http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/separatists-gaining-ground-in-europe-8280904.html
As debt-burdened European governments struggle to overcome the disparities in their still-imperfect union, old demons of regional separatism have surged anew in recent months, raising another unwelcome challenge to the continent's traditional nation-states.
Separatist movements have dramatically reinforced their positions here in Belgium's prosperous Flanders region, where the independence-minded New Flemish Alliance captured Antwerp's 16th-century City Hall on Oct. 14 and, under its populist leader Bart De Wever, is heading into national elections in 2014 with new wind in its sails.
"There is an outcry in Flanders for change," declared Danny Pieters, vice president of the Belgian Senate and a senior Flemish alliance leader.
Independence-minded nationalists also have made recent gains in Spain's Basque Country, returning to power in the regional government after a four-year pause, and in Catalonia, where separatists running the regional government have threatened to hold a referendum on whether to remain part of Spain. In Scotland, which has been part of Great Britain for 300 years, such a referendum has already been scheduled for autumn 2014 — on the anniversary of a battle in which Scotsmen defeated the British.
"Secessionist temptations are legion on our continent these days," Daniel Cohn-Bendit, a Green representative in the European Parliament, warned in a recent column.
On the other side of the ledger, two long-term separatist strains have receded, at least for the moment: on the French island of Corsica, where Mafia-style crime has eclipsed the nationalist movement, and in industrialized northern Italy, where scandal has set back the Northern League, forcing it to temper its complaints about paying high taxes to compensate for lazy and larcenous Sicilians.
Viewed from afar, the nations of Europe seem to have such a timeless history, under kings, prime ministers and presidents, that no one would think of pulling out of the country in favor of regional separatism. But struggles for regional cultural and political independence — the Basque ETA set off bombs for decades — have long burned under the surface, a permanent part of the European landscape.
In the Balkans, the death of Marshal Tito set off bloody regional wars in the 1990s that resulted in the breakup of Yugoslavia into half a dozen new states. Czechoslovakia also spilt after the fall of the Soviet Union, but peacefully, into the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Western Europe's recently successful separatist leaders have shown no clear inclination for such violence, although some have suggested they could be tempted to violate constitutional law if their demands are not met. But even if the separatists remain peaceful, the resurgence of regional nationalists has created another debilitating struggle for leaders already trying hold together a European Union undermined by punishing debts and divergent economies.
Ironically, the regional separatists have benefited from the success of the European Union over the last half-century and the ideal of seeing, one day, a United States of Europe in which the role of national governments would diminish. Artur Mas, the Catalonian nationalist leader, and De Wever, his counterpart here in Antwerp, both have spoken lyrically of seeing their regions as independent nations within such a federated Europe.
In most instances, breakaway leaders have strengthened their positions recently because they found it easier to broaden their support in the context of Europe's relentless financial crisis. By forcing central governments to enact painful tax increases and spending cuts, the crisis has made the perennial quests for local independence more attractive to ordinary people who feel they are over-taxed for social welfare programs that transfer wealth to other regions.
De Wever rose to notoriety in 2005 by leading a convoy of 12 trucks loaded with more than 200 million euros in fake 50-euro bills that were transported from Flanders in the north to Wallonia in the south, dramatizing his message that relatively well off Flemish-speaking taxpayers were financing a costly welfare system for French-speaking Walloons. The Bank of Belgium estimated that in that year the transfers amounted to 5.8 billion euros.
Conversations in the elegant streets of Antwerp indicated that many people support De Wever and his Flemish alliance not because they want to break away from Belgium, but because they want change from crisis-driven economic policies handed down from Socialist Party-led national government in Brussels.
A key indicator of what they object to, observers here said, was the recent closure of a nearby Ford auto plant, which resulted in the loss of 400 jobs directly and another 600 in parts and supply companies. The national government proposed lowering the age of government pensions for laid-off workers, while De Wever insisted the best solution was to attract business investment to create other jobs for them. Otherwise, he added, Flanders would end up "Walloon-ized" by welfare payments.
Philippe Juliam, a secondary school ethics teacher enjoying a beer and a fat Havana in one of Antwerp's countless wood-paneled cafes, said De Wever's cause is gaining adherents not only because of the crisis but also because it responds to a growing feeling that in fact the country is already divided along linguistic and many other lines.
and.....
http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/eu-budget-commissioner-challenges-uk-loyalty-to-europe-a-864941.html
Many in the European Union have long rolled their eyes when conversation turns to the United Kingdom. Britain is often seen on the Continent as one of the most problematic members of the 27-member club, wary of any moves that might lead toward further European integration.
