Why Sebastian Kurz is Europe’s most important politician

Austria assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union this Sunday, and normally the response among rightminded Britons would be a resounding ‘Who Cares?’ Even before we voted Leave, this rotating six month stint was generally regarded with indifference. Now we’re on our way out, why should we be bothered whose turn it is in the EU chair? Well, the big difference this time around is that Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is rapidly emerging as Europe’s most influential politician. And for the EU, his spell in the hot seat could hardly have come at a more crucial time.

Like Trump’s America and Brexit Britain, Europe is divided. In Europe the great divide is between Western centrists and Eastern populists, and their differing responses to mass immigration. Visegrad nations like Poland and Hungary want tighter domestic borders. Centrists like Macron and Merkel prefer pan-European solutions. Italy’s new government has tilted the balance of power towards the populists.