Eurotopics.net

Dozens of people were killed on Tuesday in the Syrian province of Idlib by what is assumed to be a poison gas attack. Opposition figures in Syria as well as the US, France and Britain have blamed Damascus for the attack. The international community has given Assad carte blanche, some commentators complain. Others don't believe that the Assad regime is behind the attack.

When terrorist attacks are carried out in Western cities the West always reacts with shock and sympathy: Facebook profiles show mourning symbols and famous buildings - including Berlin's Brandenburg Gate - are lit up in the national colours of the attacked city. Some commentators are appalled that the German capital did not follow this tradition after the attack in St. Petersburg and ask why the sense of shock and dismay seems far less profound after this latest attack.

The explosion in the St. Petersburg metro in which at least eleven people were killed and dozens wounded has sparked international consternation. Commentators focus in particular on Russia's domestic situation and discuss whether Putin will be weakened or strengthened by the attack.

All eleven presidential candidates faced each other in the latest TV debate in France. In addition to the favourites in the polls, Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, the candidates of the left, Benoît Hamon and Jean-Luc Mélenchon and the conservative candidate François Fillon, six other candidates introduced themselves to the nation. After an debate lasting almost four hours commentators wearily ask themselves: who can govern this divided country?

Thanks to the Fidesz party's parliamentary majority Hungary's right-wing conservative government has succeeded in passing a new higher education law stipulating that foreign universities in Hungary must also be active in their home country. The new law means that the Central European University in Budapest, founded by US billionaire George Soros, is now facing closure. All the protests of the last few days were in vain, journalists lament.

On April 16 the Turks will vote in a referendum on the introduction of a new presidential system. The opposition parties are campaigning for a No to the reform, and even some of the ruling AK Party's core voters seem hesitant about supporting the change. A presidential system would destroy the separation of powers in Turkey, commentators warn.