Eurotopics.net

Joe Biden has threatened Vladimir Putin with consequences for interfeing in the US election last November, as a US intelligence report has now confirmed. Putin will pay for his meddling, Biden said in an interview with ABC. When asked if he thought the Russian president was a killer, Biden replied "Yes, I do."

As expected, Prime Minister Rutte's VVD has emerged as the strongest party in the Dutch parliamentary elections, winning 22 percent of the vote. A surprising development was that its coalition partner, the social-liberal D66 under Sigrid Kaag, made the most gains and secured a clear second place - up from fourth place in 2017. For commentators the reasons for the government camp's success are obvious.

In France, the coronavirus 7-day incidence rate lies at 252.5 cases per 100,000 people. Nevertheless, politicians are currently not planning new hard lockdowns, shops remain open, and schools are mostly back to running as normal. Instead the focus is being placed on strict mask requirements, curfews and tests, until most of the population has been vaccinated. Commentators voice their approval.

Four years ago, Estonia's government introduced free public transport in certain regions of the country, making good on one of ex-prime minister and Centre Party leader Jüri Ratas' election campaign pledges. However, a recent government survey has shown that the measure has neither increased the number of public transport users nor reduced the number of private transport users. The pandemic has further reduced demand. Has the experiment failed?

Sweden has joined the growing list of EU countries that have temporarily suspended Astrazeneca vaccinations. The European Medicines Agency is due to announce on Thursday whether its findings indicate that there is a connection between the jab and rare cases of cerebral blood clots. Europe's press is at odds over whether suspending the jabs makes sense - and points to a dilemma.