European Union

Mass protests against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro have escalated into a state crisis. The opposition parliamentary leader Juan Guaidó has declared himself interim president, but the army continues to back Maduro. The US has recognised Guaidó as interim head of state and the EU has announced its support. Who will win the power struggle?

Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio has accused France of pursuing a "colonial policy" in Africa and blamed it for the "mass exodus" to Europe. Paris reacted by summoning the Italian ambassador, but this only prompted Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini to mock Macron saying that he talked a lot but achieved little. Journalists suspect Rome's verbal attacks are connected to the upcoming European elections.

The Czech government has complied with a motion brought by the Communist Party and revoked a law regulating the return of church property that was nationalised during the communist era. The country's churches are now to pay taxes on the financial compensation they receive. Czech commentators are nonplussed.

Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron have signed the new German-French friendship treaty in Aachen. Commentators speculate on their motives and fear that what was meant as a bulwark against populism could cause considerable collateral damage.

Tensions have been defused in the doping scandal involving Russian track and field athletes. The World Anti-Doping Agency Wada has announced that Russia's anti-doping agency Rusada will not be suspended again for the time being. This means that Russian athletes will once again be allowed to compete without restrictions in international competitions under their own flag. Which side has had to make the most concessions in the doping row?

The Estonian daily Postimees has published a "Vote Compass" aimed at helping the citizens decide how to vote in the run-up to the parliamentary elections on March 3. Politicians were interviewed in advance about the questions contained in the compass. But according to other Estonian media outlets there can be no talk of this being an unbiased tool for voters.