Revolting Europe
Hollande
Sarkozy 2.0?
By Jacques Sapir Nicolas Sarkozy has just announced his “return to politics” as if he had actually quit. This is not surprising or unusual. We know the man to be a “political animal.” One suspects he is devoured by ambition, unable to accommodate the distance, sometimes, however, necessary between immediate action and salutary reflection. Yet … Continue reading
Left of Socialist Party calls on Hollande to dump austerity after local election defeat
“The Government cannot remain deaf to the message of the voters. Nothing would be worse than to underestimate the extent of the defeat. Nothing could be more dangerous than to err in analyzing the causes. The problem is not ‘methodological’, it is political. The central issue is a rejection of austerity. This is not about … Continue reading
The grand transatlantic market is not about jobs
By Bernard Cassen If the European Commission had an ounce of dignity it would draw the conclusions of the revelation by the whistleblower Edward Snowden of the massive intelligence operations deployed against the institutions of the European Union (EU) by the National Security Agency (NSA ). But otherwise, in the next few days negotiations with … Continue reading
Eurozone: A step closer to the precipice
Why Merkel has no choice to pursue austerity in Europe, despite its catastrophic social and economic consequences. And to save Europe, the Eurozone must be ditched. By Jacques Sapir Thanks to the combined effect of austerity policies, the Eurozone is sinking into crisis. Yet never have debates on economic policy been so intense. Political leaders, both Germany … Continue reading
France and the Cahuzac affair
The tax evasion revelations about former Socialist budget minister Jerome Cahuzac shows it is time to end the revolting door between government and large private companies, and the impunity of the oligarchy, says Martine Billard of the Parti de Gauche. The Cahuzac affair demonstrates, if any further proof were needed, how the mix of finance, politics and the media … Continue reading
Hollande and Miliband take a right turn
European social democracy, having abandoned any residual shame, has started off on the road to neo-liberalism, without looking back, says Carlo Formenti As if to steal from Italy’s Mario Monti the prize for the European political leader most decided on ridding himself of the limits on the excessive power of employers over the labour force, … Continue reading
French parliament backs permanent austerity, but it’s hardly a victory for Hollande
Despite mass protests and demands for a referendum on the matter, in the end President Francois Hollande will get his EU budget treaty through parliament. On Tuesday, MPs passed the EU Fiscal Compact, or ‘permanent austerity treaty’ as critics describe it, by 477-70, with 21 abstentions. The Senate, which like the National Assembly, has a Socialist-led … Continue reading
Europe storm heading Hollande’s way
How French Socialist President Hollande is wading into choppy waters over Europe. Left Foot Forward
Hollande was a soft touch at the European Summit says Melenchon
The EU Summit means neo-liberal policies will deepen and the sovereignty of citizens over their national budgets has been ‘reduced to nothing’, says left radical Jean-Luc Melenchon. And yet French President Hollande is pretending this is a new beginning for Europe. More
French Fat Cat Feeding Frenzy Continues
Gruel for the masses, cream for the lucky few. A familiar tale. Inequality of wealth, and the greed and excess of France’s 1% was a significant theme in the French Presidential election. The highest paid executives of the top 40 listed companies in France had been provided with a slap up 39 million-euro meal for … Continue reading
The contradictions of Hollande
IN THE RADICAL PRESS / IL MANIFESTO By Joseph Halevi Let’s try to overcome the hypnotic effect that the French left usually exercises over its Italian counterpart and figure out if a Hollande’s programme has feasible. The main points of the programme of the Socialist president-elect are to achieve a balanced budget in 2017 after reducing the … Continue reading
Why President Hollande will need to embrace Melenchon’s spirit of rebellion
The Socialists are set to wrest back the Elysée Palace from the Right after a gap of 17 years in Sunday’s Presidential poll. Francois Hollande has maintained a consistent and comfortable lead over Nicolas Sarkozy in opinion polls and the incumbent’s increasingly desperate swing to the far right appears to have failed to shore up … Continue reading
Mélenchon draws biggest crowd yet for ‘citizens’ insurrection’
Thirty thousand were expected. In the end as many as 120,000 turned out in Paris in support of presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon to deliver a ‘revolutionary battle cry’ in a campaign that is turning into a plebiscite of capitalism. ‘Spirit of the Bastille, we are back, the people of France’s revolutions and rebellions,’ Mélenchon said before a … Continue reading
Greek tragedy befalls French cabin crew
French airline Air Méditerranée is sacking 85 workers and wants French based pilots and cabin crew to be hired on cheaper contracts by its recently established Greek subsidiary Hermès Airlines. Moving onto Greek contracts means a 30% pay cut. A flight attendant currently on Euros 1,200 a month would now get Euros 900. The chief steward … Continue reading
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