Oct 17




Three million voters to the polls Thursday. This is not the third round of the socialist primary elections but in the professional civil service and state hospital. This election is both new and crucial for trade unions. Unpublished, so far as officials voted on different dates, department by department. Under agreements signed in 2008 Bercy between the government and six of the eight federations officials, this group deadlines must solemnize the event and end a kind of permanent election administration

He still suffers to this first edition of exceptions.The officers decentralized government (prefectures) just voted in 2010 after the reorganization of their services; territorial officials will be "aligned" in 2014, which will match the designation of their representatives with election of municipal councils, general and regional officials finally France Telecom will vote Nov. 22 … as well as those of the Department of Justice, after a last minute postponement of the delivery of ballots and professions of faith having made the most complete mess. Also new: the hundreds of thousands of contractors have the right to participate. Finally, the electronic vote is for the million polio Education.

Crucial deadline

If the vote is also crucial is that it will not only unions to gauge.Now, only those organizations that received the most votes will negotiate and sign agreements, both local (with the hospital director, the prefect …) and national (with "their" or the Minister of Public Service for subjects common to all directors). In that game, the CFTC or the CFE-CGC will play their survival in many instances of 5700 to renew check cash advance. The "big" unions will also receive a premium on how they are granted. They are mostly human, that is to say agents paid by the state or the hospital, but devoting all or part of their time to unionism (our editions of September 29).

Difficult to anticipate the results.Of Education in Ecology, Interior Economy, workers speak out more on issues and candidates in their own department or at their service, as a national discourse – discourse on which organizations found it difficult to differentiate. Certainly, FP campaigned on the "case of the public service", the CFDT has focused on the working conditions of workers, Bernard Thibault has been calling for more political "use the ballot CGT" to "deliver signs to the government. " But these are all ways to approach the same themes: policy review (RGPP), elimination of 150,000 jobs during the five-year term in the state civil service, late general wage increases, stricter rules on pensions 2010. Many reasons for discontent that should benefit most unions 'hard', as Solidarity, the CGT and the FSU.

But the mobilization failed when the pension reform, and made to flop back against the rigors. The previous elections were successful in the CFDT and UNSA, reformists, who could also benefit from the arrival of the contract in the electorate. And some of the most disgruntled employees could wait for the presidential and legislative elections in 2012 to settle their accounts. Where the other unknown: participation, far closer than two-thirds, will continue she?

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Oct 14




The benchmark index of rents (IRL) continues its momentum. Indexed to inflation, the index increased by 1.90% yoy in the third quarter 2011, according to INSEE, its largest increase since the first quarter of 2009.

Following the same curve as the price index, the benchmark rents had fallen sharply during the crisis, before recovering from the first quarter of 2010. However, according to figures released Wednesday by INSEE, inflation emerged up 2.2% year on year in September, despite a slowdown during the past month.

Consequence of this increase in the IRL, the owners can raise rents to their tenants under lease, 1.90% maximum per year. This ceiling is not to be confused with the increase that may require the owner at the end of the lease, and which itself is not subject to this limit.

Rising rents slows

They are also in the process of marking time, like the sale price. The latest observation Clamor, the rents charged to new tenants were up 0.9% over the first eight months of the year, against 1.4% a year earlier. In 34% of cities in France, this trend is even negative. This is for example the case in Paris (-0.1%), Bordeaux (-0.9%) or Toulouse (-0.4%).

In other cities of the Hexagon, however, rents remain strong on the upside. This is the case in Lyon (+1.2%), Nantes (+1.7%), Lille (1.9%) or Le Havre (+2%). For the full year, Clamor expects an average increase of 1.5% to 1.8% against 2.5% in 2010.

The Observatory notes wide disparities between the cities but also between the quality of rented accommodation.Owners who make improvements before entering into a new lease rent on average well 9.3% more than the previous occupant. However, when the property is rented without work, its rental value decreases by an average of 5.4%.

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Oct 6




The New York Stock Exchange fell back slightly on Wednesday at the opening after a strong rebound. The Dow Jones lost 0.40% to 10,775 points in early trade and the Nasdaq, 0.72% to 2387 points. The New York Stock Exchange has signed a dramatic rebound Tuesday late in the session, erasing the last minute the heavy losses earlier as a result of fears of default of Greece.

Specialists Aurel BGC, the violent rebound index in the last fifteen minutes of the session on Wall Street is mainly due to the information leaked after the meeting of economic ministers of the European Union . European Commissioner for Economic Affairs has indeed mentioned in an interview with the Financial Times, a European plan to recapitalize banks."We share a growing opinion that we need a concerted, coordinated in Europe," he said, "the capital of European banks should be strengthened to give them a safety margin and so reduce uncertainty "in markets.

