Category: News

  • The far-right leads the French legislative elections: a “shock” for the foreign press

    In the wake of the far-right’s success in the first round of France’s parliamentary elections, the European and international press on Monday pointed to the scathing “failure” of French President Emmanuel Macron, who was deemed responsible.

    On Sunday 30 June 2024, the Rassemblement National (RN, far-right) and its allies came out on top and achieved their best ever first-round election result, with 33.14% of the vote and 10.6 million votes. Followed by the Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP), with 28%, and Emmanuel Macron’s camp, with 20.8% of the vote. Thirty-nine RN candidates – including Marine Le Pen – and thirty-two NFP candidates were elected in the first round.

    The German media are not sparing any criticism after the political confusion caused by Emmanuel Macron‘s decision to dissolve the National Assembly on the evening of the European elections. Bild refers to an “electoral earthquake” and a “Le Pen shock for President Macron”.

    “The far right beats Macron and shocks Europe” headlines the Spanish daily El Mundo and sums up the feeling of many media on the Old Continent. On Monday 1 July, Spain‘s Socialist Prime Minister said that he remained “hopeful that the French left will mobilise” after the first round of legislative elections, saying that the far right had to be beaten “by governing (…) as Spain has done for six years”.

    In Belgium, the media pointed to a day that “will undoubtedly go down in history”.

    In the UK, the French parliamentary elections were front-page news in most of the dailies, which were not sparing in their criticism of the executive. “The French right humiliates Macron” wrote The Times. A view shared by the Daily Mail tabloid, which writes that the French head of state has “opened the door to economic and political instability”.

    In Italy – home of far-right leader Giorgia Meloni- the country’s leading newspaper Il Corriere della Sera is scathing: “The French right has gone from the heirs of de Gaulle to those of Vichy and French Algeria, a provincial and resentful France that thought itself beaten by history”.
    “History will tell whether Macron was the man who delayed this worrying metamorphosis or the one who handed France over to the new right”, the paper sums up.

    Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Monday: “This is really starting to look like a great danger. Not only the results of the first round of the French elections (but also) information about Russian influence, and Russian services, in many radical right-wing parties in Europe“.

    In Switzerland, the leading German-language daily TagesAnzeiger headlined: “Le Pen wave wipes out Macron’s aura of power”. It deplores the fact that “the country of the Enlightenment, human rights and cosmopolitanism is drifting further to the right than ever – and perhaps towards darkness, isolation and xenophobia”.
    “French democracy is speaking, and it’s frightening”, says an editorial in the leading French-language Swiss daily Le Temps.

    The EU is concerned

    Officially, the European institutions and authorities have remained silent, and there has been no reaction from Brussels.

    The arrival of the Rassemblement National, an anti-European party, at the head of the government of one of the founding members of the EU is feared by Brussels. All the more so as France is both the second largest contributor to the EU budget and its second most populous country. What’s more, power-sharing at the top of the French executive could weaken the position of President Emmanuel Macron, who will continue to sit on the European Council.
    Ukraine is a matter of concern for Brussels, as French President Emmanuel Macron is seen as one of Europe’s strongest supporters of Ukraine in its war against Russia, yet the Rassemblement Nationale has never supported Ukraine and has shown its closeness to Russia, whether through loans from Russian banks or when Marine Le Pen was received by President Vladimir Putin.

    Seen from the United States – A constitutional and financial crisis in France?
    According to CNN, “A far-right government could lead to a financial crisis as well as a constitutional crisis. The RN has made some big-spending promises […] at a time when the French budget could come under heavy fire from Brussels.”

    For the American channel CBS: “The Rassemblement National, led by Marine Le Pen and founded by her negationist father, has renounced its anti-Semitic past to play the Islamophobic card for several years, where migrants are presented as a threat, especially to women”. He points out that in Italy Giorgia Meloni has been in power for two years, and that in Germany the far-right AFD party – one of whose leaders was convicted of using a Nazi slogan – achieved a record in the European elections. Soon, Viktor Orban’s Hungary will take over the helm of the Council of the European Union for several months with the slogan “Make Europe great again”, in homage to “his friend” Donald Trump. The question CBS is asking: “What can happen when democracies bring to power leaders who flirt with undemocratic ideas? “

  • France: Analyzing the Historic Score of Rassemblement National in the Legislative Elections: A European Perspective

    In the realm of European politics, the recent French legislative elections have captured the attention of political analysts and observers alike. The rise of the Rassemblement National (RN), led by Marine Le Pen, has marked a significant milestone in the country’s political landscape, prompting in-depth analysis and reflection on the implications of this historic development.

    As an expert in European politics, it is imperative to delve into the nuances of the RN’s performance in these elections and the broader implications for France and the European Union. The call by Le Pen and Jordan Bardella for voters to grant an absolute majority to the RN underscores the party’s ambition to solidify its position as a formidable force in French politics.

