Eurotopics.net

Hardly a day goes by without a controversial debate about Eric Zemmour in the French media. The journalist, who has been convicted several times for spreading racial hatred, is making a name for himself with his far-right views and flirting with the idea of running for president in the 2022 elections. In some polls he has already overtaken Marine Le Pen. France's press takes stock.

Warsaw is cracking down: after twelve states demanded more "physical barriers" on the EU's external borders, Poland's parliament has now approved 366 million euros for the reinforcement of its border with Belarus. Belarusian President Lukashenka has been accused of deliberately funneling migrants into the EU across its eastern border. Commentators discuss what this means for Poland, Belarus and the EU.

The Conservative British MP David Amess was stabbed to death on Friday while holding a meeting with constituents in Leigh-on-Sea. The police suspect the crime was connected to radical Islamism and the attack has been classified as an act of terrorism. The UK and European press discuss how elected representatives can be better protected against such attacks and at the same time remain accessible to citizens.

Emmanuel Macron on Sunday became the first French president to attend a memorial service for the victims of the Paris massacre of 1961. He described the acts of 17 October 1961 in which hundreds of people of Algerian origin holding a peaceful pro-independence demonstration were killed by police near Paris as "unforgivable for the Republic". Can this gesture promote reconciliation?