Eurotopics.net

The Russian people will elect their representatives to the State Duma from September 17 to 19. All opposition members who had good chances have been excluded from the election, and the OSCE has decided not to send observers because of Moscow's strict requirements. But even if the balance of power is likely to remain unchanged, observers see the pressure on Putin and his United Russia party mounting below the surface.

Although Europe has plenty of Covid vaccines, demand for them is dropping. Vaccination rates are stagnating and politicians are upping the pressure on those who haven't yet been vaccinated. Although the vaccinated can still infect others with the virus, they are almost completely exempt from testing, while the unvaccinated are forced to fork out for tests - as of Wednesday a negative test will be required even at filling stations in Slovenia.

Denmark took the plunge and lifted all infection control restrictions on Friday. Since 96 percent of people over 60 have been vaccinated, the virus no longer poses a threat to society, Health Minister Heunicke declared. Commentators in other countries now wonder when the time will come to follow suit.

20 years have passed since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. They were followed by the War on Terror and the US's invasion of Afghanistan. But the date marks a turning point not just in geopolitics. Commentators focus on the political, social and economic consequences of 9/11.

Chancellor Merkel made her last state visit to Poland on Saturday. In talks with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki she appealed for intensified dialogue in the judicial dispute with Brussels and tried to allay concerns about the now completed Nordstream 2 gas pipeline. Commentators say the chancellor has been too lax with the PiS government so far, but some detect a change of stance now.