    The article “4 graphiques pour comprendre le score historique du RN” in L’Express provides a comprehensive overview of the RN’s performance through the lens of four insightful graphs. These visual representations offer a glimpse into the electoral dynamics at play and shed light on the RN’s historic score in the legislative elections.

    One cannot underestimate the significance of the RN’s success in these elections and its potential ramifications for France and Europe as a whole. The rise of populist and nationalist movements across the continent has been a prevailing trend in recent years, challenging traditional political establishments and reshaping the political landscape.

    As we analyze the implications of the RN’s performance, it is crucial to consider the broader context of European politics and the shifting dynamics within the European Union. The influence of populist parties on policy-making and decision-making processes at the EU level warrants careful examination, as it may have far-reaching consequences for the future of European integration and cooperation.

    In conclusion, the historic score of the Rassemblement National in the French legislative elections serves as a stark reminder of the evolving political climate in Europe and the rising influence of populist movements. As we navigate the complex dynamics of European politics, it is essential to approach these developments with a critical and informed perspective to ensure a thorough understanding of their implications for the continent.

    Stay tuned for further analysis and insights on European politics as the political landscape continues to evolve and reshape the future of the region.

  • Runway Rip-offs: Inflated Prices Plague EU Airports with 2 glasses of water at nearly 5 euros

    The exorbitant prices of water, coffee, and food at airports across the European Union have long been a source of frustration for travelers. Despite efforts to address this issue, airport vendors continue to charge consumers significantly more than the standard market rates for these basic necessities.

    One of the primary drivers behind these inflated prices is the high rent that airport vendors must pay to operate within the confines of the airport. [1] Airports often charge premium rates for the limited retail space available, which vendors then pass on to consumers in the form of higher prices. Additionally, the costs associated with delivering goods to the airport, such as increased parking fees and storage expenses, further contribute to the elevated prices. [1]

    Another factor contributing to the problem is the lack of competition within airport terminals. Once passengers have passed through security, they are effectively captive to the available food and beverage options, leaving them with little choice but to pay the asking price. [1] This lack of competition allows vendors to maintain their high prices without fear of losing customers to more affordable alternatives.

    The issue of water pricing in particular has drawn significant attention, with the European Parliament addressing the matter in a written question. [2] The question highlighted the concerning trend of bottled water being priced higher than or equal to alcoholic beverages in European airports, which raises public health concerns as consumers may be incentivized to choose less healthy options. [2] The Airports Council International (ACI) Europe had previously recommended capping the price of bottled water at €1 per 50cl bottle, but this recommendation has not been consistently implemented across European airports. [2]

    The impact of these high prices is not limited to individual consumers. A recent Reddit post from a traveler at Dublin Airport revealed the staggering cost of a simple breakfast, with a black coffee, two croissants, and three pots of granola with plain yogurt costing €30. [3] Such exorbitant pricing not only burdens travelers but also raises concerns about the accessibility and affordability of basic sustenance for those passing through European airports.

    Attempts have been made to address this issue, such as the European Parliament’s written question calling on the European Commission to consider a requirement for all EU airports to provide drinking water fountains throughout their terminals. [5] However, progress on this front has been slow, and the problem of high food and beverage prices at airports remains a persistent challenge for European travelers.

    In conclusion, the abusively high pricing of water, coffee, and food at airports in the European Union is a multifaceted issue that stems from a combination of factors, including high rent, delivery costs, and lack of competition. While efforts have been made to address the problem, more comprehensive and coordinated action is needed to ensure that travelers can access basic necessities at reasonable prices while passing through European airports. [1][2][3][4][5]

    Citations:
    [1] https://simpleflying.com/why-is-airport-food-so-expensive/
    [2] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2023-002603_EN.html
    [3] https://www.reddit.com/r/ireland/comments/ygh0vw/dublin_airport_prices_for_breakfast/
    [4] https://viettaste.mylocalkfc.com/eu-airport-food-and-drink-prices-unmasking-the-extortionate-charges
    [5] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-8-2015-014480_EN.html

  • How ‘Eddie the Eagle’ Edwards Jumped Back into Education

    As the Winter Olympics have drawn to a close we find out what happened to second chance learner Eddie the Eagle, the unlikely hero of the 1988 Games.

    Eddie the Eagle’s iconic ski jumps at the 1988 Winter Olympics at Calgary endeared him to the world as the lovable underdog. Even those too young to remember the Games may have seen the eponymous film starring Taron Egerton as ‘Eddie’. His performance, finishing last in both the 70 and 90 metre events, along with his thick glasses worn under goggles that often misted up, caught the imagination of the worldwide media. But since achieving fame as the unlikely star of those games Michael Edwards (his real name) found a new direction in life through returning to learning.

