Angela Merkel may not be smiling to welcome Francois Hollande Tuesday night. The Christian Democrats (CDU) of German Chancellor Sunday suffered a stinging defeat in a regional election in North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state in Germany.
According to partial results yet, the federal opposition Social Democrats (SPD) won the election with 38% of the vote. Environmentalists have raised 12% of the vote, the SPD-Green coalition outgoing should continue to govern this state.
For its part the CDU has collected approximately 25.5% of the votes, or about 9 points lower than in 2010, her worst score ever recorded in this region. This defeat adds to a long series for black liberal-conservative coalition in power in Berlin since 2009, it failed to surpass the 5% in six regional elections, and lost its historical stronghold of Baden-Wuerttemberg.
Merkel remains popular in polls
Although the North Rhine-Westphalia is a historical bastion of the left, this result sounds like a warning to the Chancellor, to 16 months of the legislation. A week after voters in France and Greece have shown that they wanted more austerity, the Germans of this region of western countries have chosen the SPD, very critical of the policy austerity practiced by the Chancellor. "This defeat is bitter, clear and it really hurts," admitted the local leader of the CDU, also Environment Minister Merkel, Norbert Röttgen. He at the same time tried to protect the Chancellor, ensuring that it was "above all (his) defeat" and resigning from the regional party.
If his party string of electoral defeats, Angela Merkel seems to always enjoy great personal popularity. National polls show that the Germans know it will promote fiscal austerity to cure ailing eurozone. Besides, in North Rhine-Westphalia, the Free Democrats, staunch supporters of austerity, collected 8.5% of the vote, nearly triple the 3% they receive from national surveys. However the formation of extreme left Die Linke – model Jean-Luc Melenchon – has not passed the 5% threshold of votes necessary for MPs.
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Angela Merkel likes the cons-feet. After the victory of Francois Hollande in the presidential election on 6 May, the German Chancellor had said it would host "open arms" the president-elect. Thursday, it proved inflexible in the Bundestag, rejecting any policy of increasing public spending, policy advocated by the Socialists.
And this Saturday, one that supported Nicolas Sarkozy during the presidential campaign, tried to calm things down, three days before his meeting with Francois Hollande, in Berlin. When asked, by withholding his weekly video podcast, a "possible steady partnership with the new French president," Merkel said, "Yes, that's what I think, because we know since the founding of the Republic Germany a good Franco-German relationship is just very important for both countries. "
Angela Merkel isolated within the EU
By his attitude changes, the Chancellor irritate Francois Hollande. Before his colleagues, the president-elect would not hesitate to declare that "this is not a good method" to be so inflexible. In Berlin, the president apparently intends to say to Angela Merkel, "politely but firmly," according to a close this week quoted by Agence France-Presse savings account payday advance.
For now, the latest forecasts from the European Commission for the French economy, published Friday, give reason to Angela Merkel and fall ill for Francois Hollande. According to Brussels, France's public deficit should reach 4.2% against 3% anticipated by the new president. Growth of gross domestic product to 1.3% in 2013, far from 1.7% target by Francois Hollande. For its part, the German economy should continue its momentum. The five major economic research institutes across the Rhine anticipate a 2% increase in 2013 GDP growth of Germany.
But sixteen months of laws, the government of Angela Merkel is in trouble. Having already lost power in Schleswig-Holstein, the Chancellor will test again on Sunday in one of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous regional state of Germany and bastion of the left. Especially, that which formed a duo with austerity in favor of Nicolas Sarkozy, now seems isolated within the EU since the latter has lost the presidential election. And while many European capitals have welcomed the growth pact advocated by Holland.
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"Germany adjusts his tandem with France
They are praying. The gariguettes, Ciflorette, Clécy or mara des bois gradually come to market with nearly two weeks late. "The production schedule is shifted by two weeks compared to last year because of the cold spell of February, indicates the Agreste, the statistics department of the Ministry of Agriculture, in his final memo on the economy. In May, domestic production is expected to significantly ramp up and reach a peak around May 15. "
France, where people eat an average of 2 kg per year per person, has become a structural deficit in strawberries and even became the first importer. French production should be nearly equivalent to that of last year (1%), with 51,000 tonnes of strawberries this year. She points and sixth in Europe, behind Spain, leading with nearly 300,000 tons mainly in the province of Huelva, and Poland (about 200,000 tons), which mainly produces strawberries for the processing industry.
The "Drosophila susukki" threat
Germany, which allows the employment of seasonal workers from eastern Europe, the hourly cost almost twice lower than in the Hexagon, is third with 157,000 tons. In total, we produce on the Old Continent 1.1 million tonnes of strawberries, or nearly 30% of world production.
