According to preliminary results, Tunisia's authoritarian President Kais Saied has been re-elected with 90.7 percent of the vote. The voter turnout was only 29 percent, however. Opposition parties had called on Tunisians to boycott the election because only two opposition candidates were allowed to run. Commentators criticise Europe's stance vis-à-vis the developments in Tunisia.
Five months ago the Croatian government coalition formed by the conservative HDZ and the far-right Homeland Movement (DP) created a new Ministry of Demographics. Now DP politician Ivan Šipić, the Minister for Demographics, has presented his first proposals for boosting the country's birth rate. Commentators take stock and discuss the even more drastic measures being taken in Russia.
France's new government under Prime Minister Michel Barnier has survived its first vote of no confidence. The left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance comprising the leftist LFI, Socialists, Greens and Communists only managed to muster 197 of the 289 votes needed to pass their motion. The alliance criticised the centre-right government for not representing the will of the electorate. The national press takes a look behind the scenes.
Since Hamas's attack and the massacre of 7 October, Israel has been battling Hamas in Gaza and has now also launched a major offensive against the Islamist-Shiite Hezbollah organisation in Lebanon. The Middle East conflict is impacting the entire region. Europe's media cast about for ways to untangle the web of conflicts.
Speaking at an election campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Donald Trump brought a prominent supporter on stage: entrepreneur Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX, X) told the crowd that the Republican must win "to preserve democracy in America". Trump hinted several times that Musk could be given a high-ranking post related to economic affairs if he becomes president. Europe's press reacts.
After decades of wrangling, the UK last week agreed to hand over the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius. However, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced that London would retain control of the military base Diego Garcia, which is also used by the US. Commentators are at odds over the decision.
For a long time Estonia had the strongest economy among the Baltic states. But it has been in recession since 2022 whereas neighbouring Lithuania's economy is experiencing 3.5 percent growth. The downturn is probably related to interest rate hikes which have a bigger impact on private individuals and companies in Estonia because they have taken out more loans. But commentators see other reasons in play.
On 7 October 2023, Hamas terrorists crossed from the Gaza Strip into Israel, murdered around 1,200 people and took some 250 hostages back to Gaza. Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground offensive. The resulting war has left thousands of Palestinians dead or wounded. In the meantime Israel is also at war with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The media take stock on the first anniversary of the massacre.
The EU has voted to impose additional tariffs on imports of electric car from China. The German government was in the minority with its rejection of the new regulation and outvoted. The EU Commission can now impose tariffs of up to 35.3 percent. Opinions in the European press about the wisdom of the move are divided.
A majority of EU environment ministers have spoken out in favour of downgrading the wolf's protected status in Europe. The move will allow the hunting of wolves under certain circumstances, fulfilling a long-standing demand from farmers for improved protection of grazing livestock. Europe's press weighs in.
Romania's Constitutional Court has rejected the candidacy of ultra-nationalist politician Diana Șoșoacă in the presidential election to be held on 24 November. On Saturday the court upheld two accusations that the leader of the S.O.S. Romania party had made racist and anti-constitutional statements. She has also been accused of having faked some of the endorsers' signatures that were necessary for her nomination. The national press is sharply critical of the ban.