Eurotopics.net

In a referendum on the weekend, the Swiss voted by a razor-thin majority of 51 percent in favour of raising the retirement age for women from 64 to 65, thus bringing it in line with that for men. The government campaigned for the reform on the grounds that more baby boomers are reaching retirement age and life expectancy is also rising, increasing the burden on the pension system. Should gender equality reforms that favour women, such as wage adjustments, now also be addressed?

In the wake of President Vladimir Putin's partial mobilisation announcement, a growing number of potential conscripts are trying to leave the country, triggering a debate in Europe about facilitating entry for conscientious objectors to the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Russians to resist recruitment and flee. Commentators discuss whether they should be welcomed with open arms.

With just a few days to go before Italy's parliamentary elections, the post-fascist Fratelli d'Italia (FdI) party led by Giorgia Meloni still has a clear lead in the polls against the second-placed social democratic Partito Democratico. The right-wing bloc comprising the FdI, Lega and Forza Italia could thus achieve a comfortable majority. Europe's press discusses in which direction Italy's political compass is pointing.

According to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan his country is targeting membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), whose members include China, Russia and India. After the SCO summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Erdoğan said that membership would be discussed next year. This would make Turkey the first Nato state to join the large Asian alliance.