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François Hollande became the next president of France, beating Nicolas Sarkozy by 51.62% to 48.38%. He is the first socialist leader to be elected in the country since François Mitterrand in 1981.
“Thank you, people of France” – Le Monde
The new president will have to contend with several challenges, the most important being economic growth, competitiveness, the national debt and unemployment.
François Hollande to face the test of power – Les Echos
The slap in the face for major parties will “redraw the political landscape”. New Democracy (right) and PASOK (socialist) only scored 32% of the vote, while the radical left Syriza obtained 16.87%, and the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party 6.97%.
The angry vote – To Ethnos
In the wake of the 6 May general election, the lack of a clear majority has opened the door to several hypothetical coalitions featuring an eclectic mix of parties.
The nightmare of non-governance – Ta Nea
Outgoing president Boris Tadić topped the poll in the first round of presidential elections with 25.4% of the vote, narrowly beating his nearest rival Tomislav Nikolić on 25.10%. In simultaneous general elections, Tadić’s Democratic Party (DS), which was the front runner when the newspaper went to press on Monday morning, is now on 23.2%, trailing behind Nikolić’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) which is on 24.7%. On 16.6%, the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), led by the heirs of Slobodan Milošević, could obtain the balance of power.
Tadić ahead of Nikolić, The Democratic Party can easily form a government – Blic
The Interior Minister of the outgoing government, Ivica Dacić (SPS) is well placed to lead the next cabinet. Dragan Đilas (DS) has been re-elected mayor of Belgrade.
Dacić hopes to be prime minister, Tadić outguns Nicolić while Đilas wins Belgrade city hall by a wide margin. – Politika
Along with most of the Polish press on 7 May, the daily is up in arms over a proposed law that will oblige the media to extend “a right of reply” to people who believe they have been impugned, which will take over from current legislation obliging newspapers to publish error corrections.
Senate kills the press – Gazeta Wyborcza
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