Poland is still seen as a shit hole or being part of ex Soviet.

[@bognagruba7653]

@@RafaelW8 It has begun to change.

[@charlotteritchie9969]

Poland elected globalists and in return will receive 2 million migrants a year. It's called diversity.

[@SDDT24]

@@RafaelW8tbf Poland has been better run than most western countries since the end of communism , their major cities are infinitely more clean and safe than here in west , London Paris , Frankfurt etc are basically unsafe dirty multinational slums

[@Arcticos0]

The next leader of Europe will be decided tonight...

[@SDDT24]

Sad but true 😢

[@quasii7]

Trump would be an anti-leader.

[@JLSMaytham]

Certainly by whoever wins tonight but I suspect the Banks, Corporations and Deep State may already have decided. Europe remains a club of Vassals and the UK did not leave it.

[@Paerigos]

Well - if its Trump then expect Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania wanting to go for independent nuclear weapons to keep the Moskaly out.

[@SDDT24]

@@PaerigosRussia isn’t going to invade whole of nato because of trump 😂😂 at least attempt to be reasonable , if anything could be argued putin saw Biden and Harris as weak and felt he could get away lightly internationally which he kinda has

[@Jayvee4635]

What about the Habsburgs or the Bourbons?

[@Paerigos]

Czechia and Romania is obligated by the small entente treaty to go to war to stop Habsburgs from ever coming to power again. The treaty was never declared null or void. Habsburgs should not be allowed to power anywhere in Europe.

[@Jayvee4635]

@@Paerigos Fair enough

[@JLSMaytham]

😂😅😮😢

[@univeropa3363]

@@Paerigos Who gives a shit about those two?

[@the_dawgg]

I'm feeling spicy tonight so let's go with... the Habsburgs

[@KlaustoFausto]

Honestly currently Von der Leyen is perceived the most as the central figure of the EU in all media I consume and all conversations I have. You may like or dislike her in particular, but the head of the commission is a fitting role to represent the EU

[@stijnlikeswine186]

She's not very effective at her job though. No charisma, no sway, little negotiation power. Does anyone even listen to her?

[@javibertolo1968]

I agree with you but she is the head of the commission, the executive branch, she does not have the power of an actual member country head of state, because the EU is a Economic Union not a sovereign union, as such a strong presidential leadership is needed

[@horrorkek9340]

Oh god Von Der Leyen would be horrible as europes image

[@Ziolek.2000]

Donald Tusk now is your chance stop wasting it

[@vladniculae6114]

Who?? Donald Trump???

[@gaspy2458]

No way bro is Polish and his name is Donald 😂

[@otanakugaming3357]

Donald T.

[@_._LUKA_._]

Well, looking at what is happening in France and Germany and the Russian threat, Poland seems to be the only sensible candidate.

[@daanwolters3751]

the country that complains about immigration all the time, and sells eu passports on the black market at the same time? no, thanks

[@sdlfjksldfkj]

I am Polish and I lold

[@francescolombardo6467]

Only Polish and some Germans care about Poland

[@dimitaru.8408]

As a Bulgarian I agree. I trust Poland way more than France or Germany right now, to lead the bloc.

[@daanwolters3751]

Looking at the PiS party, who is likely to make a comback, hell no.

[@calimerohnir3311]

As others have said: "Angela Merkel Lucky the Bar for “Worst German Leader” is Very High"

[@clausstreh6801]

‘Big strategi visions ‘ … and then a picture of Merkel😂

[@theb1z0n]

I mean she had one. Stupid one, but she had a plan instead of just switching positions out of being scared of everything like Scholz. Germany needs new people.

[@010Jordi]

A vision of destroying Europe

[@thezzweilous5040]

@@theb1z0nSwitching positions based on polls was Merkel's whole thing. Scholz being incompetent doesn’t make Merkel a strong leader, she was merely a consistent crisis manager

[@VTh-f5x]

Merkel. Worst leader in Europe since Yeltsin. 😂😂

[@NoName-hg6cc]

She at least tried, in an EU which was much less united. She did make a lot of mistakes, but tried

[@juanmartin1729]

The issue isn’t a lack of leadership; it’s the policies Europe has pursued over the last twenty years that have led it into a state of decline compared to countries like the United States, South Korea, Taiwan, and China. This situation stems from a lack of innovation, technology, military capability, and other critical factors that have hindered its progress and competitiveness.

