Also European, and I partly agree.

But I think they are "normal" left wing policies in Europe in the sense that parties in various countries/cities/regions have campaigned on them or implemented them.

But my understanding of some US media is these are depicted as borderline communism.

Rent freezes are a normal thing for left wing politicians to campaign for, but very rare to actually implement.

Funny how rent freezes are a problem but minimum wage freezes aren’t.

Can confirm have paid for the bus.

Are you all European?

If two Europeans recognize it as normal the headline is correct.

People should remember that “left wing” isn’t things like negotiating drug prices, it’s nationalizing the drug companies.

You are getting downvoted because that statement is false dichotomy. Left wing drug policies are about affordability and access. Nationalization is one extreme rare end of that but far more common are negotiations and regulations of prices.

He's also being downvoted because economic left-wing policies are different from the socio-cultural left. And then again because I don't know of any recent leftist government advocating nationalisation of drug companies?

Absolutely.

Also shows you they had to search far and wide to find examples.

Free transport? Tallin, Estonia (presumably the only capital city), population: 450k

Government-run grocery stores? Turkey (barely even Europe), only accessible to the poor

Free childcare? Portugal, introduced in 2022, and hardly universal: while the program is open to all, places are limited and can be tough to access

Rent freeze? Established in Berlin in 2020, ruled unconstitutional in 2021.

In other words, garbage article and extremely clickbaity (and lying) title.

Belgrade has free transport since 2025.

Others have already quoted the milk bars all across Poland.

The Netherlands has childcare benefit for the poor that covers 96 % of the costs.

Many European countries have some forms of rent freeze or rent cap. Biggest recent example is Paris since 2019.

I think more examples will follow when my fellow Europeans are on their state mandated lunch break.

Childcare is free in France since forever.

Rent freeze is in place in many cities in France (although this is not exactly a "freeze" but rather a "regulation")

Free transport is in the talks (but don't hold your breath)

Childcare is free or heavily subsidized after paternal leave ends in many european countries.

Luxembourg has had free public transport since 2020.