Eurotopics.net

In France, a parliament inquiry report calling for sweeping cuts to the funding and number of public broadcasters has caused a furore. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has rejected the demands and findings put forward by the committee's rapporteur, far-right MP Charles Alloncle. France's press is also divided on the topic.

In the run-up to the scaled-down military parade in Moscow, the situation appears to be deteriorating for President Vladimir Putin. According to intelligence reports, he is said to be spending most of his time in bunkers for fear of assassination or coup attempts. And even pro-Kremlin pollsters are reporting a decline in support. Commentators point to mounting pressure and speculate on where this might lead.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon has announced his candidacy in the 2027 presidential election. The co-founder of the far-left party La France Insoumise is now entering the race for the fourth time, after bids in 2012, 2017 and 2022. The press analyses his chances and his potential for challenging the far-right Rassemblement National.

Romania's parliament is voting today on a motion of no confidence that could spell the end for the coalition government. The far-right opposition group AUR tabled the motion together with the Social Democrats (PSD), who were part of the ruling coalition until recently. They accuse Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan of the National Liberal Party of imposing excessive austerity measures. The country has one of the highest budget deficits in the EU.

Donald Trump has announced a reduction in the US's military presence in Germany. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth specified that 5,000 troops would be withdrawn, but the US President has since insisted that the number would be much higher. The announcements came after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz voiced criticism of Washington's strategy in the Iran war.