Marine Le Pen, head of the extreme right-wing Front National, received roughly 18 percent of the vote in the first round of the French presidential elections, more than her father did in 2002. France will have to do more to fight the far right, writes the left-liberal daily Libération: "The extreme right in France has never been this strong. ... France has not escaped the destiny of other European countries, where populism has adopted a 'new look' but is still just as noxious in terms of its content. This extreme right is increasingly popular with voters, and what's more is sweeping the conservative parties along in its wake. Faced with this new political situation the task is now clear: an answer must be found to the uncertainty and anger of large parts of the population, without betraying the values of the Republic. A positive solution for the economic, social and moral crises must be found in proposing a viable future for the country, instead of catering to the myth of a France that can only survive by retreating into its past and sealing off its borders." (23/04/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Elections, » France, » Europe
All available articles from » Nicolas Demorand

An electoral victory for the French Socialists on May 6 could render Europe even more unstable, the conservative daily El Mundo fears: "Never has a French presidential election been followed as closely by the rest of Europe as this one. This is because a victory for Hollande - more likely than ever after yesterday - could mean a change in EU economic policy vis-à-vis the crisis. The Merkel-Sarkozy tandem that prescribed the stability pact as the indispensable medicine for the ailing economies on Europe's periphery could be dissolved at the will of France's voters. The French Socialists' programme is not compatible with that of the German chancellor. ... Some see thus as an advantage for Spain because it would have more time to reduce the budget deficit, meaning fewer cuts. But they fail to see that such a situation would also lead to internal instability as well as political and financial turbulence within the EU. And that is the last thing the Spanish economy needs right now." (23/04/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Elections, » France, » Europe

Nicolas Sarkozy's second place in the first round of the presidential elections in France is also a defeat for German politics, writes the left-liberal online paper To Vima: "He deserved to be defeated. Because he was elected as president of the French, yet for the last one and a half years he has acted as backing for the Germans. … He was defeated because he has served German politics loyally and without resistance. … One thing is for sure: the people of Europe don't accept the policies imposed on the Eurozone by Germany. … No matter what the outcome of the elections, what happened yesterday in France represents the beginning of the end of Germany's hegemony in Europe. And Berlin knows it." (23/04/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Domestic Policy, » Elections, » Germany, » France, » Europe
All available articles from » Giorgos Malouchos

President Sarkozy is paying for his mistakes, writes the left-liberal daily Süddeutsche Zeitung: "Sarkozy failed to take advantage of the euphoria in 2007 and his superior strength in parliament to renew France. Individual reforms such as raising the retirement age to 62 weren't enough to achieve this. France is weaker than it was five years ago both internally, as a society, and externally as an economic power. … After five years of Sarkozy many French have lost their faith in politics' potential for renewal. They suspect what the state of their country means: more sacrifices for less pay. This is creating fear, frustration and anger, and has led to many citizens supporting anti-European, nationalist demagogues from radical parties. The strong performance of right-wing populist Marine Le Pen is a dark omen for all Europe. The moderate alternative, Socialist Hollande, may win the run-off vote but he can hardly be said to have convinced his fellow countrymen." (23/04/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Elections, » France
All available articles from » Stefan Ulrich

Given the ongoing problems of the Eurozone the conservative daily The Times hopes for a strong European leadership regardless of the second-round outcome of the French elections: "The fundamental problems of the Eurozone - of differing economies straining under the same currency; of universal interest rates but differing inflation; of the inability of troubled economies, such as that of Greece, to devalue - are no closer to being solved. The huge cuts and robust growth required for this ongoing crisis to end are nowhere to be seen. Europe requires dynamic and forceful leadership, at a time when such a thing looks in danger of slipping away. Whether or not the eurozone can continue in its present form, there are long-term structural problems which cannot continue to be expediently ignored." (23/04/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Financial Markets, » Europe

The Netherlands is facing new elections after right-wing populist Geert Wilders refused to give an austerity package his support on Saturday. This fortunately puts an end to the minority government's dangerous experiment with relying on support from Wilders' party, writes the left-liberal daily De Morgen: "The model functioned until the economic crisis forced the Netherlands to make cuts for the second time within a year. At such times the populists withdraw their support. Bold decisions that cost votes are not their thing. The adventure with tolerating [Wilders' party] threatens to end badly for Wilders. His party is divided, and if he's not careful he will end up being blamed for the political crisis. But far more important is that Wilders will likely never be asked to help define the country's course again. The Netherlands are clean once more - good News for all Dutch politicians, entrepreneurs, diplomats and tourists who have had to justify the deplorable acts of this Islamophobic loudmouth." (23/04/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Integration, » Netherlands
All available articles from » Koen Vidal

The Dutch minority government is facing collapse after the right-wing populist Geert Wilders torpedoed negotiations on a 14 billion euro austerity package on Saturday. In view of the financial crisis in the country a compromise needs to be found, and quick, writes the left-liberal daily De Volkskrant: "The damage can only be repaired if the government adopts a new stance. The outstretched hand which Prime Minister Rutte so generously promised the opposition must now really be offered in a final attempt to find an answer to the crisis. The prime minister should show humility in the hope that others will decide to do business with him. It's pointless to cling to the strict three-percent budget rule because he knows that the opposition rejects it. This is also the opposition's responsibility. Overcoming the crisis can't wait until new elections are held. A compromise must be reached among the parties. ... This will require politicians who are willing to give and take." (23/04/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Fiscal Policy, » Netherlands
All available articles from » Raoul du Pré

