Eurotopics.net

Three opposition parties want to rout Hungary's ruling Fidesz party from Budapest's city hall in municipal elections this autumn. Budapest residents have until today, Wednesday, to choose between representatives of the three parties in a primary. How much sense does this opposition tactic make?

Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo have been chosen to host the Winter Olympics in 2026, beating out their only rival, Stockholm. According to commentators it's easy to understand why the IOC decided in favour of the Italian bid.

The EU heads of government and state were unable to agree at a special summit on the goal of a climate-neutral Europe by 2050 because Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Estonia blocked the decision. A mere footnote now states that "a large number of states" want to achieve this goal. Commentators are incensed and stress that this won't be the end of the matter.

Opposition candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu has won the repeat mayoral election in Istanbul against his rival Binali Yıldırım by a substantial margin. The result is all the more notable given that it was Erdoğan's conservative AKP that had pushed for a rerun of the vote. Commentators examine the outlook for the president and the AKP after this defeat.

After talks at last week's EU summit about who will succeed Jean-Claude Junker as EU Commission President failed to produce a result, the EU leaders now plan to reach a consensus at a special summit on 30 June. But in view of the opposing stances of Germany and France this is likely to be difficult. Journalists discuss the potential consequences of dragging out the decision.