Eurotopics.net

Finland's Social Democrats have won the parliamentary elections, edging out the right-wing populists and the conservatives in their first election victory since 1999. Prime Minister Sipilä's Centre Party suffered significant losses. The new constellation will make forming a new government difficult, commentators stress.

Joseph Ratzinger has written an essay in which he blames the ideology of the sexual revolution in the 1960s and sex education classes for sex abuse. It was during his time as Pope Benedict that it became known that thousands of children worldwide had been abused by members of the clergy. Why is he speaking out on this subject now?

Campaigns for the European Parliament elections slated for the end of May are launching across Europe. Forecasts see the Eurosceptics making gains while the established parties could lose a substantial number of seats. Whether the British will take part is still unclear. Commentators take a closer look at the candidates from several countries.

Wikileaks founder Assange was arrested on Thursday in London after Ecuador stripped him of his asylum status. A British court had found him guilty of breaching his bail terms. The US has requested Assange's extradition and Sweden may relaunch investigations into sexual offences. Commentators discuss the arrest of the flamboyant whistleblower.