Eurotopics.net

Romania's Constitutional Court annulled the first round of the country's presidential election which the far-right candidate Călin Georgescu had won on the grounds that it was manipulated. The rerun will take place in the new year. Nicușor Dan, mayor of Bucharest, has announced his candidacy. The national press discusses Dan's chances as an independent and the way he is exploiting this status.

On Monday the majority of the members of the German parliament withdrew its confidence in Chancellor Olaf Scholz, officially clearing the way for new elections on 23 February. Scholz will be running again as the top candidate of the SPD, but the leader of the opposition Friedrich Merz (CDU) is ahead in the polls. Europe's press takes stock.

Former professional footballer and far-right politician Mikheil Kavelashvili has been appointed as Georgia's new president thanks to the parliamentary majority of the ruling Georgian Dream party. The main opposition parties boycotted the vote on the basis that the parliamentary elections in October were rigged and are refusing to recognise the result. Europe's press comments.

Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte has urged member states to drastically increase their defence spending to guarantee Europe's security. Two percent of GDP will not be enough to function as a deterrent in the long term, the head of the military alliance admonished in his inaugural speech in Brussels. Commentators analyse his statements.