Papers say French President Jacques Chirac will have to act decisively to resolve the stand-off over a controversial labour law.
There is a mixed response to the European Union's decision to cut aid to the Palestinian government, and the prospect of a visit by the Iranian president sparks a row in Germany.
Labour of love
France's LIBERATION says Jacques Chirac has no choice but to withdraw a controversial new type of job contract for young people introduced by his centre-right government.
It notes that until now the president has not been able to find the "magic formula" to curb mass protests against the First Employment Contract (CPE).
"His only remaining option is to break it, to abrogate it," it says.
Germany's FRANKFURTER RUNDSCHAU agrees, even if that leads Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin to quit.
"If he wants to avoid his last months in office being marked by chaos and death throes, he will have to decide to end this nasty power game, even if Villepin then takes to his heels," it says.
Austria's DIE PRESSE, however, accuses French trade unions of showing greater concern for a privileged section of society than for young unemployed people in poor neighbourhoods.
The paper observes that the CPE was intended to help "desperate youths in the suburbs" who lack job opportunities.
"How can a gerontocracy manage the challenges of globalisation, find creative solutions to them and offer a dynamic vision of the country to future generations?"
Switzerland's LE TEMPS says both France and Italy are struggling to come to grips with globalisation because of their leaders' and MPs' elevated average age.
It points out that if Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is re-elected, he will be 74 at the end of his next term in office, while Mr Chirac will be 74 in November.
"How can a gerontocracy manage the challenges of globalisation, find creative solutions to them and offer a dynamic vision of the country to future generations?" the paper asks.
Hamas encore
France's LE MONDE says the US and the European Union are right to cut off financial assistance to the new Hamas-led Palestinian government.
It concedes that Hamas has come to power as a result of democratic elections and that the Palestinian National Authority depends on international aid.
However, Western countries "cannot subsidise a group which, as far as they are concerned, remains on the list of terrorist organisations", it says.
Spain's EL PAIS, however, fears that the "bankrupt" Palestinian economy will be "hit hard" by the suspension of aid, and that the measure could be counterproductive.
"Everything indicates that Hamas will turn towards Iran and like-minded Arab regimes to pay its immediate bills," the paper says.
This will have the opposite effect to the one the EU is pushing for, such as the recognition of Israel, the renunciation of violence and respect for the Oslo agreements, it warns.
The paper adds that Gaza is rapidly becoming "a humanitarian disaster", and that the EU must at all costs avoid punishing a people "already close to hunger".
Holocaust denial row
"Will Iranian president be arrested if he pays World Cup visit?" reads a headline in Germany's DIE WELT.
The paper points out that a possible visit by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to watch the Iranian team play in the World Cup this summer has sparked a "fierce row".
It observes that the Central Council of Jews in Germany was "shocked" to learn that Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble had said the president would be welcome to attend the World Cup.
"Will Iranian president be arrested if he pays World Cup visit?"
"In Germany this is punishable by up to five years in prison," it reminds.
"Fair play for an anti-Semite?" reads a front-page headline in Germany's DIE TAGESZEITUNG.
The daily describes the Iranian president as a "Holocaust denier and enemy of Israel".
Austria's Die Presse criticises Mr Schaeuble's stance.
It believes it is "completely incomprehensible" why in politics there are "no moral limits to hospitality any more".
German floods
As the Elbe river hit a record high level in northern Germany over the weekend, the BERLINER ZEITUNG contrasts the reactions of different politicians to natural catastrophes.
Former Chancellor Schroeder, for example, acted in an "exemplary manner" during serious flooding in 2002, it says, by immediately "stomping around threatened dikes in Wellingtons".
His election rival Edmund Stoiber hesitated too long before visiting the flooded areas, it adds, and Mr Schroeder won the elections a few weeks later.
Chancellor Angela Merkel for her part showed a "surer instinct" by immediately visiting flood-affected regions yesterday, the paper says.
The Frankfurter Rundschau says the chancellor's motives may not be entirely selfless.
"In her Wellingtons she can counter the Social Democrats' accusation that she allows herself to be courted on red carpets abroad while the SPD slaves away here in the engine room on domestic issues," the paper says.
"But it would be much more important," the paper says, "if the main parties finally understood what can be done to tackle these catastrophes."
Die Tageszeitung believes the federal government needs greater flood protection powers.
BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.
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