Eurotopics.net

Russia's three-day presidential election begins today, Friday. In addition to Vladimir Putin there are three representatives of parties with seats in the Duma on the ballot, all of whom, however, generally support his policies. The vote will take place in the absence of both opposition candidates and independent international observers. Commentators discuss the election and how democratic Europe should respond.

The US House of Representatives has voted in favour of a bill that poses a threat to the future of the social media app TikTok. To be allowed to continue to operate in the US, the short-video platform would have to change ownership there, since its Chinese parent company Bytedance is considered to be bound by the directives of the Chinese Communist Party. The bill will now be discussed and put to vote in the US Senate, where its approval is less certain.

Freight traffic workers at Finnish ports have been on strike since Monday. The protest against labour market reforms planned by the conservative government threatens to cripple Finnish foreign trade. The reform proposals envisage various restrictions on labour rights, including the right to strike. There are voices for and against the action in the press.

The Dutch right-wing populist leader Geert Wilders has announced he will forego the job of prime minister in order to clear the way for a right-wing coalition. Now Wilders' PVV party, the conservative-liberal VVD, the farmers' party BBB and the centrist NSC will examine the possibility of forming an "extra-parliamentary cabinet" which would be staffed by external experts, among others. What does this mean for the Netherlands and the EU?