[@FredSveru.]

exactly

[@stefandinu6389]

Yeah but at the same time do you want tech companies to do whatever they want like they do in the US? Many European tech companies went to US because of their lack of workers rights and other regulations.

[@ad_astra468]

South Korea? No we’re better off than them trust me, their fertility crisis is much harder to solve than any problem the EU has.

[@pedrodelgado9150]

how is Taiwan a county

[@Wfalen]

Workers rights don't need to be taken down, I mean well paid workers mean theres more to spend domestically, and that is a goot thing. But there is a lot of other red tape that could be slashed. Also military spending is purely about political will since the stat is the one who buys.

[@NIlleyla]

The EU has an appointed leader, the president of the European Commision You confuse "European Leaders" with "Leaders in Europe" Merkel was never the leader of Europe, she was the Chancellor the largest Nation in the EU, but on her own had no say over any other nation besides Germany. She also does not represent any besides German.

[@ChristiaanHW]

yeah the videos title sound like something someone who doesn't understand the EU would say. the EU doesn't have one leader, we have members who choose together what they are going to do. Von Der Leyen is the face of the EU. any national leader is just that, the leader of their own nation, and maybe a recognizable face for others, but in no way are they leading the EU.

[@tehpluto3594]

but this video isnt referring specifically to the European Union/Commission, its talking about a global perception of Europe as a whole. Internationally Merkel was widely recognised as the leader of Europe despite, as you said, not having any say on other European nations. Since she retired there has been a perceived leadership vacuum which was the topic of this video.

[@robsch21]

Well while that’s all true, Merkel still had heavy influence over other European countries like no other. Just think of the debt crisis Greece etc. those were all Merkels decisions. Same with the financial crisis were she basically forced smaller European countries to follow her policies. So maybe “leader“ is the wrong word but she definitely was the most powerful person in Europe

[@kreight_]

@@robsch21 the heavy-weight persuasiveness of germany in europe usually comes from the strength of german coffers; with the economy being shaky and the political incapability of the tripartite coalition to make decisions, olaf couldn't wield that power to the same extent

[@hansulrichboning8551]

Merkel was a great on a tactical level(mainly to stay in power), but with strategic abilities of a beheaded chicken.

[@sakshambhadoria9998]

Europe is headless, leaderless and visionless. The ambitious heads of powerful european states who once vowed to speak for the entire continent have become grossly unpopular and are practically lame ducks in their home countries.

[@RenegadeVile]

Not visionless, but leaderless yes. Headless is by design.

[@thomasaquinas1457]

Merkle created the migration crisis.

[@Tyler-qr7rd]

*Merkel

[@h3rozt479]

no, usa did

[@daanwolters3751]

No, the usa and israel did, by arming every terrorist organisation in existance for decades.

[@DavianThule-e6o]

i will forever hate her for destroying Europe for all time

[@CristianmrWuno]

Good

[@EclipseZer0]

Tusk > Merz > Meloni > Macron > Sánchez > Scholz Europe is leaning right so putting a socialist leader would be the wrong call, specially since both Sánchez and Scholz are struggling in their respective countries. Macron is on the decline, and Meloni is too polarizing. This leaves Tusk and Merz as the only reasonable candidates, and I put Merz behind because he isn't PM yet (and the CDU has proven to be too cozy with Russia).

[@AnItalianShishposter]

As an (you can understand what) I think that Meloni hasn't all these possibilities to become an important EU leader. Instead Sánchez looks way better and he's doing a way better job in Spain than Meloni in Italy.

[@FrankeNamensKarim]

Merz??? Really?? You aren't german, are you? Nearly no one likes that guy, he is a blackrock shark. Sanchez would be the best choice, because he is still liked and he has a real opinion and a real program, while Scholz stands for nothing and Macron is just hot air and Meloni is a populist from the far right

[@janhumiecki2827]

I'd say Sanchez > Tusk > Scholz > Macron > Merz > Meloni. EPP has been leading while the right rose to the place it's in so a leftist could be the thing we need to stop the right wing pivot. Tusk is meh, but better than Scholz, he was a pretty stable hand, but I think that Sánchez would be better

[@EclipseZer0]

@@AnItalianShishposter lmao. Sánchez currently has a weak government without a budget and is riddled with corruption and other scandals. Meloni is in a far better position than Sánchez, specially since left-wingers are a minority in Europe, and Sánchez is more left-wing than Scholz. Don't take these reports on Spain's economy face-on, GDP is going up strictly due to immigration and making shitty jobs, people here hate Sánchez more and more each day.

