Eurotopics.net

With just under two months to go before regional elections in Russia the authorities have intervened massively in the voting process. Numerous opposition candidates have been disqualified for not meeting the formal requirements, in spite of all the signatures they had gathered. In Moscow alone, 27 candidates have been disqualified. Observers see the potential for major change in Russia.

First of all supposed "lead candidates" for the Commission presidency and a surprisingly high voter turnout. Then power struggles and bickering between leaders of the member states who want nothing to do with the lead candidates. Finally the election of von der Leyen with a wafer-thin majority. After all of this a number of commentators are calling for urgent change.

The CDU leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (AKK) has been sworn in as the new German defence minister. She takes over from the designated EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The opposition criticises AKK's nomination because up to now she had publicly ruled out cabinet changes. Commentators discuss whether she is the right woman for the job.

In the gas dispute the leader of the Cypriot Turks Mustafa Akıncı proposed setting up a joint committee to monitor the drilling and to divide the profits between both groups on the divided island. Previously the EU had imposed sanctions against Ankara because of Turkish drilling. Nicosia should think long and hard about the proposal, commentators say.

Unknown hackers in Bulgaria have stolen the data of millions of people and businesses, leaking it to several media outlets. This is the biggest case of data theft in Bulgaria's history. A number of commentators are calling for the resignation of those responsible. But further action must be taken, others stress.