    His story is an inspiration to all those who dream of success yet face huge barriers. He had no equipment, little access to training facilities and no money. He was sleeping in cars, barns and even a psychiatric hospital in Finland because it was a cheap place to stay, all whilst training to achieve his dream of heading to the Olympics. It’s clear that what this plasterer from Cheltenham had in spades was a dogged determination to succeed – something he attributes to ‘middle child syndrome’.

    Calgary 1988 turned Michael into a media celebrity, appearing on ‘The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson’ alongside Burt Reynolds.

    “My feet didn’t touch the ground for about three years,” he says. “I was travelling all over the world, opening shopping centres, golf courses and having a whale of a time. But what I really wanted to do was carry on ski jumping.”

    Sadly a change in the qualifying rules for competitions meant he couldn’t compete at an elite level any longer. Disappointing as that was, for Michael it was all about taking part rather than just winning. His comment on the 2016 film sums up his sentiments:

    “They did such a great job with the film because it really captured the heart, spirit and essence of my story. Just getting to those Olympic Games was my gold medal. “

    Fame was sadly not accompanied by fortune. All the money he earned from the Calgary games went into a trust fund which was badly managed. As a result Michael was declared bankrupt after retiring from competitive ski jumping. Working with the lawyers who put together his bankruptcy case sparked an interest in studying law.

    “Law is very analytical so it suited my way of thinking. It’s an interest I always had.”

    To gain a place at university to study law – his ambition – meant that Michael needed to gain more qualifications. So in 1998 he enrolled on a number of distance learning courses with the National Extension College. This meant he could study at home in his own time.

    “It was a nice easy way back into education and I really enjoyed it,” he says. “I loved that flexibility. I could study whenever I had an hour to spare. I always thought that I might be able to go back to education at a later point. It’s amazing how flexible education has become and now anybody can start and stop education at any time”.

    Michael gained a place at De Montfort University to study for a degree in law as a full-time student, having saved up enough money and supplementing it with part time work. Taking law up professionally is something that wasn’t feasible for him after completing his degree, as becoming a solicitor or barrister involves completing a legal practice course costing £20,000. His passion for law means that he reads law books for pleasure. And there are always other avenues open for someone with a law degree and Michael’s determination.

    One opportunity cropped up out of the blue when Michael came back from Calgary and his manager organised him to sing a song called ‘Fly Eddie Fly’ which reached about number 50 in the charts back in 1988. Then a few years later Irwin Goodman wrote a song about ‘Eddie the Eagle’ and invited him to duet with him in Finland (though sadly it ended up as a solo project after Goodwin passed away from a heart attack shortly before he was set to record the song). That song reached number two in the Finnish pop charts. Michael spent six months singing in pubs, clubs and music festivals in Finland, but no-one translated the lyrics so, to this day, he never knew what he was singing about!

    What have Michael’s experiences taught him about learning and life?

    “A lot of sportspeople, especially elite athletes, have trained from about five years old and all they’ve ever thought about is their sport and competing. When it comes to an end they’re lost. It’s only a very small percentage of athletes who go on to become trainers or pundits on television. But you can use the skills that you had in your sport to find something else. See if there are any courses locally or ones you can do from home. And be ready for any opportunities that come your way.”

    Above all Michael’s experiences both as a sportsman and mature student have taught him perseverance.

    “I had to fight tooth and nail for any kind of attention in sport, but that gave me tremendous resilience. Once I put my mind to doing something, I would go for it and that was the same with law. No matter how many people say ‘No, no it can’t be done’, I want to prove to them that it can. There’s always a way to learn and that’s what I like about education now; it can fit any lifestyle. You can always make time and study. I encourage many people to never stop learning.”

    Although Michael never even came close to winning a medal he was the only British athlete who achieved a place in ski jumping at the 1988 Games. That in itself is a huge achievement.

    Press release distributed by Pressat on behalf of The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust), on Tuesday 1 March, 2022. For more information subscribe and follow https://pressat.co.uk/

  • Italian American coalition One Voice reviews past year and charts course for 2022

    Successful 2021 for IAOVC – plans for active New Year.

    BLOOMFIELD, NJ, US, December 31, 2021 /EINPresswire.com/ — Successful 2021 for IAOVC – victories in preserving Columbus; defending Italian American civil rights; gaining support from Italian American organizations and individuals across the country; and plans for active New Year.

    The Italian American ONE VOICE Coalition (“IAOVC”), America’s largest independent Italian American anti-bias and educational organization, reports on a successful past year and plans ambitious 2022 – continuing its mission defending Columbus and Italian American civil rights.

    Dr. Manny Alfano, Founder and President of IAOVC stated, “Looking back at this past year, I am amazed at our many, many accomplishments in defending our Italian American civil rights and especially, our victories preserving Columbus as the iconic symbol of our heritage. We worked with Italian American groups and individuals across the country opposing the widespread attacks on Columbus statues, Columbus Day and Italian American civil rights. We are grateful for the strong participation and support of many groups and individuals with their advocacy efforts and financial support. This encourages us to plan for more activity in the New Year so we can expand our media, legal and advocacy activities.”

