Eurotopics.net

On Saturday Portugal will celebrate its Freedom Day: after the Carnation Revolution in 1974, which brought António de Oliveira Salazar's dictatorship to an end, April 25th became a national holiday. The Portuguese will have to stay at home this year because of the pandemic, but the country's MPs want to hold an official ceremony with 100 people in the parliament. Is this warranted or totally inappropriate?

Scientists have rarely received as much media attention as they are now in the coronavirus crisis. Leading virologists and epidemiologists as well as the heads of government agencies have become the face of the crisis in their respective countries. Europe's press discusses how to find a middle ground between reason and personality cult.

Despite growing controversy Sweden is still refraining from adopting tougher measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Borders and primary schools have remained open and there are no restrictions on leaving home, although visits to retirement homes have been banned. Europe's media wonder if they should envy or feel sorry for the Swedes.

After a stalemate in Israel that has lasted for more than a year, the conservative Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival Benny Gantz of the centrist Blue and White alliance struck a deal earlier this week to form a coalition for a "national emergency government". Media accuse Gantz of having betrayed his own principles under the pressure of the corona crisis.

Only last week the International Monetary Fund predicted the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s due to the coronavirus pandemic. The worldwide economic depression led to mass unemployment and promoted the rise of fascism. Commentators are divided about whether we are menaced by a similar scenario.