Eurotopics.net

Former tourism minister Elena Udrea was once one of Romania's most influential politicians, but now the country's Supreme Court has found her guilty of corruption and sentenced her to six years in prison. In 2012, before the election, she had organised a boxing gala at the government's expense in an attempt to enhance her image. Udrea tried to leave the country shortly before the sentence was passed but was arrested at the Bulgarian border.

In the first round of the French presidential election, polls suggest that incumbent President Emmanuel Macron and the far-right leader Marine Le Pen have the best chances of making it into a run-off. Europe's press criticises the campaign and speculates anxiously about the results.

Turkey has renounced holding a trial on the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The case is to be handed over to Saudi Arabia on the grounds that the trial in Turkey would remain inconclusive. Human rights activists are sounding the alarm, fearing a cover-up of the crime committed in 2018 at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Zelensky spoke to the Greek parliament in a video address on Thursday. He also showed the video message of a man who introduced himself as a member of the Greek minority in Ukraine and is fighting in Mariupol. The fact that the man is a member of the ultra-nationalist Azov regiment has triggered debate in the commentary sections of Greek media.