[@FrankeNamensKarim]

@@AnItalianShishposter yup. Agree completely

[@theconqueringram5295]

Things were so much simpler when the Habsbrugs ran the show.

[@giantWario]

I mean we could get Jean-Christophe Napoléon to reform the French Empire. King Felipe of Spain also actually has a strong claim on the Roman Empire (no really he does, look it up).

[@muhammedjaseemshajeef6781]

I think king Felipe should become king of France because he's from dynasty of bourbon

[@Aerostarm]

King felipe would reunite the Roman Empire pretty well

[@BN.ja05]

If this little thing called democracy didn't exist, and if most people still loved being ruled by monarchs. King Felipe actually has got the pedigree to rule at least half of Europe and nearby territories such as: France, the UK, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel, and Spain, etc.

[@TurdBoi666]

​@@muhammedjaseemshajeef6781 nah

[@Nirano5]

I vote for the Lettuce that beaten Lizz Truss.

[@MrJopijopa]

😂 A strong figure indeed

[@mix3k818]

You know what? Give the eastern flank of the EU a chance.

[@PapaOscarNovember]

Cheers for the return of Polish Commonwealth.😄

[@kianlakchi7182]

I can tell you that in the west a lot of us still feel like Eastern Europe would betray us for their own gain in a heartbeat, so we’re not going to give full support.

[@Siranoxz]

Sure, Poland could provide good leadership since Poland is on the verge on becoming a economic powerhouse. Germany and France are not leaders, they´re children in adult bodies.

[@robertosvath7208]

@@PapaOscarNovember at this point then let's also bring back the austro-hungarian empire

[@Dendarang]

TLDR's definition of what makes a "European leader" seems like a bad anachronism to me, it presupposes that there needs to be a single powerful national leader that will dominate all the other countries and the EU itself. To me, that was maybe more necessary in the earlier stages when the EU was more immature but nowadays I'd expect the Commission to be that leader in basically all Europe-wide matters corralling national leaders in the necessary direction. Also, note that Merkel, if she is to be defined as the quintessential "European leader" or "leader of Europe" was a god awful one who messed up just about everything and ultimately only cared about Germany. The last part she can't be blamed for since, as a national leader, caring for her nation is and should be her job - but that's why the EU exists and why EU is the only true "European leader".

[@vger5857]

Mark Rutte should have been the one, but the EU was just too late.

[@baronDioxid]

Seeing how Scholz isn't going to stay in office for too long....

[@MrFalut]

Sanchez had to flee Valencia after mob tried to hit him with sticks, i doubt he can lead anything

[@macuma5533]

No, he didn't. It was the King and the president of Valencia, don't make up stuff

[@bulkax303]

​@macuma5533 The King actally stayed with the protesters when Sanchez fled

[@resbalosa]

They literally attacked him with stocks and Stones, he would probably have been killed if he stayed there

[@R3troguy]

get iceland in the EU ASAP, Kristrún will have it sorted

[@JLSMaytham]

Iceland is not that stupid!

[@TurdBoi666]

Iceland is kinda gei

[@manwiththeredface7821]

Whoever is leading it, I (an EU citizen) don't feel as if I had any say in the matter.

[@zedtrek]

Why? You didn't vote?

[@AB-zl4nh]

Then why didn't you vote in the EU Parliament and your state/country elections?

[@college54114]

I love TLDR so much but I am absolutely sick of the Ground News ads. Please, as someone who watches a vast majority of the content your channels put out, get some new sponsors! Variety is the spice of life

[@ozelotsoffunT-jz2rt]

I WILL!!! VOTE FOR ME!!!

[@Mr.Kingen]

Poland should lead Europe

[@MarketsDriveTheWorld]

Better than France or Germany for sure 😂😂

[@PiotrekDuncan7885]

no with tusk in govenment

[@davidblair9877]

@@PiotrekDuncan7885why not?

