First the good news. The Right is not only out of the Elysee Palace but it is on course to have lost control of parliament too. And in its place is probably the most progressive of social democrat parties in Europe today. The Socialists’ programme includes boosting industrial investment, youth employment and teacher numbers, hiking taxes on the rich, and partially reversing former president Nicolas Sarkozy’s regressive pension reforms. Francois Hollande’s election as President has already shifted the tone in Europe away from austerity and towards growth, although, with a commitment to balance the budget, it is very difficult to see how this left turn can result into any sustained change of direction. Continue reading
Tagged with Nicolas Sarkozy
Blair endorsed Sarkozy in campaign video
Even for those of us who regard Tony Blair as essentially a Tory in our ranks, it may come as a surprise to see that he actually endorsed Nicolas Sarkozy in a campaign video. Blair’s contribution starts 1:18 into the film. Continue reading
The French goose and the Greek gander
Inside the Eurozone, what’s good for the French democratic Goose it appears, is not necessarily applicable to the Greek democratic gander….
From the Financial Times of 13 February, 2012: Continue reading