The mayor of Bucharest, Nicușor Dan, has won the presidential election in Romania. The pro-European liberal-conservative secured roughly 54 percent of the vote in Sunday's run-off, overtaking George Simion of the far-right AUR party, who came second with 46 percent. Commentators analyse the results and future challenges.
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's centre-right Aliança Democrática has won Sunday's snap parliamentary election in Portugal. The right-wing populist Chega party, which was in a neck-and-neck race for second place with the Socialist Party that governed Portugal with an absolute majority just over a year ago, made significant gains. The Portuguese press takes stock.
The Austrian singer JJ has won this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Basel with his song Wasted Love. Once again, heated discussions and disruptive actions took place during the competition due to Israel's participation. Israel was represented by Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the Hamas terrorist attack on 7 October 2023. She came second thanks to enormous backing in the audience vote.
The Liberal candidate Rafał Trzaskowski has won the first round of the presidential election in Poland with 31.4 percent of the vote, giving him a narrow lead against right-wing conservative candidate Karol Nawrocki (29.5 percent). The two will now face each other in the run-off on 1 June. The right-wing populist Sławomir Mentzen came third with 14.8 percent, followed by far-right candidate Grzegorz Braun with 6.3 percent.
In the Romanian presidential run-off vote on Sunday, Nicușor Dan, a pro-European independent candidate and mayor of Bucharest, is pitted against George Simion from the ultra-right AUR party. Simion scored a clear victory in the first round of the election, securing 41 percent of the vote compared to Dan's 21 percent. Tensions are running high in the commentary sections.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a U-turn in migration policy, declaring his aim of ending what he called a 'squalid chapter' of rising inward migration. Among other measures tougher requirements for obtaining work visas and citizenship are planned. For commentators, the government's proposed reforms raise fundamental questions.
During his trip through the Gulf region, Donald Trump met for the first time with Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa. Even before the talks, which took place in the Saudi capital Riyadh, the US president announced that all sanctions against Syria would be lifted. At the same time Washington is urging Damascus to improve its ties with Israel. Europe's press examines the far-reaching consequences.
Europe is heading for an electoral super Sunday this weekend: Romania will hold the second round of its presidential election, Poland the first, and Portugal will elect a new parliament. While many have decried the decisive role Tiktok allegedly played in the Romanian election campaign, commentators from Poland and Portugal criticise the lack of debate on substantive issues.
French film star Gérard Depardieu has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a film set and given a suspended jail term of 18 months. The court in Paris also placed him on a list of sex offenders and ordered him to undergo psychological treatment. The media discuss France's shortcomings in the moral and legal assessment of sexual assaults.
Donald Trump was given a lavish welcome by Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. After the meeting in the royal palace the White House announced a historic arms deal. Trump also seems likely to accept a luxury plane as a gift during his upcoming visit to Qatar. Europe's press ponders the consequences.