TOP NEWS

The new election in France
From crony to rival - Attal's popularity threatens Macron

After the dramatic new French election, outgoing Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has gone from being Emmanuel Macron's protégé to a threat to the French president, writes Politico.

While Macron has lost confidence among voters, Attal seems to have come through the turbulent political period unscathed.

Baptiste Dupont, researcher at the electoral institute IFOP, believes that the explanation lies in the fact that Attal took a stand against the president's decision to call new elections.

- The role of villain fell on the president's shoulders, says Dupont.

Attal announced his resignation in mid-July and has since served as head of an interim government pending Macron's appointment of a new one. But his work and initiatives in parliament seem to have angered Macron. During a meeting at the Élysée Palace, the president asked his allies to put the nation before "their own political ambitions".

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Political situation in Thailand
Two candidates for the post of prime minister in Thailand

Pheu Thai, the main party of Thailand's transitional government, is meeting on Thursday to choose a new prime ministerial candidate after Srettha Thavisin was ousted from the post on Wednesday, Reuters reports.

The party is expected to choose from two candidates: Chaikasem Nitisiri, 75, former justice minister and attorney general, and Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 37-year-old daughter of political heavyweight Thaksin Shinawatra.

The chosen candidate for the post of Prime Minister must then receive the support of more than half of the current 493 Members of Parliament. The alliance led by Pheu Thai includes eleven parties and 314 seats. Bhumjaithai, the second largest party in the alliance with 70 seats, has already pledged its support.

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The investigation against Mette-Marit's son
Expert on the abuse: "Complete disaster"

“A complete disaster.” That's what Johan T Lindvall, editor-in-chief of Svensk Damtidning, says about Crown Princess Mette-Marit's son Marius Borg Høiby admitting to assaulting his girlfriend.

- This has never happened before in a Nordic or European royal house, he says in SVT's Morgonstudion.

Borg Høiby was arrested last week by the police and has said that the assault took place under the influence of alcohol and cocaine.

The fact that he apologized gets both praise and criticism, writes DN. Norwegian Nettavisen's royal house expert Tove Taalesen thinks it is "nice" that Borg Høiby is taking responsibility.

Communication researcher Peggy Simic Brønn is not as impressed, however, and calls the whole thing "firefighting".