If the results of the parliamentary elections on June 9 in the Netherlands are similar to those of the local elections the country will face political instability, the left-liberal daily De Volkskrant writes: "The low voter turnout and the success of the local parties can't be interpreted as anything but a serious lack of trust in state politics. This is not conducive to optimism. The splintering of the political landscape seems to be still in progress. ... Both the [social democratic] PvdA and the [Christian Democratic] CDA have a great interest in preventing the PVV from becoming the major party but they won't do each other the honour. ... No matter who emerges as strongest on June 9, it will be virtually impossible to form a coalition with less than four parties. If the PvdA wants to prevent Wilders from coming to power and the CDA prefers not to share government with the PVV, it can't be clever for them to both rule each other out as potential coalition partners." (05/03/2010)

» full article (external link, Dutch)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Netherlands

After Geert Wilders' success in the local elections in the Netherlands the daily Neue Zürcher Zeitung calls for a serious exchange with the right-wing anti-Islamist. Although Wilders has absurd demands and no interest in constructive politics, ignoring him would be negligent, the paper writes: "The Netherlands, once a bastion of liberal lifestyles and fanciful laisser-faire attitudes, has all too long disavowed the fact that under the cloak of generous immigration a parallel society has developed which couldn't care less about the most moderate integration efforts. Consequently the democratic parties will not be able to avoid dealing intensively with this problem. Because by abandoning integration policy to Wilders, they run the risk that the PVV and its moonstruck leader will play a key role in the next Dutch parliament and massively hinder the possibility of meaningful governance. Even the noblest of reservations aren't worth such a price." (05/03/2010)

» more information (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Elections, » Netherlands
All available articles from » Jürg Dedial

Geert Wilders' ultra right party has emerged stronger from Holland's local elections. Europe's parties need to understand the reasons for this and react, writes the daily La Razón, which has close ties to the conservative wing of the Catholic Church: "After the referendum in Switzerland which brought the ban on the construction of minarets, the results in Holland reinforce the European trend of distancing itself from the growing Muslim presence and Islamist radicalisation. At this point it looks like the wave of rejection was more a reaction to the fanaticism of certain sectors of the Muslim population than the product of xenophobia in a country that has a long tradition of taking in foreigners ... Whatever the case, we are witnessing a phenomenon that cannot be attributed to stereotypical prejudices. There is a new challenge in Europe and if the traditional parties are incapable of dealing with it the citizens will end up choosing other options." (05/03/2010)

» full article (external link, Spanish)
More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Migration, » Integration, » Social movements, » Elections, » Netherlands, » Europe

Right-wing populist Geert Wilders' electoral success puts the liberal daily Sme in a reflective mood: "It's entirely possible that every future Dutch government - barring a grand coalition like the one that has just collapsed - will need Wilders' support. He is no racist, and most certainly not an anti-Semite, and nor does he suffer from anti-Americanism. He is against protectionism and believes in the free market. On the other hand he foments hatred, talks of collective guilt and wants to put a full halt to immigration. ... We can't know how he would act if he had a share in power. He himself says he wouldn't insist on implementing all of his statements against immigration. But it will be necessary to keep a close eye on events because Wilders' model threatens to spread to large parts of Europe." (05/03/2010)

» full article (external link, Slovak)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Migration, » Integration, » Netherlands, » Europe
All available articles from » Peter Morvay

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel today, Friday, in Berlin. The business daily Les Echos shows understanding for Merkel's not wanting to provide immediate aid to crisis-ridden Greece: "The answer is already known. It's 'nein'. Angela Merkel ... does not want to help out Greece. This is a tug of war where both parties must cope with a highly sensitive public, and where doubtless no one's going to be stretching out their hand. On the Greek side the stiff government measures provoked violent reactions yesterday. In Germany the chancellor is facing resolute opposition from its liberal FDP coalition partner and a vindictive press that to a large extent reflects the mood of its readers. In such conditions the most logical thing for the chancellor is not to promise anything but to act in an emergency should Greece encounter difficulties finding lenders." (05/03/2010)

» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Economic Policy, » Germany, » Greece
All available articles from » Jean-Marc Vittori

On Thursday the European Court of Human Rights began hearing the case brought against Russia for having broken up the Yukos oil company and imprisoned its boss Mikhail Khodorkovsky. It was high time an independent court examined the question of why the Yukos boss, a government critic, ended up in prison while other oligarchs remain free, the conservative daily Rzeczpospolita writes: "The judges will mainly be dealing with questions of tax laws, economic issues and finances. It's difficult to say what conclusions ... they will reach on this subject. But that is not the main point. This will be the first time a court outside of Russia deals with the Khordokovsky affair - which means one that is free of the suspicion of being biased. Up to now only the Western media had dealt with the issue. And they have yet to receive an answer to the question of why of all the young Russian oligarchs it was the one who had started financing the opposition against the Kremlin who was put behind bars." (05/03/2010)

» more information (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Russia
All available articles from » Jerzy Haszczyński

The sale of the French Mistral helicopter carrier to Russia has sparked concerns in Estonia. The daily Eesti Päevaleht tries to put the purchase in perspective: "What would change if a Mistral bearing a Russian flag cruised the Baltic? Practically nothing for Estonia. Russia's Baltic fleet already comprises hundreds of ships whose tasks include transporting troops and material. When a Mistral docked in St. Petersburg recently a new Ka-52 combat helicopter landed on its deck, but even this technical detail is insignificant for us. The Leningrad District is already a huge helicopter carrier right on our doorstep. If anything endangers Estonia's security it's our own state employees who have neglected the missile defence of our coastlines. It's Russia's business what ships it buys, and in addition the Mistral can also be used to help in human catastrophes." (05/03/2010)

» full article (external link, Estonian)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Lithuania, » Estonia
All available articles from » Andres Laasik

