For the first time since Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007 the subject of Europe is practically absent from the campaign agenda, the daily Sega observes: "Europe has found its way onto the list of lost illusions that has been growing since the collapse of communism. None of the parties that are up for election on May 12 present themselves as standard-bearers of the European idea. Even those that have Europe in their name have forgotten why. For the Bulgarian politicians Europe has become a badge they pin on their collars when they travel abroad. They like running off to Brussels to get a confidence boost and feel their own power, while they're despised in their own country. There they can meet up with politicians they know from sister parties who offer them support for reasons of party discipline, particularly ahead of elections." (28/04/2013)

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All available articles from » Svetoslav Tersiev

Despite continuing signs that chemical weapons are being deployed in Syria, the West is still acting with reserve. So far US President Barack Obama has merely demanded a thorough inquiry into the matter. There are enough reasons for caution, the liberal daily Sme contends: "Both from a theoretical and from a moral point of view, the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime would constitute the decisive impetus for the West to openly take action against the dictator in support of the rebels. But the West continues to deliberate the matter. Not just because hardly any reliable information is coming out of Syria. Everyone clearly remembers the example of Iraq. Not only did Saddam have chemical weapons, he also used them. Nevertheless one reason why the US later came under fire was that it was too quick to believe the Iraqi opposition when it said that Saddam still had such weapons [in 2003] and was intent on using them. ... If there is no intervention it will be because no one is ready to take responsibility for yet another powder keg blowing up in the most explosive region in the world." (29/04/2013)

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All available articles from » Peter Morvay
Who's saying what » Civil war raging in Syria

The Icelanders voted the Social Democrats who led them out of the financial crisis out of office on Saturday, electing the centre-right parties instead. The left-leaning daily taz expresses surprise at this turn of events: "Those who do the dirty work can't expect any gratitude in return. So it's not entirely unexpected that the Icelanders have punished the ruling parties who were forced to enact unpopular measures in the aftermath of the financial crash in 2008, and sent them into the opposition. But it's still quite surprising. None of the European crisis countries have been manoeuvred out of a profound financial and economic crisis as successfully as Iceland has. ... The red-green government left the welfare state fairly intact and adopted a course that has given the country the lowest unemployment rates in Europe and relatively high growth. ... There's a certain irony in the fact that the Icelanders have now reinstated the troublemakers in government - the very people who brought misfortune upon the country with their liberalisation programme in the first place. At least they won't be able to cause that kind of damage this time round, because the red-green government has put the banks on a tight leash." (29/04/2013)

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All available articles from » Reinhard Wolff

In Romania the "cooperation pact" between President Traian Băsescu and Prime Minister Victor Ponta is proving increasingly successful. Last Thursday Băsescu even voiced praise for his arch-rival Ponta's economic policy. The conservative daily Romania Libera finds the president's friendly overtures very suspect: "Băsescu is doing this because he doesn't want to depart as a loser, as a politician who was only allowed to finish his term of office because the foreign partners demanded it. He is doing it to be able to have some say in the election of his successor. ... Right now his interests have little to do with those of his country. ... Those who think Băsescu will save us from all the trouble we've brought upon ourselves either deliberately or through our failure to act should get ready to be sorely disappointed." (29/04/2013)

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All available articles from » Dan Cristian Turturică