Eurotopics.net

A policy paper by German Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) that was leaked on Friday has triggered a major dispute among the three members of Germany's traffic light coalition government in Berlin. The SPD and the Greens have harshly criticised the economically liberal proposals set out in the paper, which include cutting business taxes and postponing climate protection targets. Commentators are not alone in wondering whether this is the beginning of the end for Germany's government.

Estonia's governing coalition wants to deny Russian and Belarusian citizens living in the country the right to vote in local elections. Whether stateless "non-citizens" who hold grey passports will also be affected remains unclear. In any case, such a step requires an amendment of the constitution, so the matter will be put to the country's parliament. The national media take a closer look.

Maia Sandu will continue as president in Moldova. In the run-off election the pro-Western leader was around ten percentage points ahead of her pro-Russian challenger Alexandr Stoianoglo. In a referendum held parallel to the first round of voting on 20 October, a wafer-thin majority of citizens voted in favour of writing EU accession into the constitution as an irrevocable goal. Commentators see a worryingly divided country.

Residents of Paiporta, one of the municipalities hit hardest by the recent flash floods, hurled mud and insults at King Felipe VI of Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Carlos Mazón, President of the Valencian Regional Government, while they were inspecting the damage in the area. The visit was cut short as a result of the chaos. The king later expressed understanding for the anger and disappointment.