Marine Le Pen, France
In mid-January, the appeal of a corruption conviction that has so far barred the figurehead of the French far-right from running in elections begins. The outcome will determine whether Le Pen can start planning for the 2027 presidential election, and the new trial is also likely to affect France's municipal elections in March.
Ursula von der Leyen, Germany
Since 2019, the president of the European Commission has relied on strong support from member-state leaders and a stable centrist majority of conservatives, liberals and social democrats in the European Parliament. But now she is under increasing pressure from both the left and the far right, while the challenges surrounding both Ukraine and the relationship with the United States are considerable.
Alice Weidel, Germany
The leader of the German AfD has tailwinds and US support from politicians and tech billionaire Elon Musk. In March, the AfD hopes to consolidate its growing position with solid successes in tough state elections in Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg.
Janez Jansa, Slovenia
Among the group of Brussels-critical prime ministers in Central Europe, both Robert Fico in Slovakia and Andrej Babis in the Czech Republic have recently returned to power. Now Jansa in Slovenia hopes to do the same in the parliamentary elections in March.
Peter Magyar, Hungary
The ruling Fidesz party has dominated Hungary since 2010, but now, for the first time in a long time, there is a real challenger to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. However, the opposition leader Magyar is expected to face severe legal and political challenges ahead of the April elections.
Zack Polanski, United Kingdom
The traditional British major parties, Labour and the Tories, are losing ground as support instead rises for Nigel Farage's Reform Party, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens. New party leader Polanski has boosted the Greens dramatically and is hoping for a green wave in the local elections in May.
Here are some important dates in European politics during the first half of 2026:
January 1: Cyprus takes over the presidency of the EU Council of Ministers
February 12: Informal EU summit in Belgium
March 8 and 22: Federal state elections in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate
March 15 and 22: Municipal elections in France
March 15, 22 or 29: Parliamentary elections in Slovenia
March 19-20: EU summit in Brussels
April 12: Parliamentary elections in Hungary
April 23-24: Informal EU summit in Cyprus
May 4: EPC Summit in Armenia
May 7: Local and regional elections in the UK
May 24: Parliamentary elections in Cyprus
June 14-16: G7 summit in France
June 18-19: EU summit in Brussels
