The daily's editor-in-chief, Arthur Grosjean, worries that "Switzerland's most despised political beast isn't dead. Beaten Wednesday by a group of hunters from the socialist, christian democrat and Green camps, he was resurrected Thursday morning, sized-up his adversaries, and cried vengeance. For those who heard Christoph Blocher speak in front of the Federal Assembly yesterday, there is no doubt. There will be blood during the coming years because this politician who hails from Zurich promised to reveal the 'dirt that we hide in the name of government secrecy'. After having spent four years in government, he returns to opposition with more power to disturb things than he had before. ... The results of this episode: Switzerland will not be able to 'normalise' Blocher. His supporters have made him a god; his opponents, a devil. ... Let's hope that at least this circus serves to engage the electorate of all stripes in Swiss politics." (14/12/2007)

» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Switzerland
All available articles from » Arthur Grosjean

"Chistoph Blocher was an ingenious and untouchable murderer. Outside the Federal Council as well as within, he could demolish his opponents with his security-minded and xenophobic rhetoric. He intimidated and suffocated those who got in his way. The other parties preferred to accommodate him, rather than see him upset the consensual arrangement that ran the government," writes Pascal Martin, who sees Blocher radicalising further in order to escape his isolation. "The 'consensus democracy' will give way to a bipolar system with a majority and an opposition. Political life in the Confederation will be more highly contested, even if we must keep in mind that the real power is exercised at the Canton [regional] level. In this country where direct democracy is unassailable, Blocher will have no problem using his populist talents." (13/12/2007)

» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Switzerland
All available articles from » Pascal Martin

According to Jürgen Dunsch, Switzerland's period of 'comfort' has come to an end. "The party that emerged as the strongest and largest after the October elections is looking at the shattered remains of a system and facing the threat of a major split. It's now time to say goodbye to the way politics have been conducted up to now, but the country is not ready for this step. This will soon become clear through the institutions of direct democracy. The SVP has already announced that it wants to make much more frequent use of referendums. But such a course could turn this instrument, which is essentially aimed at disciplining the parties, into a means for the SVP to carry through populist demands. What this could mean for relations with the EU, which has always adopted a critical and even inwardly disapproving stance towards the party, doesn't bear thinking about. ... The government system is in urgent need of a major overhaul." (14/12/2007)

» to the homepage (external link, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Switzerland
All available articles from » Jürgen Dunsch

Wolfgang Böhm tries to explain why just under two-thirds of Austria's population opposes the expansion of the Schengen area. "The fear of a rise in the crime rate as a result of an influx of Eastern Europeans who will have free entry to the country means a large part of the population hope that the armed forces and the police will stay on the border as long as possible. What we are witnessing here is no less than the total reversal of the values we held dear in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Fear and the desire for security are eating away at what was once the subject of general consensus in our society: namely the sense that personal freedom is our greatest good and should only be restricted in so far as it restricts that of others. On December 21st, the borders with our neighbouring states will open up. We'll be able to travel to the countries behind the fences unhindered by traffic jams or border checks. A cultural area full of hospitable people is opening up to us. This should really be seen as the beginning of a new era, but in Austria you get the feeling you should be rushing to nail down the windows, lock the doors and bring in the clothes from the clothes line outside." (14/12/2007)

» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » Crime and Law, » History, » Central Europe
All available articles from » Wolfgang Böhm

The Hungarian sociologist Iván Szelényi, who teaches at Yale, talks in an interview with János Dobszay about the political role of intellectuals in Hungary: "In Hungary it was the intellectuals who brought about the fall of communism because there was no bourgeois class of property-owners at the time. Since then, a new and prosperous class has emerged that demands its share of political power. This may sadden intellectuals, but in a conservative democracy only politicians or parties that enjoy the trust of the bourgeoisie can come into power. Moreover, we still don't know which capitalist model will prevail: we must give up the illusion that liberal democracy is the most natural form of capitalism. After all, it certainly doesn't apply to those countries (like Russia and China) that are most dynamic in their development." (13/12/2007)