Pricewise, as frost damage to vegetation have not been fully assessed and are being expertise, it creates tension on line pay day loans. "Early in the season 2012, the index of producer prices is greater than 7% five-year average," notes the Agreste. By comparison, last year, the average price of the high season between March and June, stood at 5.01 euros per kilo. A price significantly less competitive than the call price charged by major retailers this weekend (two-thirds of the distribution of strawberries) to 1.80 per kilo. But it was strawberries come from the Iberian Peninsula.
In France, according to initial estimates, the surfaces of strawberries should be stable for the 2012 campaign compared to last season. Strawberries produced in the open air should fall by 30% in contrast to the greenhouses which represent two thirds of production. This mode of production should continue to grow (+30%) related to the increase in aboveground surfaces (36%) and burial (25%).
However, in terms of health, some concerns loom over the threat of Drosophila susukki, a small fly that could cause serious damage. "It is not yet reached us, but vigilance is extreme," says Benedict Lopez, the producer Hautière, La Chapelle-sur-Erdre near Nantes.
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"Agriculture
One of the first stars to have turned in an advertisement for PepsiCo was James Dean. It was in 1950.
Since, there are many who have lent their brand image, including Michael Jackson in the 1980s. Following an agreement between the managers of agribusiness etles image of the former king of pop, this will again be the case in 2012 faxless cash advances.
The limited edition Pepsi cans bearing the likeness of Michael Jackson. Photo credits: Uncredited / AP
Inspired by the French Socialists, the German Social Democrats just put a swing to the left. The SPD has decided to revive the wealth tax. Four German states, ruled by the great party of the Left, have announced their intention to submit before the summer in the Bundesrat, the upper house of Parliament, a bill for the reintroduction of a "Vermögensteuer" (ISF) modernized.
"The SPD has never hidden its emphasis on social justice. We can not simply cut down spending to meet the golden rule. That is why we are determined to pave the way for the reintroduction of the wealth tax, "said Carsten Kühl (SPD), Minister of Finance of Rhineland-Palatinate. Led by the SPD, Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Hamburg will present, before the summer break, their text in the Bundesrat, which are represented the German regional states.
Their proposal includes a tax rate of 1% for individuals and businesses. This should apply to people whose heritage is over two million and save the middle class homeowners. Calculated by the SPD, this FSI could relate to the federal state between 8 and 10 billion euros per year. However the text is unlikely to be adopted in the Bundesrat, where Angela Merkel has lost its majority, but where the SPD does not have an absolute majority cheap business cards. And it would still be ratified by the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, dominated by the center-right coalition of Chancellor.
Elections
Whatever. For the SPD it is to lay the groundwork for the legislative elections of 2013. The German Social Democrats had considered the proposal outrageous tax to 75% of the very rich made by Francois Hollande. The reluctance of the socialist candidate against the golden rule also raise the misunderstanding of the German left. But she sees the ISF a good opportunity to stand out from the Chancellor on matters of taxation.
Across the Rhine, the income tax is capped at 42% with a special 45% said "tax the rich", for those whose monthly income exceeds the 250,731 euros. The Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe ruled in 1995 that the income tax could not exceed 50%, whereas beyond this was a confiscatory measure contrary to the fundamental law. And the federal government, which has never carried out the modernization demanded by the Court in Karlsruhe, has stopped collecting the tax on capital in 1997.
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This is the first interview with Jean-Bernard Levy, CEO of Vivendi, since he took over the reins of live SFR, after the departure of Frank Esser end of March. Jean-Bernard Levy happening every day at Defence Headquarters SFR. Including Saturday. Then he joined the headquarters of Vivendi, avenue de Friedland, near the Arc de Triomphe.
At 57, this X-Telecom – who began his career at France Telecom and Matra, before being chief of staff of Gerard Longuet, Minister of Industry under Balladur – knows that his time is short. It should give fresh impetus to the second largest French mobile, thrown by the arrival of Free Mobile and convince the supervisory board of Vivendi to preserve its trust. Some accuse him of having bought at full price – € 8 billion – the 44% stake held by Vodafone SFR yet, just a year before the arrival of Free Mobile does not strongly affect the margins of SFR.
21 million mobile customers
Today, Jean-Bernard Levy must reinvent SFR, which weighs 12 billion in revenue and has almost one in two French among its customers: 21 million mobile customers and 5 million subscribers to Internet broadband no fax payday loans. Faced with the loss of 200,000 customers in six weeks, the operator has responded by lowering prices of its offerings classic "Square" and its low-cost offerings sold online "Red". An adjustment that will weigh on margins in 2012 but in 2013, gradually as current customers under contract will reach the end of engagement. The margin of EBITDA (EBITDA) and should decrease by 12% to 15% in 2012, representing a shortfall of around 500 million euros.
