In the Papers
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
By James Creedon / FRANCE 24
La Libre Belgique (Belgium)
The editorial of this French-language daily is scathing about Prime Minister Yves Leterme’s handling of Belgium’s political crisis. Flemish and Walloon politicians have been unable to agree on how to reform the country’s fragile federation. The crisis was sparked when Flemish-controlled districts near capital Brussels insisted on maintaining Dutch as their only official language, this despite some of these districts being populated by a large majority of French-speakers. Leterme handed in his resignation yesterday, claiming he could not convince Flemish politicians to make concessions. His nerves got the better of him, says La Libre Belgique. The Prime Minister is shirking his responsibilities, this paper thinks.
Der Standaard (Belgium)
On the other side of the linguistic divide, this Dutch-speaking daily says the crisis has reached stalemate. It likens the outcome to a 0-0 draw. The Flemish have conceded nothing, Der Staandard says, but they have gained nothing either in this dispute. The editorial concludes that “this federal state is in no state to be reformed”.
Gazet van Antewerpen (Belgium)
The press in Belgium seems to be concerned about reaction to this crisis abroad.
This cartoon shows a Belgian citizen at an immigration post in Africa. The African border guard inspects his papers and quips, “You’re Belgian? What is that: a fictitious nationality? You’re kidding me, right?”
Libération (France)
“To be or not to be” – the headline in left-leaning Libération quotes Shakespeare to illustrate Belgium’s existential crisis. It could also have added, “something is rotten in the state of Belgium”. Its editorial certainly seems to think so. The title simply states, “Sick”.
The Irish Independent (Ireland)
On page 2 of the Irish Independent, there is much trepidation in advance of Nicolas Sarkozy’s impending trip to Dublin. The paper reports that the French President told a meeting of his UMP Party that Ireland would have to vote again on the Lisbon Treaty.
While this is a possibility also being discussed in Ireland, the paper reports lots of negative reaction to Sarkozy’s attitude. Labour leader Eamonn Gilmore called the President’s remarks unhelpful, saying that the Irish electorate needs time and space to consider the possibilities. To calm the controversy, advisors to the President told the Irish Independent that Sarkozy is coming to Dublin with simply just one intention: to listen to the Irish.
The Australian (Australia)
In the Opinion section of the paper, researcher and columnist Peter Saunders refers to a recent letter written to the Times of London: “Can you explain to me the difference between democracy in Zimbabwe and democracy in the EU?” A dramatic comparison perhaps but one that Saunders investigates. In Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe refused to accept the result of the Presidential election and organized a revote. These tactics are not unfamiliar to the European Union, says Saunders. French and Dutch voters rejected the European Constitution yet, two years later, along comes the Lisbon Treaty which differs from the constitution only in form.
The Daily Mail (UK)
This illustration of the world’s oldest bird looks more like a cross between a moth and a lizard… It was found in a cave near Bristol and is no less than 235 million years old. In a major scoop for the Daily Mail, researchers have confirmed that the prehistoric bird could, in fact, fly.
