France
Presidential fatigue had French media concerned.
— Franceinfo reported that the Council of Ministers was this week moved from Wednesday to Tuesday to allow Emmanuel Macron to “catch his breath” ahead of a hectic Armistice schedule. Europe 1 reported Macron is taking a three-day break from Thursday to Saturday on the advice of his relatives ahead of a six-day trip. “Should we be worried?” the broadcaster asked.
— Le Figaro, Sud Ouest and Le Monde picked up a report by satirical weekly Le Canard Enchaîné, which revealed France Unbowed MP Alexis Corbière and his partner exploited a “loophole” (without breaking any rules) to claim more than 60 percent of the cost of their house renovations from the national housing agency under “very modest household” provisions, despite the fact he now earns €7,209.74 a month.
— Le Point had an exclusive interview with Nicolas Sarkozy in which the former French president dished on Emmanuel Macron, U.S. President Donald Trump, Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Germany
The race to succeed Angela Merkel as CDU leader dominated German news.
—Bild asked a series of questions: “Will Merkel really last until 2021?” (Rather unlikely, it declared) … “Is Schäuble now the shadow chancellor?” (According to some, yes) … “Is the GroKo [grand coalition] bursting?” (Uncertain.)
— Spiegel Online noted that most Germans want Friedrich Merz to succeed Merkel, according to a poll.
— Süddeutsche featured an interview with the SPD’s former federal Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück, who said the financial crisis resulted in a grave loss of confidence in politicians — and the fallout is ongoing. He also called on the SPD to shake things up and find someone like former U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders to lead it.
— Several papers also covered an op-ed written by Finance Minister Olaf Scholz in Bild arguing for an increase of the minimum wage to €12.
Italy
The discovery of human remains at a property in Rome owned by the Vatican dominated Italian papers.
— RAI News, ANSA and La Repubblica, among others, all noted the grisly find could offer hope of a breakthrough for police investigating the 1983 disappearances of Emanuela Orlandi or Mirella Gregori.
— Huffington Post Italy had an interview with 5Stars Senator Paola Nugnes, who told the website that her party has “become like the Renzi Democratic Party.”
United Kingdom
British headlines were grim on Wednesday.
— The Guardian reported that violence against NHS staff in England had reached a five-year high.
— The BBC, among others, reported on the latest in the renewed search for the body of missing estate agent Suzy Lamplugh, who disappeared in 1986.
— Sky News reported that Irish passport applications have surged after the EU referendum.
— HuffPost picked up on an interview with former Chancellor George Osborne on BBC Newsnight, where he spoke about serious errors he and former PM David Cameron made in government — some of which, he admitted, paved the way for the Brexit vote.