Eurotopics.net

Simona Mohamsson, leader of the Swedish Liberals, and Jimmie Åkesson, leader of the far-right Sweden Democrats (SD), have announced their intention to form a coalition government. This shift in policy ahead of September's general elections is a bone of contention within the Liberal Party.

US President Donald Trump has demanded that Nato member states take action to secure the Strait of Hormuz, warning that otherwise the future of the alliance looked "very bad". His appeal has found little support in Europe. EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner Kaja Kallas stressed that "This is not our war", and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasised that the war with Iran was not a matter for Nato as a defence alliance. The media take stock.

The 98th edition of the Academy Awards was held in Hollywood on Sunday evening. Commentators take stock and ask whether cinema can still live up to its role today, or if it's being swept away by the whirlwind of current events.

Shortly before the parliamentary elections in Denmark on 24 March, the leader of the centre-right Liberal Alliance, Alex Vanopslagh (34), has caused a stir by confessing that he has used cocaine at parties. He added, however, that his life was different now and that the Danish people should judge him on that basis. Commentators are nonetheless critical.

In the first round of municipal elections on Sunday, the left-wing populist La France Insoumise (LFI) and the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) gained ground in many areas. In the run-up to the second round on March 22, candidates are trying to form alliances in many municipalities, particularly between moderate left-wing parties and the controversial LFI.