Adam Michnik, editor-in-chief of the daily and a former Solidarnosc activist, has made a surprising turnabout in the lustration dispute. He now calls for the files of the former secret service, which are currently under the control of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), to be made accessible to the general public. "I always held the view that the process of the public rummaging around in the files would lead to an immoral and inadvisible spectacle. And this is exactly what the directors of the Institute of National Remembrance are now doing. We must finally put an end to this nightmarish memory policing... The files should be made accessible to all - with all the terrible consequences this will bring. At least it would be better than the current situation. We must make the files public to end their power over us. A terrible ending is preferable to never-ending terror." (14/05/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política interior, » Historia, » Polonia
Todos los textos disponible de » Adam Michnik

Konrad Schuller approves of the Warsaw constitutional court's decision but comments: "It won't solve the problem of the secret service files. Some of the files have 'disappeared', others are with the IPN [the Institute of National Remembrance]. Files keep 'appearing from nowhere'... Now there are calls to put an end to the 'wild lustration' by letting everyone read everything. Perhaps this step - provided information about people's private lives is adequately protected - is necessary if Poland wants to overcome the current epidemic of suspicion. But one thing must not be forgotten: the files are weapons. They served to discredit the democratic opposition and make it comply. They must never be allowed to serve the same purpose in a free society." (15/05/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política interior, » Historia, » Polonia
Todos los textos disponible de » Konrad Schuller

Tomas Nemecek applauds the fact that parts of the lustration law have been rejected by the constitutional court: "The lustration has basically been a good thing in central and eastern Europe. It served to draw a clear dividing line between old and new governments and cleansed the state apparatus of corruptible individuals. However, the Kaczynski brothers' Polish law is a pure parody. Luckily for Poland, the Kaczynskis have just watched it suffer a major blow at the hands of the constitutional court... The Kaczynskis stretched the good old law to into the private sphere and even to elected representatives. Many intellectuals - the highly-respected dissident Bronislaw Geremek among them - have rejected the law for this reason... Nonetheless, the Kaczynskis continue to enjoy the support of those who see Geremek as nothing more than a liberal professor and ex-communist. The two brothers' attacks on the former establishment will therefore continue." (14/05/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política interior, » Polonia
Todos los textos disponible de » Tomáš Němeček

The daily comments on the invalidation of the lustration law by the Polish constitutional court. "The Kaczynski brothers had justified the legislation [in effect since March 15th] by the fact that the Polish have the right to know the names of those who collaborated with the regime that prevented democracy for decades. ... The Kaczynski brothers now have to decide whether to put an end to this vengeful crusade or to continue in the same direction. Before the court's decision, they had threatened to open up the secret police archives to the public. Whether they do or not, the invalidation of the law is both a setback for their polemical witch-hunt and a warning for all those, anywhere in Europe, who think they can practise politics by rummaging through the past." (15/05/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Ampliación de la UE, » Política interior, » Polonia, » Europa

The Spanish writer Esther Tusquets deplores the multiplication of bans and taboos in society. "I understand that, for cohabitation to be possible, many norms, laws, restrictions and bans are necessary. I regret, however, that instead of applying them with a little flexibility, with minimal common sense, taking into account the circumstances of each case, the agents of the law often apply them rigorously, which probably simplifies their work. And I am surprised to note that the people around me, far from accepting these bans as minor evils, welcome them with unshakeable enthusiasm, delighted to have the opportunity to denounce or reprimand. All this may well have a very civil propose and we may one day be a country as well-ordered as Switzerland. But is it not creating an asphyxiating atmosphere ?" (15/05/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » España
Todos los textos disponible de » Esther Tusquets

The Swiss columnist praises the vitality of Berlin compared to the stasis of Paris. "The German metropolis may indeed be digging budgetary deficits, but it is also radiating spectacular energy: it is transforming, turning towards the future without the least hang-up. ... It is true that the German capital, which counts 3,4 million inhabitants since 1989, has seen half of them leave the city to move towards the west or back to their country of origin, but as many have arrived from all over Germany and abroad. This formidable melting pot has given the city energy undreamt of in Paris's Latin Quarter. It has shaken up all sorts of circles and given everyone a chance. The rush of artists and intellectuals from all over Europe, attracted by the town's spirit and the low cost of rent, has given Berlin vigour in cruel contrast with French navel-gazing spleen. ... It is no surprise that so many young people of all nationalities go to make a life for themselves by the River Spree rather than the Seine.” (10/05/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Arquitectura / Ciudades, » Alemania, » Francia
Todos los textos disponible de » Jacques Pilet

