The disempowerment of Egypt's top military commanders by the new President Mohammed Mursi is an important step toward democracy, although the new political appointments also include military and religious figures, writes the conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: "Mursi is taking very seriously his plan to radically change the order that emerged after the military putsch in 1952. The republic over which generals Nasser, Sadat and Mubarak ruled as presidents was firmly founded upon the military, the judiciary and the Islamic al-Azhar University. … All three institutions are now to maintain a distance from politics. The separation could give the new and still unstable democracy room to develop. However the demarcation lines are not clear. The new defence minister is also a general, Mursi named a well established secular judge concerned for the independence of the judiciary as vice-president, while the head of al-Azhar University was named minister for religious affairs." (14/08/2012)

» ir al artículo completo (enlace externo, alemán)
Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política interior, » Egipto
Todos los textos disponible de » Rainer Hermann
Cobertura de debates » El mundo árabe lucha por la libertad

That Egypt's new President Mohammed Mursi has managed to divide the army and involve members of the military council in its own loss of power opens the door for the country to be converted into an Islamist state, the liberal-conservative daily Die Presse fears: "The hit was well calculated and clean. The Islamists managed to divide the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces using a Machiavellian trick. It was the youngest member of the army leadership who opened the doors to the rulers' armoury for the Muslim Brothers. Because they had promised him, the ambitious and god-fearing [new Defence Minister] Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, the top job in the military. The Islamists are following their own general staff plan. Bit by bit they are clearing away the detritus of the Mubarak dictatorship. Last week the president got rid of the chief of the intelligence service. Next he'll take the judicial system to task. There has already been a shake up in the state media. Everything is prepared for Phase II: transforming Egypt into an Islamist state. Who can stop the Muslim Brothers at this point?" (14/08/2012)

» ir al artículo completo (enlace externo, alemán)
Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Crisis / Guerras, » Política interior, » Egipto
Todos los textos disponible de » Christian Ultsch
Cobertura de debates » El mundo árabe lucha por la libertad

Now that Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Mursi has disempowered the army leadership and strengthened his own position in in doing so, it will become clear who really wields the power in the country, the liberal daily Savon Sanomat comments: "At least on Monday, there was not yet any sign in Egypt that the army would take action against the measures. ... The fact that the army is remaining calm very likely means that Mursi's step met with the approval of the military council. ... Mursi's measures were described as revolutionary on Monday by the Egyptian papers, which speak of a victory of Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood over the army. If that really is the case, the old government has definitively lost its influence over Egypt's development. Now it will be clear who really rules the country, President Mursi or the Muslim Brotherhood, of which Mursi was the presidential candidate." (14/08/2012)

» ir al artículo completo (enlace externo, finés)
Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política interior, » Religión, » Ideología, » Egipto
Cobertura de debates » El mundo árabe lucha por la libertad

In view of the heavy fighting over the Syrian economic hub Aleppo, the rebels once again demanded a no-fly zone on Monday. But the chances of that going through are slim because Syria is not at all comparable to Libya writes the liberal daily Sme: "The Western governments, which must respect the sensitive public opinion in their countries regarding the potential loss of soldiers, would not send their planes into Syrian airspace without previously having shut down the country's air raid defence potential. Assad has a stronger and better-equipped army and more effective anti-aircraft defences than Gaddafi. It would take a massive attack to neutralise them. And even if the most precise missiles were used it would still entail civilian casualties. ... Furthermore the West does not want to be caught up in hostilities. Syria is not a second Libya. The West doesn't even have precise information on what type of people it is supporting in the country." (14/08/2012)

» informaciones adicionales (enlace externo, eslovaco)
Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Relaciones internacionales, » Crisis / Guerras, » Global, » Libia, » Siria
Todos los textos disponible de » Peter Morvay
Cobertura de debates » Civil war raging in Syria

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's choice of congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate in the race for the US presidency is a risky move, writes the left-liberal daily De Volkskrant: "With Ryan Romney takes a swerve to the right while it is the political centre that will decide who wins the presidency. Romney is running the risk of driving voters still hesitating between him and Obama straight into his democratic rival's arms. Ryan's ideas on dismantling the welfare state are eyed with suspicion not just by independent voters but also by a good few Republicans. Obama can exploit fears that the social programme for the old and poor will fall victim to Ryan's austerity dictates. … What's more, Romney could lose his most important weapon in the election campaign: his argument that the elections must focus above all on jobs. With Ryan, an ideological debate about the welfare state could smother the debate on the economy. Obama certainly won't be unhappy about that." (14/08/2012)

