In his second term of office the populist Robert Fico must show he is now ready up to the task, writes the left-liberal daily Der Standard: "Whereas Orbán has become embroiled in conflict with the EU, Fico is steering a clearly pro-European course, although the bailout for Greece is anything but popular in his country. ... All in all the topic played almost no role in the election. The apparently gigantic corruption scandal - the dubious network of relations between politics and business that was exposed through wire taps - overshadowed everything else. That didn't harm Fico, although his role too (as former prime minister) is very much in need of investigation. ... The winner takes all - in this case responsibility. And that responsibility is all the larger since for the time being there is no opposition to speak of. The former populist must finally show he's on the road to becoming a statesman." (12/03/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Elections, » Slovakia
All available articles from » Josef Kirchengast

The clear victory of the left-wing populist Robert Fico is reminiscent of the election triumph of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, comments the left-leaning daily taz: "What is driving the voters into the arms of populists like Orbán and Fico in Hungary and Slovakia is the anger at what Václav Havel once callled 'mafia capitalism'. What he was referring to was the scheming of a small clique from politics and business that is systematically undermining, or rather flogging off the state. What remains is the fear that Fico - like Orbán - could exploit this anger to appease the people with populist phrases and play the nationalist card, only to take advantage himself of the 'mafia capitalism' at the same time. Without a developed civil society and without an effective democratic opposition Slovakian democracy will have a hard time." (12/03/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Elections, » Slovakia
All available articles from » Alexandra Mostyn

After Social Democratic opposition leader Robert Fico's landslide victory in the Slovakian elections on Saturday, the liberal daily Sme hopes he has learned from the mistakes of his last term: "The weak result of the incumbent coalition parties and Fico's clear victory gives the winner a high degree of responsibility. Now the key issue is not only whether Fico's party can meet the economic challenges, but also whether it really has adopted social-democratic values. Whether it approaches minorities or Green issues with sufficient openness. And whether, conversely, it adopts a less arrogant, nationalist and confrontational attitude to the media and its critics in general. Fico's party may have received over a million votes, corresponding to roughly a quarter of the adult population. But the others three-quarters didn't vote for it." (12/03/2012)

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All available articles from » Zora Bútorová

After the clear victory for the social-democratic party Smer in Slovakia, the conservative daily Magyar Nemzet is delighted that designated Prime Minister Fico will rule without the extreme-right Slovak National Party (SNS): "What will Fico's second government bring? The future prime minister has diplomatically labelled his programme pro-European, and he has promised his solidarity with debt-stricken Europe. With the help of the rich he wants to bring the state finances back under control, he rejects privatisation and he favours large state investments. ... In view of his absolute majority the most likely outcome is that Smer will govern alone, even if a coalition can't be ruled out. ... A one-party government is far better than a coalition with Ján Slota, who wanted to send Slovakian tanks to Hungary under the first Fico government. For Hungary in any case it is a source of satisfaction that Slota and his National Party didn't make it back into parliament." (12/03/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Elections, » Slovakia
All available articles from » István Pataky

French President Nicolas Sarkozy defined his European policy in his first electoral speech on Sunday, among other things proposing that the Schengen Treaty be revised in the event that other member countries fail to take action against illegal immigration. This and other ideas are risky, writes the business daily Les Echos: "Sarkozy's realism in European policy - revising the Schengen Agreement, establishing reciprocal trade between Europe and the rest of the world or granting public contracts exclusively to companies from EU countries - will not please many of our partners. These three points alone represent an about-face with regards to the past thirty years of our history. There is only a small margin between Sarkozy's realism and the populist protectionism that is hugely popular among large segments of the French population. Nicolas Sarkozy is betting he will manage to blend these topics into a positive platform. ... That is just the sort of risk he likes." (12/03/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Elections, » France, » Europe
All available articles from » Henri Gibier

