Eurotopics.net

The Dutch government has resigned over a child-benefits scandal just two months ahead of the general election. More than 20,000 parents, most of them with migrant backgrounds, were falsely accused of fraud by the authorities and ordered to repay thousands of euros in daycare subsidies. Victims' lawyers are talking of institutional racism. For the press, the government's resignation is not the end of the affair.

Researchers at Basel University have investigated the psychological impact of the coronavirus crisis in 78 countries. Around 10 percent of respondents stated that their levels of stress, pessimism and depression had risen significantly. According to the survey, people in the US, Italy and Turkey are worst affected. Commentators cast about for solutions.

Commentators from Greece, Portugal and the Czech Republic use the election of the new CDU leader Armin Laschet as an opportunity to take stock and look ahead at what awaits Germany and Europe in the post-Merkel era. Their assessments of the chancellor's 16 years in office differ widely.

North Rhine-Westphalia's state premier Armin Laschet has been elected as the new leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) after winning a runoff against Friedrich Merz, who is seen as far more conservative, in the party's digital convention on Saturday. Commentators examine what the election means for Europe and how the CDU voter base is reacting to it.