London - European press - led by the Germans - have been quick to mock British prime minister Theresa May as the world reacts to the Conservative election disaster. Last night, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called on the Prime Minister to resign after she lost 12 seats across the country. Newspapers across Europe have also discussed how the Tory defeat could impact Brexit negotiations which are due to begin on June 19. Spiegel magazine, using German wordplay to compare the prime minister to Margaret Thatcher, called her instead 'Die eiernde Lady' - the wobbly lady. It went on: 'Britain's Prime minister Theresa May has been playing poker - and has lost almost everything. After a memorable night, the country is politically paralyzed. And it's completely unclear where it goes from here. 'It is not stable any more - at least not for her job. So the tasks now are enormous: the government must organise the divorce process with the EU, for which there is no historical role model; It must tame the centrifugal forces in its own country and, in particular, look to Scotland and Northern Ireland to ensure that the United Kingdom remains a United Kingdom. 'It must comply with almost unsustainable promises it has given itself, and take care not to torpedo the domestic economy. 'It is a situation in which the country can actually use a strong and stable leader. Theresa May looked like this for a while. Two weeks ago, she was compared to the British media with the 'Iron Lady' Margaret Thatcher. There was a mocking tone to French coverage of the UK general election today as commentators said Britain was now weakened as it prepared for Brexit.
Le Figaro newspaper wrote: 'Theresa May, who had called this poll with the sole purpose of strengthening her existing majority, was caught in her own trap.' Italy's Corriere della Sera, in its online headline, says: 'Theresa's gamble failed, she is no Margaret Thatcher.' Another Italian paper La Repubblica says in its online headline: 'May's gamble fails, loses her majority.'(FA)