The Belgian government presented a programme for extending its austerity programme by almost two billion euros in a bid to calm Europe and the financial markets. But unfortunately the measures won't make a lasting impact, writes the liberal daily De Standaard: "People won't invest as long as they don't believe in a good future. They don't want a government that can do its math but one that they can rely on in the long term. … So the government needs to invest in its credibility right now. But it won't achieve this by generating one-off revenues, bringing taxes forward and other minor interventions that don't really make an impression and therefore provoke little resistance. … Belgium needs to appease Europe and the financial markets, but the true challenge will be to restore the population's trust. This government has very little time to prove that it can give the country a thorough overhaul. It needs to start doing so now, particularly after this austerity proposal." (12/03/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Belgium
All available articles from » Bart Sturtewagen
Who's saying what » Ways out of the debt crisis

Thousands of Spaniards gathered in several Spanish cities on Sunday to protest the government's labour market reform and austerity measures. The left-liberal daily El País urges the government to engage in a social dialogue: "To show its resolution in dealing with the crisis the government is refusing to review its decisions on reform. But in doing so it runs the risk that this attitude will be perceived as a sign of abuse of power in difficult times. The temptation to exploit fears about the future in order to push through an economic programme that the [ruling conservative People's Party] PP had already advocated before the crisis is a risky exercise that could end up causing problems for the entire country. Like any democratic government, that led by Mariano Rajoy has the duty not only to adopt the necessary measures, but also to do so as far as possible in a climate of social accord." (12/03/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Unions, » Social affairs, » Spain
Who's saying what » Ways out of the debt crisis

The fighting between radical Palestinians the Israeli army continued on Sunday night. At least eighteen Palestinians have already died since Friday. In addition to the missiles fired by the Palestinians Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also blaming the "Iranian threat" for the situation. But he shouldn't seek an excuse to attack Tehran, warns Israeli writer David Grossman in the left-liberal daily La Repubblica: "If the economic sanctions don't prevent Tehran from continuing its nuclear programme and the US doesn't attack Iran Israel would be well advised not to attack either. Even if this means painfully accepting that Tehran becomes a nuclear power. A possibility that would be difficult to accept, and there is still hope that the international sanctions can prevent this. But a potential Israeli attack would be just as difficult to live with. An Israeli attack on Iran would be based on a wild, rash bet, one which will change our future irreparably. I dare not even imagine it. Yes, I can imagine it, but my hand hesitates to write the words." (12/03/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Crises / War, » Iran, » Israel
All available articles from » David Grossman

Dan Şova, spokesman of the social democratic PSD, the main opposition party in Romania, was temporarily suspended from office last week for denying the Holocaust after making comments on television to the effect that the Romanian Jews had not suffered. The comments met with fierce protest. The news portal Ziare points out that there have already been several such incidents within the PSD: "It is doubtful that this is pure coincidence, because back in 2003 [the PSD culture minister at the time] Răzvan Teodorescu made a comment similar to Dan Şova's, triggering a political earthquake that had to be appeased from the top level to protect Romania's strategic interests at a time when it wasn't sure the country would be allowed to join Nato. … We live in a dangerous world in which the security of Romania depends heavily on its relations with its Western allies. But in the capitals of the Western world such comments are regarded as extremely foolish, to say the least." (12/03/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Minorities, » History, » Romania
All available articles from » Alex Avram

A year ago, on 11 March 2011, an earthquake measuring nine on the Richter scale shook Japan, triggering a tsunami and a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Around 16,000 people died, with 3,000 still listed as missing. Despite being a country that is used to earthquakes, this time Japan is left with many traumas to overcome, the daily newspaper Diário de Notícias writes: "It will be a long time before all the wounds have healed and the region north of Tokyo returns to normal. Many people there still live in improvised homes. These are the people who have no work and have lost their family and friends. The impact of the earthquake was such that even the economy has suffered. The entire chain of production of multinationals like Toyota and Sony has been affected. … The result was a recession and the country's first negative balance of trade in 30 years. … On Sunday Japan held a two-minute silence in memory of the victims. The world, including Portugal, showed its solidarity with the country." (11/03/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Natural disasters, » Natural disasters, » Global, » Japan
Who's saying what » Fears of a nuclear disaster

