Eurotopics.net

The Turkish Minister of Finance Berat Albayrak, who has been talked of as the successor to his father-in-law Erdoğan for years, announced his resignation on Sunday by Instagram. An official statement of the government is still pending, but unofficially the resignation was confirmed. The decline of the Turkish economy is probably not the only reason for Albayrak's withdrawal, media speculate.

After Donald Trump falsely declared himself victorious on Wednesday, he received congratulations from Europe by Slovenia's far-right Premier Janez Janša. Commentators discuss whether Trump's breach of law could serve as inspiration to others in Europe and what the defeat or victory of Trumpism means for EU security policy.

Although the pendulum is swinging ever more clearly in Biden's direction, Donald Trump has performed far better than predicted in the US election, as indeed he did in 2016. Furthermore, as the incumbent president he can spread falsehoods and deliberately misleading statements that go largely unhindered in the media. Why can't journalists and pollsters get the Trump phenomenon under control?

Since the attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in 2015, Islamist terrorism has claimed more than 270 lives in France alone. No religion can justify murder, commentators stress. But is freedom of expression such a sacred principle that it justifies any form of blasphemy?

The EU Parliament and Council have reached a deal on the rule of law mechanism. With this instrument in place, for the first time members could have their EU funding cut if they violate principles such as the independence of the judiciary - but only if the violations have a negative impact on the EU budget. Fifteen heads of government representing at least 65 percent of the EU population must give the green light for the mechanism to apply. Who is satisfied with this solution?