[@PiotrekDuncan7885]

@@davidblair9877 because he's an idiot who only wants to invent new substitute topics and dance to whatever the Brussels bureaucrats play to him.

[@dairebulson7122]

I mean, even if Tusk is more "center" than PiS, Poland as a whole is very conservative, and that will likely spur a schism with the more liberal and social democratic elements in Western Europe

[@closetmonster4471]

Put the Polish leader in to lead Europe! end of open door madness, kick all the unchecked immigrants out, and then we all may have a chance to safe our countries but while we let so many of then in unchecked we are putting ourselves in danger for what?

[@Phyt5]

Immigration is not the problem, what you are doing is buying into populism, Europe is struggling due to various reasons but you falsely believe that one minor thing is the sole reason and that would fix everything

[@TTOnkeys]

Personally i vote for reed6134

[@Voxdalian]

At the moment it's Scholz, Macron, Tusk, and Meloni sharing the spotlight, with some difficulties. With Scholz probably being replaced by Mertz next year and Poland potentially getting a President who aligns with its Prime Minister, it looks like there will be more agreement between those major powers. Mertz will face similar problems as Macron, and Meloni won't be accepted by the left, so Tusk is the obvious front-runner in my opinion.

[@MarketsDriveTheWorld]

Who cares about the left? Tusk hasn't exactly promised a multicultural Poland either... Just so you know....

[@Mchannnel]

Personally Sanchez sounds like the best option for human rights but EU needs a good negotiator and Tusk seems to be a decent choice…Damn Poland!

[@Voxdalian]

@@Mchannnel Sanchez is too short-sighted on many topics to make for a good leader. Macron is very good at foreign policy and is a visionary. I think he would make for a very good leader if only it wasn't F-tier France he was the leader of. (That's not to say his opinions are always great, but he does have what it takes to be a leader more broadly.) Meloni and Tusk are similar in their leadership qualities, but as I said, Meloni won't be accepted. Mertz would probably try to follow in Merkel's footsteps after the election in Germany, but he doesn't have those qualities. So yes, it would be Tusk by process of elimination, and he has the advantage of being a former EU Council President.

[@thehuman2cs715]

@@Voxdalian I'm not sure a leader that simply bulldozes through his people's anger when he does something they don't agree with can be said to be truly that great.

[@Voxdalian]

@@thehuman2cs715 I'm assuming you mean Macron pushing unpopular policies through the parliament? In most countries I would say you're right, but the French always get angry over everything. The lowest pension age in Europe got pushed up to being still significantly under average and they start burning shops and cars for it. There is no other way to deal with this type of people that forcing change through, everything will be unpopular anyway.

[@lucaarrigo4986]

It's like if the president of the USA was also the Governor of a state. It does not make sense to have country leaders as the most influential people in EU politics.

[@maklondemba9981]

Because eu is not a country like usa

[@Whisk3yKnight]

I know he’s currently ofc more finance focused (it is his job) but I could really see Draghi taking a bigger role in the future. That or, frankly, more vaguely Poland, certainly with their recent arms acquisitions

[@chrisr4769]

What the FUCK does strategic autonomy mean in actual policy terms? Macron has been saying this for a decade, and yet has put forth no SPECIFIC policy on how to achieve it.

[@SuperCreeper38]

He has though, you’re just living under a rock. Have you actually done your homework on looking up the policies or are just saying that for the sake of saying it?

[@sowietdoge6259]

Increasing the defense budget, ordering new a ton of new military equipment (they're now looking to acquire a new aircraft carrier), decoupling from foreign supply chains with hostile state actors, approving the Strategic Compass in 2022 to further develop and coordinate the EU's security capabilities. There has been a ton done, that's just what I remember off the top of my head. You really need to do some actual research instead of being mad because of vibes.

[@frcluc]

Answer: a strong German

[@TurdBoi666]

AH

[@mathewsanish-d5f]

There is meloni

[@kostasyian4788]

All six are useless, beta, tried and fail. We don't want the same cliches, rotten establishment, anti-human, woke, anti-growth. Meloni maybe the only exception, thats why she is still popular, but we will see if the will walk the walk or just talk the talk.