» informaciones adicionales (enlace externo, holandés)
Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política interior, » Elecciones, » EE.UU.
Todos los textos disponible de » Cor Speksnijder

The killing spree by the Norwegian Anders Behring Breivik in Oslo and on the island of Utøya could have been stopped far earlier because the police could have taken action against the attacker much sooner. That is the conclusion of a report presented by a commission on Monday in Oslo. The liberal daily Göteborgs-Posten urges: "We in Sweden must learn a lesson from the events in Norway. We must be on the alert and be quicker to detect plans for acts of terror. ... We must adopt a preventive approach. Of course we'll never be able to have one hundred percent protection. The fight against terrorism must not be allowed to make our democratic society less open. This is a balancing act that demands constant attention and discussion. But the report from Norway shows that simple and well-conceived routine manoeuvres can considerably enhance security." (14/08/2012)

» ir al artículo completo (enlace externo, sueco)
Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política interior, » Delincuencia, » Suecia
Cobertura de debates » Consecuencias de un atentado

EU Commission boss José Manuel Barroso on Friday called on the Romanian government to quickly present the required electoral lists to the Constitutional Court, enabling the Court to reach a decision about the validity of the referendum on President Traian Băsescu's impeachment. Noting the gruff response of the Romanian government the news portal Ziare fears repercussions: "One thing is for sure, Romania can say goodbye to any hope of joining the Schengen Area this year. Before the summer only the Netherlands was against it, but now there are more opponents, above all Germany. If the USL [ruling alliance] continues behaving this way the judicial progress report also announced for this year will be as disastrous as the one presented in July. Then it's highly likely that Schengen membership will be delayed for years, not months. If the Ponta government continues to be as stubborn and insulting to the EU Commission there may be a terrible debut: the application of Article 7 of the EU treaty and the suspension of rights it entails." (14/08/2012)

» ir al artículo completo (enlace externo, rumano)
Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política de la UE, » Política interior, » Justicia, » Europa, » Rumania
Todos los textos disponible de » Ioana Ene
Cobertura de debates » Power struggle in Romania

A growing number of people, particularly in Eastern Europe, are questioning democracy as a state form, writes the economist László Bogár in the right-wing conservative daily Magyar Hírlap. That's because democracy is basically a dictatorship that concentrates power in the hands of a small elite ruling over the unsuspecting masses, Bogár comments: "The idea of social equality is exclusively a characteristic of Western modernity. The proclamation 'all men are created equal' hides nothing more than the goal of giving dictatorial power to a small elite with the help of infinitely manipulable masses. With egalitarian democracy the transparency of state power was abrogated. ... Today decisions are taken in the name of a society where 'everyone is equal'. However this social equality is also manifested in the fact that the people are completely uninformed - and thus infinitely manipulable. The so-called democratic counterweights change nothing in this, as the institutions that are supposed to function as counterweights and controls are in the hands of the the cynical and unscrupulous elite, and consequently part of the manipulative system. Ever since its inception, Western democracy has been one of the most insidious and refined dictatorships in world history." (14/08/2012)

» ir al artículo completo (enlace externo, húngaro)
Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Global
Todos los textos disponible de » László Bogár

The Polish financial services company Amber Gold (AG), which is currently under attack for promising investors unrealistic yields, on Monday announced the dissolution of its parent company. At the same time the company pledged that every investor would get his money back. In view of the business practices of AG so far this is highly unlikely, writes Adam Grzeszak of the left-liberal news portal Polityka Online: "The legend of fast money comes across like a marketing gambit aimed at making AG look like a serious company. In addition the business model was supposed to look reliable. In reality it was only initially - when prices for commodities were rising - that the company had any chance of making a profit. After that the trick became a considerable burden. According to [finance portal] Money.pl, AG would have to contribute 200 zloty [50 euros] for every 1,000 zloty [240 euros] invested in gold last November to pay out the promised yield [of 14 percent]. … Nonetheless I believe that even in the future dubious financial service companies will always be able to find customers because there will always be people who are naïve." (14/08/2012)

» ir al artículo completo (enlace externo, polaco)
Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Consumidor, » Mercado de finanzas, » Delincuencia, » Polonia
Todos los textos disponible de » Adam Grzeszak

