Today’s front pages
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GreeceKeys to government of three
In the aftermath of the June 17 elections, the conservative New Democracy, which won the largest number of seats, has opened talks with socialist Pasok and Democratic Left to form a new government. All three parties support the memorandum signed with the EU/ECB/IMF commiting Greece to deep austerity budgets in return for aid.
Original article in To Ethnos elTo Ethnos Athens -
EurozoneECB now under pressure to bailout Spain and Italy
"Victory of the 'pro-troika' parties in Greece has not relieved crisis contagion and Spain is still under high pressure, as well as Italy. The ECB is the only ‘fireman’ around. Will it intervene?” asks the Lisbon financial daily.
Original article in Jornal de Negócios ptJornal de Negócios Lisbon -
GermanyMerkel to concede no “discount” to Athens
The German chancellor is not willing to make life any easier the new government in Greece, saying that Athens will have to respect in its entirety its reform programme of swingeing austerity cuts if it wants to continue receving European aid. Brussels has also stated that the present conditions are not negotiable.
Original article in Süddeutsche Zeitung deSüddeutsche Zeitung Munich -
G20USA and BRICS pressuring Europe
At the G20 summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, US president Barack Obama and the leaders of emerging powers urged Brussels and Berlin to take measures to stimulate Europe’s faltering economy. But Italian PM Mario Monti insists that the crisis is not Europe’s fault.
Original article in La Stampa itLa Stampa Turin -
SpainPunishment for Spain
Despite the Greek election results which were expected to soothe the markets, the Spanish government is obliged this June 19 to issue ten-year treasury bonds at a rate of over 7%, the highest since the crisis began.
Original article in El Mundo esEl Mundo Madrid -
HungaryElie Wiesel returns Hungarian award
The American writer Elie Wiesel has announced that he is to return his Hungarian Order of Merit. Born in Romania to a Jewish Hungarian family, the Nobel Peace Prize winner is protesting against the rehabilitation of anti-Semitic writers and the new cult for the authoritarian regime of Admiral Horthy (1920-1944) where hundreds of thousands of Hungarian Jews were deported to Nazi concentration camps.
Original article in Népszabadság huNépszabadság Budapest -
RomaniaBow-tie rebellion to beat Ponta
A growing controversy pits Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta against the nation's intellectuals, popularly referred to as "bow-ties". Ponta, who allegedly plagiarised half of a 432-page doctoral thesis on the international criminal court, is accused of politicising national cultural institutions. A collective of writers and artists have written to the European Parliament to denounce the placing of the Romanian Cultural Institute under the authority of the Senate and the imminent sacking of its chairman, Horia Roman Patapievici.
Original article in Evenimentul zilei roEvenimentul zilei Bucharest