Now, as the EU begins earnest negotiations aimed at passing a budget to cover the years 2014 to 2020, it appears Brussels is beginning to lose its patience. Britain this week has been adamant in its refusal to accept the budget proposal of €1 trillion made by the European Commission and has demanded that it be slashed by up to 20 percent. Other member states would also like to see the budget proposal adjusted downward, but so far, the rhetoric from London has been uncompromising.
On Friday, European Commissioner for Financial Programming and Budget Janusz Lewandowski, Poland's representative in the EU's executive, said it was time for Britain to make a fundamental decision regarding its future in the European Union. "Of course there are limits," he said in an interview with the German dailySüddeutsche Zeitung. "We can't finance more Europe with substantially less money."
When asked if he was referring to budgetary criticism coming from London, Lewandowski said: "Of course I am also referring to Great Britain. Either they see their future in the European Union in the long term or they don't."
Lewandowski's comments come on the heels of several brash comments on the budget coming from leading British politicians. Parliament on Wednesday heaped pressure on Prime Minister David Cameron to push through deep cuts to the EU's proposed budget, as several members of his own party joined the opposition in a non-binding vote on the matter.
'Prepared to Use the Veto'
Even before the vote, Cameron had hinted at what his negotiating stance will be when European leaders gather in Brussels on Nov. 22 to pass the budget. "This government is taking the toughest line in these budget negotiations of any government since we joined the European Union," Cameron said. "At best we would like it cut, at worst frozen, and I'm quite prepared to use the veto if we don't get a deal that's good for Britain."
His finance minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, echoed the sentiment on Thursday. "We will veto any deal that is not good for the British taxpayer," he said.
In his interview with the Süddeutsche, Lewandowski sought to defend his budget proposal, saying all it asks for is year-on-year inflationary adjustments to the budget as it stands in 2013. In other words, he says, Brussels isn't asking for more money at all. He points out, however, that due to enlargement and other increased demands being placed on the EU, Brussels needs the money it has requested to fulfil its obligations.
"You should not forget that in the course of recent years, leaders have handed the EU new obligations," he said. "Unfortunately it is often the case that the financial aspect is forgotten."
and.....
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/02/italian-provinces-merger-old-rivalries
Italian provinces merger reignites ancient rivalries
Battle to become provincial capital triggers Prato toilet protest and coffin demonstration as fears of horsetrading escalate
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Italian provinces merger – 'Pisans tend to be closed, calculating and egoistic,' a Livorno journalist said of the Tuscan city, above. Photograph: Franco Silvi/EPA
The Tuscan cities of Pisa and Livorno lie only 15 miles apart, but they have been separated for centuries by a relationship of "cordial loathing," – hence the Livorno saying "Better a death in the house than a Pisan at the door."
Small wonder that sparks are flying after a government decreed that the proud provincial capitals would be merged to create a single province as part of a cost-cutting drive.
The decree, which was issued on Wednesday and deemed "irreversible" by one government minister, will reduce the number of Italian provinces, which sit below the country's regional authorities and above its municipal councils, from 86 to 31.
The move marks a climbdown from plans to scrap them all, but has inflamed ancient rivalries as cities fight over which will become the new provincial capital.
Nowhere have the clashes been more fierce than in Tuscany, where tension has simmered since the times of the Medicis. However, Pisa, Livorno, Lucca and Massa Carrara must settle their differences and merge by January.
Pisa, a powerful port in the 12th century, was eclipsed by the rise of Livorno – and the two cities have squabbled since.
A Livorno journalist, Mario Cardinali, told the Italian daily Corriere della Sera: "Pisans are proud of their glorious maritime republic and their university, but tend to be closed, calculating and egoistic."
Livorno was declared a free port in the late 1500s by Ferdinando I of Tuscany, and has attracted adventurers, people fleeing persecution in northern Europe and Jews forced out of Spain, said Cardinali, making residents more libertarian than Pisans. "We also remind Pisans that Livorno had administrative seniority over Pisa during the Napoleonic era," he said.
Natives of Lucca are not well disposed to Pisans either, since Pisa invaded Lucca in 1314, added Cardinali. "Until recently mothers in Lucca would scare their children by saying 'Let's go, the Pisans are coming.'"
The decree specifies that the largest town in a merged province becomes its capital – in this case Livorno – but a clause allows local politicians to strike deals, prompting fears of horsetrading.
