The new conservative prime minister of Spain, Mariano Rajoy, has vowed to reduce the country's deficit from 8.5% to 5.3% of GDP by the end of the year. Is it mission impossible for Spain? Former Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos gives Christophe Robeet his point of view.
INTERNATIONAL PAPERS, Fri. 30/03/12: International papers react to Thursday's general strike in Spain. El Pais says it’s important to keep an open dialogue between the government, different political parties and trade unions. The Guardian says that on top of labour laws, Spain needs to reform its two-speed labour market. Also, the New York Times explores the US "gated community mentality", in the aftermath of the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.
"Neither at 16, nor at 18 - abortion - abolition." This was the slogan on a giant banner unravelled on the night of Mariano Rajoy's election victory in Spain. Now the Spanish government has announced that it aims to restrict access to abortion to cases of rape, serious health problems for the foetus, or psychological fragility of the mother. It would take the law back to the time before Rajoy's Socialist predecessor Zapatero made abortion a right.
As custom dictates, Spain's new leader heads to Morocco on his first official trip abroad. There are some difficult topics to be tackled, but Mariano Rajoy wants to warm Madrid's relations with Rabat. Also, a year after the Jasmine revolution we take a look at some of the hurdles that Tunisia’s new government has to overcome. Finally, it's football fever as Tunisia and Libya hope to do themselves proud in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The downgrade of nine European nations may be a call to action, but François Picard’s panel is at odds over the intentions of "Anglo-Saxon rating agencies" and over whether Europeans can actually initiate bold reform with a French presidential election campaign underway.
The downgrade of nine European nations may be a call to action, but François Picard’s panel is at odds over the intentions of "Anglo-Saxon rating agencies" and over whether Europeans can actually initiate bold reform with a French presidential election campaign underway.
Can Mariano Rajoy save Spain's economy? His centre-right Popular Party won a landslide victory in Sunday's elections, but the hardest part is yet to come. With sky-high unemployment and a gaping public deficit, Spain's economy is in bad shape, and Rajoy has a tough road ahead if he is to calm feverish debt markets.
Greece, Italy, Ireland and now Spain are among those countries who have seen their governments change hands as the debt crisis wreaks havoc across the continent. Is anyone capable of coping with a crisis of this scope? In the UK, an employment scheme is getting job-seekers to work 30 hours a week for free, just to keep their unemployment benefits. Finally, find out why Spain has been left with over half a million empty houses.
After the victory cheers following Sunday's parliamentary election, prime minister-elect Mariano Rajoy is being pressed to flesh out the details of his plan to get Spain’s ailing economy back on track.
Spain's election gives a new right-wing government a mandate for austerity. Egypt is once again in the throes of violence and uncertainty as a vote beckons. And in Libya, is justice possible for Saif al-Islam? That's the focus for this press review, Monday 21st November 2011.
