Democrats' US midterm win brings relief and hope to Europe

Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday's U.S. midterm elections, delivering a major rebuke to President Donald Trump and prompting relief and celebration across Europe. The result shifts Washington's power balance and could weaken Trump's influence on foreign policy. European leaders welcomed the outcome as a chance for more predictable transatlantic relations, though some cautioned against expecting major policy changes. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius called the victory "historic" but noted uncertainty over Trump's next moves, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez framed it as a rejection of hate and climate denial. The result also unsettled Europe's far-right parties, which fear association with Trump's unpopularity, and offered a reality check that Trump retains executive powers on foreign policy. European markets opened slightly higher Wednesday, reflecting cautious optimism about the shift.