The three parties forming the Czech centre-left government annulled their coalition agreement on Sunday owing to their inability to achieve a parliamentary majority. A bribery scandal had previously caused a major rift within the smallest coalition party. Head of government Petr Nečas is seeking new backing in parliament in an attempt to avoid new elections. But this is the wrong approach, the left-leaning daily Pravda warns: "Reforms are without doubt necessary. But those in the Czech Republic have a major flaw - the country is getting deeper and deeper into debt. And the fight against corruption is not producing results - there's been one scandal after another, leaving the government with little legitimacy. To top it all it no longer has a secure parliamentary majority after the quarrelling within the smallest coalition partner. A government in such bad shape is ready for the chop. Because it is incapable of self-reflection, more than 100,000 demonstrators forced it to look in the mirror [at a trade union demonstration on Saturday]. This was not just a union affair. The fact that two-thirds of Czechs want new elections is proof that the government has lost the confidence of the people." (23/04/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Economic Policy, » Unions, » Czech Republic
All available articles from » Marián Repa

The theory of Nobel laureate in economics Paul Krugman that Europe is committing economic suicide is wrong according to Guido Rossi. In the business paper Il Sole 24 Ore, the legal expert rejects Krugman's theory that Europe's only alternative now is to dissolve the monetary union: "Dear Mr Krugman, the euro is not a barbaric relic, like the gold standard in the 1930s. Your comparison doesn't work. On the contrary, it is the common currency of a Europe that will only save itself if it relentlessly continues its process of integration by underpinning the euro with a common financial and fiscal policy and at the same time working towards a federalised Europe, a United States of Europe. Because only then can the European Central Bank be granted the true powers of a central bank and begin to issue common European bonds, euro bonds. ... Whether US politicians and intellectuals like it or not, this is Europe's only path out of the crisis." (22/04/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU treaties, » Fiscal Policy, » Europe
All available articles from » Guido Rossi
Who's saying what » Ways out of the debt crisis

Human rights organisations are protesting against the holding of the Eurovision Song Contest in Azerbaijan in May and the Ice Hockey World Championships in Belarus in 2014 on the grounds that such events support the local dictatorships. Claes Arvidsson of the Svenska Dagbladet disagrees: "Certainly, the Eurovision Song Contest is a great opportunity for propaganda, but it also makes it possible to debunk such propaganda and show the reality behind the façade. Because it focuses the public eye on oppression that would otherwise go practically unnoticed. And in my view the same holds for the Ice Hockey World Championships, which is why I'm against relocating the tournament to another country. Of course, hockey gives the dictator Lukashenko a perfect propaganda tool, but at the same time it puts Minsk in the spotlight. ... In short, I support the campaign to prevent Lukashenko from holding the Championships, but I don't want it to be successful." (23/04/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Human rights, » Europe, » Azerbaijan, » Belarus
All available articles from » Claes Arvidsson

According to the Center for the Study of Democracy in Sofia, the Bulgarian mafia makes around 1.75 billion euros in annual profits. It should really be considered a partner of the government, the daily Sega writes caustically: "Despite the huge efforts undertaken to fight organised crime, the mafia bosses just sit back and count the money as it rolls in. They launder it in key economic sectors and even through government contracts. Meanwhile not a single police officer, border guard or tax inspector has been arrested. And it's even less likely that a corrupt politician, minister or member of parliament will land behind bars or lose their ill-gotten gains. That being the case, does it make any sense at all to ask who has the upper hand: the mafia or the state? And why do we even think of them as enemies? As we can see, they've been working together peacefully for years." (22/04/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Crime, » Economy, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Alexander Alexandrov

More than 70 years after the Katyn massacre, the European Court of Human Rights ruled last Monday that Russia was guilty of treating the relatives of the Katyn victims inhumanely. According to the left-liberal daily Delo the signal this verdict sends is important not just for Poland but also for the states of former Yugoslavia, which are still trying to track down war criminals: "They are seeking in vain because most countries still don't recognise the non-applicability of statutes of limitation on war crimes. Only a third of the members of the United Nations have signed this document - and none of the G8 countries have done so. This speaks volumes about the attitude towards war crimes in today's world. Numerous respected states have many sins on their consciences, stemming from World War II as well as later conflicts. For this reason these countries don't want their high-ranking officers and leading politicians to have to answer for their acts in court. ... The Katyn case demonstrates that it's not too late and that war crimes never come under the statute of limitations." (23/04/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Crises / War, » Justice, » Society, » Poland, » South East Europe
All available articles from » Branko Soban

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange made his TV debut with his new talk show The World Tomorrow aired on the Russian state-run channel Russia Today (RT). His first guest on the show was of all people the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. This choice of guest and Assange's cooperation with the propagandist TV channel make clear what he is really fighting against, the liberal daily Lietvos rytas comments: "Assange bitterly hates the West. Only the naïve could believe that he was bravely fighting for the truth with his website Wikileaks. … For Russia it's all the better when the West (and especially the US) is doing badly. And when a fighter against the alleged evils so obviously positions himself behind the Kremlin flag, it should be clear to everybody what this battle is about and what those evils are." (23/04/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Media, » Russia, » Global
All available articles from » Andrius Užkalnis