Latest blog articles

  • Mexican standoff (part 2)

    ​With the date of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal fast approaching, it is becoming increasingly evident that the British government still has no clear plan, relies on wishful thinking and is running out of viable options. To prevent a complete disaster, a much more targeted salvaging operation might...

    Brexit blog Prashant Mexican standoff
  • Mexican standoff (part 1)

    With the date of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal fast approaching, it is becoming increasingly evident that the British government still has no clear plan, relies on wishful thinking and is running out of viable options. To prevent a complete disaster, a much more targeted salvaging operation might...

    Mexican standoff_blog Prashant Brexit chaos
  • The presidential refusal to appoint a minister in comparative perspective

    On 27 May 2018 Italy was thrown into a post-election political and constitutional turmoil when Italian President Sergio Mattarella refused to appoint the designated Minister of Economy and Finance, Paolo Savona, proposed by the Five Star Movement and the League. While not the first time that an...

    Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the European Parliament
  • European budget and the national constitutional state

    In May 2018 the European Commission presented the plan of a new financial framework for 2021-2027. In which is stated that the European Commission, among other things, aims to make the subsidies which are given to the countries, conditional upon the level at which a member state complies with EU...

    EU budget_EU begroting _blog
  • On power asymmetries between national parliaments in the EU

    From the beginning of the European project, the concept of dual representative democracy in the EU has never been homogeneous for all Member States. The line of democratic representation that is provided by the European Parliament is arguably.

    Nguyen, Hoai-Thu Book European and national parliaments
  • At the crossroads

    The phony war between the United Kingdom and the European Union is over. Now, for the real deal. However, this agreement (which is not final until all details have been ironed out) comes at a heavy price.

    EU Negotiator Michel Barnier
  • Street harassment and freedom of speech

    Yelling, offensive language, indecent sounds, and to a certain extent even behaviors are being protected as ‘speech’ or as ‘symbolic speech’ by Article 7 of the constitution. If we believe criminal justice is an appropriate instrument, an intervention is only allowed on the part of the national...

    edvard_munch_de schreeuw 1895_MLR
  • Dutch police and headscarf policy

    No headscarves or other religious expressions in the police, in this way we impair the 'neutral' image associated with the police. (Dutch only)

    politie blog hoofddoekjes