EU Membership is no longer on the policy agenda and isn’t an issue for the youth of Gezi, says Nedim Gürsel (translated by Tom Gill) The EU and Turkey is a story of a relationship that has lasted since ’64. With the prospect of membership fading, what view does Turkey have of the EU? We […]
The plot to topple Berlusconi
May 21st, 2014 by Tom Gill.Much as many were relieved to see the back of Silvio Berlusconi as Italy’s PM during the height of the Eurozone crisis in 2011, the revelations by Tim Geithner should have all democrats including those on the Left deeply worried. EU officials approached the former US Treasury Secretary in November of that year with a plan to overthrow the billionaire media […]
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Russia’s de-dollarization plan and its implications for the world
May 20th, 2014 by Tom Gill.By Juan Torres. Translated from the Spanish original at El Publico by Tom Gill Although the Western media is barely addressing it, Russia has been discussing in the last few weeks the adoption of a series of economic measures that would involve a significant change in direction and a powerful response to the sanctions and threats […]
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Why is the extreme right on the rise in Europe?
May 12th, 2014 by Tom Gill.The European Parliament is preparing to welcome the most powerful extreme right that the Old Continent has seen since the 1930s. Ignacio Ramonet discusses the factors behind this disturbing political development in a translation by Tom Gill from the French original. One thing is certain: the European elections in late May will result in an overall rise of […]
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The battle for France’s national industry jewel
May 3rd, 2014 by Tom Gill.France has been in a state of shock since it was revealed last week the company that built the high speed TGV train and steam turbines for EDF’s nuclear reactors was about to be taken over by the yankees. Things scarcely improved when a desperate Paris sought to bring in the Germans for an alternative […]
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Why the Left shoud rejoice that the champagne is flowing again
Apr 28th, 2014 by Tom Gill.Champagne has been flowing again in copious quantities in London and New York as bankers enjoy a return to the good old days of runaway millionaire bonuses on the back of one-way bets. But that flow of lovely bubbly has been under threat by a strike by employees of Veuve Clicquot, Moët & Chandon, Krug, Ruinart and […]
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Radical left could become third force in EU parliament, polls show
Apr 26th, 2014 by Tom Gill.The radical left could become the third force in the European parliament, after the conservatives and social democrats, according to recent polls. Syriza in Greece leads with 26.2 % support, followed by Portugal, Spain and France. With a month to go to the European Parliament elections, polls suggest the Parliamentary Group of the European United Left (GUE – NGL) could increase […]
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Three reasons why French Socialists are right to oppose PM Valls’ austerity plan
Apr 23rd, 2014 by Tom Gill.France’s ruling socialist party is in revolt. A very vocal minority don’t like the austerity plan of new PM Manuel Valls. And they are threatening to vote it down. Here’s 3 reasons why they are right. (Translated by Tom Gill from the original by Christian Chavagneux ) France’s new prime minister – now three weeks into […]
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Italy: Renzi’s pre-election coup
Apr 20th, 2014 by Tom Gill.Put more money in ordinary people’s pockets to boost household spending while taxing banks and axing military and other wasteful spending: sounds like a political coup and it was one Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi pulled off consummately on Friday. Renzi’s cabinet passed a decree to reduce taxes for those earning between 8,000 and 26,000 euros […]
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French socialist revolt continues
Apr 19th, 2014 by Tom Gill.The revolt in France’s socialist party continued this week as details of a fresh austerity plan were unveiled by new Prime Minister Manuel Valls. Valls has announced a 50 billion euro austerity plan to be funded largely by cuts to pensions, a freeze in public servants’ salaries and cuts to public services. The announcement was “received as a […]
