Eurotopics.net

Hungary issued a ban preventing most foreigners from entering the country on Tuesday, citing rising Covid-19 infection rates. After fierce protests, travellers from the three other Visegrád states, the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia, were exempted from the ban. Not only the EU but also commentators criticise the border closure.

Five years ago, on 31 August 2015, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced at a press conference: "We can do it." Although her words initially received little attention, today they are among the central statements of the refugee crisis. Commentators examine whether Merkel's words have been borne out by the facts.

Montenegro could be set for a change of government after the parliamentary elections on Sunday. According to preliminary results President Milo Đukanović's ruling party DPS secured only 35 percent of the vote, its worst performance since 1991. Opposition leader Zdravko Krivokapić of the group For the Future of Montenegro (32.5 percent) is claiming victory and could govern the country with a coalition partner. What does this mean for the future?

Aljaksandr Lukashenka openly admitted on Monday for the first time that the regime in Belarus is a "somewhat authoritarian system" and is centred around the person of the president. He suggested introducing a constitutional reform to be worked out by specialists and constitutional judges, but there was no talk of dialogue with the opposition. Observers are sceptical.