Expect an anti-woke wave

By  Georgi Gotev

Did the rejection of the woke ideology bring Trump to power? Many analysts and commentators believe so, and it is only logical that some European politicians will seek to jump on the bandwagon.

According to statistical data quoted by The Economist, America has become less 'woke' since a peak in 2020, when Joe Biden was elected, and 'woke' opinions and practices are on the decline.

While Merriam-Webster defines 'woke' as being "aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice)", there is no bipartisan definition.

Democrats describe it as a personal view that expresses empathy and awareness of systemic injustices, while Republicans are more likely to describe wokeness as an agenda promoting far-left priorities and gender ideology.

In the meantime, for many, the term 'woke' came to designate the politically correct going too far. In fact, Merriam-Webster notes that "woke" can imply political liberalism or progressivism perceived as extreme or unreasonable.

In terms of workerism going astray, a high point was reached in 2021, when Nancy Pelosi, the then-speaker of the United States House of Representatives, proposed changes to the house rules that would “honour all gender identities” by eliminating such terms as mother and father, son and daughter, and aunt and uncle.

Follow our live blog on the European Commissioner hearings. The six candidates for Check here for the most important updates.

European Commission vice presidents confirmation meetings to be postponed after political agreement. Parliamentary sources told Euractiv that EPP, S&D and Renew leaders moved to delay in a bid to create a comprehensive deal to approve all six EVP candidates.

Fitto’s confirmation in the balance after grilling on his political past and EU values. “I take it for granted that all Commissioners are going to stay very far away from representing their member states’ interests and their political parties’ interest,” he said.

Olivér Várhelyi’s health portfolio hangs in the balance as negotiations stall. He might still have to wait a little longer to know his fate.

Beware the growing Russia-China-North Korea-Iran alliance, NATO chief warns. 

Germany to hold snap elections on 23 February. Scholz’s Social Democrats struck a deal with the opposition to accelerate the original timeline.

Governments approve new UN rules on carbon markets at COP29. Nearly 200 countries agreed to several crucial ground rules for setting a market in motion after almost a decade of complex discussions.

Netherlands to impose border controls from 9 December. The controls are set to last six months, part of a wider crackdown on migration proposed by the right-wing coalition led by the anti-Muslim nationalist PVV party of Geert Wilders.

Kallas to face questions on EU’s institutional foreign policy power balance. A key issue EU lawmakers might raise is the bloc’s inter-institutional power struggle on foreign policy issues.

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meets French Prime Minister of Michel Barnier in Brussels, Belgium.
• European Commissioner Iliana Ivanova in Lisbon, Portugal for the WebSummit.
• UN Climate Change Conference 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29) continues for its third day.
• The European Parliament holds a two-day plenary session in Brussels, Belgium.