Today's front pages

Romanian president Traian Băsescu’s Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) has merged with the National Peasants’ Party and Civic Force to create the Right Romania Alliance. According to the Bucharest daily, the new conservative coalition, formed ahead of December’s parliamentary election, is a means by which the PDL can revamp while still remaining under President Băsescu’s control.

A.R.D. (Right Romania Alliance) – Jurnalul Naţional

In an interview, Jakob Scharf, head of Danish intelligence, has said that spying activities are on the increase in the Arctic region as its resources become more accessible. The United States, Russia, China and South Korea are the countries most concerned.

Interest in Arctic increases espionage risk against Denmark – Berlingske Tidende

Three weeks ahead of parliamentary elections, the former Dutch Caribbean colony of Curaçao, now autonomous but part of the kingdom, is in “political chaos” after its governor, Adeel van der Pluijm-Vrede, formed an interim executive on September 29. The outgoing Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte, is confined to his office and has accused Van der Pluijm-Vrede of having triggered a “coup”.

Crisis makes Curaçao ungovernable – Trouw

Serbia’s Minister for European Affairs Suzana Grubješić has echoed president Tomislav Nikolić’s September 29 declaration that Serbia “will no longer run after deadlines, because 10 years of racing after the EU have brought us to the brink of poverty.” “What’s important is to reform Serbia for ourselves, and not according to Brussels or Berlin,” said Grubješić.

Suzana Grubješić: Let’s not rush into EU – Danas

After being attacked by an air pistol during a walkabout in the northern Bohemian town of Chrastava, President Václav Klaus has accused "those who have made the country angry" of fomenting a tense social climate. The president's security chief Jiří Sklenka resigned after the incident.

Attack against me reflects state of the country – Mladá Fronta DNES

Up to 100,000 people took part in a rally against Donald Tusk’s government on Saturday in central Warsaw. Organised under the slogan “Wake up, Poland” by the populist conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, it was “the largest protest since 1989”. “It showed that PiS is a party backed by [real] social power”, say sociologists quoted by the conservative daily.

Anti-government show of strength in capital – Rzeczpospolita

Germany Social Democratic Party (SPD) has elected Peer Steinbrück as its candidate for the 2013 general election. He will face Angela Merkel, who is seeking a third term. Representing the right wing of the party, the 65 year old former finance minister under the chancellorship of Gerhard Schröder wants to challenge the Chancellor’s economic policies.

Get on with it, Germany – Handelsblatt