Eurotopics.net

A Citizens' Convention for the Climate convened by the French government met for the first time on the weekend. Its members, 150 French citizens selected according to demographic criteria, have until January to work out socially acceptable proposals for mitigating climate change. Commentators doubt they are cut out for the task and question their democratic legitimacy.

Poland's ruling PiS has emerged even stronger than before from Sunday's parliamentary elections. According to the first official results, the national-conservative party garnered roughly 45 percent of the vote, while the liberal-conservative opposition alliance KO came in second with around 27 percent. Commentators discuss the reasons for the success of Kaczyński's party and how Europe should deal with Warsaw's strengthened government.

The Assad government in Damascus has deployed troops to northern Syria in reaction to Turkey's invasion of the region. Prior to this the Kurdish militias based there had lost their key ally, the US. Commentators call on Europe to stop relying on other powers in the Syrian war.

Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of Ethopia since April 2018, has been named the winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in solving the border conflict with Eritrea. Not all commentators are satisfied with the decision.