What lessons can be learned from Mamdani's win in NYC Democratic mayoral primary?

Press Review

PRESS REVIEW - Thursday, June 26: There are lots of scathing reactions in the press after the NATO summit in The Hague which saw members commit to spending 5 percent of GDP on defence. As one paper notes: Donald Trump whistles, Europe dances. Also: young, far-left upstart Zohran Mamdani wins the NYC Democratic primary and could be the youngest New York mayor in generations if he wins the election. Plus: is there a new love game in tennis between Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz?

There are plenty of reactions in the press after what US President Donald Trump called a victory at the NATO summit in The Hague: getting NATO members to agree to spend 5 percent of national GDP on defence. All members but Spain have agreed to the proposal. For one Dutch paper, NRC, "Operation Trump succeeded". For French right-wing daily Le Figaro, Trump is imperial in the face of Europe's docility. Le Soir, the Belgian daily, says in its editorial that Trump whistled and Europe danced. It says that between the Dutch rolling out the red carpet for Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte jokingly referring to Trump as "Daddy", Europe bowed down to a US president who humiliated them, insulted them and backed far-right parties against them. And when he didn’t get what he wanted – from Spain – he used threats instead.

Speaking of the Spanish press, the left-wing paper El Pais headlines on Trump's threats that he will impose more tariffs on Spain in retaliation. El Pais's editor wonders: is it diplomatic bullying or survival of the fittest? It adds that Europe must resist Trump and band together against his policies. The paper also urges Europe to build an industrial independence to confront the American arms industry. For the conservative daily ABC, it’s clear who’s responsible: Pedro Sanchez, the Socialist prime minister, who is "plunging Spain into a trade war by trying to defy NATO."

In New York, a 33-year-old upstart has won the Democratic primaries for the New York City mayoral election. There's celebration in the Indian paper Hindustan Times: Zohran Mamdani was born to Indian parents and is a self-described "B-list rapper" who rapped under the name Young Cardamom! His mother is Mira Nair, an award-winning filmmaker. Mamdani's shock win in the Democratic primaries is even more impressive given that he was unknown to most people last year when he announced his bid. Thanks to a Gen Z-focused campaign and general voter revulsion for his rival Andrew Cuomo, Mamdani could well be New York's next mayor. If he wins, he would be the first Indian America and first Muslim mayor, and the youngest in generations.

His victory also has wider repercussions for the Democratic party. As they eye the November midterms next year, they are searching for lessons to be drawn from Mamdani’s victory. Meanwhile, Republicans are clamouring to discredit him – most notably through criticism that he is anti-Israel and accusations that he refused to condemn the Globalize the Intifada movement, which some see as a call to fight against Jews, The New York Times reports. The Washington Post calls his victory a "stunning ascendance" but one which has left the Democrats with an internal ideological battle. The success of Mamdani, on the far left, signifies a major victory for liberal activists and proof that the party's establishment old guard is weak. But moderates warn against adopting ideas and rhetoric that could be seen as extreme in the rest of the country.

Finally, there could be a new "love game" in tennis. The Times of London reports on rumours of a possible tennis romance between Emma Raducanu, Britain's number one women's player, and Spain's Carlos Alcaraz. She was seen watching an Alcaraz game at Queen's Club last week, all smiles. The pair have spoken fondly of each other in press conferences and have known each other a long time. Alcaraz asked Raducanu to play mixed doubles with him at this year's US Open. It seems as if the tennis world is a little starved for a juicy love story. The last big one may have been Steffi Graf and André Agassi back in the late 1990s!

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