The Breakfast Club with Olaf Wientzek

The Breakfast Club returns.

Our early-morning series brings together a small group of members for a closed-door exchange under Chatham House rules. Around the table, this conversation is moderated by Louis Bout, in a format designed for direct, thoughtful participation.

This edition welcomes Olaf Wientzek, Director of the Multinational Development Policy Dialogue at the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in Brussels. With experience spanning Berlin, Brussels and Geneva, his work focuses on European policy, integration and security, with a particular interest in how political dynamics evolve across the Union.

What can five decades of European election data tell us about the present moment?

Rather than focusing on short-term results or polling cycles, this conversation takes a longer view. It will explore how electoral behaviour across the EU has shifted over time, and what these patterns reveal about deeper changes in political life.

The discussion will look at the rise of new political forces, the fragmentation of traditional party systems, and the changing role of European elections themselves. What do these trends suggest about voter expectations, institutional legitimacy and the direction of the European project?

Moving beyond numbers and projections, the session will focus on the broader story behind the data. Participants are invited to engage with the findings, challenge interpretations and reflect collectively on what these developments may mean for Europe’s political future.

The discussion is designed to be interactive and informal.

7:30 – Welcome, coffee and breakfast

8:00–9:00 – Conversation and audience Q&A, ending sharply at 9:00

Breakfast includes viennoiseries, yoghurt, fruit, granola, overnight oats, chia pudding, fresh juices, tea and coffee.

This format is limited to 20 members and offers the opportunity for a serious conversation in an intimate setting before the working day begins.