[@bognagruba7653]

Tusk is not useless or tired. He is so experienced and competent that he even gained popularity over flood response. (Imagine that, Spain!)

[@L_back]

@@bognagruba7653He is (quite often) scared of making controversial decisions and also… he didn’t really gain popularity from the flood response. Apparently, he and his government increased some taxes and referred to them as “reparations for the floods”. I’m Polish and I have a family in Poland who listens to what the new government is saying. They’re not the brightest bulbs, but practically no Polish politician is

[@milaenlommer9732]

Why was randomly belittling Bulgaria for the lols necessary 🤔 It’s a genuine question. Would you make this comment about a small African or South American nation struggling with internal turmoil? Never understood why shitting on Eastern Europeans is such a beloved activity for the Brits and the Americans.

[@munaali840]

they use african and south american examples all the time

[@Cicero_de_fato]

Because they view you as a second class citizen. They look down on you. They would never let a Bulgarian to be the leader of Europe.

[@federico5044]

Giorgia Meloni possibly…

[@TurdBoi666]

She is one gorgeous lady

[@fleshreap]

France could step in if they really wanted to, but they've been fairly hesitant. Talk a big game at times and then do nothing of substance. Germany would need a change in leadership and become competent again, probably not happening.

[@MarketsDriveTheWorld]

Macron doesn't even has support in his own country 😂😂 also it's a country despised by a lot: just think of Africa....

[@fleshreap]

@@MarketsDriveTheWorld Sure they got issues. But in essence they have the population, industry, arms etc. needed. Nobody else in Europe really has the "whole package" needed. Also, being a leadership type of country in EU doesn't much need African countries liking them.

[@AlcottWright]

France is the best country in Europe

[@SenseAddict]

Meloni is the new EU leader

[@marcocarlson1693]

Yes, obviously. She already is and has been, defacto. If these guys don't know that, then they don't know anything at all.

[@NoName-hg6cc]

@@marcocarlson1693 Uh, when was she voted by Europeans?

[@marcocarlson1693]

@@NoName-hg6cc She is voted the leader of Italy, by Italians, and unlike so many other countries leaders, has High standing in Italy, and around the World, for that matter, to this day and far beyond surely. So she Is voted in by Europeans, exactly as others are. I also said she is the defacto E.U. leader, not the technical one.

[@NoName-hg6cc]

@marcocarlson1693 I'm Italian myself, and I voted for her. But French, Germans, Lihuanians etc... didn't

[@marcocarlson1693]

@@NoName-hg6cc Yes. Same as I did. I am not suggesting the E.U. is one country of course. Those that are in Brussels are there only due to party affiliation. No countries have directly voted for any of them. Von der Leyen is not voted by Italians. So you have maybe an issue with how the whole political system of the E.U. is. Totally understandable, and I would mostly agree. I am only saying that in the real world, in this system, Giorgia Meloni wields the most influence for many good reasons. Some due to her personally, some not. I am not submitting that all countries have voted for her. That's obviously not. But the same is true for all others.

[@Dmpr35]

Just make sure it’s not Orban pls..

[@USEismydream]

Scholz problem is basically that he can't lead and at the end be always chose his political power over doing the right thing. Yeah I know, most politicians do that, but its kinda weird to me that people dying isn't changing the perspective. The problem is Merz is as politician in my opinion even worse. But at least he's better for Ukrain. Despite that I would atm always chose Macron over Scholz.

It's not changing the perspective because politicians don't have a concept of people "dying". They don't know what it really means, it's all numbers to them. They have no empathy whatsoever; barely human.

[@carlwinterstein]

French The next leader of Europe 🇫🇷🇪🇺 👇🏻

[@robinmangala3536]

As a Belgian, I feel fucked. Europe sucks tbh.

[@berkcan8861]

Vote for me I’ll make europe great again

[@BKYoutube-zq3yv]

Join The Netherlands, together we will rule European logistics! We will fix your roads

[@MariaSilva-eg9cp]

@@robinmangala3536 I feel you mate. I miss my country And I miss our continent. All star to go wrong in 2014.

