EU - Page 7 of 8 - Katoikos

What’s Left for Labour? Some reflections on the 2015 UK general election

By Lorenzo Genito

The results of the 2015 UK general election, although unexpected, are pretty clear. Among the biggest losers are the Liberal Democrats, whose parliamentary representation was slashed from 57 to only 8 seats. The UK Independence Party (UKIP), despite having obtained excellent results in some constituencies, has ended up with only 1 seat. The winners of this election are, first and foremost, the Tories, who managed to score a small yet sufficient majority in the Commons.

Echoes of 1992 in the UK (or, Reasons to be Cheerful for the UK Left)

By David Yarrow

The polls got it wrong – support for the Conservative Party was under-reported. The election produced a slim Tory majority. This majority was delivered by a moderate leader much closer to the centre ground than his backbenchers. Britain’s relationship with Europe subsequently becomes the defining issue of the Parliament, bitterly dividing the right. And five years down the road the Conservatives suffer their biggest electoral defeat since 1945. This is a description of the 1992 United Kingdom general election, but it could well prove a fairly good approximation of the outcome of the 2015 election too.

The UK General Election 2015: Political cross-dressing and the technocrat’s straightjacket

By Sean McDaniel

In less than a week, the UK will go to the polls in an election that has been billed as ‘the most important in a generation,’ and certainly the most unpredictable. In addition to choices over cuts in public expenditures to be determined by the party that forms the next government, there could be significant constitutional implications as well.

The grave mistakes of the European leadership on Greece and the way out of the crisis

By Christos Mouzeviris

Ever since the victory of Syriza and the formation of the current Greek government, the country found itself on the spotlight of the European and global media. Speculations on a potential Grexit, combined with scathing attacks against Syriza’s policies and leadership became common. But is solely Greece, all which is wrong in Europe and the euro-zone? Perhaps the reality is very different if we examine some facts.

The missed opportunity of Cordoba’s Mosque

By Publio Manuel Isaldi

The first time I heard of the current controversy surrounding the history of “The Mosque” and the dispute over its use, I felt a tinge of sadness. It was not always like that. In 1977, a conference on inter-religious dialogue took place in Cordoba. Muslim delegates were invited into “The Mosque”, where they were allowed to perform their Friday prayers. I would not argue in favour of turning the building into a Muslim temple, however. My point is perhaps subtler…

Quo vadis Graecia? Rupture or agreement with European creditors

By Georgios X. Protopapas

The negotiations between the Greek government and Greece’s European creditors have become unpredictable, while the Greek economy remains stagnant and the state desperately needs cash to avoid default. Athens has two choices: to make compromises in order to receive bailout funds or to decide a rupture with Brussels. In addition, the government in Athens is playing the “card” of Russia as an alternative to European pressures and as part of a new, multi-level foreign policy.

Five observations on Greece

By Alexis Boutefeu-Moraitis and Jack Copley

Misery is palpable in Athens: the increase in ‘closed’ signs outside small shops, the long queues at soup kitchens and the growing numbers of homeless and drug addicts in the streets. Currently, there is no visible change on the ground. However, optimism has replaced hopelessness in everyday discussions. In the context of brutal austerity, the victory of Syriza in January’s electoral battle came as a slap in the face to European elites.

Freeze Democracy?

A Portuguese take on Democracy these days. By Cristina Dias Neves

“If only we could freeze democracy for a while…” I know this is an awkward thing to say, especially if we think of those who have lived – and still live and suffer – under dictatorial regimes. And that’s the reason why a Portuguese social democrat leader got such an amazingly negative response the day she asked herself publicly if it would not be a good thing to “have six months without democracy to put everything in order”.

Beware of the dancing Greeks

By Margarita Poulakou

The 25th of March is celebrated in Greece as the start of the uprising against the Ottoman Empire, which led to Greece’s independence. Thus it is a day of national pride. All over Greece parades are staged by communities large and small, usually involving local primary and high school students marching behind the Greek flag. But the peak of festivities is reached at the center of Athens with a grandiose military parade. This year’s parade was atypical, though, as it was concluded with national dances from different regions of Greece.

Open European borders for open minds

Europe’s future lies firmly with its youth, which is going to form the next generation of the continent. They will not only inherit the great opportunities that the struggles of the previous generations have created, but a chance to shape the future continent in which their children will grow up.