Eurotopics.net

Commentators have long been predicting that the European elections in May will be decisive for Europe's future - not least because the right-wing populists are forming alliances and the hard-right US strategist Steve Bannon has joined the fray with his organisation The Movement. The media is now reporting that other forces will try to make their mark in 2019.

The Congo is set to witness its first peaceful transfer of power in five decades. In a surprise turn of events the electoral commission has announced that opposition leader Félix Tshisekedi won the elections held at the end of December. But this announcement has raised questions because according to the Catholic Church's count the second opposition candidate Martin Fayulu had won. What will happen now?

A change in Russian export and taxation laws has led to significantly higher oil and gas prices for Belarus, which had benefited from special conditions until now. Belarusian president Lukashenko is demanding compensation for the higher costs, but according to observers he will only receive it if he consents to a closer alliance with Russia. How much resistance should Moscow expect?

Leading politicians at home and abroad have lambasted Trump's decision to withdraw US troops from Syria. There are currently around 2,000 US soldiers stationed in the war-torn country. Although it now seems likely that the withdrawal will be postponed, commentators observe a strengthening of radical Islamist forces and expect another shift in the balance of power in Syria.