Degradation of the note of Italy by Moody's did not stop the European stock markets to begin the session in the green and should have little impact on Wall Street.

However, the pessimistic forecasts of the IMF could influence the trend.The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned on Wednesday that he did not rule out a recession in the world in 2012, facing a possible reversal of the activity.

According to analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald, the market is also beginning to show some resistance, "because the corporate earnings season is about to begin, that most economic indicators were positively surprised."

The president of the U.S. central bank, Ben Bernanke, warned that employment growth could be "sluggish" for some time, but said the institution was "ready to take additional measures" to support the economy.Ben Bernanke, who testified in Washington before the Joint Economic Committee of Congress, also called on parliamentarians to provide savings in the medium and long term, but to "avoid taking fiscal measures may impede the ongoing economic recovery," and They were asked to complete the action of the central bank.

United States, on the macroeconomic front, hirings rose slightly in September in the private sector in the United States, according to the monthly survey of the consulting firm HR ADP pay day loan lenders. Private companies have created 91,000 net jobs, in seasonally adjusted data, or 2% more than in August said ADP.Investors also expect the ISM at 16:00 in services and at 16:30 the traditional weekly report on oil stocks.

Oil markets, fell sharply Tuesday after the courses are starting to rebound on Wednesday morning. The Brent North Sea crude for November delivery gained 1.67 dollars to 101.46 dollars. A barrel of "light sweet crude for November delivery was appreciating his side of 1.91 dollars to 77.58 dollars. On the foreign exchange market, the euro is trading at 1.3292 dollar per ounce of gold is trading at 1628 dollars.

BNY Mellon in the sights of New York

The side of values, the State of New York filed a complaint Tuesday against the establishment of New York Mellon Bank (-3.67% to 18.13 dollars) to have overcharged transactions on foreign exchange markets and wants to recover nearly two billion dollars.For ten years, "instead of providing the best interbank rates as he promised," the institution makes money "by cashing the difference between the worst rate of the day, it charged its customers, and the price current market transactions at the time, "said the office.

Hewlett-Packard (0.04% to 23.03 dollars) should take a decision on its PC division in late October, according to CEO Meg Whitman cited by Reuters.

Yum! Brands (-0.22% to 49.33 dollars), which owns chains Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC, whose figures stand out as a leading indicator of economic conditions in the United States, reported a third quarter benefit of $ 383 million above expectations. Sales rose 14% to $ 3.3 billion.CEO David Novak said: "Our margins in China were up 7% in the quarter with a jump of 29% of sales, excluding the impact of changes. (…) This tremendous growth in sales, combined with our forecast high of 600 restaurant openings, makes us confident in the strength of our business model in China. "For the full year, the group now its forecast 12% growth in profits before exceptional items.

Apple (-2.11% to 364.64 dollars), which introduced the iPhone Tuesday 4S, the fifth generation of its multi-functional phone, with a more powerful processor than its predecessor and a new system would also voice commands be observed.

Oct 3




The reform of the public can also make people happy. Steria has indeed been selected by the government to ensure the realization of information system (HRIS) in several ministries. Eventually, the system developed by IT services will allow the operator National Payroll (ONP) to ensure the payment of more than 3 million of state agents.

The contract for a period of four years, approximately $ 9 million, is part of the modernization program of the French state.The aim is thus to make available to all client departments "a single computer system and meet the shared challenges of transforming the State civil service," said Steria.

Olivier Vallet, CEO of Steria, said that this contract is "in line with the recent gain of the TMA Chorus for the modernization of budgetary aspects of the state."

The public outsource more and more private

More generally, as part of the reform of the public, the state increases the outsourcing to private faxless cash advance. Several departments regularly use the public-private partnership, recently this method of financing involving the State and communities to a private group concerned the areas of economy, technology, defense, education or further transport.

In particular, the management of part of the tracks is transferred to the private sector.In addition, the police will not be responsible to accompany the convoys exceptional. The state decided to entrust to private companies the management of transportation of wind turbines, ships and other bulky goods. The opening to competition of regional express trains could well tip the railway in the private sector. Public-private partnerships have also been established in the field of defense. The company has particular DCI took over the management of flight hours and the helicopter fleet of the School of Dax.

