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Lema, Luis
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4 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Egyptians elect their future on their own now
Egypt holds its first free presidential election this Wednesday. Despite the chaos in the country this is a hugely significant event, writes the left-liberal daily Le Temps: "It takes a lot of imagination to think up a more chaotic transition phase than that in Egypt. Certain presidential candidates were excluded from the vote for more or less obscure reasons, the brand new parliament is already constantly blocked and the army is playing a game of cat-and-mouse with the Islamists where even the most patient observers have lost track. To top it all, the election begins today even though it's not yet clear what powers the next head of state will have. … And still: the passion that the Egyptians are putting into their first encounter with democracy shows that behind the scenes something very important is happening. … The Egyptians still have a long way to go, because the future of their country is at stake. But they are making the task of shaping that future all their own."
» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Elections, » Egypt
Baptism of fire for Obama
The Swiss daily Le Temps comments on the role of US President Barack Obama against the backdrop of the crisis in Iran: "His unfortunate words which seemed to play down the importance of this revolt took the place of direct language last weekend. It is the baptism of fire for the American president. The time has come to give up a methodically implemented strategy and make way for the unexpected. But can Obama really do more? Today everyone agrees that strong intervention on the part of the US would only hurt the interests of Mir-Hossein Mousavi's supporters. But what if others were to capitalise on the American's non-intervention to speak with louder voices?"
» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Elections, » Iran
The US bears responsibility
The daily Le Temps comments on the responsibility of the United States in the Middle East conflict: "Some people dreaded (or hoped for) an attack against Iran. Instead, the period of transition between the two American presidencies resulted in an almost unprecented military action in Gaza. ... It was time to tidy house before George Bush left office for good. ... Is this the result of America's moribund foreign policy which in eight years has proven unable to achieve anything other than this bloody confrontation, without the slightest trace of a diplomatic solution? No doubt it is. Is this the perverse consequence of an Israeli foreign policy that predictably has nothing more to offer with every election than an escalation of violence, a war, a provocation or a blend of all four? No doubt it is. The concurrence of the American interregnum and the upcoming elections in Israel has proved an explosive combination - not only in the devastated streets of Gaza. It threatens to shape the course of events for years to come."
» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » U.S., » Middle East, » Israel
The end of Basque separatist violence?
"Have the ETA militants awoken to the irreparably unsustainable nature of their fight?" Luis Lema asks in an editorial. "Beyond those specific traits unique to the Basque country, beyond the rousing of a civil society and a growing 'enough-is-enough' attitude heard on the Basque streets, the 'beginning of the end of ETA' undoubtedly traces its true origins to the bloody attacks of March 11, 2004 in the Spanish capital. Attacks which, the investigation showed, had nothing to do with the separatist organisation but which united Spaniards to such a degree against this kind of violence that a continued reliance on analogous methods simply became inconceivable. Through the sheer force of their blast, it is as if the explosions of March 11 extinguished the final burning embers in the Basque fireplace."
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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Spain
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