Eurotopics.net

Although government business remains practically at a standstill due to the shutdown, both chambers of the US Congress convened today, Thursday, for the first time in their new configuration. The Democrats now control the House of Representatives while Trump's Republicans still hold a majority in the Senate. Commentators explain their theories about how the Democrats should wield their newly acquired power.

The government in Budapest has had the statue of Imre Nagy removed from its place in front of the Hungarian parliament. Nagy, who was Prime Minister of Hungary in 1956, was executed for his role at the head of the Hungarian Uprising against the Soviets and buried anonymously following a secret trial. Opposition media criticise the government for riding roughshod over Hungary's historical legacy.

An eventful year has begun for Europe: Britain is planning to leave the EU in March and a new European Parliament will be elected in May. Commentators offer their predictions and describe 2019 as a year that could decide the fate of the European Union.

The popular comedian Volodymyr Zelensky announced on New Year's Eve that he will run for president in the Ukrainian elections on 31 March. In the polls in November he was already ahead of acting President Poroshenko. Zelensky has no experience in politics but plays the president in a TV series. Commentators look forward to an exciting campaign.

An eventful year has begun for Europe: Britain is planning to leave the EU in March and a new European Parliament will be elected in May. Commentators offer their predictions and describe 2019 as a year that could decide the fate of the European Union.