Eurotopics.net

Nato's 70th anniversary celebrations are being marred by discord. The foreign ministers of the member states gathered in Washington and Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg praised the alliance's achievements. But before the meeting got underway the White House took Germany to task for its low defence spending. Commentators discuss the challenges facing the alliance.

After months of mass protests Algeria's longstanding president Abdelaziz Bouteflika has announced his resignation. In compliance with the constitution the President of the Council of the Nation Abdelkader Bensalah is to become interim president and then call new elections within 90 days. Commentators discuss who really wields the power in the country and note that its path to becoming a true democracy will be full of obstacles.

On the 500th anniversary of Spain's conquest of Mexico, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has called on Spain, the Spanish king Felipe VI, and the Vatican to apologise for the subjugation of indigenous populations in the region. Not all commentators agree with the demand.

Portugal is making headlines with the lowest budget deficit in 45 years, strong growth and a radically reduced unemployment rate. The driving force behind this positive trend is finance minister and Eurogroup chief Mário Centeno. But recent strikes reflect widespread discontent among the population. The press's elation over the good financial data is not unclouded.