The French Presidential election was not really followed in the US, where incidentally, a preference for "continuity" embodied by the outgoing president seemed to dominate amongst many of the country's leaders. Indeed, Nicolas Sarkozy's Presidency was marked by excellent France-US relations. In this context, although the positions of the new President François Hollande on issues such as the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and the anti-missile defence system seemed to comprise bones of contention with the US, his main advantage amongst American leaders is his clear commitment to a European policy that is more in favour of growth. This position has indeed gained the support of the Obama administration, which is concerned about the European economic situation and its possible effects on the other side of the Atlantic.
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The Robert Schuman Foundation publishes three tables which provide a ranking of EU States according to the proportion of women in the governement, in the national Parliaments and in the European Parliament. In the ranking of member States accoring to the proportion of women in the governement, France is in second position, after Sweden.
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The Irish are being called to ballot on 31st May next in a vote on the European budgetary pact – the so-called treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance (TSCG), signed on 2nd March in Brussels by the Heads of State and government of 25 EU Member States (except for the UK and the Czech Republic). The European budgetary pact will enter into force as soon as at least 12 Member States have ratified it. Ireland is the only country to submit the European budgetary pact to referendum. The most recent poll by the Millward Brown Lansdowne institute, published on 17th May last by the daily The Irish Independent shows that 37% of the Irish are going to vote in support of the ratification of the European budgetary pact whilst one quarter (24%) say they will vote 'no' to the treaty. One third of those interviewed, a high percentage, are still undecided.
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Faced with the failure on the part of the three parties that came out ahead in the general election on 6th May - ie New Democracy, the Radical Left -SYRIZA- and PASOK - to find a majority to form a government, Greek President Karolos Papoulias was forced ask the Greeks to vote again in another round of elections that will take place on 17th June. This situation has led to great tension on the markets and concern over Greece respecting its commitments and whether it will stay in the euro zone or not. The Greeks are being invited to decide on their future and that of their country in this next election. Will this lead to a majority and if so which parties will take part?
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