The nuclear catastrophe at Fukushima began a year ago Sunday, when large parts of Japan's Pacific coastline were devastated by an earthquake followed by a tsunami. The Japanese must learn to adapt their lives to the constant threat of natural disasters, the left-liberal daily The Guardian writes: "Protection against the tsunami threat can be improved; but if sufficient work cannot be done, the plants on the Pacific coast will have to be relocated to the opposite Sea-of-Japan coast that suffers far fewer earthquakes. This could all have been done even before 3/11. In this sense, the nuclear accident was attributable in part to intellectual arrogance and a longstanding but inadequate safety regime. ... Natural disaster, not war, will finally transform Japan's carefree Cold-Ear era collective mind." (11/03/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Natural disasters, » Natural disasters, » Denmark, » Japan
Who's saying what » Fears of a nuclear disaster

The mobile phone company Call Me is currently advertising its services across Denmark with the slogan "Talk properly - it's for free". The conservative daily Berlingske is also in favour of better manners: "Seldom is one tempted to commend an advertising campaign, but Call Me deserves great praise. Because to judge by the tone that prevails in debates on the street and in schools today one could, in dark moments, conclude that Denmark is populated by a load of navel-gazing, self-righteous, unsympathetic egoists. The tone has become irreconcilable, rude and offensive. … Language is an expression of the culture; consequently the way we talk to each other matters. A primitive level of communication is a sign of a primitive level of culture, and we all bear responsibility for raising this level. So listen to the campaign. Take a deep breath and try something new: talk nicely to your children, your loved ones and those around you. It's infectious."    (12/03/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Public Culture, » Society, » Denmark

In a follow-up demonstration to International Women's Day on March 8, roughly 3,000 Polish feminists protested on Sunday against state expenditure on the Church and one-off events like the Euro 2012 football championship. In their opinion the money would be better spent on women's projects. The journalist Agata Nowakowska gives the protesters her full backing in the liberal daily Gazeta Wyborcza, but comments: "Nevertheless I would find it better if the feminists came up with more convincing arguments. For example, that in a secular state abortion must be a fundamental right. Because the Catholics will follow their own consciences regardless. I also have a problem with views of the feminists on Euro 2012. True, I've also wondered if it makes sense to spend two billion złoty [roughly 500 million euros] on the national stadium. But the European championship is a sacred matter for many Poles. In addition it will bring us new roads as well as the modernisation of our railway stations and airports." (12/03/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Gender equality, » Poland
All available articles from » Agata Nowakowska

Right-wing extremists marched through Vilnius on Sunday, the 22nd anniversary of Lithuania's declaration of independence. The state must finally intervene, writes the liberal daily Lietuvos rytas: "Clearly our top politicians have no time for such 'bagatelles' as the call by parliament's Foreign Committee for a clear stand on the so-called patriotic marches. ... The Committee has finally grasped that these marches - and all the problems they entail - not only have a big influence on our country's international reputation, but also on its political position. However only the prime minister has seen fit to react [in a radio interview], while other politicians remain silent. This reserve makes clear in which direction the new Lithuania is bent on heading: in the direction of narrow-minded provincialism." (12/03/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Society, » Lithuania
All available articles from » Vytautas Bruveris

For weeks Bulgarians have been discussing the spiralling egg prices. In the daily Trud the feature writer Mikhail Veshim finds all the fuss somewhat exaggerated: "I have a hard time imagining a British humorist sitting down after a breakfast of bacon and eggs and writing about egg prices. ... But in Bulgaria major political issues hatch from even the smallest of eggs. So our politicians and political scientists are right to brood over them day and night, just to make them palatable for us. Until at Easter we have to celebrate with golden eggs instead of coloured ones. Actually it was a man in the supermarket who hit the nail on the head: 'Eggs are so expensive in Bulgaria because our political commentators outnumber our hens.' And as things look soon more humorists will prefer to sharpen their wits on hens than on people. ... But please don't blame us for that. After all, what we really want is to munch ham and eggs like our British colleagues. Unfortunately we can't afford the ham either because we've spent all our money on eggs." (12/03/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Consumers, » Economy, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Mihail Veshim