Sophie Ulm, Author at The Diplomatic Envoy

Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s National Rally party, was found guilty of embezzling funds from the European Parliament along with 23 others, according to Politico. The amount embezzled totaled over four million Euros, with Le Pen being held responsible for 747,000 Euros. Le Pen was sentenced to four years in prison, including two years suspended and two under house arrest, and received a 100,000 Euro fine.

2025 Focus

March 24, 2025 Sophie Ulm

A German Shift to the Right

Germany’s elections on February 23 brought a new chancellor for the country and the largest voter turnout the country has recently seen. While Freidrich Merz and the Christian Democrats won the chancellery, they will still have to work to form a coalition with at least one other party.

November 2024 Focus

November 11, 2024 Sophie Ulm

FOCUS on Georgia Opposition Parties Doubt Validity of Election Results

On Sunday, October 26, parliamentary elections in Georgia resulted in the ruling Georgian Dream party receiving 54 percent of the country’s vote, with the two main opposition parties, the Coalition for Change and the United National Movement, bringing in 11 percent and 10 percent of the vote, respectively, reports CNN.

2024 Focus

October 20, 2024 Sophie Ulm

FOCUS on: Adding African Nations as Permanent Security Council Members

Africa has long called for more representation in global governance, and recent calls for more representation at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) have been gaining attention.

2024

September 20, 2024 Sophie Ulm

Michel Barnier Named French Prime Minister

A moderate conservative with a 50-year political career, Michel Barnier was named prime minister almost two months after snap elections were held in France to determine a new government.

2024 February 2024 Eastern Europe Focus International News Europe

February 19, 2024 Sophie Ulm

Boycott in Hungarian Parliament over Sweden’s NATO Bid

Many Western leaders view Sweden and Finland as key elements of maintaining peace and power in the East and hold that their entrance to NATO is paramount in strengthening the region.

2023 October 2023

October 30, 2023 Sophie Ulm

Hoax Bomb Threats Made in France

According to CNN, the threats are widespread across the nation. There were threats made to sites near Paris, as well as airports in Lille, Nantes, Strasbourg, and Lyon, among other places. A suspicious item was found at the Palace of Versailles on October 17, but as of now none of the threats have resulted in an actual bombing.

Study Abroad 2023 Foreign Correspondents

September 23, 2023 Sophie Ulm

Examining French Protests as an American Abroad

These strikes have come in response to a recent, unpopular law that implements an increase in the minimum retirement age and changes in pension plans across the country. The strikes that I saw throughout my semester abroad in Spring 2023 have reshaped the way that I think about protests.

Summer 2023 Edition

September 5, 2023 Sophie Ulm

Predictive Terrorism Technology: A Slippery Slope for Society

Humanity’s desire for safety and protection is strong, as demonstrated by the increasing nature of predictive technology. But many individuals have not yet begun to grapple with the potential negative effects of these measures.

April 2023 Analysis

May 10, 2023 Sophie Ulm

Macron’s Retirement Bill is About Far More than Policy

On April 15, French President Emmanuel Macron signed a controversial new retirement bill into law after months of anticipation. The French people have responded poorly to the path to taken for law’s implementation, coming amid some of the largest protests France has ever seen.

The Diplomatic Envoy

Author: Sophie Ulm

France’s Marine Le Pen Found Guilty of Embezzlement, Banned From 2027 Presidential Run