Macron faces problems of political polarisation, economic crisis and mass opposition to his policies 

EMMANUEL MACRON has won the French Presidency, defeating his second round far right opponent Marine Le Pen by 66 to 34 per cent.

However, the country is slipping deeper into a crisis of economic decline and political polarisation, marked by mass street movements.

CommonSpace looks at the major obstacles now faced by Macron.

1. The French crisis

Jo Cox’s killer was only the latest in a long line of far right terrorists in the UK

NEO-NAZI TERRORISM is on the rise across Europe, a tendency underlined in the UK by the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox by white supremacist Thomas Mair in June.

Green MEP Ska Keller latest German politician to back Scotland in Europe 

THE VICE PRESIDENT of the German Green group in the European parliament has become the latest high profile European politician to back Scotland remaining in the European Union. 

Ska Keller MEP addressed the group’s sister party in Perth today [Saturday 22 October] and pledged support for the democratic right of Scotland to stay within the EU. 

Kier Group among firms to apologise in 2015 for blacklisting trade unionist builders

THE FIRE-DAMAGED Glasgow School of Art (GSoA) is to be reconstructed by a firm involved in the blacklisting of workers.

Support for Scotland in Europe as Nicola Sturgeon offers negotiations 

LEADING EUROPEAN POLITICIANS have expressed support for Scotland continuing within the European Union.

Influential figures from Poland, France, Germany and Belgium have spoken out in support of Scotland’s place in the union. 

Mike Ashley finally appeared before MPs after being threatened with contempt of Parliament

THE BILLIONAIRE owner of retail chain Sports Direct Mike Ashley told MPs he could not be held entirely responsible for the poor working conditions in his Derbyhire warehouse, because the company had become too big to keep track of. 

Finally making an appearance before the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee yesterday [8 June] after repeatedly refusing to do so, Ashley was grilled by MPs over the conditions for staff at Sports Direct’s Derbyshire warehouse. 

Think tank warns “obsession” with national debt is threatening to “bring down” the economy 

A LEADING Scottish economics thinktank has spoken out over fears that creating private and household debt through a slowing economy threatens a re-run of the 2008 economic crisis.

The comments come amid mounting evidence of dangerously high levels of private debt in the UK and global economies.

A decade ago, in the summer of 2007, the first signs of the weakness in the global economy emerged. One of the signs was growing household indebtedness.

Trump expresses outrage as mass global public opposition and the US legal establishment conspire to undermine his flagship anti-refugee policy

PROTESTERS have urged those who have taken part in the mass movement against US President Donald Trump’s Muslim ban not take pressure off as the policy is suspended.

An executive order signed by Trump on January 27 halted entry to the US from citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations, triggering an international wave of protest.

Hilary Benn maintains his position in a restrained cabinet reshuffle

ANTI-TRIDENT Labour MP Emily Thornberry has taken over as party military spokesperson in the shadow cabinet reshuffle ahead of the crucial debate on renewing the UK's weapons of mass destruction.

The MP for Islington South and Finsbury, who voted against Trident renewal in 2007 and who has spoken previously at a disarmament rally, replaces Maria Eagle in the post, who was a known advocate of Trident renewal.

The National Front did not pick up any regional seats as polling closed on Sunday

DESPITE an earlier round of voting having indicated gains for the far-right National Front in France's regional elections, Sunday's final vote saw them slump behind the two major parties in all 13 regions.

Leader of the National Front (FN) Marine Le Pen lost to the conservative Republican party in Nord-Pas-de-Calais, despite the first round of voting giving her 40 per cent of the vote.