  Panama Papers

British Prime Minister David Cameron published a summary of his tax returns on Sunday. The move came in reaction to the Panama Papers, which reveal that he had shares in an offshore company set up by his late father. Commentators disagree about whether Cameron is guilty of any wrongdoings but fear that whatever the case the affair will influence the Brexit referendum

In addition to mentioning the British and Icelandic prime ministers, the Panama Papers contain the names of many European VIPs and politicians. Is tax dodging using offshore companies mainly a Western phenomenon?

Following the Panama Papers leak, the EU Commission wants to pass legislation obliging multinationals to be more financially transparent. Financial Services Commissioner Jonathan Hill presented the plans on Tuesday. Some commentators welcome the idea but call for further measures. For others a just world free of tax havens is just a pie in the sky.

Iceland's Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson stepped down on Tuesday after his name appeared in the Panama Papers. Prior to his resignation thousands of people had demonstrated and called for him to step down. Commentators agree that it was the right thing for him to do.

It is the biggest leak of data that journalists have ever had at their disposal: the Panama Papers on offshore companies in which celebrities and VIPs from all over the world have parked their money comprise roughly 2.6 terabytes of data. Some commentators see the revelations as a major coup for investigative journalism. Others point out that the origins of the documents raise questions.

The Panama Papers have shown how politicians and celebrities from all over the world park their money in offshore shell companies. For some commentators this is proof that the super-rich have created a parallel world governed by its own laws. Others warn against rashly pointing fingers at the wealthy.