Eurotopics.net

Slovakians will elect a new parliament on 29 February. The governing party Smer is still leading the polls but the scandal over the murder of journalist Ján Kuciak has clearly put a big dent in its popularity and benefited the far right and right-wing populists. Europe's press looks at the consequences of the presumed outcome.

The former president of Egypt Hosni Mubarak has died at the age of 91. The dictator ruled the country for 30 years until he was overthrown in 2011 during the Arab Spring. He was released from prison in 2017 after being acquitted on most charges. European media look back on his rule with a sense of unease.

Public servants are currently under fire in both the UK and France. Boris Johnson has tasked his special adviser Dominic Cummings with reforming the civil service, and a report commissioned by President Emmanuel Macron has been published outlining how to broaden access to the Ena, the elite school for training French officials. The media also ask whether the civil service needs a reorganisation.

In view of the rapid spread of coronavirus in Italy, the government in Rome is meeting with representatives from neighbouring countries Slovenia, France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany to discuss what further measures should be taken. The number of infections now exceeds 220. Commentaries range from cool-headed reflection to borderline panic.

Negotiations on Julian Assange's extradition have been underway in London since Monday. The US accuses him of endangering people's lives by publishing the names of informants and dissidents on Wikileaks without making them unidentifiable. Assange's defence lawyers say the request is politically motivated. Europe's press sees the case as setting an important precedent.