Gerhard Schröders electoral troubles only seem to increase. With Merkel’s lead seemingly consolidating rather than reducing, a recent poll now shows the alliance between the former communists in the east and Election Alternative in the west set to win 8% of the vote:
Experts say the new group could attract votes from Social Democrats [...]

Apart from the fact that the alleged origin of the prize exhibit at Art Basle - a bar of soap, displayed on a square of black velvet, purportedly made from Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s fat, which was removed during liposuction - may be in bad taste in terms of historical precedents, something else struck [...]

Is Basque President (Lehendakari) and Christian Democratic Basque Nationalist Party leader Juan Jose Ibarretxe taking a leaf out of Donald Rumsfeld’s manual? Regular readers will remember that earlier this week, when questioned about possible negotiations with representatives of armed insurgents in Iraq, Rummy said “I would not make a big deal out of it. [...]

The credit rating agency Standard and Poors yesterday cut Portugal’s long-term sovereign debt rating from AA to AA-. The downgrade isn’t exactly earthshattering, but it is a sign of the times.
“The downgrade is the result of the reported sharp deterioration in public finances . . . and the depth of fiscal reform required to reverse [...]

New Economist has a useful post one the euro and the reform process. He picks up on the point that as much as interest rate cuts, what the eurozone needs are the Lisbon Reforms. He also points to the fact that having cheap money in the southern part of Europe may be impeding and not [...]

Just to inform everyone that our sisterblog - A Few Euros More - is continuing, and now has a more permanent URL. You can also find a latest posts thread near the top of the sidebar on Afoe.

Russia is offering to build up to six new nuclear reactors for Iran. I think that if the loss of global consensus attendant on the Iraq war has a price, a ‘less cordinated world’ will be one part of it. I think there is a serious danger of all this getting out of [...]

The FT has a timely piece of Spain’s drought. You see, it isn’t simply a question of special pleading on my part :). And note the little detail, 700,000 new homes built last year. I suppose at least when the construction sector stops all those builders will be able to finally cool off.
A severe drought [...]

Well I got it wrong (or so it seems). Someone has ‘leaked’ to the FT the news that Italy will be ‘given two years grace’ on the deficit problem. If this is confirmed I suppose it shows that the Commission fears more the Italian voters than it does the international financial markets. Obviously a ‘to [...]

Hey, I know!
I just got the idea of starting a politics weblog with a bunch of euros (expats would be ok too.)
Brilliant, eh? Of course I’ve only thought about for five seconds.
Now I just have to find some reasonably smart and not too wingnutty people who’s interested?
Anyone up for it?
Update: Nah.
Update: Yes!
Posted by David Weman [...]