For the business newspaper Hospodářské noviny the changeover of power in Germany's Social Democratic Party comes as no surprise: "The historically poor poll results have forced the SPD to take action. Now Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Franz Müntefering, two former confidants of ex-Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, have been brought in to end this downwards spiral. The outgoing party leader Kurt Beck, whom Germans consider too unpredictable, has been blamed for the decline. Above all they accuse him of constant manoeuvring in the question of cooperation with the extreme left at a state level. ... The SPD feels its opponents are pushing it into a corner. With her social policies Chancellor Angela Merkel is wooing away the party's voters from the centre. Meanwhile, the Marxist Left Party is successfully poaching voters from the left periphery of the SPD. In Saarland the Left has taken over the SPD in the opinion polls. The question is how to deal with these developments." (08/09/2008)

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All available articles from » Jiří Sládek

For Heribert Prantl, domestic political expert at the daily Süddeutsche Zeitung, the change of leadership in the SPD has all the qualities of a putsch. "It was to be as quiet putsch, one Kurt Beck could endure with a smile. But that is a talent Beck does not have. Enough was enough for him, and that is only understandable. ... Steinmeier did not betray Beck - he simply took the reigns from his hands. He did not even try to make it look like Beck had named him as chancellor candidate, traditionally the privilege of the chairman. ... In so doing he denied Beck the opportunity of presenting the candidacy as his own decision, which would have in some way buttressed his role as party leader. ... Steinmeier, former majordomo and castellan to power-politician Gerhard Schröder, has submitted his political journeyman's piece. He acted as if Schröder had guided his hand. ... But a coup like this is a long way from making him a charismatic politician. He is as uncharismatic as Angela Merkel - and in this respect the competition between the two is highly interesting." (08/09/2008)

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All available articles from » Heribert Prantl

The Corriere della Sera describes the exchange of blows in the SPD as "a top-down revolution dictated by desperation. ... Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Foreign Minister and Vice-Chancellor in the grand coalition, is popular, but he lacks the support of the grass roots. He has no party fiefdom. Steinmeier is a reformer, but he is close to former chancellor Gerhard Schröder and his appointment pulls the party back into the centre after the back-and-forth course of Kurt Beck. His weakness lies in the fact that he has never been elected and has no experience in domestic politics. His candidacy means no shortage of difficulties for the grand coalition: Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Vice-Chancellor Steinmeier will face off in the 2009 elections. They must work together in government and compete against one another on the electoral stage." (08/09/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Germany
All available articles from » Danilo Taino

The daily Delo comments on the impact the change in leadership in the SPD will have on German foreign policy. "A single day was sufficient to end the abundant uncertainties and speculation of the past year within the SPD. ... The decision to nominate Steinmeier as the SPD candidate for the chancellorship will lend fresh impetus to Germany's domestic politics. ... Things will get interesting particularly in the area of foreign policy, because Steinmeier and German Chancellor Merkel make no bones about their different opinions on Russia, the US and China. The Social Democrat will 'challenge' the Chancellor in the area of foreign policy and thus in a field where the Chancellor has been able to chalk up a good few successes." (08/09/2008)

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All available articles from » Peter Žerjavič

Leading Slovakian intellectuals including Martin Butora, Grigorij Meseznikov and Miroslav Kusý warn in an open letter published by the liberal daily Sme about the increase in nationalistic and racist rhetoric used by leading Slovakian politicians. The letter was a reaction to a renewed volley of anti-Hungarian verbal abuse by Jan Slota, head of the co-ruling National Party, as well as anti-Semitic comments made in parliament. "We have been observing this trend with concern for some time now. And even more worrying is the fact that xenophobic speeches have failed to draw unequivocal condemnation from Slota's coalition partners. On the contrary, a number of politicians have simply played things down. Political culture is thus sinking to a dangerous level in Slovakia. Nationalist rhetoric has become a political weapon that panders to the most primitive feelings and negative stereotypes. And if it becomes clear that this weapon is effective, other politicians will use it in confrontation with their rivals. ... We appeal to the general public not to remain silent about this." (08/09/2008)

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All available articles from » Martin Butora