[@robinmangala3536]

@@BKKZbin-zq3yv you’re Dutch? Cuz it’s my native language with French 😭😂

[@robinmangala3536]

@@MariaSilva-eg9cp which country are you from sis? Before my salary (before the Ukrainian war), I lived comfortably with 2300€, after that inflation hits, rent prices, electricity & gas skyrocketed, so I work online combining with benefits (3500€ in total), I feel bad for cheating, but I have no choice…

[@jordangrigorov]

Victor Orban that’s who

[@resbalosa]

Cant lead hungary, sure he will lead the eu

[@dejabu24]

@@resbalosa the guy have been PM for many years but he cant lead hungary cmon

[@wesleys4507]

As a Right Wing voter i also wouldn't know who'd be good. i think in general we lack a backbone as Europe in a whole. We seem to always lean on the US to make decisions millitary wise. And we all know they also lack good leadership, probably even worse then we do. For me personally i just want Europe to be Europe again and not little Middle East or Africa.

[@sebyst7907]

We aren't an autocratic system, we cooperate with each other. "Strong" leaders always end up screwing up a lot.

[@SDDT24]

Disagree with your final statement , and a weak leader just bends to people like George soros and the wef and look where’s that’s got us

[@sebyst7907]

@SDDT24 prosperity, clean air and water. What have strong leaders given us? War, chaos and dependency on dictators. Go enjoy your strongman.

[@MrPastaTube1]

Democracies always end up voting for caesarian figures.

[@davidblair9877]

@@SDDT24what have Soros and the WEF done to you, pray tell?

[@honkler5974]

@@sebyst7907the world we live in today we inherited because of our strong leaders during ww2. Had are leaders been weak I’m sure you could imagine a different inheritance. So realize there IS a time for strength, and IT IS NOW.

[@degviela]

Giorgia Meloni❤❤

[@MrPastaTube1]

Von der Leyen leads the EU.

[@stevemcgowen]

Why would Europe need a leader? You don’t understand Europe isn’t 1 country?

[@jimbowling8528]

Feet of iron and clay.

[@Siranoxz]

The problem with EU leadership is simply EU countries acting out of self interest instead of unified collaboration.. And we unfortunately have a few trojan horses that were able to infiltrate themselves into the EU decision making and being difficult and becoming a problem for the EU. And Europe needs to rely on its own economic growth and build up of industries without the US buying up European companies for their own benefit.

[@Ugapiku]

Idk, even if Meloni doesn't have connection with Brussels, it would seem like a good choice to have her at least for a bit.

[@Paerigos]

3/4 of Europe will not accept her as leader. In fact - 3/4 of Europe will never accept someone who other 1/4 Europe would want as a leader. EU has been precisely designed as tool of institutionalism which is to remove any notion of "leadership" from politics. cause you know every time Europe had "leaders" or "fuhrers" it ended up in catastrophy. Europe must remain completely leaderless and fully institutionalized. There should not be anyONE negotiating on behalf of europe. Every European negotiation should be handled with delegation of 27 representatives of each states, who will collectively engage in all talk and every single nation must have absolute veto over any decision. That is the system EU should use to negotiate with Trump, with Xi... always full and total institutionalism without any "leader".

[@theotheronethere4391]

The European People's Party will be in the pole position. They already are the largest party in the Parliament, have the Commission Presidency and have the most participants in the European council (11). What they lacked for a while is control of the largest states (Germany, France, Italy). However, with Tusk (EPP) as PM of Poland, Merz (EPP) in pole position to retake Germany in the next few months and even Barnier (EPP) as PM of France (not the presidency but still a position of power), the EPP could almost solely dictate the flow of European policy.

[@jordonbooman9913]

The leadership vacuum caused the worst possible times

[@santostv.]

Germany and France like always and now that the third wheel called uk is out, Poland took their place.

[@deathsquad8891]

The rule of Europe had been charged to Rome for over a millennium. Can't see why it shouldn't be the case now.

[@luckeevee]

Pedro Sánchez leading the EU is the best joke I've heard today

[@michaelstagar4254]

Zelensky has more guts than half these weaklings

[@L_back]

More than Tusk or Sanchez in any case (I’m Polish, so maybe I haven’t heard everything about Sanchez)

[@gromajor]

the problem is less about the leaders than about the appreciation of the work of the leaders by people who do not trully try to put themselves in the shoes of these leaders.