    IAOVC victories in 2021 included preserving Columbus Day in many schools and towns across the country, particularly in the Randolph NJ schools that garnered worldwide media attention. Throughout 2021 IAOVC chalked up significant nationwide media exposure with over 100 TV and radio appearances by IAOVC Executive Board Member, Andre’ DiMino bringing attention to the fight to defend Columbus as well as opposing stereotyping and denigration of Italian Americans. And IAOVC continued the prosecution of the landmark federal litigation it filed against West Orange New Jersey for the removal of the Columbus monument and the violation of Italian American civil rights under the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution.

    IAOVC advocacy efforts were formally recognized during 2021 with awards and commendations. Of note, the Columbus International Award was bestowed to IAOVC from Fondazione Italia, an international academic organization based in Italy. In addition, IAOVC’s Alfano and DiMino accepted an award from the Italian American Heritage Club of Hunterdon County. And, IAOVC’s Frank Lorenzo received the Mille Grazie Award from UNICO National.

    During 2021, IAOVC was actively involved with Italian American organizations and individuals across the USA in opposing the continued malevolent moves to eliminate Columbus Day. In particular, IAOVC established a cooperative relationship with COPOMIAO through its president, Basil Russo; CSJ of OSDIA through its president Robert Ferrito; and Anti-Bias Committee of UNICO National through its chair, James Scanelli. IAOVC organized video conferences, webinars, petitions, participated in public hearing and utilized extensive social media venues to further its defense of Columbus and Italian American civil rights. Although there were a number of places where Columbus Day was eliminated, a number of important victories were achieved. And, based on those wins, there appears to be a lessening of activity in the moves to replace Columbus Day with another group’s holiday – a violation of Italian American civil rights and the epitome of discrimination.

    With its mission to educate about verifiable facts, IAOVC established an academic panel and education committee, chaired by history educator Maria Ricupero, coordinating factual and historical content to support IAOVC initiatives. And IAOVC continued its electronic media education efforts with its initiative highlighting interesting facts about the Italian American experience in America with concise, interesting and fact-filled videos called “The ONE VOICE Minute” – with new editions featuring Columbus and Italian American facts about holidays and events.

    “2022 will be another exciting and eventful year for IAOVC,” commented DiMino. “There is much work to be done across the country as stereotyping of Italian Americans continues and we see continued attacks on Columbus with the rampant cancel culture in schools and towns. We must be vigilant as we join with Italian American organizations and individuals across the US in defending our great heritage and culture.”

    This past year, IAOVC held a Virtual Conference with participation of representatives from IAOVC Organization Members and Individual Members from across the country. Based on its success, IAOVC will now conduct Virtual Conferences several times a year to coordinate activities and share information among its’ membership. The IAOVC Winter 2022 Conference is scheduled for Sunday, January 23, 2022, at 7 PM and will include some special guests and presentations.

    IAOVC is different from all other Italian American organizations in that its sole focus and objective is to foster education to fight bias, stereotyping and discrimination against Italian Americans. IAOVC is an IRS-Registered 501(c)3 non-profit.

    IAOVC issues a regular email newsletter, “The Alfano Digest,” to more than 5,000 individuals and Italian American organizations nationwide. Written and compiled by Dr. Manny Alfano, Founder and President of IAOVC, the Digest issues alerts on instances of bias, stereotyping, discrimination and defamation and activates the IAOVC nationwide network of “Defenders” who respond through calls, emails, faxes, letters and demonstrations where necessary. The Digest contains informative and educational Italian American cultural and heritage information. To receive the Digest, email Dr. Alfano – mannyalfano@comcast.net.

    To support IAOVC’s efforts at defending and educating about Columbus and Italian American civil rights visit iaovc.org/donate

  • Should religion be counted on to improve ‘mental’ health?

    Psychiatry Needs to Get Right with God1, is the title of a scientific article that has wanted to pick into this. “By not making more of an effort to incorporate spirituality in treatment, we are doing a disservice to patients”

    In the article published on June 15, 2021, David H. Rosmarin he said that “In the early days of the pandemic, economist Jeanet Bentzen of the University of Copenhagen examined Google searches for the word “prayer” in 95 countries. She identified that they hit an all-time global high in March 2020, and increases occurred in lockstep with the number of COVID-19 cases identified in each country. Stateside, according to the Pew Research Center, 55 percent of Americans prayed to end the spread of the novel coronavirus in March 2020, and nearly one quarter reported that their faith increased the following month, despite limited access to houses of worship.”