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Sep 19




All Americans should be involved in the effort to reduce the deficit. This is the message sent on Monday by Barack Obama from the White House Rose Garden. The U.S. president, who presented his program of deficit reduction, confirmed a tax plan of 1500 billion to the deficit of 3000 billion over the next ten years. "We can not get out of this abyss only by reducing spending. It is normal that we ask everyone to pay their fair share, "said the president.

In Focus: the wealthiest Americans. Barack Obama chose not to extend beyond the end of 2012, the expiration date, the tax breaks granted to wealthier by the administration of his predecessor, Republican George W. Bush (800 billion dollars and would be recovered over ten years)."We can not afford these tax rates low for the rich. We can not help us while we are suffering large deficits, "he says.

The most significant proposal remains the introduction of a tax, "Buffett," the name of the investor Warren Buffett who has proposed. As expected, Bush did not go into details about the conditions of its applications but according to the New York Times, the tax on millionaires that will concern only 0.3% of taxpayers.

"This is not the class struggle is mathematical"

Responding to criticism from his Republican opponents, who accuse him of wanting to punish those who have succeeded and discourage the "job creators," Barack Obama said that "it is not the class struggle is mathematics ".He said "any reform plan will increase revenues to help reduce our deficit. This must be part of the formula. " Democrat for President, "the middle-class taxpayers should not pay more taxes than millionaires and billionaires. It is loud and clear, and difficult to contradict. I will not support a plan that puts the entire burden of deficit reduction on the shoulders of the average American. "

The project also includes U.S. President down $ 580 billion in mandatory spending on social programs, including Medicare (health insurance for the elderly) and Medicaid (the federal program for the poor).But Barack Obama has warned that he would veto any proposal that would reduce these benefits without requiring an increased effort in return for the wealthiest Americans and big business.

The President was prepared to lower taxes on companies providing launch an overhaul of the tax code to eliminate some tax loopholes, such as offering tax exemptions to businesses through the acquisition of business jets (gain total of 700 billion). It is also banking on an economy 1.1 trillion dollars over ten years because of withdrawals from Afghanistan and Iraq.

Propostion of "not serious"

But the camp of the Republicans who control the House of Representatives, has already expressed his displeasure."Threatening to veto, massively increase taxes to save ghosts and build on a reform of social programs, it is not a recipe for economic growth and labor market," said the leader Senate Republicans, Mitch McConnell. John Boehner, chairman of the House of Representatives, it was found that the contribution of Obama's bipartisan commission was not "serious."

The proposals of the White House must still be forwarded to a bipartisan parliamentary committee which will meet in late November. This means that the bill is unlikely to be adopted in the state.

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Sep 2




The Paris Bourse has continued to widen its losses on Friday. After an opening down 1.19%, the CAC 40 slipped 3.5% in response to the publication of U.S. employment figures earlier this afternoon. Then the index was down enccore in the red, losing up to 4% just before 17 hours. Finally, the CAC shows a significant decrease of 3.59% to 3148.53 points. No value of CAC has been able to climb into the green on Friday. For the week, however, the Cac 40 shows a gain of 1.97%.

Elsewhere in Europe, the Milan Stock Exchange closed on a fall of 3.89%. In Frankfurt, the Dax lost 3.36% at the final bell and the FTSE in London fell by 2.34%.The European indexes have been sealed by banking stocks, which still suffer from concerns over European debt, including the stalled talks in Greece.

Thus, investors have been cooled by zero job creation in August in the United States. In July, the first estimate of recruitment was greatly scaled down from 117,000 jobs created to 85,000. The unemployment rate remained steady at 9.1%, as expected. "The labor market is expected to remain sluggish in the medium term and the unemployment rate should rise slightly or remain at its current high level" of 9.1%, says Inna Mufteeva at Natixis.This publication reinforces the eyes of experts, the probability of a new monetary response from the U.S. Federal Reserve at its next meeting on September 20 and 21.

In addition to the waits before publication of the report, traders were disappointed by yesterday's U.S. indexes mixed. The weekly jobless claims have fallen and certainly the contraction was avoided in the manufacturing sector, but construction costs and productivity plummeted. In addition, the White House confirmed the pessimism about the weakness of the recovery across the Atlantic in scaling back its growth forecasts.

Euro stable

On the foreign exchange market, around 17:30, the euro 1.4207 dollars, against 1.4260 on Thursday, its lowest level in three weeks.Yesterday, the euro had fallen sharply under the impact of renewed concerns vis-à-vis the health of the euro area, where industrial activity contracted in August, unlike the United States.

