Eurotopics.net

The Council of Europe's Venice Commission has indirectly issued a warning to Romania following the annulment of its 2024 presidential election. Although the Commission says it does not consider itself responsible for examining this specific case, it recommends that elections only be annulled on the basis of clear, transparent and publicly accessible evidence, and that affected parties be given the opportunity to present their own points of view.

The sale of the 100-hectare former Rákosrendező freight yard by the Hungarian state to the Emirati Eagle Hills Group has led to a conflict between the opposition-led capital and the national government. Also because a company belonging to the municipal authorities has a purchase option on the site - and the city council now wants to exercise it. The national press is also at odds over the megaproject.

Israel and Hamas have agreed on a ceasefire which is to come into force in the Gaza Strip on Sunday. In the first of three phases, 33 Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are to be released in batches. The media look at whether the agreement can bring lasting peace to the region and speculate on the role of US President-elect Donald Trump in the negotiations.

Next week, US President Joe Biden will hand over the office of president of the United States to Donald Trump. In his final address to the nation, he warned that "an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy." Commentators take stock of his four years in office.