» to the homepage (external link, Heti Világgazdaság)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Social movements, » History, » Hungary
All available articles from » Iván Szelényi, » János Dobszay

after the signing of the Lisbon Treaty, Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates faces the return of hard reality, writes Eduardo Damaso. "Jose Socrates on television for several hours a day, Portugal in the limelight, all this gives us a certain notoriety in Europe. However, we must not sooth ourselves with rosy illusions of governmental policy in this country, nor with the path chosen by European policy. Internally, Socrates will have to confront the problem of unemployment, economic downturn, as well as the incapacity of the judicial system to suppress the wave of violence currently taking place in the nightlife in Porto [four assassinations in four months] and in Lisbon. In Europe, the 'Portuguese success' trumpeted around the Treaty has not contributed in any decisive fashion to make the European project more democratic." (14/12/2007)

» full article (external link, Portuguese)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Domestic Policy, » Portugal, » Europe
All available articles from » Eduardo Dâmaso

The EU Reform Treaty will have a hard time finding acceptance in Central Eastern Europe, Luboš Palata writes, because Poland opposes it owing to its historical fear of Germany and in the Czech Republic there is also a brand of nationalism directed against the EU and motivated by fear of Germany. "The question now is why Slovakia and Hungary have no problems recognising the treaty. Just as they vied against each other to be Berlin's best ally during the Second World War, today they are competing to see which nation makes the better Europeans. In the back of their minds they have only one goal: to improve their position in Brussels for their struggle against each other. But such an attitude is as far removed from the authentic European ideal as the deep-rooted anti-German nationalism of the Kaczynskis or Vaclav Klaus." (14/12/2007)

» full article (external link, Slovak)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Constitution, » Europe, » Eastern Europe
All available articles from » Luboš Palata

"The European Court of Human Rights agreed to hear an appeal of the [2003] ban of the Basque party Batasuna [the political arm of the militant separatist organisation ETA]. It's good news for all Spanish people," writes Soledad Gallego-Diaz. "A decision from the European courts in this matter, whatever it may be, will have a fundamental influence on the process of democratic normalisation in Basque country. It will also help to alleviate the doubts about the policies pursued by the Spanish state. If the court confirms the ban, moderate Basque nationalists will be forced to abandon their ambiguous position [regarding terrorism]. At it's heart, a fundamental question exists: when can, and when must, a democracy defend civil and political liberties by banning or restraining the exercise of these very liberties?" (14/12/2007)

» full article (external link, Spanish)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Crime and Law, » Spain, » Europe
All available articles from » Soledad Gallego-Díaz

Commenting on French President Nicolas Sarkozy's enthusiastic reception of Libyan leader Moummar Gaddafi this week, the financial daily writes that "the west has praised Mr Gaddafi for renouncing terrorism, abandoning his nuclear weapons programme and condemning al-Qaeda. There should be some rewards for redemption, otherwise what is the point of it ? ... But Mr Sarkozy has appeared all too ready to swallow his human rights rhetoric for commercial advantage. Yet this approach will almost certainly backfire. First, Mr Sarkozy's forked tongue risks undermining the credibility of France's foreign policy and makes a mockery of European Union attempts to speak with one voice. Second, politically inspired trade deals have a nasty habit of exploding ... Mr Sarkozy should spend less time grandstanding with dubious foreign leaders and redouble his efforts to reform France's economy." (14/12/2007)

» full article (external link, English)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Economic Policy, » France, » Libya

Svetoslav Tersiev comments on the controversial reception of the Libyan president in France: "Gadaffi's visit to Paris proves that it was worthwhile for us to stick up for the Bulgarian nurses and make them an international issue. Sarkozy responded to the accusations of the French opposition saying he hadn't used 'checkbook diplomacy', rather he had put the release of the nurses above business interests and set a clear priority. ... If France had had to choose between Bulgaria and Libya, its relations with its European allies would not have been sufficient grounds to end its dealings with Gadaffi. But the international campaign for the rescue of the nurses has directed France's attention to its self-image. France would renounce many things for the sake of money, but not its historical image as the cradle of human rights." (13/12/2007)

