According to an investigation by the Washington Post, the Hungarian Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, has been passing on confidential information about the EU to his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. The newspaper also says that the Russian foreign intelligence agency, the SVR, is backing the Orbán government in the current election campaign. Budapest vehemently denies the allegations. The EU Commission has demanded an explanation. Europe's media call for decisive action.
After eight years of negotiations, the EU and Australia have agreed on a sweeping free trade deal. Once ratified, almost all tariffs and trade barriers will be removed, except for strict upper limits for certain foods such as beef. There are also plans to improve Europe's supply of critical raw materials.
Italy has voted against judicial reform in a referendum. A 54-percent majority rejected the constitutional amendment required for the project for which Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had campaigned. Even before the vote, Meloni ruled out stepping down in the event of defeat. Two senior civil servants in the Ministry of Justice have already resigned.
The Danish elections have failed to produce a clear winner and a left-wing coalition government is looking just as unlikely as one on the centre-right. The Moderates, led by former foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, could be the kingmaker, but Løkke is refusing to work with the Danish People's Party (DF), which has recently shifted to the right.
The bitter defeat of the SPD in two state elections will also have repercussions for the ruling coalition in Berlin. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) declared that the "working rhythm" would be resumed and announced reforms. SPD leader Bärbel Bas wants to discuss whether her party leadership is on the right course. Commentators debate how social democracy might reinvent itself.
US President Donald Trump on Monday extended his ultimatum to Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz by five days, claiming that 'productive talks' with the Iranian regime were underway, although Iran has denied any form of contact with Washington. Meanwhile, attacks by both sides on targets in Iran and Israel continued into Tuesday morning.
Left-wing coalitions have emerged victorious in several major cities in the French municipal elections. Socialists Emmanuel Grégoire and Benoît Payan won in Paris and Marseille, and in Lyon, the Socialists, Communists and LFI helped the Green mayor Grégory Doucet secure re-election. The far-right populist party Rassemblement National (RN) won in some 30 municipalities.
Parliamentary elections are due to take place in Denmark on Tuesday. Mette Frederiksen, the Social Democratic Prime Minister, has been leading a centre-left coalition – an unusual arrangement for the country – since the end of 2022. Her recent success in fending off US ambitions regarding Greenland earned her international respect. Local commentators, however, are more focused on taxes and education policy.
Several thousand people – far more than the 500 announced – demonstrated on Sunday in Berlin against virtual and real-life violence against women. They were responding to a call for action by actor Collien Fernandes, who in Spiegel accused her ex-husband of humiliating her using fake online profiles and porn. In Spain, the public is in shock after a brutal femicide that took place at the weekend.
Mutual attacks on production and processing facilities at South Pars, the world's largest gas field, have caused natural gas prices to skyrocket. There are now fears that the shortages on global gas markets resulting from the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will be further exacerbated. The media paint a dire picture of an emerging global energy crisis.
A wiretapping scandal is rocking Slovenia ahead of Sunday's parliamentary elections. Videos have surfaced on social media showing people belonging to Prime Minister Robert Golob's inner circle speaking candidly about alleged corruption among politicians in the ruling coalition. An Israeli company with ties to intelligence services is reportedly behind the videos. Representatives of the company had previously met with opposition leader Janez Janša, who has openly admitted this.