Eurotopics.net

After its surprise victory in Lithuania's parliamentary elections, the Peasant and Greens Union has presented its first plans for government. These include a state alcohol monopoly meant to curb alcoholism in the country. Lithuanian commentators show little enthusiasm for the proposal.

A trial against Geert Wilders, the leader of the xenophobic Dutch Freedom Party (PVV), began on Monday in Amsterdam. He is accused of inciting hatred because of a speech in which he made derogative remarks about Moroccans. The Dutch press comments on the trial and asks how the Netherlands should deal with Wilders.

Shortly after the cancellation of the EU summit with Canada, Belgium on Thursday reached a consensus on the free trade agreement. This has stopped Ceta falling through for now. Some commentators see no cause to celebrate an agreement that they believe undermines national sovereignty. Others praise Canada’s conduct during the altercation as exemplary.

Nato plans to boost its military presence in eastern Europe as of 2017. Alliance defence ministers discussed the details of the plan at a meeting in Brussels this week. A total of 4,000 troops are to be stationed in the Baltic states and Poland. For some commentators this is a clever preemptive move in the context of Russian aggression. Others fear an escalation in the conflict with Moscow.

With six months to go before France's presidential election in April and May 2017, the incumbent head of state François Hollande is lagging far behind in the polls. Only four percent of the French are satisfied with his performance. Commentators speculate that this could push many Socialists to make an unusual decision.