» full article (external link, Bulgarian)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Svetoslav Tersiev

The Estonian textile company 'Kreenholm' is on the verge of closure because despite the low salaries for seamstresses it can no longer compete with the low-wage countries of Southeast Asia. According to the Estonian daily this hails the end of an era, but in view of the current labour shortages it stresses that there's no reason to panic. "The closure of the factory in Narva signifies the end of low-wage production, not only for Estonia but for Europe as a whole. Naturally the end of this company with its long tradition is painful, but it's a logical step in view of our developing and changing world. Over the next year around 15,000 people will lose their jobs in Narva, but they'll all find new ones in the short or long term, whether it's in the Ida-Virumaa region or elsewhere in Estonia." (14/12/2007)

» full article (external link, Estonian)
More from the press review on the subject » Labour market / Services, » Corporations, » Estonia, » Europe

"Reality can be a hard thing to face ... But the government must soon admit that its policy on Northern Rock is not working," writes the daily in an editorial. The "hope of a private-sector solution to a private-sector failure remains just that: a hope that shows no sign of being fulfilled. The reality is that nationalisation of the stricken bank is the least bad option. ... Investors have had a disproportionate influence on the Rock's sale so far. ... The sensible long-term strategy is to take Northern Rock into public ownership, with a view to selling it either whole or in bits over coming months and years. ... Rather than taking account of shareholders' interests, the Treasury would have a clear mandate of returning as much money as possible to the public purse, as quickly as possible." (14/12/2007)

» full article (external link, English)
More from the press review on the subject » Trade, » Financial Markets, » United Kingdom

"We are all more or less torn between our ecological conscience and a legitimate desire for mobility," notes the monthly in its editorial, affirming that, in the context, "the concept [of economic growth] is waiting to be deconstructed, to be replaced by a conception based on the multidimensional character of human development. We no longer have a simple criteria to evaluate and orient the development of society. It's a giant field for economists, but also a new domain for social debate. Intellectuals have their role to play in this transformation, notably in trying to conceive of the political conditions necessary for sustainable development. ... It's also up to them to help make this future imaginable and desirable: the de-mystification of growth conjures new utopias, ... the idea of a society where men can enjoy living after having had the unprecedented experience of the limit." (01/12/2007)

» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Environmental Policy, » Energy, » Consumers, » Global

Neo Rauch, Leipzig's most famous artist, has drawn up designs for three windows for Naumburg Cathedral. Uta Baier comments on the new alliance between contemporary artists and the Church: "Like the church leaders of the Gothic period and the Renaissance, the churches are no longer afraid of contemporary art. The difference is that today's artists no longer make their living from the churches; on the contrary, it's the churches that live from the artists. The residents of Naumburg paid nothing for the designs; they wouldn't have had the money to do so anyway. Neo Rauch gave the church his designs for free, just as the painter Gerhard Richter created the window of Cologne Cathedral in for free. Rauch is even contemplating donating money for the realisation of the project. Apparently it's an honour once more to work for the Church, perhaps among other things because the Church's promises of eternity are more reliable than those of museums, even if the Church is not always satisfied with the artists." (14/12/2007)

» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Fine Arts, » Germany
All available articles from » Uta Baier

The inhabitants of the Romanian capital should finally do something about the parking of cars on pavements, writes Rupert Wolfe Murray, a Scot living in Bucharest. "In the UK you can get arrested for parking your car on a pavement. In the Netherlands the car is towed away and confiscated. Bucharest is probably the only capital in the EU that doesn't punish people for parking their cars illegally. ... As far as I can tell, cars have more rights than citizens in Bucharest - also because Romanians are so excessively passionate about their cars. This feeling has its origins in the days of communism. Back then only party functionaries, directors, high-ranking military officers and Securitate employees owned a car. This inspired awe and respect. People still believe owning a car confers power on them." (14/12/2007)

» full article (external link, Romanian)
More from the press review on the subject » Infrastructure / Travel and Transport, » Public Culture, » Romania
All available articles from » Rupert Wolfe Murray