Slovakia rejects the enlargement of the European Stability
In Slovakia, the cacophony lasted all day. And eight and a half hour debate will not be enough. On Tuesday evening, the Slovak deputies rejected the strengthening of the Financial Assistance Fund in the euro area (EFSF). A decision that could aggravate the debt crisis in the eurozone. Indeed, the unanimity of the country is essential to confirm the agreement reached by the Heads of State on July 21.
Neither the European Commission's exhortations asking Bratislava to endorse the extension of funds or calls Jean-Claude Trichet speaking in a crisis "systems" need to "fight with great determination" n 'So it will not change. Nor the assurances of the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, a trip to Vietnam, according to which euro area "political will to overcome the crisis."
Iveta Radicova, Slovak Prime Minister, had nevertheless put pressure, making the vote on the European relief fund about trust, it has finally add fuel to the fire. A party member of the governing coalition, the Freedom and Solidarity movement (12.1% of the vote), who refused from the beginning to support the EFSF, from the outset has responded by announcing that he would not participate simply not election. For weeks, he keeps saying that Slovakia is a country too poor to pay for the mistakes of others and pay 7.7 billion euros. Moreover, in all 124 deputies present, 55 elected representatives voted in favor, 9 against and 60 did not vote.
Early elections
Remains a second vote could take place quickly, as the Constitution allows it, it was said in Bratislava.The ruling coalition without a majority in Parliament, the government would not have other means to turn to the opposition. The Social Democratic Party understands the benefit to be derived from the situation: this very night, the Smer-SD announced its readiness to support the strengthening of EFSF, provided that early elections are held. "If the talks begin, I believe that voting can take place this week," said the spokesman of the party.
In short, just a few days of the summit of European governments scheduled for October 23, the rescue of the euro remains an issue that can not stop dividing.
It would almost forget that a new had to reassure the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou.Troika (European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund) has given the green light Tuesday to release "probably in early November," the new $ 8 billion promised to Greece as part of the loan to was granted last year.
The teams of the troika, which had suspended in early September, their on-site because the government was not fast enough in its reforms, believe that additional measures of rigor taken since mid-September "should be sufficient" to address the situation of the country and achieve the deficit to 14.9 billion next year.
Although they recognize that the revenues from privatization will be "significantly lower" to 5 billion euros that had been planned for this year.Similarly, they note the upward revision of the public deficit to 8.5% of GDP (gross domestic product) instead of 7.4% for 2011. But they keep their hopes for sales of state enterprises still bring 35 billion to Athens late 2014.
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"Aid to Greece, the euro suspended Slovak vote