Eurotopics.net

The right-wing populist Forum voor Democratie (FVD), established in 2016, has unexpectedly emerged as the strongest party in regional elections in the Netherlands. The centre-right coalition has lost its majority in the Dutch Senate as a result of the vote. Commentators voice concern over the success of the new party and the xenophobic rhetoric of its leader Thierry Baudet.

Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev has resigned after almost 30 years as leader of the former Soviet republic. The Parliamentary Speaker Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will take over as president until elections are held in 2020. Commentators take stock of the situation and discuss Nazarbayev's resignation plan.

Opposition to the EU's planned copyright reform is growing. Critics argue that it amounts to censorship. The main point under attack is Article 13, under which online platforms may no longer direct users to copyrighted content. The German-language Wikipedia page went offline on Thursday in protest. Does the directive really protect those it is supposed to?

A bus driver hijacked a bus carrying 51 schoolchildren near Milan on Wednesday and threatened to douse them with fuel and set them alight. The police were able to prevent this. The perpetrator, an Italian citizen of Senegalese origin, apparently uploaded a video beforehand with the message: "Africa, rise up!" Commentators discuss to what extent the crime is linked to Italy's immigration policy.

The European People's Party has suspended the membership of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party. An expert commission must now decide whether the party is still fit to remain in the EPP. Orbán has accepted the suspension, but made a point of not ruling out the possibility of leaving the group at a later date. Commentators flesh out the motives behind the EPP's decision.

Just a few days before the official exit date British Prime Minister May has asked EU Council President Donald Tusk for a postponement until the end of June. The matter will be addressed at the EU summit due to start today in Brussels. Journalists discuss the tense situation and the options still open.