[@peterhughes2941]

Badenoch will clean house

[@ayzac6277]

2:33 sounded like SHREK 👹

[@Bateleur09]

Pedro Sanchez 😂😂😂😂

[@Minimmalmythicist]

It´s a stupid discussion, everyone knows that the most powerful countries in Europe are Germany and France and they´ll have the most influence over what happens. Germany is the most powerful, France is the second most powerful. When the UK was a member it was joint second with France. You then have Italy which is kind of in fourth place. The Germans will never allow someone they don´t like to run things.

[@MultiKommandant]

Maybe we don't need leaders who are "good in their time" but leaders who are just good full stop. Bureaucrats who can wrestle with the institutions and systems, economists who know how markets actually work or just reasonable-enough decision makers who aren't prepared to gleefully sacrifice a nations prosperity over hurt feelings or greed.

[@franciscobermejo1779]

As long as you take him away from us, Spaniards would be happy to give Europe Mr Sánchez...

[@JLSMaytham]

He rather ended his career in Valencia, with an unelected king showing him how to be a statesman. Sickening. Our Charlie couldn't have pulled that off, certainly not with the unpopular Camilla at his side.

[@Dmpr35]

We do not need a tankie, gracías

[@weamibrahim2146]

Are you seriously calling Pedro a tankie? ​@@Dmpr35

[@silas823]

@@JLSMaytham Do you mean showing him to apologize with a literal neonazi for something another far right party did?

[@objectdefiance4027]

Ursula Von Der Leyen Obviously. For Better or Worse.

[@majormoolah5056]

EU is more of a parliamentarian system... it does not need a leader. When we had Merkel, we also had a lengthy period of stagnation in EU policy. If you look at what the next Commission is up to, we have more reform than we have had in decades. Capital markets union, banking union, industrial policy, CBDC and EU taking on a security role. Trying to guess who the leader is means you do not understand the political process of EU.

[@NoName-hg6cc]

Then it need to strengthen its government and make an even stronger federal structure

[@elvishprincess321]

If the EU has no leader then how is anyone meant to develop a sense of connection to it as an institution? In the USA the people get to directly vote for the federal government president which gives it legitimacy, if the EU is merely a trading bloc then why does it need a parliament at all?

[@NoName-hg6cc]

@@elvishprincess321 "if the EU is merely a trading bloc" which is not

[@daniokorni]

Poland for the lead

[@L_back]

Not with our current PM

[@KrishGupt-i5p]

I feel if Ursula herself will not be able to the Meloni will be the next 'Mother of Europe' all the way And no, I am not saying this just because India will benefit from Italy

[@rayner7188]

Since the EU can never rely on US on leadership. EU should appoint a leader that is competent, and able to make things happen.

[@crocodileguy4319]

Cometh the hour, cometh the zoomer...

[@VictoriaMFD]

*shifty eyes as someone who lives in America trying to understand the Bulgarian election* FINE YOU GOT ME IM CANADIAN, BUT I LIVE HERE! Isn’t that close enough? Lmao

[@SchlesMapper]

Donald Tusk

[@L_back]

Please no(I’m Polish)

[@SchlesMapper]

@L_back I'm polish too lol

[@CobraForce007]

Pedro Sánchez is literally the worst Prime minister of the history of Spain by far…

[@BGK531]

Why Europe without Europe? According the Anglo Saxons they are the only Europeans.

[@vladniculae6114]

Guys, just because you've left the EU doesn't mean you're allowed to forget how it works. No national leader is the leader of the Union... We have the European Commission, its President, and if you insist on including the legislative brach, the Parliament, which is elected directly, instead of being appointed like the executive (though commissioners are sent by elected officials from EU coutries)

[@Darkurge666]

We don't have a leader. We are not the European United States. We are a bunch of different countries, nationalities, and loyalties. There is a very weak European loyalty because we don't even share the same language, and most of us have been at war with each other on and off for 1000 years. We don't want to be one thing, because we don't share values. You could potentially get northern Europe (UK, Germany, Scandinavia, and Finland) to agree on some things, but that is about it. There is no one Europe, so the leaders don't matter. We have no idea about the politics in each other's countries because we don't speak each other's languages. And the EU is not really in focus for anyone because it's useless or irrelevant. We can't have open borders anymore, and we can't even all agree on if Russia is evil or what to do about it.

