Eurotopics.net

In the ranks of Italy's largest governing party, Movimento 5 Stelle (the Five Star Movement or M5S for short), a battle for the party leadership has broken out between founder Beppe Grillo and Italy's ex-prime minister Giuseppe Conte, who joined the populist movement only this year. Grillo had initially wanted to make Conte leader. Now he has declared him unfit for the job.

Slovenia takes over the EU Council presidency from Portugal on 1 July. The country's right-wing populist prime minister Janez Janša is currently facing accusations of undermining press freedom in his own country, and on the European stage his demonstrative closeness to Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has attracted negative attention. Commentators are sceptical that Slovenia's presidency will be a success.

Slovenia takes over the EU Council presidency from Portugal on 1 July. The right-wing populist Janez Janša is in power in Ljubljana. Janša is currently under fire for attacks on press freedom, and on the European stage he has attracted attention with his demonstrative closeness to Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Commentators are sceptical about the prospects for Slovenia's presidency.

In Afghanistan, the security situation has markedly deteriorated since the withdrawal of international troops began on 1 May. The Islamist Taliban have now recaptured around 90 of the country's approximately 400 districts. Europe's press discusses the purpose of such missions and their prospects of success.