Eurotopics.net

Five years ago, images of the burning Notre-Dame Cathedral went around the world. The cause of the fire has still not been established. Now the cathedral, a key Parisian landmark, will reopen on the weekend. The embattled French President Emmanuel Macron, will give a speech in the presence of numerous heads of state and government. The press takes stock.

The Romanian intelligence services suspect a Russian influence campaign on TikTok was behind the success of the far-right presidential candidate Călin Georgescu, who unexpectedly won the first round of the presidential election a fortnight ago. The General Prosecutor's Office is investigating the alleged attempts to manipulate the vote. A highly confusing situation ahead of the runoff election on Sunday.

One week after their surprise invasion of Aleppo, rebel groups have forced the Syrian army to withdraw from the city of Hama 130 kilometres to the south. Hama, the country's fourth-largest city, had been under the control of the Assad regime for the duration of the civil war that began in 2011. Commentators see the regime under mounting pressure.

France's government is facing two no-confidence motions which are expected to be put to vote in parliament today, Wednesday. If the left-wing opposition parties and the right-wing populist RN vote against Prime Minister Michel Barnier's cabinet, President Emmanuel Macron will have to appoint a new head of government, whose parliamentary majority could again be uncertain. Commentators observe the situation with concern.