Share Sounds from Share Radio Breakfast related to Politics - Europe

Ryan Heath, Senior EU Correspondent and Associate Editor at Politico Europe, joined Share Radio Breakfast to give his weekly take on European Politics. The Italian referendum takes centre stage. Is Italian PM Matteo Renzi heading for defeat? Ryan also looks at the Austria presidential elections, and gives the latest from France.

On Sunday, Italy holds a referendum. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi wants the power to streamline the country's creaking political system, reducing the power of upper house senators from blocking what he sees as essential economic reforms. But many are predicting he will lose. The worry for the markets is that a large protest vote could give the populist Five Star movement enough momentum to put Italy on a slippery slope to leave the Euro currency zone, plunging Europe into a fresh political and financial crisis. Dijedon 'Doni' Imeri is a country risk analyst for IHS Markit and he joined Share Radio Breakfast.

Josh Lowe, Reporter at Newsweek, joined Share Radio for his Thursdays comment of the latest political news. We started by asking him about the news that Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson's has privately told at least four EU ambassadors that he supports freedom of movement of EU workers despite the Government's stance.

Dan Hodges, Political commentator at the Mail on Sunday, joined Share Radio Breakfast to give his weekly politics round up. Dan discusses Corbyn, Cuba and the increasing pressure from the European Union over Brexit.

On Sunday, Italian voters will go to the polls in a referendum on whether to curb the powers of the senate. The polls suggest Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who has promised to resign in the case of a No Vote, is on course to lose. As Italy's fragile banking sector struggles to stay afloat, a change of government, which could see the populist anti-EU Five Star Movement elected, will have severe repercussions for the Italian economy and the Eurozone. Robert Van Egghen reports.

The European Parliament's President, Martin Schulz, is to run for election in the German parliament next year, instead of seeking a third term leading MEPs. And his replacement could matter for Britain. Politico Europe's Ryan Heath said it could well be the former Belgian prime minister, who's currently due to lead the EU in the Brexit negotiations. Ryan spoke to Share Radio’s Nigel Cassidy from Brussels.

Josh Lowe of Newsweek joined Share Radio Breakfast for his politics round-up. There are calls for Prime Minister Theresa May to reverse her flagship boardroom reforms on executive pay. Company bosses and the Bank of England’s Chief Economist have suggested such intervention will damage the motivation and retention of good business leaders. Josh offered his view on this, as well as the reports that former Prime Minister Tony Blair wants to help block Britain's exit from the EU.

The French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has admitted that Front National leader Marine LePen could win the upcoming presidential election. Mr Valls says Donald Trump's victory in America had shown that similar anti-globalisation nationalist rhetoric could triumph in France as well. Ms Le Pen's centre right rival French ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy has been knocked out of the primary to choose a presidential candidate, and with the mainstream parties struggling to decide on their preferred candidate, the Front National leader is wasting no time in trying to appeal to voters. Share Radio's Robert Van Egghen reports.

Ryan Heath, Senior EU Correspondent and Associate Editor at Politico Europe, joined Share Radio Breakfast to give his take on the latest news in European politics. Barack Obama is on a trip to Europe, most recently visiting Berlin, where he spoke about Brexit. There’s also talk about a new role for Angela Merkel, whilst Ryan discusses Trump's Wall Street government.

Scotland could attempt a Norway-like model of EU membership. The idea emerged in a leaked memo, where it seems the Scottish government is considering European Economic Area membership as a possible way to maintain links with the block. To find out if this could be a viable way for Scotland to remain in the EU, Matt Cox spoke to Share Radio's Scotland correspondent Maurice Smith.