[@klausjack8731]

Agreed

[@everypitchcounts4875]

I thought EU was mainly for economic trade.

[@RenegadeVile]

To be fair, America doesn't seem very cohesive either, nor consistent on the Russia issue...

[@RenegadeVile]

And consensus can still be a powerful tool. People love to forget that the EU have been frontrunners on a lot of legislative frameworks that through sheer economic pressure are now standard in other places in the world. We're even the first to legislate AI, which nany people still underestimate as a huge risk to your personal freedoms and privacy. There's good and bad. I think what we need is a massive reformation of the EU. The whole thing needs an overhaul and it needs it soon. Decisions on smaller issues need to happen faster. Decisions on bigger issues need to work with majority instead of total consensus, etc. these things are being worked on, but too slowly.

[@Aerostarm]

Europe can be so much stronger, but the leadership vacuum does not need to be filled by a national leader. It should be filled by the EU itself with Ursula Von De leyan

[@dejabu24]

imo will be Draghi , Macron , Orban

[@caerdwyn7467]

Due to the lack of quality followers, the supply of quality leaders has been curtailed.

[@lordsteppergod7269]

The right is making a great comeback

[@ophilipp7292]

after a (admitedly superficial) quick scan : meloni and tusk. both share a vision for europe, both in terms of dometic policy of the continent and what should be done about its borders, both have chosen a path to change brussel politics 'from inside' rather that picking full frontal fights like orban, and, unlike macron and fcking scholz, they both have servicable backing domestically. neither alone has the political weight to outright 'seize the wheel' but theyre both power brokers and with france being unstable (aka france) and germany in decline (aka germany), both of them together form a block that none can really move past all that easily. any obvious flaws ive overlooked ?

[@Tewhill357]

They should look far and wide for new leadership.

[@Catmint309]

That’s gotta be Ben’s outline on the thumbnail right

[@jimidando]

Maybe a trio of Meloni, Tusk and Sanchez as European leaders.

[@dzejrid]

If I recall my history right, there were a number of Triumvirates in Europe's history, dating back to Roman times. None of them ended well...

[@will_be_like]

The Mediterranean is so back.

[@siegfried19888]

Maybe something more like a constitutional direct democracy

[@djp1234]

The EU needs to grow some balls and stand up to Putin.

[@RenegadeVile]

What do you think we are doing? Where have we given a single inch to him? Unlike the US who endlessly teeter on giving and not giving support, the EU has largely been consistent in supporting Ukraine's independence and sovereignty.

[@Tar.o]

@@RenegadeVile First Crimea, and now maybe all of Ukraine, lol, definately more than an inch. Don't worry tho, the gay parades will scare the Russians away.

[@ulyssis]

The US!

[@kubaconrad6315]

Donald Tusk 🤩😍

[@bognagruba7653]

Plus Radek Sikorski :)

[@janhumiecki2827]

@@bognagruba7653 imo, Tusk could be a leader both at home and in the EU (still think that Sánchez would be better) but Sikorski has enough on his plate as the foreign affairs minister, don't want him in Brussels or the presidential palace

[@L_back]

NOOO

[@paoladelijster7060]

Not italy, as the French, I want poland to lead Europe

[@forme1981]

More like which politician has the ultimate influence cross Europe, then electing a leader for EU, the trade group

[@verttikoo2052]

The EU leadership is in Finland at the moment. Just for your information 👍

[@harrisonbergeron9746]

so you're not really intersted in co-operation between sovereign states, you just want a strong Leader.....

[@Paerigos]

well - cooperation only works if everyone agrees on same rules. We will not be cooperating with "coal and steel" unless all countries in such cooperation submit to same regulation, same rules, same taxes and there is a fully level playing field which no government stacks own way. Its only after that was achieved that the tarrifs were removed and it was still under strict negotiated (every few years) quotas for every country... anything above that - tarrifs kicked in again.

[@harrisonbergeron9746]

@@Paerigos and a strong Leader will make everyone agree to the same rules?

[@bulkax303]

​@harrisonbergeron9746 a strong leader will help reach a compromise