Europe

Germany: Closure of Quelle mail order business costs 7,000 jobs

By Peter Schwarz, October 23, 2009

Three weeks after the federal election, Germany’s best known mail order company is being closed down with the loss of 7,000 jobs.

France: CGT’s industrial policy means workers will pay for the crisis

By Pierre Mabut and Antoine Lerougetel, October 22, 2009

The French General Confederation of Labour national day of action, in collaboration with the Sarkozy government, is an attempt to deal with the economic crisis at the expense of the working class.

Norwegian election dominated by debates over oil fund

By Jordan Shilton, October 22, 2009

On October 13, Norway’s re-elected coalition government led by Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg announced its 2010 budget amid claims that the country had weathered the global economic downturn.

Germany: Armed Forces memorial unveiled in Berlin

By Bernd Reinhardt, October 22, 2009

Leading political and military circles in Germany are conducting a systematic campaign to revive militarism.

The British National Party and “Question Time”

By Julie Hyland, October 22, 2009

Media lawyers this week rejected a warning by Welsh Secretary Peter Hain that the British Broadcasting Corporation could face legal action if it allowed Nick Griffin, leader of the British National Pa...

Britain: Thousands of jobs threatened in higher and further education

By Robert Stevens, October 21, 2009

Thousands of job cuts are being implemented at higher and further education institutions throughout the UK.

Roman Polanski refused bail by Swiss court

By Hiram Lee, October 21, 2009

The Federal Criminal Court of Switzerland has refused to release filmmaker Roman Polanski on bail.

France: New Anti-capitalist Party tries to channel worker discontent with the unions

By Anthony Torres and Alex Lantier, October 21, 2009

Inside the NPA, whose leadership refuses to make any criticism of the CGT union, the Prometheus Collective and Clear Tendency factions are trying to provide a cover for the party under conditions of w...

British secret service chief justifies torture

By Chris Marsden, October 21, 2009

The head of Britain’s secret service, MI5, has publicly defended the use of torture to obtain evidence against alleged terrorists.

Britain: Postal workers face a political struggle against Labour government

By Socialist Equality Party, October 20, 2009

Postal workers confront a coordinated campaign to defeat their strike in defence of jobs and conditions, drawn up and executed by Royal Mail and the Labour government.

French President Sarkozy backs Washington’s hard line against Iran

By Antoine Lerougetel, October 20, 2009

French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s calls for action against Iran’s nuclear power installations have been greeted with surprise and satisfaction by the American media.

German Greens to form coalition with CDU and FDP in Saarland

By Ludwig Weller, October 20, 2009

The German Green Party has decided to form a coalition with the conservative Christian Democratic Union and the free-market Free Democratic Party in Saarland