Eurotopics.net

The Democrats are to blame for the shutdown and for illegal immigrants posing a threat to the US - at least that's what Trump's first televised address to the nation would have us believe. The US president once again called on the opposition to release 5.7 billion dollars for the construction of a border wall. The Democrats see the project as a waste of money. For journalists too, Trump is on the wrong track.

Andalusia is to be governed by a centre-right coalition with support from the far right. After its success in the regional elections in December the far-right party Vox has said it is willing to vote in favour of the formation of a governing coalition between the conservative Popular Party and the liberal Ciudadanos party. What consequences will the first pact in Spain with the far right since the Franco dictatorship have?

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras today in Athens. Relations between the two countries have been far from good in recent years, above all due to Germany's insistence on the austerity programme during the euro crisis, which hit the Greeks particularly hard. All water under the bridge now?

Frank Magnitz, the leader of Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Bremen, was knocked unconscious and beaten by unidentified assailants wearing masks on Tuesday. Commentators condemn the attack and have words of warning for all those who oppose the AfD.

Five months before the European elections observers are predicting heavy losses for the major groups in the European Parliament. They see the Liberals and Greens growing stronger but the conservatives and social democrats in trouble due to pressure from far-right parties. Commentators are at odds about the extent to which this could change Europe's politics.