Eurotopics.net

In spite of the consistently high price of petrol France's government wants to stick to its plan to increase the tax on diesel from 1 January 2019. Protest is stirring: one poll put 78 percent of citizens in favour of a nationwide street blockade on 17 November. Should the government back down?

The German president of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Hans-Georg Maaßen, is being sent into retirement after all. The decision was prompted by a farewell speech he gave in which he accused the SPD of hard-left tendencies and defended his controversial statements about the far-right riots in Chemnitz. A number of commentators speak out against the criticism of Maaßen. Others see him as a threat to democracy.

Liviu Dragnea, the leader of the ruling party PSD in Romania, has come under pressure after a group of investigative journalists called the Rise Project gained access to information that potentially proves that the Tel Drum construction company embezzled public funds. This company was allegedly under Dragnea's control in the past. Romania's press sees Dragnea in a tight spot.

Today, Monday, Washington is imposing what it describes as its toughest sanctions yet on Iran. They take aim at the country's oil industry, financial sector and transportation industry. After signing the nuclear pact with Iran in 2015 the US had suspended its sanctions. Commentators say Washington may have miscalculated with this hard line.

After Austria's rejection of the UN migration pact opposition to the accord surfaced in the Czech Republic, Poland, Croatia and Slovenia on the weekend. The US, Hungary and Australia had already announced their rejection of the pact. Europe's commentators examine why the pact is meeting such strong resistance.

US citizens will vote on the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate on Tuesday. Up to now the Republican has a majority in both chambers of Congress. The Democrats are hoping to win back the majority at least in the House of Representatives. Commentators observe a deeply polarised election campaign, largely thanks to the man in the White House.