In the aftermath of the war in the Caucasus the UN International Criminal Court has launched an inquiry against Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili. The daily Sega criticises the West's hesitant stance regarding his actions. "The EU waited until September 3 to accuse Saakashvili, when the European Parliament passed a resolution on Georgia. In its assessment the EU dryly observes that the attack occurred at night when people were sleeping and unable to bring themselves to safety. ... Why ... in view of the facts at our disposal, was there no immediate confession to what the whole world saw? Because the facts point to a breach of international law by Georgia, which is officially a friend of the EU and a candidate for NATO membership. ... The anti-Russian climate in some of the larger countries will probably lead to so many delays in the investigation that it will no longer be up-to-date. ... But regardless of the outcome, the very fact that Saakashvili is the object of the inquiry is enough to discredit him as a standard-bearer for democracy in the Caucasus." (08/09/2008)

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All available articles from » Svetoslav Tersiev

"Spain could soon pass a law making euthanasia legal," writes the daily La Repubblica commenting on the discussion about the introduction of a law on assisted suicide. "[Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez] Zapatero avoided the subject in his election manifesto in March, probably out of fear that it could draw criticism from the Church. But since the Socialists' party conference in July, where the importance of a dignified death was underlined, the government suddenly seems to be in a hurry and has now made the unpleasant term 'assisted suicide' part of its vocabulary. To carry out the reform it will be necessary to amend the penal law under which assisting suicide is illegal in Spain today. ... The legal commission will need 18 months to pave the way for the amendment, which means it would come two years before the end of the current legislative period. This is plenty of time to pass the new law in parliament. [Thus] in Spain similar regulations could soon enter force to those in the Netherlands and Belgium, where doctors have the option of helping patients to commit suicide if that is the patient's express wish." (08/09/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Health Policy, » Weltanschauung, » Spain
All available articles from » Alessandro Oppes

Plans by the German government to draw attention to the expulsion of Germans from Eastern Europe with a "visible sign" are to be implemented in a new foundation entitled "Flight, Expulsion, Reconciliation". Erika Steinbach, chairwoman of the League of German Expellees, demanded on Saturday in Berlin that her league should have the sole right to name its three representatives to the new foundation. Rzeczpospolita comments: "This categorical statement was made by someone who had announced at the annual meeting of the German expellees that there had been a system of forced labour in Central Europe after the war in which Germans suffered under Poles and Czechs. ... When [Polish Prime Minister] Donald Tusk's cabinet retracted Poland's clear No (expressed by the previous government under Jarosław Kaczyński) to the 'visible sign' last February, it appeared that the German side would strive to distance Erika Steinbach from the project. ... Today nothing points to Chancellor Angela Merkel having succeeded in distancing the ambitious Erika Steinbach. Could it be that the German [ruling conservative party] CDU is not aware of the possible negative consequences of the interpretation of history Steinbach gave on Saturday? ... And what does the Polish government have to say about it?" (08/09/2008)

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All available articles from » Piotr Semka

As a result of the conflicts in South Ossetia and over the Azerbaijani enclave Nagorno-Karabakh the Caucasus has become the main stage for the outbreak of a "Second Cold War", writes Johan Galtung, founder of the peace and development network TRANSCEND in the German weekly Freitag. "The witch-hunt is aimed at the long-term isolation of Russia, India and China - states in which over two-fifths of the world's population live. ... The Caucasus could mutate into a huge battleground if the Cold War II ever turns hot. In this setting it is the outbreak of proxy wars - as were typical before Cold War I - rather than a direct confrontation between the US and Russia that poses the real threat. For instance there are efforts directed at maintaining the territorial conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh virulent and unresolved. ... As such conflicts between states always favour territorial integrity over national self-determination, it is unlikely to provoke international protest. ... A division of the Nagorno-Karabakh region would destabilise the entire area. ... Peace in the Caucasus can only be achieved through exclusion of the great powers and an active Caucasian integration policy. ... I would like to see more responsible state leadership in the Caucasus." (05/09/2008)

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All available articles from » Johan Galtung

