EUROPEAN HEADLINES
BBC Europe – Germany coalition: A marriage of convenience, not love. As party leaders stumbled out of the last 24-hour non-stop marathon session, they looked relieved, rather than euphoric. Angela Merkel’s conservative bloc had finally agreed a coalition deal with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) to form a government. But this is a marriage of convenience. Not one of love. And certainly not of passion. It’s the least bad option simply because neither side fancies the alternatives: a minority government is seen as unstable; and fresh elections would lead to months of uncertainty and could kill off French President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to reform the eurozone.
| Les Echos |
Merkel pays a high price for holding on to power
At the cost of “painful compromises”, the Chancellor managed to seal an agreement. Social Democrats get prestigious Finance portfolio. |
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| Frankfurter Allgemeine |
Union and SPD conclude coalition contract
Merkel: More drive / Schulz: Social democratic handwriting / Nahles becomes new party leader. |
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| Corriere Della Sera |
Merkel surrenders, yes to government
Finance and key ministries to the SPD. Schulz: end of austerity diktat. Germany: Great Coalition agreement subject to social-democrat consultation. |
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| Gazeta Polska Codziennie |
That is how you destroy democracy!
During yesterday’s plenary session of the European Parliament a decision was made to dismiss Vice-President Ryszerdk Czarnecki. The required 2/3 of votes was achieved due to a last minute change of regulations. The voting was kept secret so that nobody would know which Polish MEPs voted in favour of dismissing Mr Czarnecki. |
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| El Pais |
Tensions between Ciudadanos and PP threaten governance agreement
Rajoy and Rivera critics to each other compromise the agreement that supports the government. |
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| Die Presse |
Merkel’s dearly bought coalition
Germany. The chancellor gives social democrats three key portfolios foreign, financial and social ministries. Horst Seehofer gets revalorised interior ministry. Protests are growing within CDU. |
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| Le Soir |
Germany restarts, Europe breathes
Chancellor Merkel was successful: She will remain at the head of a CDU-CSU/SPD government. The agreement, which was concluded after bargaining with the Social Democrats, cost her a lot. The agreement is the sign for which Europe was waiting to begin moving again. |
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| Information |
Leading the losers’ coalition
Four months after the election in Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU and the social democrats have managed to extend their coalition by four years. However, in SPD, Martin Schulz is leaving his position as leader, and the chancellor is still struggling to recover from her disaster of an election. |
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| Naftemporiki |
Commission: Adherence to reforms
The steady commitment for structural changes is “key” for Greece’s sustainable growth. |
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| Publico |
Church advises sexual abstinence to remarried Catholics
D. Manuel Clemente, Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon, advises Catholics in new union to choose a “life in continence” if previous marriages cannot be declared invalid. |
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