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Japon recurso1TC

World economy 20th December 2014

Japanese economy: short-term gain, long term pain?

MADRID | By Luis Arroyo | When many were speaking of a new Japanese recession and the failure of Shinzo Abe’s bold Keynesian policy, his Liberal Democrat Party obtained a sweeping victory at the polls on Sunday. In Europe, the Abenomics are in austerity fans’ crosshairs because if these policies happen to work they would look ridiculous. They were delighted when Japan’s GDP contracted in 3Q. But I’ve been following the Nippon economy for some time and I don’t really rust quarterly figures.

grecia tsipras1TC

In Europe 17th December 2014

Greece: Where did it all go wrong?

ATHENS | By Nick Malkoutzis via MacroPolis | When Greece returned to international bond markets in April this year after a four-year exile, it was trumpeted by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras as another step towards the crisis exit door. “Confidence in our country was confirmed by the most objective judge – the markets,” he said after investors snapped up three billion euros of five-year bonds with a coupon of 4.75 percent. Exactly seven months later, though, the yield on those bonds shot up to almost 10 percent. Suddenly, the markets do not seem so confident. So, what went wrong? 

grecia tsiprasTC

In Europe 16th December 2014

Greek elections: Syriza’s date with history

ATHENS | By Nick Malkoutzis via MacroPolis | Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras is following a well-trodden route by trying to force early elections over the presidential ballot. Several others before him have tried to exploit the loophole in the Greek constitution which means that snap polls have to be held if 180 MPs cannot be found to back a presidential candidate. The most recent opposition leader to follow this tactic was PASOK’s George Papandreou in 2009. 

republicanos victoriaTC

World economy 7th November 2014

In-depth: Republican US Congress? Big budget showdown unlikely

WASHINGTON | BNP Paribas analysts | Republicans won control of US Congress this week. Latest projections suggest the GOP has taken over the Senate. Given that the Republicans are very likely to retain a working majority in the House, we can expect the party to control both houses of Congress at least until the end of 2016. A severe budget showdown is unlikely.

 

PARLAMENO EUROPEO

In Europe 9th May 2014

EU nearer to become a one-voice block

MADRID | By Julia Pastor | For the first time European citizens will elect the successor of the European Commision’s president Jose Manuel Durão Barroso. The upcoming elections of May 25 will have two candidates, one for the socialist party, Martin Schulz, and another for the conservatives, Jean-Claude Juncker. This change of direction is not the result of a reform or a pact in the back room but of a consensus decision. Hopefully, the US could no longer say they don’t have a European direct interlocutor.

Red Green Alliance

In Europe 20th November 2013

Sixth election defeat for Thorning — gains for Red-Green Alliance

COPENHAGUE | By Kim Faber, Tanja Parker Astrup and Jakob Sheikh at Politiken via Presseurop | With 29.5 per cent of the vote, the Social Democrats led by Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt avoided a long-predicted catastrophe in Danish local elections on November 19, reports Politiken.

No Picture

In Europe 23rd September 2013

Analysis: Angela Merkel’s Challenges

MADRID | By Fernando G. Urbaneja | Chancellor Angela Merkel has skilfully governed both Germany and Europe with ambiguity between her pragmatic proposals at home, and her tough declarations outside. Her victory opens a new stage for the German government and for Europe. She has become stronger, although she still needs to seduce.

merkelvictory

In Europe 22nd September 2013

German Elections 2013: Invincible Merkel

FRANKFURT | By Lidia Conde | We saw it coming: today nobody could beat Merkel. No other candidate had won all the opinion polls. The victory of the CDU/CSU with a 42% of votes (according to polls on Sunday), is mainly due to the Chancellor’s charisma. In these times of economic uncertainty, Germans have shown that they do not want experiments nor surprises. She has won the elections saying that Germany is doing well and this Government is the best. No matter whether this is truth or not- the message has passed.