Eurotopics.net

Nicola Zingaretti is the new head of the Democratic party in Italy. The 53-year old president of the Italian region of Lazio and former MEP triumphed over two other candidates in the vote. Can Zingaretti breathe new life into Italy's divided left and become a serious challenge to the populist government in Rome?

French Finance minister Bruno Le Maire on Wednesday presented cabinet with the so-called Gafa tax, aimed at leveraging tax revenues of 500 million euros annually for France. Gafa stands for Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple. All digital companies with revenues of more than 25 million euros will be liable for taxation. How much clout does the French initiative have?

In reaction to a TV documentary and listener comments, Norwegian and Canadian broadcasters have announced that they will stop playing Michael Jackson's music for the time being. The documentary Leaving Neverland was aired on US television a few days ago. In it two men tell how they were sexually abused by Jackson as children. Can we still listen to his music with a clear conscience?

Members of the EPP have requested the expulsion of the Hungarian Fidesz party. The group will debate the move on 20 March. EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker triggered the initiative in response to a poster campaign aimed against himself and George Soros. Orbán responded by calling his critics "useful idiots" of the left. While some journalists say the expulsion is long overdue, others warn against it.

Algeria is experiencing its largest wave of protests in decades. Since its ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced at the beginning of February that he was running for election again in April, hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets all over the country to protest his candidacy for a fifth term in office. With good reason, commentators find.