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Blast furnaces Florange the Eiffel Tower, it took them a week and a half walk. The steelworkers ArcelorMittal steel plant in Florange (Moselle), left foot on March 28 of Lorraine, arrived Friday afternoon under the Eiffel Tower. The end point of "the march of steel" to "defend their jobs with people."
The 17 walkers, unionized or not, have traveled over 300 km and symbolically ended their march at the foot of the "Iron Lady", made of steel of Lorraine. "Guys, this is who?", They started showing the Eiffel Tower. "To us," responded in a heartfelt cry from the hundreds of employees to join the marchers.
After traveling their last stage, between the Place de la Republique and the Champ de Mars, the steelworkers came to forming a row, holding each arm, all dressed in orange windbreaker. Other employees have come from the Lorraine ovation. On a placard that read "the shadow of death of the steel industry, more than 3,000 jobs lost in Lorraine, Luxembourg and Belgium."
A concert was scheduled for early evening including Bernard Allison. According to police headquarters, from 4 to 500 people gathered at the foot of the podium. "The sides arrived," "Steel Lorraine will live", had earlier chanted the marchers Republic Square.
"Human Adventure"
One of them, Rudy Crestani, retired Florange 61 years, said "human adventure" experienced by the Steelworkers. "The idea was to fight to save our endangered plant and thousands of jobs. We had an extraordinary sympathy of wind and we realized that our struggle far beyond the borders of Florange, this jewel of the industry, "told AFP Edward Martin, CFDT delegate.
"Many French people are recognized and have had to say:" We're all ArcelorMittal power ", because although the company ( business cards design…) is competitive, it is not even enough to keep it running, since all these ayatollahs finance believe that it is always cheaper, "he said. The marchers slept in gyms, party rooms, received encouragement from anonymous.
Nicolas Sarkozy attacks
The previous visit of steelworkers in the capital in mid-March, had led to clashes with the police when they wanted to go to the campaign headquarters of Nicolas Sarkozy. Since the president candidate has blamed union leaders Florange, attacking the "permanent CFDT" who "betray the trust of employees." "The unionized workers are not full?, Edward Martin replied Friday.
For Alain Gatti (CFDT), "the movement was hyper-responsible" contrary to what was suggested Nicolas Sarkozy accusing the CGT and CFDT union officials to be "come (s) to insult and try to break (his ) campaign headquarters. "
By engaging their showdown in late February to keep maintaining the site and some 2,500 IDUs, including several hundred are now partially, the unions had promised to make Florange "the nightmare of the government" if the two high- furnaces in the steel plant, dormant for several months, were not given a prompt start.
This standby, "the death warrant of the site," they say, is only temporary and ensures ArcelorMittal due to global demand for steel at half mast. After "broken promises" of Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008 in neighboring Gandhinagar-industrial site finally closed in 2009 – Florange has become a political battleground, also involving trade union representatives.
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Reality is catching up a little more science fiction follows the success, yesterday, the first test flight of a flying car. The U.S. company Terrafugia has announced that its prototype small plane that runs on the road with folded wings flew for 8 minutes.
The vehicle called transition could well be marketed within a year, said the company whose name is Latin for "escape from land". The group's founder, Carl Dietrich, believes that the dream of many motorists is now within reach the steering wheel! "With this flight, our teams have demonstrated their ability to make real what was until now considered an impossible dream," he said.
The vehicle is expected to cost 279,000 dollars (213,000 euros). The company said that the new materials and a computer aided design used to reduce the price and weight of these vehicles to make them more accessible. More than a hundred copies have already been pre-ordered as well.
Failure of previous attempts
Moreover, the model approved in the U.S., has a range of 787 km and a width of 2.3 m version of the car can park in a garage classic. Once the wings, the model is 8 meters wide.
A track of 762 meters is necessary.
What relationship between soaring pump prices and unemployment? According to economist Etienne Wasmer, Professor at Sciences Po Paris, of high fuel prices could deter some French to take a job: "Rising fuel prices, draping in the cost of traveling between home and work, could have a negative effect on employment. "
Difficult to say how many people are in this case. But it is possible to draw a sketch of the ideal victim of rising fuel prices. "It affects rather low wages, those who have little hope of earning more by working away," says Régis Bigot, Research Center for the Study and Observation of Living Conditions (documentary credit). In sum, the French low-skilled, paid at minimum wage, usually working part time.