Month: December 2021

The French Press and Google France: a New Ministry of Propaganda?

The temptation to standardize news, with the broadcasting of a single source of information, takes us directly back to the experiences of state propaganda systems—the difference being, this time, that propaganda is in the hands of private companies such as GAFA and no longer in the hands of states. 

Mobile Phone Roaming in Europe Remain Free Through 2032

In addition to free roaming, the new regulation will require telecommunications companies to provide 5G network to its roaming customers whenever available. It also requires them to be more transparent about extra charges for services.

Kaczyński Defends Freedom at Warsaw Summit

The exercise of democracy requires the support of national sovereignty in order to be fully effective. This is a basic principle that is increasingly being forgotten by European leaders, especially the Germans who are eager to create a federal state of Europe, Kaczyński argued.

Merkel is Missed, Even by Those Who Disagreed with Her

Both Prime Minister of Hungary Victor Orbán and former Czech President Václav Klaus expressed appreciation for the sixteen years Merkel gave as German chancellor and a key leader in the European Union. 

A Homecoming: Dutch State to Acquire Rembrandt Self-Portrait

With the Rothschild family agreeing to the deal, the Dutch can soon admire the self-portrait on home turf. The Rijksmuseum, which already houses a sizable number of Rembrandts, plans to give it a place of honour. 

Nanny States: When Private Becomes Public

Western governments are become more controlling, behaving like overbearing mothers rather than the aloof arbiters they are supposed to be. This is the nanny state at its worst, deciding its naughty citizens did not know what was good for them and, therefore, needed to be kept away from harm.

Does France Want to “Decolonize” New Caledonia?

Twice, the question had been put to Kanaks and French people living on the island. And twice, the result was clear-cut in favour of remaining in France. But that is not enough, and those in favour of independence want to force people to vote again to achieve their goal.

Pope: “The EU document on Christmas is anachronistic”

When asked about the EU’s intention to excise the word ‘Christmas’ from all official documentation, the 84-year-old head of the Catholic Church denounced the idea, borne of a “watered-down secularism,” saying that “in history many, many dictatorships have tried to do this kind of thing. Think of Napoleon … think of the Nazi dictatorship, the communist one,” reminding them that “it is something that throughout history hasn’t worked.” 

Molotov Cocktail Thrown at Home of Belgian MEP

Molotov Cocktail Thrown at Home of Belgian MEP

Pascal Arimont, Belgian MEP, said that a petrol bomb was thrown under his children’s bedroom windows while the family was at home.

December 7, 2021
Caught between Scylla and Charybdis: High Inflation or High Interest Rates?

Caught between Scylla and Charybdis: High Inflation or High Interest Rates?

Caught between Scylla and Charybdis, the choice for our central bankers is hard but simple: which short-term pain comes with the best prospects for prosperity in the future?

December 7, 2021
Pope Chides Europe for “Indifference” During Refugee Camp Visit

Pope Chides Europe for “Indifference” During Refugee Camp Visit

During his visit to the Mavrovouni refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos—his second one in five years—Pope Francis

December 7, 2021
Austria Swears In 3rd Chancellor of the Year

Austria Swears In 3rd Chancellor of the Year

The swearing-in ceremony, which saw Nehammer and five ministers assume their respective positions, took place on Monday afternoon and comes just days after former Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg—who spent less than two months at the helm of the country—announced his resignation.

December 7, 2021
Portugal: Presidential Decree Formally Dissolves Parliament 

Portugal: Presidential Decree Formally Dissolves Parliament 

The parliament’s formal dissolution took place two months ahead of the previously-announced snap election, which was initially triggered in October when lawmakers rejected the Socialist minority government’s 2022 budget proposal.

December 7, 2021
Europe’s Right-Wing Leaders Vow to Cooperate; Take Steps to Build “Big European Force”

Europe’s Right-Wing Leaders Vow to Cooperate; Take Steps to Build “Big European Force”

In a joint statement, the leaders rejected the notion of “a Europe governed by a self-appointed elite” and said that “only the sovereign institutions of the states have full democratic legitimacy.”

December 7, 2021
Embracing the Paradox of Conservative Radicalism

Embracing the Paradox of Conservative Radicalism

If conservatism is about love for the society that is ours, what are conservatives to do when they look around and find their society increasingly unlovable?

December 7, 2021
Les Républicains Choose Valérie Pécresse as Presidential Nominee

Les Républicains Choose Valérie Pécresse as Presidential Nominee

Valérie Pécresse already has a very long political career behind her. She is the perfect embodiment of the classic French political elite and as such often criticized as “the product of the system.”

December 6, 2021
Recovery, Resilience and Resistance

Recovery, Resilience and Resistance

The closer one gets to the source of policy, the less explicitly things are expressed, so I did not expect to find so direct a formulation in print. All the same, it is now worth digging into what is really intended by this conceptual guiding light of ‘resilience.’

December 6, 2021
Vatican Accepts Paris Archbishop’s Resignation

Vatican Accepts Paris Archbishop’s Resignation

To a certain extent, Aupetit embodies for the French faithful the inability (or unwillingness) of the Church hierarchy to offer proper answers to larger problems.

December 6, 2021
A Postcard from Slovenia

A Postcard from Slovenia

Pre-pandemic, I flew at least one long-haul flight a month and regularly clocked 150,000 air miles annually for the previous twenty years. It was novel for my wife to see me ‘in a flap’ over simple things like checking in online and fretting over the contents of my bags.

December 6, 2021
Le Pen: We Can Save €16 Billion Annually by Restricting Social Welfare to Foreigners

Le Pen: We Can Save €16 Billion Annually by Restricting Social Welfare to Foreigners

By reserving family benefits to households with at least one French parent, deporting foreigners who haven’t been employed for a year, replacing healthcare coverage for illegal immigrants with “vital emergency aid,” restricting family immigration by 75%, and ending the reception of unaccompanied minors, Ms. Le Pen contends the French state could save €16 billion annually.

December 5, 2021