According to a survey published by the Dresden Chamber of Industry and Commerce on the weekend, the number of Czech tourists coming to shop in and around the city is continually growing. The average Czech family spends almost 200 euros per trip, 50 euros more than two years ago. The conservative daily Lidové noviny sees the higher value-added tax in the Czech Republic as a reason for this trend: "The Finance Minister's efforts to reduce the country's budget deficit by raising VAT are commendable. But people aren't behaving according to the Ministry's plan. While local retailers complain of sinking demand, in Dresden the shopkeepers are rubbing their hands in glee. In the past only people from the border region made the trip to Saxony. But nowadays one in three shopping tourists comes from Prague. Even people from Moravia are undeterred by the prospect of driving hundreds of kilometres. Many goods are considerably cheaper and of better quality in Germany. Because the media regularly put out price comparisons word has got around about Germany being cheaper. So any rise in VAT encourages people to get in their cars and go on a shopping spree." (14/08/2012)

» informaciones adicionales (enlace externo, checo)
Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política financiera, » Comercio, » Consumidor, » Alemania, » La República Checa
Todos los textos disponible de » Lenka Zlámalová

An Iraqi immigrant was attacked and fatally injured on the street in Athens on Sunday. The police are searching for five suspects, but refuse to comment on whether the culprits could belong to the extreme-right party Chrysi Avgi. The news portal Protagon demands that the police finally take action against racist attacks and investigate cases of sympathisers with the far right in their own ranks: "Many democratically-minded citizens associate the inefficiency of the police in fighting racist crimes with the ties of some police officers to right-wing extremist groups and fascist ideas. ... Will we allow Neonazis and a couple of idiots to turn our society into a jungle? Or will democracy finally make its presence felt and severely punish those who attempt to take the law into their own hands? For this to happen the Greek police must be politically neutral and more sensitive to migrants. ... If that is too much to ask of our police, the state must look for other officers who want - and are able - to do just that." (14/08/2012)

» ir al artículo completo (enlace externo, griego)
Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Migración, » Delincuencia, » Justicia, » Grecia
Todos los textos disponible de » Nikos Bistis

Paolo Gabrieli, the former butler of Pope Benedict XVI, must stand trial for theft before a Vatican court, a spokesman for the Vatican announced on Monday, saying that the evidence and a confession were enough to bring charges against him. The Church is trying to trivialise the affair but it won't succeed, the left-liberal daily La Repubblica contends: "What we are now being presented with is a poor wretch who committed a tiny mistake rather than a cool conspirator - a repentant sinner who should be forgiven as quickly as possible. … Does the Vatican really believe that it will be able to put paid to this controversy with a trial and presumably a paternally mild punishment? There are a series of factors that have been plaguing the conscience of Catholics and others all over the world for some time now. …. The opening of the main proceedings can't answer all the questions pertaining to the Vatican and its internal power struggle. And less still can it drive away the dark clouds that have been gathering over the Vatican's finances for some time. One thing is certain - this is just the beginning." (14/08/2012)

» informaciones adicionales (enlace externo, italiano)
Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política financiera, » Delincuencia, » Justicia, » Vaticano
Todos los textos disponible de » Adriano Prosperi

High temperatures and a persistent drought have led to widespread forest fires in Spain this summer. The conservative daily ABC warns of the dangers of neglecting forest fire prevention in these times of tight budgets: "This summer the statistics are very bad: the flames have already destroyed 133,000 hectares of forest, more than three times as much as last summer. The scenario is horrifying, whether on the Canaries, in Alicante or in other regions. We urgently need a proper prevention policy. At the same time the penalties for arson must be more severe and cooperation between the competent authorities improved. Even in times of public spending cuts it is vital to make prevention of forest fires a top priority for the common good." (14/08/2012)

» informaciones adicionales (enlace externo, español)
Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Medio ambiente, » Catástrofes naturales, » Catástrofes naturales, » España

The London Olympic Games have demonstrated that Britain can be a great host even in times of crisis, writes the liberal daily The Financial Times: "One of the enduring aspirations of post-imperial Britain has been to remain an important player on the world stage. … The fear, however, is that Britain is like an ageing athlete who has pulled out one last big performance for the Olympics but whose long-term decline is unavoidable. In that case, the London games would not be like Barcelona or Beijing but more like Athens in 2004: a splendid party that is now a bittersweet memory for a troubled country. In reality, the message and the legacy of the London games is likely to be more complex and equivocal than that of Athens or Beijing. The problems that worried Britain before the games have not suddenly been magicked away by two wonderful weeks. Yet the success of the Olympics has reminded the British that they live in a country that can still succeed on and off the track." (13/08/2012)

» informaciones adicionales (enlace externo, inglés)
Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Olimpiadas, » Sociedad, » Gran Bretaña