    There are however documented plans for psychiatry wanting to take over from religion, or at least wanting to take over religion and control it for their own purposes, while ensuring religiosity disappears more and more. In fact, it was the 1940s, when psychiatrists J.R. Rees and G. Brock Chisholm, cofounders of the World Federation for Mental Health, outlined their plans for society where they said “We have made a useful attack upon a number of professions,” said Rees in 1940. “The two easiest of them naturally are the teaching profession and the Church.”… “To achieve world government,” said Chisholm, “it is necessary to remove from the minds of men their individualism, loyalty to family traditions, national patriotism, and religious dogmas.”, so no wonder why someone is worried about COVID19 and their future, or just about the many problems one can find in life, the psychiatric industry seems to prefer people to do more pills, than prayers.

    Back to the article from Dr. Rosmarin from last June about the use of spirituality and religion to improve “mental health”, “These are not just interesting sociological trends—they are clinically significant. Spirituality has historically been dismissed by psychiatrists, but results from a pilot program at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts indicate that attention to it is a critical aspect of mental health care.”

    HE explains that in 2017 his own multidisciplinary team of mental health clinicians, researchers and chaplains created what they called the Spiritual Psychotherapy for Inpatient, Residential and Intensive Treatment (SPIRIT), which was a flexible and spiritually integrated form of cognitive-behavioral therapy.

    After that they trained a cadre of more than 20 clinicians, stationed on 10 different clinical units throughout McLean Hospital, to deliver SPIRIT and evaluated the approach. Rosmarin writes that “since 2017, SPIRIT has been delivered to more than 5,000 people” and the their “results suggest that spiritual psychotherapy is not only feasible but highly desired by patients“.

    The explains that in the past year, American mental health had sank to the lowest point in history: “Incidence of mental disorders increased by 50 percent, compared with before the pandemic, alcohol and other substance abuse surged, and young adults were more than twice as likely to seriously consider suicide than they were in 2018.”

    Yet, Rosmarin states that “the only group to see improvements in mental health during the past year were those who attended religious services at least weekly (virtually or in-person): 46 percent report “excellent” mental health today versus 42 percent one year ago. As former congressional representative Patrick J. Kennedy and journalist Stephen Fried wrote in their book A Common Struggle, the two most underappreciated treatments for mental disorders are ‘love and faith.‘”

    It’s no wonder that nearly 60 per cent of psychiatric patients want to discuss spirituality in the context of their treatment. Yet we rarely provide such an opportunity.

    It is now nearly 100 years ago, since Freud’s characterization of religion as a “mass-delusion” and with the documented plans of psychiatrists Rees and Chisolm, too mental health “professionals” and scientists have deliberately put religion aside in dealing with the emotional and spiritual needs people while too often simplifying happiness or sadness to an already disproven “chemical imbalance” with which they can sell lots of dangerous psych drugs.

    The UN and WHO have also tested programs where faith communities have proven effectiveness in helping people who suffer “mental health”, while psychiatrists keep asking for more and more funds and legal protection to continue their “research” and experiments into the field of the mind and the spirit.

    Despite the lack of results, psychiatry still has an unbalanced power in society and current efforts to flatten the COVID-19 mental health curve have been almost entirely secular, with the excuse of keeping the “separation of church/state”.

    “This situation goes beyond separation of church and state” says Rosmarin. “Health care professionals falsely disconnect common spiritual behaviors and experiences from science and clinical practice. As a result, we ignore potential spiritual solutions to our mental health crisis, even when our well-being is worse than ever before.”

    He explained in his article that his “own research has demonstrated that a belief in God is associated with significantly better treatment outcomes for acute psychiatric patients. And other laboratories have shown a connection between religious belief and the thickness of the brain’s cortex, which may help protect against depression. Of course, belief in God is not a prescription. But these compelling findings warrant further scientific exploration, and patients in distress should certainly have the option to include spirituality in their treatment“.

    “Countless anecdotes of this nature occurred during a recent year-long clinical trial of SPIRIT that my research team completed with funding from the Bridges Consortium (supported by the John Templeton Foundation). More than 90 percent of patients reported experiencing some kind of benefit, regardless of religious affiliation.” continues Rosmarin.

    And to conclude his article, he wrote “It remains to be seen whether God can solve our mental health crisis. But the potential clinical benefits of spirituality, and patients’ desire for spiritual treatments, provide a reason to believe“.

    Should then states support citizens and their religious communities so that they can step up in dealing with those who look at religion and religious “therapy” as the answer to their problems? More and more evidence, seem to indicate that it becomes cheaper, safer and more effective, than investing in new psychotropic drug treatments, electroshock, LSD, and even more clear if those psych treatments are given against the will of the people as the Human Rights Council and its Special Rapporteurs have now proven.

  • Spain: lawyer condemned at Supreme court for defamation

    The Spanish Supreme Court upholds the condemnation to pay €9,000 in damages against a lawyer for violating the right to honour of the judge

    Article by: Enrique de la Llave

    The lawyer Marcelo Enrique Daghero has to compensate the magistrate Joaquín Gadea Francés, territorial assignment judge in Madrid -currently on secondment as reinforcement judge in the Central Court of Instruction 6 of the Audiencia Nacional- with the 9,000 euros to which he was condemned in first and second instance for having violated the right to honour of Gadea Francés.

