Eurotopics.net

The newly founded Ukrainian Orthodox Church is now officially independent after the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew signed the decree of independence on Saturday in Istanbul. Around 27 years after gaining political independence from Moscow Ukraine has now become autonomous on religious affairs. What does this step signify in other areas?

Last Saturday thousands of people once again took to Hungary's streets to protest against the national-conservative government. Triggered by a new labour law, the protests are also aimed at corruption and the dismantling of democracy. Serbia has also seen mass protests against the government in recent weeks. Protesters there accuse President Vučić of authoritarianism. What do these protests have in common?

The far-right Estonian party Ekre, which is currently third in the polls, has published its programme for the parliamentary elections on 3 March 2019. Estonian commentators take a close look and discover some interesting parallels.

The Chinese probe Chang'e 4 has landed on the dark side of the moon, a first in the history of lunar exploration. Commentators predict that China will become the new space power and ask what consequences this will have for the balance of power on Earth.

According to recent polls by the Ifop opinion research institute, Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National stands to gain 24 percent of the vote in the European elections. Emmanuel Macron's party La République en Marche is trailing behind at just 18 percent. Can the president regain the people's trust in the aftermath of the yellow vest protests?