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Gaspar, Miguel
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2 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
After Euro 2012 nothing left but crisis
The Euro 2012 football competition is coming to an end and soon there will be no way to forget the euro crisis at least for a few moments, the daily newspaper Público laments: "Once the Euro tents in Kiev have departed the single currency will once again be the only thing called the 'euro' and the veil of illusion will disappear. … Football has become international and combines a variety of traditions - also at the level of individual national teams. It's paradoxical that the decision makers on the playing field of EU policy continue to pursue their own goals and national interests - and the North is increasingly excluding the South. If Merkel were the coach of the German team it would give up its relaxed style and like the Greeks play in an aggressive, purely defensive mode. Merkel's crisis strategy has more to do with emotion than rationalism: she behaves like a coach in the stand. … Perhaps this is why the story of the EU summit [this Thursday and Friday] will be the story of a Germany that, without realising it, is condemning itself to the same insignificance to which it has condemned the South so far."
» more information (external link, Portuguese)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Fiscal Policy, » Sport, » Portugal
The structural pessismism of the Portuguese
Miguel Gaspar analyses the results to a study according to which the Portuguese are proud of their history but are doubtful about their future. "The way we talk about ourselves is like a diagnostic: we resemble manic-depressives swinging between euphoria and depression. But, come sun-down, only the sad side remains. It is as if the party did not deserve a place in our memories because of its ephemeral nature. ... The authors of the study tell us that being Portuguese is something that is assumed with pride, but hesitantly. They are very proud of their past, but not of current times. The likes of Vasco de Gama and Luis de Camoes are to be found in history... As for the present, according to the researchers, there is no motive to be proud of the way the economy or democracy work. If this is the case, it can be said that the Portuguese are proving somewhat lucid. ... We have been observing our society through a decadent prism for a long time. Will we one day be able to conquer our deep-set, structural pessimism?"
» full article (external link, Portuguese)
More from the press review on the subject » Portugal
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