"Serbia and Montenegro have become red spots on the map the Kremlin uses for its geopolitical games. Russia wants the traditionally allied Slavic-Orthodox countries to serve as a foothold in Europe," Andrei Invanyi explains. It remains unclear whether the two countries will turn to the West or the East. "To avoid the nightmare scenario of Russian military bases in Serbia pitched against NATO bases in Kosovo and a non-stop crisis in the Balkans, Brussels has adopted a new last-minute strategy: instead of exerting pressure and imposing conditions it is offering Serbia an unconditional revival of the euro-Atlantic integration processes. In this way it hopes to make the loss of Kosovo more bearable for Belgrade. But Russia's brotherly embrace is growing stronger." (15/05/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política de la UE, » Rusia, » Sudeste de Europa, » Serbia
Todos los textos disponible de » Andrej Ivanji

Ahto Lobyakas approves of the way the Estonian government dealt with the bronze statue dispute, but points out that the fundamental problem of coexistence with the Russian minority in Estonia remains unsolved: "It's obvious that the model of 'integration by granting citizenship' doesn't work. The current model is outdated and the Russian-speaking community has no political representation. But in spite of this we must begin a genuine dialogue, and this can only be done with people who truly represent their group. In Estonia you now have a situation in which the Russian-speaking politicians in the Estonian-speaking political parties don't really represent their ethnic group and the government has no one else to talk to. We must break this vicious circle." (15/05/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política de seguridad / Crisis / Guerras, » Política interior, » Integración, » Estonia, » Rusia
Todos los textos disponible de » Ahto Lobjakas

The Romanian President Traian Basescu, relieved of his duties on April 19th, is now fighting impeachment. The British daily considers that he "retains the trust of voters and will defeat the effort to impeach him in a referendum on Saturday, May 19th. ... 'We will have another Romania after the referendum,' Mr Basescu promises in The Times today. He deserves the chance to fulfil that promise. The EU can help, but only by adhering strictly to the postaccession reform benchmarks it has imposed on the principle that reform is better late than never. It should continue to refuse to recognise Romanian court decisions abroad until the country can demonstrate the robust rule of law at home. Most importantly, Javier Solana, Secretary-General to the Council of the EU, must resist the urge to display largesse in his report next month on the progress of Romanian reform. The release of £1.7 billion in aid this year, and billions more over the next five years, depends on his verdict. It is time for tough love towards Bucharest." (15/05/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Ampliación de la UE, » Política interior, » Europa, » Rumania

"What is the EU for ?" wonders the editorialist Lucio Caracciolo, noting that on numerous occasions the countries that form it prefer to act independently of one another. He fears that the election of Nicolas Sarkozy will do little to improve this situation. "First Romano Prodi, then Giorgio Napolitano - our leaders have adopted a serious tone to warn us about the state of the EU, thus indicating that even at the highest level of the Italian State, it is acknowledged that the crisis that Europe is going through is not only a crisis of expansion, but a real crisis of identity ... . Sarkozy's victory seals the idea of a Europe with 27 gears. The new French president has already confirmed that national interests will guide his action and that he will make a big point of consolidating France in an informal executive board of three: Paris, Berlin and London. Rome, Madrid and Warsaw have been pushed back into a second division". (15/05/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política de la UE, » Italia, » Europa
Todos los textos disponible de » Lucio Caracciolo

"A 'special relationship' between Ankara and the EU, which is being proposed by Mr Sarkozy [France's president-elect] and heartily backed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, is only viable if Turkey itself embraces this option, for its own reasons", notes the Greek columnist Costas Iordanidis. "The Greek government does not back this prospect because it would allow Ankara to gain all the benefits of EU membership without obliging it to cooperate with Greece subject to the principles of good neighborly relations. The Cypriot government has more or less the same stance. ... The entrance of Sarkozy onto the European political stage will prompt an essential slowdown, if not total paralysis, of Turkey's European-bound course. This calls for alertness from Greece's political leadership, which always thought that the European Commission would be able to solve its longstanding problems with Turkey." (15/05/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Ampliación de la UE, » Política de la UE, » Grecia, » Turquía
Todos los textos disponible de » Costas Iordanidis

