Eurotopics.net

Europe's press is abuzz with the clear victory of Isabel Díaz Ayuso (PP) in the regional elections in Madrid. The right-wing regional president - who is on the right wing of her party, which favours a coalition with the far-right Vox - scored key points in the election campaign above all with her opposition to Spain's Corona policy.

Europe's cultural sector has been even harder hit by the pandemic than its tourism sector. According to an Ernst & Young study, its turnover plunged by 31 percent - or almost 200 billion euros - in 2020, and in the performing arts it dropped by as much as 90 percent. Pilot projects have recently been launched in the UK, Spain and other countries in preparation for rebooting the sector, including concerts attended by people who tested negative for the virus.

Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the right-wing incumbent leader of Madrid and member of the conservative People's Party (PP), has won Madrid's regional election with a large, but not absolute majority. To continue governing she now only needs the abstention of the far-right party Vox. Ayuso had even considered a coalition with Vox during the election campaign. Commentators discuss the key factors in the election and what this means for the PP.

The availability of vaccines is still the biggest obstacle in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. There is a fierce struggle over which segments of the population vaccination strategies should prioritise. Europe's press is also engaged in a multi-faceted debate.

The Netherlands celebrates Liberation Day - the end of the German wartime occupation in 1945 - on 5 May. This year Angela Merkel will give an online speech to mark the occasion. The speech was to be given last year for the 75th anniversary of the event, but it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Other public figures have also attracted attention with gestures marking the day of remembrance.