Eurotopics.net

Sweden's Left Party has assumed a key role in the struggle to form a new government: it says it will prevent the leader of the Social Democrats Stefan Löfven from becoming prime minister if his party and the Greens stick to the plans for market liberalisation set out in their agreement with the Centre Party and the Liberals. The four parties had struck the deal in order to achieve a majority without the right-wing populist Sweden Democrats. Can the strategy work?

In view of the ongoing yellow vest protests French President Macron has announced in a "Letter to the French" that he wants to engage in dialogue with the population. Thirty-five topics ranging from taxes to democracy and environmental protection to immigration are to be discussed in open forums throughout the country. What are the chances of this attempt at reconciliation succeeding?

Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos has resigned in protest at the agreement reached in the name dispute with neighbouring Macedonia. Because Kammenos is also the leader of the junior coalition partner Anel, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has announced a vote of confidence in a bid to stay in office until the parliamentary elections in the autumn. The parliament is to decide the fate of the name dispute agreement by the end of January.

Sweden's parties have spent four months seeking a governing majority that excludes the Sweden Democrats. Now the Liberals and the Centre Party have agreed to support a minority government composed of Social Democrats and the Greens under Stefan Löfven. But the votes of the Left Party would still be needed for a parliamentary majority. Will it play along?

On Tuesday Britain's House of Commons will vote on the Brexit agreement reached between the EU and the British government. With defeat looming, Prime Minister May has warned that if the parliament doesn't pass the deal a stop to Brexit is more likely than a no-deal Brexit. Commentators ask how outsiders can come to the PM's aid.