Eurotopics.net

After almost 14 years the Slovaks have definitively ended the era of ex-prime minister Robert Fico. His party Smer, which has been in government until now, suffered heavy losses in the parliamentary elections. The winner of the elections is entrepreneur Igor Matovič and his conservative protest party Oľano. He has good chances of forming a coalition with liberal and conservative parties. Commentators are cautiously optimistic.

Despite Roman Polanski's conviction for rape, he was awarded a César as best director on Friday. Several women, including actress Adèle Haenel, who had revived the MeToo debate in France in 2019, left the ceremony in disgust. Polanski himself did not show up. French media criticise both the award and the protest.

Even before the post-Brexit negotiations that will define the EU's future relations with the UK have begun, Boris Johnson's government is already threatening to break them off. London says it has no intention of adhering to EU regulations in the future, and reserves the right to withdraw from the talks if a free trade agreement is not tangible by June. Europe's commentatos voice indignation.

The Spanish opera star Plácido Domingo has been facing accusations of sexual harassment since August. On Tuesday he finally apologised, acknowledging the pain he had caused to the women accusing him - but then altered this statement on Thursday. Spanish commentators take different views of his admission.