Eurotopics.net

Poles will head to the polls on Sunday to choose between the liberal Mayor of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski and right-wing conservative Karol Nawrocki as their next president. In the first round of voting the two candidates were almost neck and neck, with roughly 31 and 30 percent of the vote, respectively. Several far-right politicians were surprisingly successful and their votes will now be crucial. Commentators see repercussions far beyond Poland.

Twenty EU member states have published a joint declaration calling on the EU to exhaust all sanction options against Hungary if Budapest refuses to withdraw restrictions on LGBT rights adopted in March and April. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also brought sanctions against Hungary and Slovakia into play over their Ukraine and Russia policies, which deviate from those of the majority in the bloc.

King Charles III has delivered his throne speech at the opening of the new parliament in the Canadian capital of Ottawa. Although he didn't make direct reference to President Donald Trump's proposal to make Canada the 51st state of the US, his speech contained a few side blows. "The true north is indeed strong and free," said the British monarch in reference to Canada's national anthem. Commentators discuss the royal visit.

Donald Trump threatened on Friday to impose 50 percent tariffs on EU goods from 1 June, citing a lack of progress in trade negotiations. In a phone conversation with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, the US president however agreed to delay the move until 9 July after von der Leyen said she was ready to advance the talks "swiftly and decisively". European media take stock.