Eurotopics.net

The German government and the 16 state leaders have agreed on an asylum reform to reduce the number of refugees coming to Germany. Under the reform, the pace of bureaucratic procedures and deportations ist to be stepped up and refugees will receive a payment card instead of cash and reduced social benefits for a longer period. In addition the possibility of outsourcing asylum procedures will be examined. Does this mark another turning point for the country?

After 13 years at the helm, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is no longer leader of the Kemalist CHP. The 74-year-old lost the run-off election for the Turkish presidency against Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in May and has now been defeated by 49-year-old parliamentary group leader Özgür Özel, who was mainly supported by younger delegates, in the vote for party leader at the CHP party conference. Commentators are glad to see a young leader take over but warn that this is not enough.

Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa has resigned over a corruption probe into alleged irregularities committed by his administration. Costa's chief of staff has been arrested, and Costa himself faces legal proceedings over allegations of bribes being paid for large industrial projects in the renewable energies sector. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will decide on Thursday whether new elections will be held. Commentators are appalled.

Israel has encircled the northern part of the Gaza Strip and attacked the positions of the radical Islamist Hamas organisation there. Meanwhile Hamas is firing missiles at villages in Israel. There seems to be little prospect of a ceasefire for the time being, and commentators wonder whether and how the situation could improve.

The pro-EU PAS party has won local elections in the Republic of Moldova with over 40 percent of the vote, but pro-Russian forces took the lead in many of the country's cities. More than the actual outcome, the way it came about is being discussed. The Moldovan intelligence service has accused Russia of using 4.5 million euros to manipulate the elections, while the OSCE has criticised the exclusion of the pro-Russian Șansă party shortly before the election.