Eurotopics.net

There has been huge pushback against the official participation of Russia and Israel at this year's Venice Biennale. The jury of the Golden Lion all resigned, and the EU withdrew two billion euros worth of funding. The Russian pavillion was forced to temporarily close during a protest by the feminist protest groups Pussy Riot and Femen. Voices in the press are divided.

Uncertainty hangs over Russia's annual military parade held in Moscow on 9 May to celebrate the victory over Nazi Germany. In view of Ukraine's increasingly successful drone strikes across Russia's territory, the parade is taking place without its usual display of military hardware. Commentators see this as a sign of vulnerability and draw very different conclusions.

Gyula Balásy, a media boss with close ties to Fidesz, offered on Monday to hand over his companies to the Hungarian state for free. Under Viktor Orbán, these companies received numerous lucrative government contracts, among other things for Orbán's campaigns. Although Balásy claims his motivation is to safeguard the jobs of his approximately 500 employees, he is also under investigation on suspicion of embezzlement and money laundering.

Romania's liberal government led by centre-right Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan was brought down by a vote of no confidence on Tuesday. Shortly afterwards, the leu – the national currency – weakened against the euro and Romania's interest rates on international loans increased. Rating agencies have also warned that they may further downgrade Romania's credit rating, and EU funding, which is tied to reforms, may be withheld. The press voices consternation.