Eurotopics.net

For the last four weeks judges have been hearing evidence in the trial dealing with the attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. In January 2015 attackers with Islamist motives killed twelve members of the magazine's editorial staff, a police office and four hostages at a kosher supermarket. Commentators discuss how important it is in the trial to first find the right words for the perpetrators and their deeds.

After the death of the liberal Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg shortly before the presidential election in November, US President Donald Trump is entitled to nominate her successor. If confirmed by the Senate his decision could cement a clear conservative majority on the court. Observers explain why the appointment is so important and who could thwart Trump's plans.

Voting in a referendum on reducing the size of parliament began on the weekend in Italy. At the same time local government elections are taking place in seven Italian regions. In the run-up to voting there were fears that widespread weariness with politics and concerns about the rising coronavirus figures could result in very low turnout. But the fears of a democratic fiasco have proven unfounded, commentators note with relief.

The British government's controversial strategies in the Brexit negotiations and the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic have rekindled aspirations for independence in Scotland and Northern Ireland. In August, for the first time a majority of the Scots said in a poll that they were in favour of independence. Commentators speculate on whether Boris Johnson could be the UK's gravedigger.