In France, higher energy costs caused a 0.5% increase in producer prices in July in the euro area, as expected, but overall inflationary pressures subside to the extent that the area economy patina.

The bank collapse

Fear seizes even Greek European banks. The establishment of a second aid plan seems to be complicated. The troika of creditors of Greece left Athens Friday, giving the government 10 days to advance structural reforms in the country, weighed down by a recession that will prevent it from holding its budget savings target.In Paris, Crédit Agricole fell 7.38% to 6.65% Societe Generale, BNP Paribas and Axa of 6.24% to 5.73%.

Arcelor-Mittal: -6.10% to 14.17 euros

The group plans to resort to short in the fourth quarter at its plant in Florange (Moselle), and will ask 600 of the 3,000 employees of the plant to take RTT in September, officials said Thursday a union source

Total: -2.69% to 33.40 euros

The oil will extend all over France its network of service stations at low prices, after tests conducted last year in dozens of outlets, according to Les Echos.

France Telecom: -2.37% to 13.17 euros

The operator has received numerous expressions of interest for its Swiss division, told Reuters CEO Stéphane Richard, noting that financial market volatility would not affect projects sales of assets of the group.

Bouygues: -2.14% to 25.61 euros

The Standard & Poor's announced that it placed the long-term rating of A-group under review with negative implications following the announcement by him of a proposed acquisition of securities.

Sanofi: -3.25% to 49.75 euros

The group confirmed Thursday it has reached an agreement with Pfizer to produce in France generic versions of Lipitor, the cholesterol featuring the American group.

EDF: -3.23% to 20.95 euros

Goldman Sachs has revised down its price target on the title, which goes from 49 to 31 euros, while remaining on the purchase value.

Carrefour: -2.83% to 17.66 euros

HSBC lowered its recommendation to "overweight" to "neutral" and target price of 30.50 to 20 euros.

Stallergenes: – 0.81% to 49 euros

The laboratory of immuno-allergic Thursday announced a net profit up 18% in the first half to 23.7 million euros, benefiting from the "business growth" and a "moderate increase spending research and development. " In the process, Oddo is to reduce its recommendation to neutral.

Safran – 2.77% to 27.05 euros, Suez Environnement: -4.23% to 11.09 euros

Saffron is the best candidate for an entry in the CAC 40, while Suez Environnement, whose price has fallen heavily since the beginning of the summer, should come out, say professionals in the Paris Bourse.

Nyse Euronext – 1.93% to 18.56 euros

The London Stock Exchange has confirmed a press report that it is discussing a possible settlement with LCH.Clearnet.Discussions are at a preliminary stage and there is no guarantee that it would, he said.

Neopost: + 10.39% to 56.30 euros

The group raised its forecast of annual sales for the second time, following an accelerated growth in the second quarter, thanks to the dynamics of North America.

Sep 1




At the close of the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones advance of 0.46% to 11,613.53 points and the Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq 100 rise respectively from 0.49% to 1218.89 points and 0 , 13% to 2579.46 points. Just before the final gong, U.S. markets rallied after going into the red, a sign of anxiety that prevails again.

Still, U.S. investors were reassured yesterday evening, the tone of "minutes" of the last monetary policy committee of the Fed. This report has indeed confirmed that the U.S. central bank did not rule to use new tools of monetary easing to support growth ever more threatened. A perspective that also prompted the European markets to rebound on Wednesday morning, when he had closed the previous day on a mixed note.Also in the interests of peace, the United States, President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that the U.S. economy had a "heart attack" she was recovering at a slow pace as he prepares to unveil a new stimulus package.

On August, the Dow Jones drops 4.4%, its worst performance since May 2010.

The employment figures highly anticipated

The indices have reacted rather well to a series of indices published this afternoon.

The private sector in the United States slowed its hiring in August, creating 91,000 jobs over the month, less than expected by analysts, according to figures released Wednesday by consulting firm HR ADP.These new jobs, slightly lower than in July (109,000, revised), are lower than analysts' forecasts, which projected 100,000.

Orders for the industry rose 2.4% in July in the United States, more than expected, driven upward by the strength of the transport sector, said Wednesday the Commerce Department. Economists on average had expected a rebound 1.9% after falling 0.4% (revised from -0.8%) the previous month.

However, the index of purchasing managers in the Chicago area fell in August, slightly less than expected, while falling to the lowest since November 2009. The index published on Wednesday in August falls to 56.5 against 58.8 in July and a consensus on giving 53.5.

