Eurotopics.net

Theresa May will step down as Tory leader today, Friday, paving the way for her successor to be chosen by the end of July. As long as the Tories form the government the new leader will also act as prime minister. Boris Johnson leads the pack of almost a dozen contenders. But he's not the only one to keep keep an eye on, the press notes.

The European Commission has recommended that an excessive deficit procedure be launched against Italy. The country is heading towards a debt-to-GDP ratio of 135 percent while the government is instituting measures such as a citizens' income poverty relief scheme and lowering the age of retirement. Commentators doubt that Brussels' attempts at disciplinary action will succeed.

Numerous heads of state and government gathered on Wednesday in the southern English town of Portsmouth to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Allies' landing in Normandy. Trump, May, Macron and Merkel jointly commemorated the military operation that marked a turning point in World War II. In view of the current tensions among Western states the commemoration of the Allies' former unity strikes some commentators as somewhat paradoxical.

Denmark is poised for a change of government: in general elections on Wednesday the Social Democrats led by Mette Frederiksen emerged as the strongest party, and the left also made gains because the right-wing Danish People's Party saw its share of the vote halved. Commentators believe immigration policy was a key factor in the elections and that it will also play a decisive role in the formation of a new government.

On the day of the European elections 81 percent of the Romanians who took part in a referendum voted that corrupt officials should be punished without any exceptions. Now President Klaus Iohannis wants the corresponding legislation to be incorporated into the country's constitution without delay. On Wednesday he also proposed a revision of the controversial judicial reform. Commentators have their doubts about whether this will work out.