‘France: 24% — the frightening poll’
PARIS | By François Bazin at Le Nouvel Observateur via Presseurop | “For the first time,” the Front National (FN) has taken the lead in a survey of voting intentions in France, reports an Le Nouvel Observateur.
In Europe
Germany: Full of Easter promise?
BERLIN | By Cicero via Presseurop | “I’m sorry. They are still talking about it. Maybe HE will bring you a new government.”
Spain- Migration and Frustration
MADRID | By Alex García.
Lampedusa Tragedy: The Deadly Cost of Tighter Border Controls
BRUSSELS | By Hein de Haas at De Morgen via Presseurop | The calls for stricter border controls, which are echoing throughout Europe, will increase rather than decrease the risk of tragedies such as the Lampedusa disaster, argues an immigration expert. That is why the EU should first reform its asylum policy.
Post-Collapse Iceland: Capital Controls, Government Action – and (Possible) Creditor Counteractions
LONDON | By Sigrún Davíðsdóttir | There is yet no clear plan in sight as to how to deal with the estates of the failed banks and, eventually, lifting the capital controls in Iceland. However, the fact that the government has declared it intends to use a given “wind-fall” from the estates indicates that there is a certain wish(ful thinking). The question is how this “wish” will materialise – and most of all, if the creditors will stage some counteraction, either as a group or single creditors, to seek to claim their foreign assets in foreign courts.
European Elections 2014: Fear of a Growing Protest Vote
PARIS | By Alain Salles at Le Monde via Presseurop | The success of Europhobic parties in member states will likely pave the way for a surge in support for Eurosceptics in next May’s European elections. Their favourite topics — immigration, austerity and the rejection of Brussels — already dominate the campaigns.
‘This crisis will be followed by a European Renaissance’
AMSTERDAM | By Geert Mak via Presseurop | The political and institutional crisis in Europe will trigger the emergence of a new balance in the relationships between European institutions themselves, and the EU and its citizens.
The ECB waits for Merkel
MADRID | By JP Marin Arrese | These days, the EU institutions remain on standby mode till Angela Merkel steps in. The ECB is no exception. It is switched on but not actually working. Europe is waiting for the new German government to set the new agenda’s content and rhythm. Only then, substantive decisions could be taken.
The twilight of Il Cavaliere
TURIN | By Marcello Sorgi at La Stampa via Presseurop | Silvio Berlusconi, repudiated by some of his associates, who forced him to back the vote of confidence in the Enrico Letta government, and in the process of being ousted from the Senate – a committee is to decide on October 4 whether he should be stripped of his seat – Il Cavaliere is moving towards an inevitable exit from the political stage.
Typo Adds 10bn to Spanish Public Debt
MADRID | The Corner Team | A typo can come very expensive. One tiny graphical error boosted Spain’s 2014 public debt forecast by 10 billion euros ($13.6 billion), the government admitted on Thursday. After announcing the figure to the world, they took four days to issue a correction.