Nicola Liebert explains that the 'marriage' between the two carmakers Daimler and Chrysler was doomed to failure from the very beginning. She argues that the German luxury brand and the American 'cheap products' never fit together and that the expensive fusion was all about prestige. "Oh, how wonderful they thought themselves in Stuttgart nine years ago: for once a German company was overtaking a US company - rather than the other way round. Out of Swabia and into the big wide world. The US management was quickly disposed of and the Germans took over. That's the way globalisation should be!... But now among other things the reactions of the German and even the American trade unions are proof of how foolish this transatlantic marriage really was: they unanimously celebrated the sale of Chrysler to a private equity group - or in other words the kind of locust that usually fills a work force with panic and fear. Apparently they think anything's better than clinging to an international company whose sole purpose seems to have been to prove to itself that it was somebody in this world." (15/05/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Empresa, » Alemania, » Global
Todos los textos disponible de » Nicola Liebert

Sweden - which like Finland has been an EU member since 1995 - is holding on to its national currency, the Swedish krone. According to Gert Gelotte it would be better off following the example of Finland, which joined the Eurozone in 2002. He points out that in practice Sweden is already implementing the same economic policies as the countries of the Eurozone - without, however, being able to influence the European Central Bank's policies. "For the Finns the euro represented freedom from the past. They know from bitter experience that it's better to seek allies in good times than in bad times. Here in Sweden we live with the illusion that we overcame the catastrophes of the 20th century without help - thus the conclusion that it's better to do one's own thing. History's influence on how we assess the present and what we think about the future is great; so great that the majority of Swedes prefer the illusion of independence to the prospect of co-determining the future." (15/05/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política de la UE, » Política financiera, » Impuestos, » Suecia

Sergio Andrade explores the hysterical climate that has been prevailing in Portugal for ten days following the disappearance of a little English girl. "The television channels have thrown pounced onto the affair and are shamelessly exploiting it. With his back up against the wall, the President of the Republic has had to confess that he is 'worried, whilst maintaining hope'. ... The government has announced that it will pay the parents of the little girl for their enforced stay in Portugal, wrongly endorsing the guilt of the regime and the country's institutions. So whose turn will it be after the president and the government ? Parliament's ? The media is investigating other aspects of the problem as the days go by. They are interviewing Portuguese families with who have suffered the disappearance of a child. All of them note that the police didn't act as strongly as in the present case. What has changed ? The answer can be found in the headline of the 'Jornal de Noticas': 'The country is in search of the little blue-eyed girl'. How strange ! ... These days I feel like I'm seeing Portugal act like a fourth-world country." (15/05/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Medios de comunicación audiovisuales, » Medios de comunicación impresos, » Portugal
Todos los textos disponible de » Sérgio de Andrade

The journalist Sabine Gignoux wonders if the free entrance to national museums that the president-elect Nicolas Sarkozy wants to introduce can democratise museum access. "Free entry indisputably affects the number of visits, at least at the beginning. ... But will there really be an impact on the people from the most modest backgrounds who never cross the threshold of museums that are considered intimidating and elitist ? Or is this simply a bonus for already regular, often well-off visitors ? ... If applied to all national museums, these measures have been estimated by the Direction des Musées de France at a cost of 200 million euros, 6 % of the ministry's budget. Will this ministry be able to keep the presidential promise without asking museums to save money or donors to help out ? Is it all really worthwhile ?" (14/05/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Exposiciones / Museos, » Política Cultural, » Francia
Todos los textos disponible de » Sabine Gignoux

"Who is he ? Who is the man who served as a model for the bronze statue of the Soviet soldier which was moved in Estonia at the end of April creating chaos in the country ? Who is hidden behind this massive monument of a soldier with a powerful chest and an air of virility, head poised in an attitude of contemplation ?" asks Olivier Truc, special correspondent in Tallinn. "Apparently the man who served as a model was not a Russian, but an Estonian. This could change the signification of the soldier's pose. What is he thinking about ? About the sad fate of his country, the deportation of his parents to Siberia ?" The journalist suggests three names: Kristjan Palusalu, an Estonian wrestler, Albert Johannes Adamson, a young worker who lived near En Roos, the Estonian sculptor of the statue, or Vello Rajangu, an Estonian soldier. Aino Saan, one of Enn Roos's daughters, settles the question: "The model is an Estonian soldier of the Red Army, but not any particular one". (15/05/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Historia, » Estonia, » Rusia
Todos los textos disponible de » Olivier Truc