Eurotopics.net

Local elections will be held in the Czech Republic on Friday and Saturday. However, due to a scheduling error, the election date clashes with President Petr Pavel's motorbike holiday in Morocco, so he won't be able to cast his vote. The head of state has said he regrets the mistake but does not intend to cut short his trip. Czech media have criticised the fact that the president, of all people, will be absent from the election.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called a snap election for 29 November after his minority government consisting of his social-democratic PSOE party and the left-wing Sumar alliance failed to secure a majority for two decrees to protect tenants. In the parliamentary vote on Friday, the separatist party Junts per Catalunya joined the conservative People's Party and the right-wing populist to far-right Vox party in rejecting the emergency legislation. The media saw the snap election coming.

Schoolchildren in France have been voicing their anger over the shoddy conditions at their schools for several weeks now. School blockades have led to riots and clashes with the police, who have arrested hundreds of young people. Student representatives have distanced themselves from the violence. Meanwhile, France's Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has said it is unclear whether those responsible for the violence are actually enrolled in school.

During a surprise visit to Kyiv on the weekend, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a new aid package of one billion euros for military operations and 350 million for the energy sector for Ukraine. On Sunday, Russia launched another attack on the capital while he was there. Europe's press discusses the significance of the visit and further support for the country.

A court in Turkey has ordered news website T24 to be blocked on the grounds that - following the "Ailem Güvende" (My Family is Safe) investigation - some of its content has been classified as "LGBT propaganda". Journalists at T24 suspect that the real goal is to prevent their coverage of the current stock market scandal and the trial of imprisoned Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Other media outlets also question the official explanations.