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Marchand, Laurent
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4 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Europe's populists share common enemy
After the election victory of the right-wing populist True Finns in Finland's parliamentary elections on Sunday, the daily Ouest-France discusses what Europe's populist parties have in common: "The wave of populism in Europe has swelled with the crisis. After the Netherlands, Hungary, Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland it's now Finland's turn. With a five-fold increase in their electoral results, the 'True Finns' party now belongs to this increasingly open, rowdy club. Certainly, differences can be discerned from one country to the next, but all the movements have two common enemies: Europe and foreigners. Because in the eyes of the 'true populists' Europe alone is responsible for the supposed foreign invasion."
» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Weltanschauung, » Europe
Ouattara's fight for legitimacy
The deposed ruler of Ivory Coast Laurent Gbagbo was arrested on Monday in Abidjan. The internationally recognised President Alassane Ouattara announced in a televised address that the month-long power struggle would be the subject of a legal enquiry. That is the only way to demonstrate his legitimacy, writes the regional daily Ouest France: "The waiting and manoeuvring has lasted four months. Now the drama in Ivory Coast has ended, at least in part. ... However Gbagbo's arrest ... will not erase the memory of the civilian victims of the massacres that took place in Abidjan and the west of the country. Crimes were committed by both camps. Alassane Ouattara has promised to bring all of those responsible to justice, regardless what side they are on. His legitimacy is at stake. Hope remains weak, the rifts are deep and the wounds not yet healed."
» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Domestic Policy, » Africa
Presidency with a surreal air
Crisis-shaken Belgium takes over the EU Council Presidency on 1 July. The regional newspaper Ouest France is sceptical about its chances of success: "At first glance the situation may appear grotesque. Belgium, a country without a government that has been suffering a profound political crisis since the elections on 13 June, today takes over the EU Council Presidency. The moment could hardly be less opportune. All the more so because the implementation of the Treaty of Lisbon has brought a certain amount of confusion at the top of European institutions since the beginning of the year. At a time when a thousand centrifugal forces are pulling on Europe, and Belgium itself threatens to break apart, the Belgium EU Council Presidency may well seem surreal. Unless the secret of its success were to embody one of the strengths of European architecture: its resilience."
» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » EU Constitution, » Domestic Policy, » Belgium, » Europe
A Pole as a Symbol
The election of Jerzy Buzek as president of the EU parliament is symbolic, writes the daily Ouest-France. "A Pole heading the Euro-MPs - in the "silly season" the news could well go unnoticed. Yet the broad election of Buzek by the European Parliament actually has major symbolic significance. ... Almost twenty years ago Poland anticipated the fall of the Berlin Wall by several months and held the first free elections. ... Nobody would have imagined that a Pole would assume one of the three key positions in Europe so quickly. But as of yesterday this is a fact. Jerzy Buzek is the first politician in the ten new EU member states to be entrusted with such a responsibility. He may like to remember that real integration will require more time than EU expansion did. It is as if an invisible Iron Curtain were continuing to divide Europe. Without wanting to exaggerate the importance of his function, we may assume that his election will allow the contribution of the states of Central and Eastern Europe to the European project to become a routine matter."
» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » History, » Elections, » Europe
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