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Prime Minister Rutte's VVD has, as expected, emerged as the strongest party from the Dutch parliamentary elections, winning 22 percent of the vote. But its coalition partner, the social-liberal D66 under Sigrid Kaag, made the biggest gains, securing second place - up from fourth place in 2017. Commentators believe the new government could offer a surprisingly broad spectrum of opinions.

Marian Kotleba's far-right party L'SNS has presented a constitutional amendment to "protect the traditional family" to the Slovak parliament under which same-sex couples would be denied any right to raise children. The motion was rejected, but the national press is dismayed to see that the L'SNS secured the votes of 26 MPs from parties in the governing coalition.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the long-awaited concept for the "Digital Green Certificate" on Wednesday. The document will serve as proof of vaccination, a negative test, or recovery from Covid, and will be issued from June 1 to facilitate travel. Member states are free to decide for themselves what advantages holders will have. Europe's press views the plans with scepticism.

Joe Biden has threatened Vladimir Putin with consequences for interfeing in the US election last November, as a US intelligence report has now confirmed. Putin will pay for his meddling, Biden said in an interview with ABC. When asked if he thought the Russian president was a killer, Biden replied "Yes, I do."

As expected, Prime Minister Rutte's VVD has emerged as the strongest party in the Dutch parliamentary elections, winning 22 percent of the vote. A surprising development was that its coalition partner, the social-liberal D66 under Sigrid Kaag, made the most gains and secured a clear second place - up from fourth place in 2017. For commentators the reasons for the government camp's success are obvious.