On the corporate side, the American phone AT & T (-3.92% to 28.46 dollars) fall while the U.S. Justice Department will oppose the proposed acquisition by AT & T, currently number two in the phone Mobile USA. Even if the group is committed Wednesday to repatriate to the United States currently filled 5,000 jobs in its call centers overseas, where green light to the acquisition challenged T-Mobile, the subsidiary U.S. Deutsche Telekom.These employees will be "well paid", assured the group in a statement, recalling that he was the only major U.S. telecom operators to accept unions in its stores.

Bank of America (086% to 8.18 dollars) is about to further reduce its scope of activity in the mortgage, by stopping the sale of mortgage loans through independent agents, said Wednesday the Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter.

Hewlett-Packard (-0.08% to 26.03 dollars) will temporarily restart production of its TouchPad Tablet, whose sales soared since the U.S. computer giant announced mid-August that he would cease to manufacture. HP announced on August 18 a sudden change in its strategy, through the cessation of production of its new tablet and its smartphones using the operating system of Palm webOS.HP also plans to separate its activities from production computers to refocus on software.

Aug 17




Outside the coffee dock, near the Gare de l'Est in Paris, the formula breakfast at 7 euros. At this rate, you are entitled to two slices of bread, a croissant or pain au chocolat, orange juice and a hot drink. Marcel Bénezet not sell a dozen a day, when he easily achieves 80 seats daily.

"In France, the breakfast is just 2% of sales of cafés, bars and eateries, says the owner of the establishment, also president of cafes, bars and brasseries in the union Synhorcat. But for one short year, the market moves a little. We draw some of the clientele of hotels.More and more business appointments are also around a working breakfast between 8 o'clock and 10 o'clock. "

"Not very profitable"

Praised by business travelers, the Plaza Athénée, a Parisian palace, carries 3 million in sales a year with his breakfast, including 1.6 million in the dining room of Alain Ducasse, where 60% of the clientele has not spent the night at the hotel. A single espresso is charged 8 euros. "The average price is 50 euros per person. All patrons of the CAC 40 are there, welcomes François Delahaye, the owner of the Plaza Athénée. Breakfast loyalty. But it is not very profitable, because payroll costs as much as we noon, when the bill is four times lower. "

Breakfast remains a difficult market for restaurateurs.The French are indeed more likely to take home the Anglo-Saxons, and they have less appetite.

McDonald's France, the breakfast is less than 1% of sales. "Unlike the British, Germans and Dutch, the French are not ready to leave in the morning for their breakfast, says Isabelle Kuster, Vice President of Operations in France and Southern Europe at McDonald's. Many are content with a coffee and stay hungry until noon.To attract them, we must offer them what they prefer: an espresso and toast. "As a result, McDonald's, which sells its formula with American breakfast (pancakes and Egg McMuffin) than 250 McDonald's where the demand warrants, innovates by launching September 26th in its 130 McCafe an offer adapted to the habits of the French, with small black and baguette spread with butter and jam.

"France is the only country where the espresso and croissants topped sales in the morning," insists a spokesman for Starbucks. The American chain attracts a customer in France to 60% and 40% of local tourists. In the morning, only 30% of customers use their on-site order. "But in France, we carry a large portion of our sales between 8 am and noon, when the Germans and Spaniards are more in the afternoon," said the spokesman for Starbucks.

Aug 12




After the storm that brought down the CAC 40 over 5%, the Paris Bourse seems unable to stay in the green Thursday. After opening up 2.96% to 3092.16 points, the CAC 40 went back down just before noon and sank below the threshold of 3000 points, already briefly reached Tuesday. Half an hour after the opening up of Wall Street, with two good indicators on employment and housing, the index slope gently went back after plunging 2.40% to 14 hours. He lowered from 0.08% to 3000.60 points to 16 hours.

In Frankfurt, the Dax is in the green at 5647 points, up 0.61%. The FTSE-100 index of London Stock Exchange plays yoyo but is also up 0.82% to 5047 points.

The concerns are far from being dissipated, particularly those relating to the slowdown in the global economy and the issue of sovereign debt on both sides of the Atlantic.Evidence of this tension, gold continues to fly record after record. The precious metal has crossed the threshold of 1800 dollars. It is this Thursday morning in 1790 dollars, after hitting a new record of 1815.50 dollars.

Oil prices also retreated in a market that once again expressed its concerns about future growth and energy demand. On the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), a barrel of "light sweet crude" for September delivery was trading at 82.39 dollars, down 50 cents from the previous day.

