BUDAPEST, Jan 11 (IPS) - The introduction of some of the most wide-ranging austerity measures in the recent history of Central-Eastern Europe is forcing Hungarians to endure a period of hardships, but an opposition-initiated referendum and the resistance of the middle classes are endangering the socialist government's plans.Some say the reforms are unavoidable, many completely oppose them, while others have suggested the government should have opted for a more gradual approach. "Whether we like it or not we have become a part of the capitalist system, and more than carrying out reforms, Hungary is streamlining its system and subsystems to EU standards," sociologist Janos Ladanyi told IPS. Hungary's socialist-liberal governing coalition, led by contested Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany, wants a complete overhaul of the state administration and particularly of the health and education sectors. The right-wing opposition, led by former prime minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz (Hungarian Civic Alliance) claims that what the government calls reforms is nothing but tax collection to retrieve what the socialists spent irresponsibly over the past six years.
ER... DoDo?
It's worth to note that János Ladányi is a sociologist who specialised on segregation of Roma/Gypsies, and a civil rights activist. However, even with all the social plight he witnesses, he has some of the blinders of the liberal intelligentsia on:
"The reforms are aimed at making the richer pay for extra services so that assistance can be given to the poorer," says Ladanyi. "There is a deep gap between the poor and the very poor, and they need a special service or they will die in the streets." ... "The goals of the health reform are good, but there are many terrible steps that we have to be critical about," says Ladanyi. "And in the case of the education reform even the goals are wrong: how will the closure of schools in small villages support the poorer?"
...
"The goals of the health reform are good, but there are many terrible steps that we have to be critical about," says Ladanyi. "And in the case of the education reform even the goals are wrong: how will the closure of schools in small villages support the poorer?"
He suffers from the illusion thst the richer paying extra will pay for service of the very poor, rather than turn into profit, while base service will deteriorate.
Something missing from the article is the figurehead President's veto for the healthcare 'reform' bill (which was pushed through before Christmas), but that will only result in a formal check by the Constitutional Court.
For spring, I expect an especially ugly referendum campaign, with the government again (after the successful application against the double citizenship referendum) trying to achieve high abstention. I have not yet decided whether I will vote (but if I vote, I can't escape voting for what also benefits the right-populist opposition). *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
The size of the British economy has slipped below that of France for the first time since 1999 thanks to the slide in the value of the pound.Sterling's rapid fall to 11-year lows against European currencies has also pushed Britain into sixth place in the world.The US, Japan, Germany, China and France all had larger economies than the UK in the third quarter of 2007 - and in 2006. The figures represented a "political economic cataclysm" for Britain, said Martin Weale, the director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, who noted that the UK government often boasted of Britain's being the fourth largest economy, and then the fifth largest when China overtook the UK in 2005.The UK's demotion to sixth place will put pressure on the government's reputation for economic competence, particularly as it is Britain's ancient rival, France, that is moving ahead.
The size of the British economy has slipped below that of France for the first time since 1999 thanks to the slide in the value of the pound.
Sterling's rapid fall to 11-year lows against European currencies has also pushed Britain into sixth place in the world.
The US, Japan, Germany, China and France all had larger economies than the UK in the third quarter of 2007 - and in 2006.
The figures represented a "political economic cataclysm" for Britain, said Martin Weale, the director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, who noted that the UK government often boasted of Britain's being the fourth largest economy, and then the fifth largest when China overtook the UK in 2005.
The UK's demotion to sixth place will put pressure on the government's reputation for economic competence, particularly as it is Britain's ancient rival, France, that is moving ahead.
Anybody care to explain this title to me at 5 AM PST on a Sunday morning? Coffee hasn't kicked in yet.
Hey, how about those Packers? Think they have a chance against New England? Oh yeah, this is Europe. Yawn. In the end, might makes right. Nothing has changed since the caveman.
Far as I know the Patriots are all-conquering this year. The Packers have got two chances and slim just left town. keep to the Fen Causeway
Tony Blair launched his campaign to become the first fully-fledged President of the European Union yesterday by describing the notion of left- and right-wing politics as redundant.With France preparing to oversee the appointment process, Blair set out his vision of modern European democracy at a meeting of the French governing conservative party by also claiming that EU countries could achieve far more by working together than acting in isolation.'Europe is not a question of left or right, but a question of the future or the past, of strength or weakness,' said the former British Prime Minister, speaking in French.
With France preparing to oversee the appointment process, Blair set out his vision of modern European democracy at a meeting of the French governing conservative party by also claiming that EU countries could achieve far more by working together than acting in isolation.
'Europe is not a question of left or right, but a question of the future or the past, of strength or weakness,' said the former British Prime Minister, speaking in French.
[Cow Manure Alert...]
Blair, who has openly declared his admiration for Sarkozy, describing him as a "strong leader" who could help steer Europe along a clearer path, has urged politicians on the French left to modernise. [...] "I am a centre-left politician," he said. "In the United States, I would be a Democrat. In the United Kingdom, I am part of Labour. "In France, I would be ... probably in government," he said to laughter and applause, before adding: "No, I'm joking. I would be in the Socialist Party, alongside those who are committed to transforming it."
"I am a centre-left politician," he said. "In the United States, I would be a Democrat. In the United Kingdom, I am part of Labour.
"In France, I would be ... probably in government," he said to laughter and applause, before adding: "No, I'm joking. I would be in the Socialist Party, alongside those who are committed to transforming it."
