European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread - Page 973

On October 19 2017 03:45 TheDwf wrote:
The discussion on the 2018 budget has begun in the Parliament. Just like all right-wing governments always dreamed of since 1988 (but never dared to), and among other tax cuts..., Macron is basically going to suppress the ISF, a wealth tax on the biggest patrimonies which yields ~5 billions of euros per year. Thanks to this, billionaires will for instance save dozens of millions of euros per year. According to Le Canard Enchaîné, the government is apparently trying to hide an impact assessment which details how much the 100 biggest taxpayers will save, fearing the reaction of the public opinion should actual figures be known.

A poll asked people what sentence best represented their thoughts on the matter:

1) Removing the ISF will increase inequalities between the wealthiest and the least favored
2) Removing the ISF will allow the wealthiest to invest in the French economy

Answers based on the vote in the first round of the présidentielle:

Funny... Even the most liberal electorates are barely convinced by the "trickle down" myth.

On October 19 2017 03:49 Artisreal wrote:
How can the proposition of a 30€/t minimum CO2 emission pricing come from the same guy that put's forth a tax cut for the 0,1%? I don't understand.

On October 19 2017 03:49 Artisreal wrote:
How can the proposition of a 30€/t minimum CO2 emission pricing come from the same guy that put's forth a tax cut for the 0,1%? I don't understand.

Spain was preparing to impose direct rule over semi-autonomous Catalonia after the region's leader Carles Puigdemont declined to categorically renounce an independence referendum, the prime minister's office announced Thursday.

Spain's government said it would hold a special Cabinet meeting and "approve the measures that will be sent to the Senate to protect the general interest of all Spaniards."

At the Cabinet meeting, the government would invoke Article 155 of Spain's constitution allowing it to strip Catalonia of its self-governance. That would take effect on Saturday, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's office said in a statement.

Madrid had given Puigdemont a 10 a.m. (4 a.m. ET) deadline to clarify his government's stance on a non-binding declaration of independence passed by the regional legislature following a successful referendum on secession.

But the Catalan leader insisted on keeping his options open, but that wasn't good enough for Spain's government, which had insisted on an unambiguous "no."

"If the [Madrid] government continues to impede dialogue and continues with the repression, the Catalan parliament could proceed, if it is considered opportune, to vote on a formal declaration of independence," Puigdemont said in a letter to Rajoy.

Catalonia, which includes the city of Barcelona and is one of Spain's wealthiest and most culturally distinct regions, voted overwhelmingly on Oct. 1 to secede from Spain. Puigdemont then declared independence but suspended it in nearly the same breath while calling for talks with Madrid. Catalan lawmakers also passed articles of secession.

The referendum went 90 percent in favor of independence, but with only about half of registered voters turning out. Massive street protests in favor of unity came a week after the vote.

Thursday's deadline from the Spanish government came after a similar one on Tuesday in which Puigdemont was to have given an unambiguous "yes" or "no" to the question of Catalan independence. Instead, he demurred, saying only that he wanted to pursue more dialogue with Madrid.

His vague response angered Spanish officials, with Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría firing back, saying "it wasn't very difficult to say yes or no. That was the question that was asked and the response shouldn't be complicated."

Ahead of the latest deadline, Rajoy on Wednesday urged Catalonia's leaders to "act sensibly" and renounce the declaration.

On October 19 2017 22:20 Pr0wler wrote:
Puigdemont is the biggest troll ever. Madrid is asking him for two weeks to clearify the situation, he completely ignores them. Now "Madrid impedes dialogue"... OK.
And then the Spainish government is hostile towards Catalonia... Sure.

On October 19 2017 23:41 Big J wrote:
Ok, so far climate change was mostly a general underlying issue with statistical significance and dramatic future implications. But now it is getting personal:

https://ec.europa.eu/info/news/extreme-weather-pushes-eu-wine-harvest-historical-low-2017_en

On October 19 2017 22:50 SMaD wrote:
Puigdemont explictly says in his letter that Catalan Parliament did not vote/approve Catalonia independence but Spanish Government is trying to make it look like a blackmail/extorsion situation.

At least, one of them seems to be willing to negotiate something... Guess who

On October 20 2017 00:57 Danglars wrote:

Weather is not climate. If you meant to say these things will become more and more frequent in the next fifty years, I can understand you. Otherwise, you’re just like the guy I know that brings up cold winters as evidence global warming is fake.