Eurotopics.net

In Turkey, six opposition parties formed an alliance on Saturday to replace President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Their goal is to end the presidential system he introduced and strengthen parliament. Erdoğan's "arbitrary" conduct is to blame for Turkey's severe crisis, the party leaders declared. Turkish media are divided over whether the alliance is a good idea.

At her first major campaign event in Paris on Sunday, the presidential candidate of Les Républicains, Valérie Pécresse, adopted classic far-right themes, warning of infiltration by Islamists, security problems and a betrayal of French culture. This draws criticism from the national press.

The US and Ukraine reportedly believe a Russian invasion of Ukraine is imminent. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video: "We are told that February 16 will be the day of the attack." The US has moved its embassy from Kyiv to Lviv as a precaution. Commentators discuss how much of this talk of an invasion is strategy and how effective it can be.

Despite testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug, the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on Monday that Russian figure skating star Kamila Valieva will be allowed to compete for another Olympic gold in Beijing. However, even if she wins there will be no ceremony for the 15-year-old. Commentators point to fundamental problems with the way minors are treated in competitive sport.

With warnings of an imminent invasion of Ukraine growing louder, hopes are high that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will be able to avert a war during his inaugural visit to Kyiv and Moscow. Scholz announced solidarity, financial aid and a potential moratorium on Nato accession at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday. Then he travelled to Moscow for talks with Putin on Tuesday. Europe's commentators voice hopes and fears.