Eurotopics.net

In the video that triggered the government crisis in Austria the former Vice-Chancellor and FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache held out the prospect of government contracts to the supposed niece of a Russian oligarch. Commentators are not surprised by this evidence that the FPÖ leadership succumbed to the temptation of Russian money.

The new Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky's first act after his inauguration was to dissolve parliament and announce a snap election in two months' time. For the time being he lacks a majority in parliament that would allow him to push through reforms. The election was initially planned for October. Can Zelensky fulfil all the expectations?

Representatives of the right-wing populist Sweden Democrats have called for the sale of parts of the public television broadcaster SVT and radio broadcaster SR. The youth association of the conservatives in Stockholm has gone a step further and evoked the possibility of abolishing the public broadcasters altogether. The press is divided over the proposals.

After the resignation of Vice Chancellor and FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache and the announcement that a snap election will be held, Austria remains in a deep government crisis. A video in which Strache holds out the prospect of government contracts to a woman claiming to be the niece of a Russian oligarch was made public on Friday. Strache now faces legal action. What repercussions will the scandal have for Chancellor Kurz and his ÖVP?