Janne Virkkunen, chief editor of Helsingin Sanomat, discusses the phenomenon of electoral fatigue: "Are people losing their faith in representative democracy? It would probably be too early to make such a statement, because electoral participation often seems to rise with social tension. ... There are clear indicators that electoral behaviour is always subject to fluctuation. ... Research has shown that the wish to vote is strongly dependent on individuals' so-called socio-economic status. The higher their eduction and income, the more they can be relied on to vote. ... Another thing that has been clearly demonstrated is the reluctance of young people to go to the polls. These age groups feel frustrated at a perceived lack of influence. ... Lowering the voting age to 16 is [for that reason] highly recommendable. ... It is the parties' duty to foster young peoples' enthusiasm in politics. ... Networks on the Internet are a good way of reaching young people. ... Online electoral campaigns could be the simplest way of raising voter turnout." (08/09/2008)

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All available articles from » Janne Virkkunen

The Internet giant Google is celebrating its tenth birthday. The Guardian expresses doubts about the company's future prospects: "Google started off as a new kind of corporation that people could actually feel a part of. It had the motto 'Don't be evil' - which it now seems to be playing down a bit - and a wonderful mission to make all the information in the world available to anyone. If it succeeds, the whole world will be better-educated. So far it has mainly kept to its principles, despite an ill-advised move to bow to censorship in China. But as it gets bigger, the awesome responsibility of curating the frightening amount of data it collects about us - which the FBI and MI6 can only dream about - becomes overwhelming. Even more urgently, Google's recent deal to let Yahoo adopt its contextual advertising capability means Google could command 90% of the web's contextual advertising. This is a monopoly - and potentially a very unhealthy one. Google, which won admirers through being a David against the Goliath of Microsoft, must be prevented at all costs from becoming a similar monopoly, even though it is giving its products away free." (08/09/2008)

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The US government took complete control of the government sponsored mortgage houses Fannie Mae and Freddi Mac over the weekend in a move to protect them against bankruptcy. El País compares the move with European initiatives: "This intervention in the mortgage banks Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac ... clearly shows that the credit crisis that began a year ago continues unabated. It also reflects the attitudes with which the authorities approach the crisis on either side of the Atlantic . ... The threat to public prosperity is distinctly greater than the authorities initially believed. ... In order to counteract the worst crisis in 15 years, the budget and the extent of public debt, the critical attitudes to the policies of the European Central Bank and the support for joint initiatives within the EU should all be part of the political agenda." (08/09/2008)

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The daily Neatkarīgā Rīta Avīze doubts it makes sense for smaller states to make massive investments in purchasing military technology, arguing that the Caucasus war proves this: "The conflict has compromised the arms policy pursued to date. The small NATO states are guaranteed security if they make large purchases of military equipment from their Western allies. The profits of arms industry have indeed grown, but what about what they provide in return? The Georgian army was ... better equipped than Latvia will be for the next ten years to come. Yet its military was nonetheless unable to defend itself against Russia's attack. Latvia would therefore be completely incapable of defending itself against a potentially stronger opponent with military means." (08/09/2008)

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All available articles from » Juris Paiders

A Ramadan festival is being held in the Netherlands during the Muslim month of fasting. The aim is to provide a venue for encounters between the Dutch and Muslims and the festival is financed by the state. The political weekly Elsevier writes that state funding for the project must stop: "The state is using Ramadan to promote the multicultural ideal. The authorities consider this goal important enough to warrant them covering between a quarter and 30 percent of the costs for the Ramadan festival. ... Very odd. It is particularly odd that non-Muslims are being encouraged to get to know Islamic culture instead of the other way round. One would expect Muslims to be called on to familiarise themselves with the Judeo-Christian culture predominant in the Netherlands. And it is odder still that the state is using a religious festival to promote the controversial multicultural ideal. After all, the separation of church and state has been established in the Netherlands for two centuries now. ... The state should keep its fingers off Ramadan." (08/09/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Cultural Policy, » Religion, » Integration, » Netherlands
All available articles from » Robert Stiphout

A court in northern France has postponed a trial against a burglar because it was due to take place during Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. The daily Le Figaro considers this the wrong approach: "It is to be hoped that the decision of the court presidency in the department of Ille-et-Vilaine will trigger a wave of protest. For it represents a threat to the very fundaments of united secular France. ... No one would dispute that the judicial system should also show a humane face. But it should not take account of individual cases or the religious, communitarian or personal demands of the accused. ... The practice of Islam is often criticised. Forbidding its public display is not anti-Islamist but rather eases the integration of millions of Muslims from other countries that live here." (06/09/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Integration, » France
All available articles from » Yves Thréard