The Lucca mayor, Alessandro Tambellini, suggested he might bid for his province to be the capital, with the backing of Massa Carrara. But, sensing the accolade could be snatched from Livorno, its mayor, Alessandro Cosimi warned that "people here are getting angry".
Rows have also erupted further inland in Tuscany, where the province of Prato will be merged with Florence and Pistoia. Roberto Cenni, the Prato president, has described the decree as "shameful" and held a press conference while sitting on a toilet in his office, claiming it was the only place worth discussing such a measure.
Local councillors in Prato followed up by parking a coffin outside the town hall and handing out leaflets denouncing "the death of Prato".
Before elections are held in the newly merged provinces in November 2013, the association of Italian provinces has pledged to overturn the decree and announced plans to protest on 8 November in Rome. Legal challenges are expected to follow.
"This government decision is the product of an authoritarian vision which damages local democracy," said the vice president, Antonio Saitta.
And while Bunga and Ferrari may seek to be Premier - note Monti plotting to remain an unelected Jefe....
Bunga Bunga vs Brrrrrm: Ferrari Boss To Challenge Berlusoni In Italy Premier Race
A week ago we reported that as part of the surge in the Italian anti-austerity movement, the time had come for none other than that forced exile (courtesy of the ECB's bond yield tactics) whose political career ended prematurely precisely one year ago, Silvio Berlusconi, to announce not only his political ambitions, but his desire for vengeance when he made it clear he is willing and ready to scuttle Mario Monti's cabinet. It appears that in the April elections, Silvio may now be challenged by none other than Ferrari head, Luca de Montezomolo, boss of the Scuderia, who Ansa reports "has hinted he might rethink his recent No to stepping into the political ring after April elections."
In an interview, Montezemolo did not rule out accepting a request to be premier if that served to "unite" conservatives who have lost their main rallying point because of turmoil in ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PdL) party.
He said the time for uniting conservatives and "regenerating politics" after a string of scandals that has deepened public disaffection with traditional parties was "now or never again".
He is not the only one: unelected leader, and Goldman appointee, Mario Monti has also warned he may do something rather drastic, and run for the popular vote.Current technocrat Premier Mario Monti has also said he might serve again if the elections ended in a tied parliament.Then again, this is Italy, where the second most popular party currently is the Five Star protest movement lead by comedian Beppe Grillo. This would be comparable to Stephen Colbert being in the running according to various slanted and biased media's "black box" models.The centre-left Democratic Party (PD) is polling at around 27% compared to comedian Beppe Grillo's Five Star protest movement's 18% and the PdL's 13% but the PD is facing a choice between centrist and leftist allies to pin its hopes on forming a government coalition.
The Five Star movement scored the heaviest in Sicily elections last weekend where a PD governor was elected in alliance with the centrist UDC and the PdL plunged to less than a quarter of its previous support.
and Spain......
http://elpais.com/elpais/2012/11/01/inenglish/1351781975_013684.html
Catalan election video banned on grounds of nationalist bias
Regional government campaign "leads voters," says panel
PERE RÍOS / EL PAÍS Barcelona 1 NOV 2012 - 16:01 CET
The Central Electoral Commission (JEC) on Wednesday ordered the "immediate withdrawal" of a video on the regional elections slated for November 25 broadcast by the Catalan regional government, which is controlled by the center-right CiU nationalist coalition.
In its ruling, the JEC said the recording, which features images of Catalonia's history and a massive pro-independence demonstration in Barcelona, breached electoral rules by steering voter intentions.
The campaign, which cost the regional government 271,000 euros, was brought before the Barcelona Provincial Electoral Commission by the opposition Popular Party, Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) and the anti-sovereignty Ciutadans de Catalunya. In the absence of a specific electoral law in Catalonia, the matter was referred to the JEC, which said it contravened national rules.
The article states that political parties are permitted to air campaign broadcasts "of an institutional character designed to inform citizens of the date of the vote, the procedure of voting and requisites of postal voting without influencing the orientation of citizens' votes." The regional government withdrew the video but announced it would appeal the decision, which it says contravenes the Catalan Statute.
"The JEC prohibits us from campaigning, without getting to the heart of the video," said government spokesman Francesc Homs. "It is stopping us from adhering to the statute, which allows for campaigns to encourage voting. No referendum, no fomenting of votes... It seems everything to do with democracy sends people into a panic."
PSC leader Pere Navarro called for "those responsible" for the campaign to resign.
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