Eurotopics.net

With the victory of Freedom Party candidate Norbert Hofer in the first round of Austria's presidential elections the country has shifted to the right. The runoff vote is set for May 22. What are the causes - and consequences - of the FPÖ's electoral victory?

Europe is a multicultural society. But events like the attacks in Cologne on New Year's Eve and the resignation of a Swedish politician who refused to shake a woman's hand for religious reasons pose the question time and again: how can different cultures live together?

The 28 EU states have agreed on a joint refugee plan which they are ready to present to Turkey for negotiation. Many commentators still oppose the planned deal with Turkey on the grounds that it is immoral. Others see it as the only way to stop the people smugglers and create legal escape routes for refugees.

In his capacity as governor of the Banská Bystrica Region Marián Kotleba, the leader of the neo-Nazi LS-Naše Slovensko party which has just gained seats in the Slovakian parliament, had a theatre production stopped in the city of Brezno simply because he didn't like it. Is Slovakia facing the prospect of Nazi-style enforced cultural conformity?

Romania plans to buy the famous sculpture The Wisdom of the Earth by iconic Romanian sculptor Constantin Brâncuși from its current private owners for 11 million euros. However the Romanian government's plan is to put just five million towards the purchase and gather the remaining sum through donations by the end of September. Can this crowdfunding initiative help unite the country?

The Kurdish terrorist organisation the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons claimed responsibility on Thursday for last Sunday's attack in Ankara. It said the bombing, which claimed 37 lives, was a retaliatory strike for the Turkish military's operations in the southeast of the country. How can the situation in Turkey be defused?

Russia has begun its partial withdrawal from Syria but its naval base in Tartus and its air base in Latakia will remain in operation. Some commentators say President Vladimir Putin's 'surprise' announcement was a logical step since he has achieved all his military objectives. Others speculate that Putin has withdrawn solely for domestic reasons.