Former President Rumen Radev's centre-left coalition Progressive Bulgaria won a clear victory in the parliamentary elections, securing around 45 percent of the vote. Radev has affirmed that Bulgaria will continue its European path, but that a strong Europeeeds critical thinking and pragmatism. Commentators ask what the election result means for European cohesion.

More revelations in the Mandelson scandal are upping the pressure on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Mandelson was given the post of ambassador to the US despite failing security vetting. In the House of Commons, Starmer apologised for the appointment but said that at the time of the decision he hadot been fully informed.

The two-week ceasefire in the Iran war is due to end on Wednesday. Whether furtheregotiations between Iran and the US will take place in Islamabad before then remains unclear. According to media reports, US Vice President JD Vance is willing to fly to Pakistan today, Tuesday, but given the current circumstances, commentators hold out little hope of an agreement.

Romania's four-party ruling coalition is on the brink of collapse: On Monday, the Social Democrats (PSD), the largest party in the government, withdrew their support for the liberal prime minister Ilie Bolojan over proposed reforms and austerity measures, calling on him to resign and threatening to withdraw the PSD ministers from the cabinet if he refused. Bolojan, however, said he haso intention of stepping down and accused the PSD of trying to shirk its responsibilities.