    At the time of the facts, he was the head of the Court of First Instance 1 of Tarragona and dean of these judicial bodies.

    The Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court composed, in this case, by the magistrates Francisco Marín Castán, as president, Ignacio Sancho Gargallo and Rafael Sarazá Jimena -opponent- confirmed the conviction on October 25, by dismissing the appeal of the lawyer Daghero, which was prepared by the lawyer himself.

    This was expressed by the three judges of the High Court in sentence number 177/2021, which now has to be executed with the consequent payment of the said amount to the judge Gadea Francés, defended in the cassation by the lawyer Gregorio Arroyo Hernansanz.

    An amount that they understand that “is not disproportionate”.

    The origin of the lawsuit of the magistrate Gadea Francés against the lawyer Daghero is found, first, in the complaint/complaint that in March 2016 the lawyer filed before the promoter of the Disciplinary Action of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) against the magistrate and against Francisco Javier Sánchez, the judicial counsel of that Court.

    Daghero blamed both for their refusal to process the appeals filed in which he was a party, claiming that such action met the elements of the crime of prevarication and the crime of breach of custody of documents committed by an authority or public official and its penalties.

    The promoter of the disciplinary action of the CGPJ, Ricardo Conde, after gathering information on the facts, issued an agreement on June 1, 2016, filing the informative diligence and renouncing to initiate disciplinary proceedings upon finding that there had been no delay or irregularity that could be reproached to the organ or its holder.

    As a result of that setback, on June 20, 2016, Daghero filed a complaint before the Civil and Criminal Chamber of the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJCat) against Judge Gadea Francés for the alleged crimes of fraudulent judicial malfeasance, obstruction of justice and concealment.

    He also charged a substitute judge and two prosecuting attorneys. He also requested compensation of 24,000 euros.

    The TSJCat, competent due to the magistrate’s privileges, did not admit the complaint, explaining, notably, that when the lawyer’s resolutions were not favourable to him, “he reacts with the filing of complaints against the aforementioned magistrates and prosecutors, which are clearly unfounded”.

    LAWSUIT FOR PROTECTION OF THE RIGHT TO HONOR

    After that decision of the TSJCat, Gadea Francés filed a lawsuit for the protection of his right to honour against the lawyer Daghero before the Court of First Instance, which ruled in his favour. There had been a clear violation of his right to honour.

    The same result was obtained by the collegiate court of the Third Section of the Provincial Court of Tarragona, to which the lawyer appealed. The Court upheld the sentence of 9,000 euros in compensation, including costs.

    In both instances, the lawyer also defended himself.

    The Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court ruled in the same direction as the first and second instance.

    Moreover, it did so in very harsh terms towards the lawyer. Something that bordered on querulation -although not expressly mentioned by the court-, which is the hostile and vindictive reaction of subjects who believe they have been injured and consider that the damage has been underestimated.

    “The Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia, in view of the documentation presented with the complaint [of the lawyer], understood that the actions of the appellant today responded to a strategy of formulating accusations, in criminal and disciplinary proceedings, against how many judges and prosecutors intervened in the criminal matters that affected him and ‘from this perspective imputed to them criminal offenses and partial, malicious and malicious actions,” the Supreme Court refers.

    However, the documentation accompanying the complaint and the complainant’s own assertions in this regard show that he does not accept a judicial decision or an action emanating from the Public Prosecutor’s Office that is not favourable to him, and in response to this he reacts by filing complaints against the aforementioned judges and prosecutors, which are clearly unfounded […] instead of using legal defense channels, he massively accused all the professionals involved in the Administration of Justice in the cases that were successively opened,” he adds in point eight. instead of using the legal defense channels, he massively accused all the professionals of the Administration of Justice who intervened in the cases that were successively opened”, he adds in point eight.

    THE LAWYER ACCUSED THE MAGISTRATE WITHOUT A MINIMUM REASONABLE BASIS

    Judges Marín Castán, Sancho Gargallo and Sarazá Jimena emphasize the disproportion of the accusations.

    “The accusations of the defendant attorney attributed to the plaintiff -the magistrate- a conduct of a criminal intensity disproportionate to the reality of the facts.”

    “The defendant not only made criticisms of the judicial actions (…) with which he disagreed, describing them as contrary to law,” says the judgment, but also accused “the plaintiff of prevarication, even malicious prevarication, as he considered his decisions unjust and illegal,” they write.

    The lawyer accused Judge Gadea Francés and the other defendants of “conduct as serious as obstruction of justice”, of “having concocted from the Dean’s Office of the courts a plot to influence or retaliate against the defendant to modify his procedural actions”, and of “covering up crimes committed by other judges, launching the accusation that he was part of an illicit association with other judges and prosecutors”, and all “without a reasonable basis”.

