Latest update: 13/12/2010 

- Economic crisis - eurozone - Portugal


Europe's debt crisis: Portugal under pressure

Will Portugal be next? As the finger-pointing continues, the country is scrambling to avoid its fate as prescribed by the markets. Investors are almost certain Lisbon will follow Athens and Dublin and be next in line for an EU/IMF bailout. So is Europe on the right road to ending the crisis? Or are we facing bailout after bailout? Is the euro, and the European Union itself, under threat?

A debate with Laura Baines and guests:

José-Manuel LAMARQUE, Co-Producer of Transeuropéenne on France Inter (French public radio)
Ana NAVARRO PEDRO, Paris Correspondent for Visao (Portuguese weekly)
Jacob Funk KIRKEGAARD, Economist and Research Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics (by phone from Washington)

Programme prepared by Yi Song and Perrine Desplats

Watch the second part

Corruption in the Arab world
02/12/2010 - THE DEBATE

Corruption in the Arab world

FRANCE 24 continues its special series on corruption with a focus on the Arab world. 5 years ago, a major survey in several Arab states revealed that a whopping 90% of the population believed corruption in their country was widespread. Transparency International's corruption index consistently ranks Arab countries below the global average.
Corruption in the Arab world (Part 2)
01/12/2010 - THE DEBATE

Corruption in the Arab world (Part 2)

FRANCE 24 continues its special series on corruption with a focus on the Arab world. 5 years ago, a major survey in several Arab states revealed that a whopping 90% of the population believed corruption in their country was widespread. Transparency International's corruption index consistently ranks Arab countries below the global average.
Cancun climate talks - curbing expectations?
30/11/2010 - THE DEBATE

Cancun climate talks - curbing expectations?

We're told it's the biggest threat to humanity today and that hundreds of millions of people are at risk from its effects. So why have so few world leaders turned up to talks on climate change in Cancun this Tuesday? NGOs and environmentalists are pleading with those that did attend not to miss this opportunity for a global deal, but the will to compromise has been severely hit by the economic crisis and expectations for a breakthrough at this round of talks are low.
Cancun climate talks - curbing expectations? (part 2)
30/11/2010 - THE DEBATE

Cancun climate talks - curbing expectations? (part 2)

We're told it's the biggest threat to humanity today and that hundreds of millions of people are at risk from its effects. So why have so few world leaders turned up to talks on climate change in Cancun this Tuesday? NGOs and environmentalists are pleading with those that did attend not to miss this opportunity for a global deal, but the will to compromise has been severely hit by the economic crisis and expectations for a breakthrough at this round of talks are low.
Wikileaks: diplomacy, a changed game? (part 2)
30/11/2010 - THE DEBATE

Wikileaks: diplomacy, a changed game? (part 2)

WikiLeaks has done it again! Over a quarter of a million classified and private documents have fallen into the hands of those dreaded journalists. Telegrams sent between the United States' State Department and some 270 embassies and consulates around the world are now in the hands of the public. So how damaging are these leaks to international diplomacy?

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2010

macroeconomic indicators for 2010

public deficit:

Ireland: 32%
Britain: 12%
Portugal: 8%
Spain: 7%

public debt:
Ireland: 110%
Britain : 80%
Portugal:80%
Spain:40%

there you go. tell me where the difference is. RATIONALLY. Then tell me why the rating's agencies give the uk AAA ratings, Ireland AA and the keep downgrading Portugal and Spain. In that , you will find the answer to the current crisis. It's called DISCRIMINATION.

In the words of a famous Englishman: "Take a look at the lawmen, beating up the WRONG guy, oh man, I wonder if they'll ever know, they're in the best selling show!"

People are eyeing Portugal because it's easy, but the core countries in Europe are as indebted as Portugal (this includes France). Why the media refrains from talking about it, is somethng that is so hard to understand!

Leave Portugal alone

The data for 2010 should be mentioned: Portugal deficit: 7.3% , Ireland 32%, Greece 14% (France, UK around the same as Portugal). The markets are just feeding on the easy preys. Leave Portugal alone

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