Bank stocks battered

Among the values ​​of the day include banking, which have been heavily tested yesterday. The Financial Markets Authority (AMF), the stock market regulator, announced that it will monitor developments in the securities sector.Shortly before noon, BNP Paribas (-5.88% to 33.515 euros), and Credit Agricole (-1.51% to 5.981 euros) and plunged into the red after yet open on a rebound.

The title plays yoyo Societe Generale: having lost 14.74% Wednesday, it opened on a rebound of almost 9%.He dived again from 4.13% to 21.265 euros in midday before regroup after the opening of U.S. markets (-0.45% to 22.08 euros to 16 hours).

"The willingness of these attacks is to force the SG to a capital increase, which is the workhorse of some analysts and hedge funds in recent months," said an analyst based in Paris at the agency Reuters. "Their reasoning is that the group does not generate enough capital to cope with the capital ratio of over 9% in 2013." The bank, already shaken in 2008 by the Kerviel affair, only to find the investor confidence after several warnings about its results during the financial crisis.

For its part, the CEO of the bank, Frédéric Oudéa, denounced, in an interview with Le Figaro, "the series of attacks" against the French banking sector "sounds completely fantastic, I struggle with the utmost force, attacked Societe Generale, "he lamented. "We have no fear about our ability to raise capital," he added. SocGen has asked the AMF to investigate the origin of the rumors that have depressed its course Wednesday.

Alcatel-Lucent takes advantage of Cisco's results

Veolia Environnement (4.61% to 10.55 euros) and STMicroelectronics (3.39% to 4.488 euros), especially titles attacked in recent days, return to the field.

In addition, EADS (1.66% to 20.24 euros), the parent company of Airbus, said Wednesday it will not achieve its objectives in the United States in 2020 without new acquisitions.

Title Alcatel-Lucent (2.11% to 2.324 euros) rose after the release of quarterly results from Cisco Systems, above the consensus of Wall Street.

L'Oreal (2.29% to 1.73 euros) benefits from the decision by Goldman Sachs, which added its list of preferred European stocks to buy ("pan-Europe conviction buy list").

Saint-Gobain (1.11% to 31.775 euros) has announced the acquisition of Solar Gard, a subsidiary of Belgian group dedicated to Bekaert Specialty Films, as part of its strategy to accelerate its growth through acquisitions.

Maurel & Prom rose 4.22% to 12.35 euros after opening up over 8%. The oil company has reported a surge of 123% of its revenue thanks to increased revenues in Gabon and Nigeria.

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Aug 9




If this is not a government program or a setting under the supervision of Italy is like. Friday, Jean-Claude Trichet and his designated successor Mario Draghi sent a joint letter to Silvio Berlusconi stating the conditions set by the ECB to the acquisition of Italian government securities on the secondary market. Conditions detailed binding, behind which one can read the label of the current governor of the Bank of Italy, future boss of the ECB. The letter should have remained secret: the Corriere della Sera reported Monday morning, after the Executive Board of the central bank in the euro area, which has long balked at the reluctance of German and Dutch governors, gave the green light to purchases of securities in Italy and Spain.

Roadmap drastic

The ECB seems to blame the previous plans of Silvio Berlusconi to be inadequate, too general, too spread out over time.As she raises her conditions. First, she asked Silvio Berlusconi to proceed by order, immediately applicable, not Bill (DDL), that Parliament is still time to approve. It then lists the reforms it expects Italy. In terms of privatization, she cites municipal corporations (public transport, roads, electricity supply, with the exception of water which will remain public).

With regard to the Labour Code in force since 1970, the ECB requires to make more flexible the procedures for dismissal and to focus on agreements in companies with sectoral agreements negotiated at the national level. This is a crucial point: Sergio Marchionne, boss of Fiat, continues to denounce the rigidity of hiring and layoffs.

By asking such requirements, the ECB ventures into unfamiliar ground.But it does not matter to the hawks in Frankfurt to fly to the rescue of Rome by putting huge sums into play if Italy does not comply with a roadmap drastically. Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel pushed in that direction. In their joint statement on Sunday night, they emphasized that the return of Italy to a balanced budget in 2013 was an important "fundamental" for markets and called for "a rapid implementation and complete" the measures announced Friday by Silvio Berlusconi.

This intervention boosted the opposition: "What we really require the ECB and the international institutions? A government powerless now totally discredited and Trust must at least say what the real situation, "said the press head of the Democratic Party, Pierluigi Bersani.As for the former European Commissioner Mario Monti, he now believes that Italy is governed by a "foreign Podesta."

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