Lega Nord after Bossi

Politics can be a rather dull affair. I am still a newcomer to Italy and by extension to Italian politics. My knowledge of its power mechanism is sketchy. What I know, or let’s say what I think I know, is what I read in newspapers or what I picked up at my local language school. My impression so far is that politics is generally less taken seriously here and quite entertaining, a drama that makes you laugh and cry in short succession.

What’s that spread?

The ‘spread’ has become something of a synonym of Europe’s debt crisis. There is barely a news program that does not mention it. It usually means disaster when it goes up and plain sailing when it goes down. But is that true? What is it anyway? And does it have any significance for our everyday life?

Elections – Europe is looking to France once again

On April 22 France will hold the first round of its presidential elections. Since the first voting is unlikely to provide any of the running candidates with an absolute majority there will be a ‘shoot-out’ between the 2 leading contenders on May 06. Polls suggest that François Hollande of the Socialist Party is leading the sitting President Nicolas Sarkozy by a slender margin. The race to the Elysée is far from over. All depends on who is making it into the second and decisive round and who attracts more votes of people who had previously backed unsuccessful candidates.

What’s wrong about health care for all?

What’s wrong about health care for all? This question crossed my mind last week when I learnt that the constitutionality of President Barak Obama’s health care reform (commonly known as ‘Obamacare‘) is being contested. The ruling of the US Supreme Court on this may turn out decisive in the presidential elections to be held on November 6th. Here is some background.

Deutschland – SPD, Politische Mitte und Demokratie

SPD

Jakob Augstein analysiert in einem sehr lesenswerten Artikel für die Spiegel Kolumne S.P.O.N – Im Zweifel links die Ergebnisse der Landtagswahl im Saarland, insbesondere das neuerliche Versagen der SPD. Die Zahlen sind tatsächlich ernüchternd. Trotz Stimmenzugewinn schaffte es die SPD zum wiederholten Male nicht, die CDU als stärkste Fraktion im neuen Landtag abzulösen (das Saarland ist traditionell eine sozialdemokratische Hochburg). Was sind die Gründe?