euro|topics - Mário Soares

07/09/2008

English
Deutsch
Français

Soares, Mário

Mário Soares, one the founder of the Portuguese social party, served as Prime Minister of Portugal and subsequently as President of Portugal from 1986 to 1996. Between 1999 and 2004 he was a Delegate at the European Parliament

3 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.

El País - Spain | 20/05/2008

Reacting to the neo-liberalism crisis

In the Spanish daily El País, Mário Soares, former Prime Minister and President of Portugal, analyses the need to find an answer to the crisis of the neo-liberal economic model which originated in the US: "Neo-liberalism ... is dead. Like the former Soviet Union it has been defeated by its own inherent contradictions. And the impact of the US's multiple crises is reaching Europe at a time of political and strategic paralysis that is preventing it from reacting. How can Angela Merkel, a fervent European, bolster Europe when faced with the disastrous trio made up by Brown, Sarkozy and Berlusconi? Only the joint mobilisation of the European public can prompt ... policy makers to take the necessary steps for regulating globalisation. Forty years ago, in May 1968, we witnessed an unexpected great revolt by students and workers ... that made De Gaulle tremble. ... So let us not lose hope."

Diário de Notícias - Portugal | 06/05/2008

EU paralysis

Former Portuguese President Mário Soares reflects on the state of the European Union: "The political Europe for which I fought and in which I firmly believe is going nowhere. It is deadlocked, and its future is uncertain. It suffers from the paralysis - not to say mediocrity - of certain politicians. The citizen's Europe has become an illusion, although the European Parliament gained consistency and credibility over the last legislative period. Nevertheless, everyone seems to be waiting for better times that refuse to materialise. ... That is why no one talks about the future. They only talk about overcoming current catastrophes. ... The various crises - in the economy, energy policy, the environment and now food supplies - become intertwined and aggravated as a result of the general inability to meet them with innovative proposals. ... The world lacks an active EU which is sure of its role as a global player. But how can Europe be a global player when its key politicians show and entire lack of dynamism and political will and are incapable of giving the slightest indication of where we should go from here?"

Diário de Notícias - Portugal | 12/02/2008

Sarkozy's style isn't gaining traction with the French

Former socialist President of Portugal, Mario Soares, comments on the sliding popularity ratings of the French President. "Six months were enough for the French, with their Cartesian reason, to understand that the erratic, worrying and unpredictable Nicolas Sarkozy is very likely to be a disaster for France. In six months, the man and the style have not resonated with the French. ... On one hand the exhibitionism that he displays with his train of successive women is unprecedented for a head of state, and on the other, his inability to fufil his election promises, particularly with reference to purchasing power, explains why he has lost the confidence of the French so quickly. The growing unease of the right, who feel that they've made a mistake, and the coming municipal elections will do the rest... But, you have to admit that Sarkozy's loss of prestige has not been good for the European Union, despite the little sympathy that we have for this character."

» Index of Authors

Bookmark this page at