Funny that, this kind of characters who loudly claim they want to transform the Socialist party are so busy weakening it and boosting the opposite party (paging Dr Kouchner and the cohort of short-sighted opportunists) you'd almost think their aim is actually to destroy the progressive parties; in order to save them no doubt...
A Democrat in the US? A Socialist in France? Gee Tony, you spent so much time sucking up to Bush and Sarkozy, you almost fooled me on that one... Europeans think a hundred miles is a long way. Americans think a hundred years is a long time.
'Europe is not a question of left or right, but a question of the future or the past, of strength or weakness,'
Aaarghhh spluggle !! it hurts, it hurts Christ reading this fatuous flatulent drivel makes me remember why we were so glad to see the back of him in the first place. keep to the Fen Causeway
Another case for universities repossessing their degrees for willful misuse, to the institution´s embarrassment. Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. -Charu Saxena.
Even Nicolas Sarkozy's supporters are starting to tire of his all-too-public romance with model-turned-singer Carla Bruni Smooching their way through a five-course lunch yesterday at an exclusive Paris restaurant, President Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni made it clear that they care nothing for what anyone thinks, including their gooseberry guest of honour, Tony Blair. The former PM was invited to the five-star Hotel Bristol after addressing a rally of Sarkozy's Union for a Popular Movement party. But all eyes were on the 40-year-old Bruni, who every now and again lifted her sunglasses to lean in and nuzzle the presidential cheek. Sarkozy reciprocated with kisses and cuddles, oblivious of any uncomfortable fidgeting from those around them. Yesterday's social gathering, which included Justice Minister Rachida Dati and former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, was the latest display of a love that began just two months ago but is already prompting talk of weddings and babies. It was last November when, alone beneath the chandeliers in the quiet elegance of his official residence, the newly divorced President was bored. 'He called me,' says Jacques Séguéla. 'He said: "Invite me to dinner with your gang. I can't face any more evenings alone at the Elysée Palace." Nicolas was very low.'
Yesterday's social gathering, which included Justice Minister Rachida Dati and former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, was the latest display of a love that began just two months ago but is already prompting talk of weddings and babies.
It was last November when, alone beneath the chandeliers in the quiet elegance of his official residence, the newly divorced President was bored. 'He called me,' says Jacques Séguéla. 'He said: "Invite me to dinner with your gang. I can't face any more evenings alone at the Elysée Palace." Nicolas was very low.'
Her famous phrase after driving drunk;
"I can do what the fuck I want! I'm a celebrity" or something of that fashion. In the end, might makes right. Nothing has changed since the caveman.
Sorry, that position is already taken here in France, and by the prez, no less... Europeans think a hundred miles is a long way. Americans think a hundred years is a long time.
Controversial plans announced by Germany's conservatives to crack down on youth crime are beginning to have a detrimental effect on Chancellor Angela Merkel's party, according to opinion polls and Merkel herself. Two surveys showed that support for the conservatives had dipped, just two weeks before elections take place in the states of Hessen and Lower Saxony, widely regarded as tests of Merkel's popularity before a federal election in 2009. The Infratest-dimap and Forsa surveys both showed Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian allies, the Christian Social Union (CSU), dropping single points. Infratest stated that the conservatives were down one point at 39 percent while backing for their Social Democrat (SPD) rivals was up two points at 30 percent. Forsa also showed a one point decrease in popularity, putting the conservatives on a standing of 37 percent compared to a one-point gain for the SPD, whose support had been dwindling for months. Some observers claimed that the dip was an initial reaction to the plans put forward by Hessen Premier Roland Koch and that it was unlikely to have a long-term effect of the campaigns of Koch and fellow CDU incumbent Christian Wulff in Lower Saxony. Others said that the surveys signalled a potential defeat in each state election for the conservatives. Merkel admits coalition is badly split Meanwhile Chancellor Merkel admitted in an interview with the Die Welt newspaper published on Saturday that Germany's ruling coalition was split over proposals by her party to crack down on juvenile offenders.
Two surveys showed that support for the conservatives had dipped, just two weeks before elections take place in the states of Hessen and Lower Saxony, widely regarded as tests of Merkel's popularity before a federal election in 2009.
The Infratest-dimap and Forsa surveys both showed Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian allies, the Christian Social Union (CSU), dropping single points. Infratest stated that the conservatives were down one point at 39 percent while backing for their Social Democrat (SPD) rivals was up two points at 30 percent.
Forsa also showed a one point decrease in popularity, putting the conservatives on a standing of 37 percent compared to a one-point gain for the SPD, whose support had been dwindling for months.
Some observers claimed that the dip was an initial reaction to the plans put forward by Hessen Premier Roland Koch and that it was unlikely to have a long-term effect of the campaigns of Koch and fellow CDU incumbent Christian Wulff in Lower Saxony. Others said that the surveys signalled a potential defeat in each state election for the conservatives.
Merkel admits coalition is badly split
Meanwhile Chancellor Merkel admitted in an interview with the Die Welt newspaper published on Saturday that Germany's ruling coalition was split over proposals by her party to crack down on juvenile offenders.
YESSS!!!! The significance is not in the gains/losses reported, of course (one would think the journamalists had never heard of MoE), but in the fact that the juvenile-offender scaremongering is not gaining traction. This kind of bashing-type issue (always linked to some extent with xenophobia (some might prefer the term racism)) has been a major electioneering weapon in the arsenal of CDU/CSU in general and Hesse's Roland Koch in particular. And if it's not working... The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman
