Eurotopics.net

In the row over Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh US President Donald Trump has instructed the FBI to open an investigation into the affair. The agency is to examine the allegations against the judge before the US Senate votes on his appointment. Commentators discuss the impact the MeToo movement has had in the Kavanaugh affair.

The controversial film Kler premiered in Polish cinemas on the weekend. It portrays child abuse in the Catholic Church and the entanglement between the Church and politics. According to reports in the media some towns want to ban the film from being shown in their cinemas and the ruling PiS has harshly criticised it. What has provoked the outcry, and is it justified?

Italy's coalition government made up of the Five Star Movement and the League wants to add 27 billion euros to the public debt to finance the expansion of the welfare state. The money, which amounts to 2.4 percent of the GDP, would be used to fund basic security benefits for the poor and an early retirement scheme. EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs Pierre Moscovici called Italy's fresh debt plans "explosive". Commentators, too, warn of consequences that could rock the entire EU.

The referendum on the future name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (Fyrom) has failed owing to low voter turnout. Since the vote wasn't binding the issue can now be presented to parliament for it to give its verdict. Commentators are still hopeful that the compromise negotiated with Athens will be successful.

Turkish President Erdoğan's three-day visit to Berlin and Cologne ended on the weekend. Despite harsh criticism from the German president and chancellor, Erdoğan concluded that the visit had been successful. It did not amount to a fresh start in relations between the two nations, some commentators say. Others call for the dialogue to continue.