Eurotopics.net

This week the Turkish parliament is debating a constitutional amendment that would establish a presidential system in the country. Under the amended constitution the president would be head of government as well as head of state and the office of Prime Minister would be abolished. Commentators take different views of the ruling AKP's plans.

Finland launched a globally unique experiment on 1 January: It is testing an unconditional basic income for the unemployed. For two years, 2000 randomly selected people will receive 560 euros every month. Payments like housing benefit will continue, and the test subjects will be allowed to earn money on top of their basic income without deductions. The press sees this as an exciting pilot project.

In Israel a military court has found the soldier Elor Azaria guilty of manslaughter. In 2015, Azaria, who was 18 at the time, killed a wounded Palastinian attacker who was lying on the ground by shooting him in the head. The case caused an outcry in Israel - and is also an issue of concern for Europe's commentators.

The US company Apple has blocked the New York Times app in China at the request of the Beijing authorities, a spokeswoman for Iphone Producer announced. The fact that major corporations operating in China are disregarding liberal values has partly to do with the bad example set by many states, commentators criticise.

The ceasefire in Syria negotiated by Russia, Turkey and Iran is fragile. Rebel groups are accusing the Syrian government of violating the truce. A permanent laying down of weapons is not on the cards, many commentators believe. Others think the war will soon be over, as the rebels no longer have any allies.

Just under four weeks after the parliamentary elections Romania has a new government. Sorin Grindeanu of the social democratic PSD was sworn in as the head of the new social-liberal government on Wednesday. Romania's press has nothing good to say about the new prime minister and his cabinet.