    HE OVERSTEPPED THE LIMITS OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

    The Supreme Court recalls, in its ruling, the reinforced nature of the freedom of expression of lawyers in the exercise of the right of defense.

    However, “in this case, the seriousness of the conduct that the defendant imputed to the plaintiff, the disproportionality of the expressions used, their profusion and reiteration, the lack of a minimum reasonable basis for his accusations, even if only indirect” are elements that “taken together, determine that the interference with the plaintiff’s honour by the defendant is not legitimized by the exercise of freedom of expression and the right of defense”.

    For the High Court, the legitimacy granted by the exercise of the right of defense to a lawyer who makes accusations as serious as these against a judge is lost when – as in this case – the lawyer substitutes the use of the means of challenging the decisions of the judges that are unfavourable to him.

    These are the means provided for in the procedural legislation through appeals. Opting for a strategy of systematic denunciation “in disciplinary and criminal proceedings, of those judges and prosecutors who, in the exercise of their functions, carry out actions that affect him unfavourably, formulating against them serious accusations lacking a minimum basis”.

    Originally published in Spanish here.

  • This winter’s flu season epidemic has started – what we know so far

    This winter’s flu season epidemic has started – what we know so far and what needs to be done to control it

    In the week commencing 13 December the number of flu cases (caused by the influenza virus) detected in the WHO European Region was above what we would normally expect to find in the population for the second week in a row, which indicates the so-called flu season epidemic has started.

    The European Commission began consultations yesterday with the Member States Expert Group on Sustainable Finance and the Platform on Sustainable Finance on a draft text of a Taxonomy Complementary Delegated Act covering certain gas and nuclear activities.

    The EU Taxonomy guides and mobilises private investment in activities that are needed to achieve climate neutrality in the next 30 years. The existing energy mix in Europe today varies from one Member State to another. Some parts of Europe are still heavily based on high carbon-emitting coal. The Taxonomy provides for energy activities that enable Member States to move towards climate neutrality from such different positions.

    Taking account of scientific advice and current technological progress, as well as varying transition challenges across Member States, the Commission considers there is a role for natural gas and nuclear as a means to facilitate the transition towards a predominantly renewable-based future. Within the Taxonomy framework, this would mean classifying these energy sources under clear and tight conditions (for example, gas must come from renewable sources or have low emissions by 2035), in particular as they contribute to the transition to climate neutrality.

    In addition, to ensure transparency, the Commission will amend the Taxonomy Disclosure Delegated Act so that investors can identify if activities include gas or nuclear activities, and to what extent, so they can make an informed choice.

    The activities covered in this complementary Delegated Act would accelerate the phase out of more harmful sources, such as coal, and in moving us towards a more low-carbon greener energy mix.

    As for the other activities under the Taxonomy Regulation, the criteria for the gas and nuclear activities will be updated as technology evolves.

    Next steps

    The Platform on Sustainable Finance and the Member States Expert Group on Sustainable Finance must be consulted on all Delegated Acts under the Taxonomy Regulation, given their expert role foreseen by the Taxonomy Regulation. They will have until 12 January to provide their contributions.

    The Commission will analyse their contributions and formally adopt the complementary Delegated Act in January 2022. It will be then sent to the co-legislators for their scrutiny.

    Similar to the first Climate Delegated Act, the European Parliament and the Council (who have delegated the power to the Commission to adopt this Delegated Act) will have four months to scrutinise  the document, and, should they find it necessary, to object to it. In line with the Taxonomy Regulation, both institutions may request for additional two months of scrutiny time. The Council will have the right to object to it by reverse reinforced qualified majority (which means that at least 72% of MS (i.e. at least 20 MS) representing at least 65% of the EU population are needed to object to the Delegated Act), and the European Parliament by simple majority (i.e. at least 353 MEPs in Plenary).

    Once the scrutiny period is over and assuming neither of the co-legislators object, the (complementary) Delegated Act will enter into force and apply.

    Background

    The EU Taxonomy is a robust, science-based transparency tool for companies and investors. It creates a common language that investors can use when investing in projects and economic activities that have a substantial positive impact on the climate and the environment. It will also introduce disclosure obligations on companies and financial market participants.

  • France wears the colours of Europe as it launches its Presidency of the Council of the EU

    Since 1 January 2022 to 30 June 2022, France holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. To celebrate the launch of this Presidency, many emblematic monuments will be lit up in blue across the country and through its embassies.

    It is the first time in 13 years that France has held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. In order to celebrate this remarkable moment, cities across France will be lighting up emblematic buildings in the colours of the European Union, including Amiens, Angers, Bordeaux, Brest, Caen, Clermont-Ferrand, Le Havre, Lille, Limoges, Marseille, Metz, Montpellier, Mulhouse, Nancy, Nantes, Nice, Nîmes, Orléans, Paris, Reims, Rennes, Rouen, Saint-Denis, Saint-Étienne, Strasbourg, Toulon, Toulouse, Tours and Villeurbanne.