The Hungarian parliament last week passed a law banning denial of the Holocaust. But the parties in Hungary are conducting a false historical discourse, writes political scientist Rafael Labanino in the left-liberal daily Népszabadság: "The political debates on the past in fact relate to the present. We see that as regards contentious issues like the Holocaust and the crimes of communism, the Socialists and the Conservatives are trying to deny each other's political correctness, democratic convictions and loyalty to the nation. The two largest political camps in Hungary do not see each other as part of the whole. They see each other as a threat to the community. The inability of the parties to reach a consensus on certain important events of our past hinders us from finding a solution to the problems of the present. This won't change as long as the way we think about our own history adheres to false schemas." (05/03/2010)

» full article (external link, Hungarian)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » History, » Remembrance culture, » Hungary
All available articles from » Rafael Labanino

The Cebit computer exhibition in Hanover is sending out optimistic signals that an upswing is just around the corner, writes business paper Cinco Días: "Cebit, the most important technology trade fair in Europe and one of the most significant in the world, is giving certain indications of an improvement in the information and communication technologies (ICTs) sector for as early as this year. If these expectations are fulfilled it would be excellent news because the evolution of the ICTs is considered an advanced indicator. The sector - as Telefónica president César Alierta rightly pointed out - is crucial for emerging from the recession. And the manager was clear in announcing that the telecommunications company had 'already got through the worst of it'." (05/03/2010)

» full article (external link, Spanish)
More from the press review on the subject » Trade, » Corporations, » Germany, » Spain, » Global

Because Sweden produces only around two percent of its energy from wind power the government has given the green light for the construction of a gigantic wind power park in northern Sweden. The project has met with opposition from the local Sami population. The daily Aftonbladet advises willingness to make compromises: "Even the modest expansion of the wind power sector witnessed so far led to conflicts between local interests and the demands of the energy industry. ... For huge parks like the one now in planning we need different models. Local politicians in Västerbotten have demanded state compensation for the damage to the environment. Politicians in Piteå are taking a different approach and demanding compensation from the companies directly. It is uncertain whether either of these solutions can work, but one thing is for sure: Sweden's wind power sector must be expanded. If this is to be done without exhausting conflict, part of the prosperity and the profits generated from the wind must remain in the areas where the electricity is produced." (05/03/2010)

» full article (external link, Swedish)
More from the press review on the subject » Energy, » Minorities, » Sweden

The association of Finnish municipalities has called on local communities to inform citizens of the true cost of public services. The daily Kaleva approves of the idea: "It's always surprising to hear people say they receive no support whatsoever from society, not to speak of help corresponding to the taxes they pay. The truth is another matter altogether. No one can claim they receive nothing from society. If we lived in an exclusively market-oriented society we would have to pay 6,200 euros for elementary school and 7,000 euros for road maintenance per kilometre per year. A hip operation would cost 8,000 euros and childcare 1,100 euros per month. ... Not everyone correctly estimates the value of public services or has an idea what they cost. Price tags would raise people's appreciation of these services and increase public awareness of how much they really cost." (05/03/2010)

» more information (external link, Finnish)
More from the press review on the subject » Tax Policy, » Finland

Bulgaria celebrated its national holiday on March 3. The daily Dnevnik analyses the historical and political debates surrounding the date: "March 3 - the day of Bulgarian liberation from Ottoman rule - continues to divide us in our approach to our history. The Russophile wing of Bulgarian society sees the liberation as a categorical argument for our eternal affiliation to the sphere dominated by Russia in syncretic, geopolitical and ideological terms. For pro-Western liberals and democrats the Russo-Turkish war of 1878 was simply a Russian 'colonial war' whose arrogance pinnacled in the Soviet occupation of 1944. Bulgarian communists meanwhile praise this event as a second liberation. Nevertheless it robbed the Bulgarian state of its independence for half a century." (05/03/2010)

» full article (external link, Bulgarian)
More from the press review on the subject » History, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Ognjan Minchew

Leandro Pires, a 12-year-old boy from the north of Portugal, on Tuesday committed suicide because of the bullying of his schoolmates. School managements, parents and society must finally start to recognise bullying among children as a genuine danger and combat it as such, the daily Jornal de Notícias warns: "This sad story is similar to other incidents at other schools all over the country. ... Leandro's case, although not an isolated one, should nonetheless serve as an example. ... After his death schools, teachers, the education ministry and parents can no longer ignore the evidence. Bullying now has a face. Schools must provide a service victims of harassment can turn to to report their tormentors in a discreet fashion. … Parents and teachers must once and for all renounce the obsolete notion that this behaviour is part of children's normal development process. ... For that would mean that in Leandro's case or in the case of other potential victims no one is to blame." (05/03/2010)

» full article (external link, Portuguese)
More from the press review on the subject » Portugal

On the occasion of International Women's Day on March 8, author Goran Vojnović writes in the daily Dnevnik that conservative men are baffled by the date every time it rolls around: "They see no reason for making such a big thing about the situation of women in our society. True, Slovakian women can't become (Catholic) priests, but it doesn't strike conservative men as particularly feasible that women should have their own holiday just because they want to be religious leaders. But above all the whole thing is a mystery to such men because, bearing in mind years of research on modern women by the most diverse women's magazines, they are convinced that what women really want is Manolo Blahnik shoes, Louis Vuitton bags, skin-and-bone models' figures, Pilates training and romantic comedies with Hugh Grant. ... In my male, and for that reason irrelevant opinion, it would be better for such men to start by appreciating that women know better what's good for them. And at the same time they should at least entertain the possibility that women have a far more realistic idea of their own position in society." (05/03/2010)

» full article (external link, Slovenian)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Gender equality, » Slovenia
All available articles from » Goran Vojnovic