Eurotopics.net

After the EU elections the era of the big parties in Germany, the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats, appears to have come to an end: not just the liberals and the eurosceptic and right-wing populists made huge gains, but also the Greens. Around a third of voters under thirty years of age voted for them. Commentators examine the causes for this Green surge.

France's far right under Marine le Pen has come first in the European elections, ahead of President Macron's list. Macron had promised he would do all he could to prevent the Rassemblement National from winning. Observers disagree as to the lessons the president should learn from the result.

The national conservative governing PiS party has won the European elections in Poland with over 42 percent of the vote, according to preliminary results. The opposition "European Coalition" trailed behind with roughly 39 percent. Polish media discuss the results with an eye to this autumn's parliamentary elections.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has announced that she will step aside as Conservative leader on 7 June, meaning that her days as prime minister are also numbered. The announcement came after she made another unsuccessful attempt to secure support for her Brexit deal. Her Conservative Party suffered a crushing defeat in the European elections yesterday. Europe's press discusses May's responsibility for events as they unfold.

A solution has emerged to the conflict over the construction of a cathedral in a park in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg. In the wake of ongoing protests another location has been found for the church. According to a survey by the state polling institute VZIOM, roughly three-quarters of the city's residents feel that the park in the centre of town is not the right place for the house of prayer. The Kremlin had also weighed in on the issue.

The European elections continue today Friday with votes in the Czech Republic and Ireland. For weeks the media have been taking an avid interest in the elections, which are considered decisive for the EU's future. The election marathon began on Thursday and continues until Sunday. Journalists look at which issues are mobilising the 418 million people entitled to vote, and what they should take into account when they vote.