    In Paris, the Eiffel Tower, the courtyard of the Élysée Palace, the Arc de Triomphe, the Hôtel des Invalides, the Quai d’Orsay, the Pantheon, the Opéra Garnier, the Sacré-Cœur, Notre-Dame and the Senate will be lit up in blue on 1 January.

    Among the french embassies, Berlin, London or Copenhaguen also join the celebration.

    Published originally here.

  • The £740 book that shows you just can’t trust a cover price on Amazon

    Spotlight: Books like John C Boland’s Hominid have been for sale at inflated prices on Amazon

    Critics are accusing online giant Amazon of allowing third-party sellers to misrepresent the books they market on its website. In some instances, books are being sold as classics at inflated prices.

    Among those concerned is American author and publisher John C Boland, whose recent novels have been marketed as published in the 17th Century and commanding a price of more than £700.  In fact, his modern day thrillers should retail for about £10. The Baltimore writer is suing Amazon in the American law courts for not properly policing the sale of books on its online store.

    Although Amazon sells books directly there is also an option to buy ‘new’ and ‘used’ from other sellers if they also have copies available, which can often be found on website links below a description of the literature. Anyone can sign up as one of these third-party dealers if they are able to set up an Amazon seller account – though the online giant typically gets 15 per cent of the proceeds from sales.

    Boland says: ‘The abuses affect not only my own works, such as the science thriller Hominid, but novels and non-fiction published by other authors.

    ‘For example, $12 books (nearly £9) are being offered in fanciful ‘1602’ editions for $1,000 (£740) that were actually published earlier this century.’

    He adds: ‘Amazon’s response that it does not permit this sort of thing is false. My search of its books website turned up thousands of mistakes being made by third-party sellers.

    ‘When a seller claims to have an edition published more than a hundred years ago it is also defaming authors like me by implying that the book existed before I had even written it – as if I were a plagiarist.’

    Meryl Halls, managing director of The Booksellers Association, says the issues raised by John C Boland highlight flaws in the buying of books online.

    She says: ‘Amazon has huge power in the marketplace for books and it is hard for independent booksellers to compete against it.

    Retail titan: Amazon sales ¿ of which books are only a small part ¿ rose more than 50 per cent in 2020 to £20.63bn. It paid direct UK tax on its profits of £492m

    Retail titan: Amazon sales – of which books are only a small part – rose more than 50 per cent in 2020 to £20.63bn. It paid direct UK tax on its profits of £492m

    ‘A local bookshop not only offers quality and advice that can be trusted – but it also allows bookbuyers to actually hold a book in their hand before having to part with any money.’

    She adds: ‘Thankfully, over the past couple of years – during this terrible pandemic – about 100 new bookshops have opened up as people have learned to appreciate their value.’

    There are now some 1,000 independent bookshops in the UK, less than half the number that were trading when Amazon began in 1995.

    Those who find browsing bookshelves is part of the pleasure of buying books should also consider visiting a book fair to find hidden gems to leaf through – and talk with experts about other literature they might find appealing.

    David Maynard is a book dealer and member of the Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association. This trade organisation offers details of book fairs held throughout the country – as well as online fairs.

    He says: ‘The internet has its place, but when it comes to buying books there is no substitute for personal service.’

    ‘These claims defame authors like me’

    Maynard adds: ‘Purchasing older books can be fraught with danger if a buyer does not know what they are doing. Condition and accurate date descriptions are a key part of the buying process.

    ‘We have a code of conduct to which all members are signed up to so if a buyer ever has a problem, it can be sorted out immediately.’

    Maynard adds: ‘Another bonus is that we can help guide book lovers on their adventure – introducing them to new and exciting reads after sharing with us what they enjoy.’ Amazon’s big selling point is convenience – with a purchase possible via a few clicks of a button rather than having to visit a shop.

    It also has huge global marketing and sales clout to beat competitors on price. Up to half of all book sales are now through Amazon. It also owns the book trading website AbeBooks.

    A criticism often made about Amazon and other online services is that they do not have the overheads of high street shops, such as shop rental and staff costs, and that they pay proportionally lower taxes.

    Amazon sales – of which books are only a small part – rose more than 50 per cent in 2020 to £20.63 billion. It paid direct UK tax on its profits of £492 million. The US giant channels the majority of its British retail sales through tax-haven Luxembourg.

    Amazon did not provide a comment on the allegations made by John C Boland.

    But it did confirm that as independent businesses, third party sellers are required to follow all applicable laws, regulations and Amazon policies when listing items for sale on its online store. It also confirmed that it promptly investigates any issues raised by buyers and when appropriate takes action.

    For details of where to find your nearest local bookshop, visit booksellers.org.uk. Another website worth considering when hunting out your favourite literature on the high street is bookshop.org.

    toby.walne@mailonsunday.co.uk