corruption
Europe-gate. Or how to name criminal investigations across Europe
Things are hotting up in Spain’s courts with the 'Gürtel' case. How does a Spanish juridical affair end up with a German name? European investigation titles go on trial
Fictional Russian hopefuls in 2012 elections
Russia’s presidential elections on 4 March are creeping ever closer. Following demonstrations across Russia in the wake of parliamentary elections in December, the run-away favourite Vladimir Putin is now more of a walk-away favourite. Who else is in this one-horse race?
corruption, moscow, literature, russian federation, politics, vladimir putin, elections
Documentary 'Listening to Garzon': Spain’s most famous judge judged
‘Escuchando al Juez Garzón’ is an 87-minute documentary shot as a single interview with the high-profile human rights judge in Madrid in late 2010. Over a year later, he is going on trial for triple prosecutions on his abuses of power at his country's supreme court. International human rights activists argue that this 'Judge Dredd' case is one of Spanish science fiction
corruption, documentary, trial, london, culture, madrid, barcelona
Salami strategy: the art of ‘wullfing’
With its Hungarian origins, this sausage of a saying provides European inspiration to help the German head of state Christian Wulff worm his way out of the current corruption scandal
corruption, tower of babel, germany, languages, hungary, christian wulff, multilingualism
Slovenian journalist: death threats after arms trade trilogy
In Slovenia, a trilogy published between summer 2011 and spring 2012 has exposed the secrets of the arms trade during the Balkans war and the role of the country's politicians in it. It's been an ache in the sides of those in power and with money and interests whom the book denounces. Co-writer Blaz Zgaga, 38, may be in hiding but he won't stay down
corruption, united nations, balkans, international trade, yugoslavia, ljubljana, investigation
Journalist Irakli Berulava: ‘Georgia has lost opportunity that rose revolution created’
‘Gloomy’ is how the correspondent of reporters without borders (RSF) in Georgia describes the media situation in the South Caucasus countries. Self censorship, governmental pressures and democratical regression after the rose revolution of 2003 are mining the field of journalism, says the man who is also a blogger, film director and producer
There was a media mogul, a police service and a prime minister
The deputy chief of the London police service Scotland Yard John Yates resigned on 18 July in the wake of the resignation of his boss Paul Stephenson. The two officials stepped down in response to corruption charges emerging from the phone-hacking scandal involving Rupert Murdoch's tabloid newspaper the News of the World. The Austrian, British and Swiss press see national security threatened and call for a reform of Scotland Yard
corruption, scandal, rubert murdoch, euweek, united kingdom, media, society
Try finding an Arab revolution in Albania
Late afternoon, outside the headquarters of Tirana’s central electoral commission. A rather burly group of Albanian socialist party militants await the announcement of the results of the local elections of 8 May. A sizeable police cordon ranged in front of them protects the building where, for the umpteenth time, ballot papers are being counted and recounted. Things seem to have reached an impasse
corruption, economical crisis, tirana, civil society, youth, albania, european union
Can contemporary art change 'new capitalist' Tirana?
Far from having a ‘pan-Balkan’ culture and being under the influence of a consumerist society, the Albanian capital is exploring new ways of expressing itself. Whilst politicians are tripping on the urns and ignoring blank canvases (literally), local artists are boosting a non-existent contemporary scene
corruption, cinema, tirana, balkans, best of cafebabel.com, cities, culture
Laszlo Tengelyi: the problem of being a philosopher in Hungary
On 8 January Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban launched an investigation into the use of grant money awarded to five philosophers. Questions to a Hungarian-born philosopher who spearheaded an international petition, 'Protect the Philosophers!' from Germany, where he is based
corruption, eu presidency, fidesz, money, university, philosopher, germany
Hungary media law: France journalism cases no better
On 15 March tens of thousands of Hungarians protested against the government's planned media law. Even the European parliament's socialist, liberal, ecologist and far left politicians adopted a resolution asking for the suspension of the law, which 'needs re-examination'. Republication of an interview with a Rue89 journalist
corruption, censorship, hungary, internet, society, journalism, viktor orbán
Ukraine feminists ‘Femen’: topless a political weapon
At first the 300 members of the feminist community came to the streets to protest against the expansion of sex tourism in the Ukraine. The 12, 000 active 'sex pats' are growing under the indifferent gaze of the authorities. Femen has been organising nude performances as a political weapon for three years now. After a run-in at the Italian embassy, Inna Shevechenko vents her anger
corruption, italy, feminism, sexism, censorship, sex, kiev
Belgrade's youth explain homophobia and violence
In a city where more than two-thirds of students harbour dreams of going abroad after graduating, the empty discourses of corrupt politicians can be an efficient detonator for discontent. It’s a capital whose people’s hearts are irremediable divided between Russia and the EU, where violence raids its stadiums and streets
corruption, football, kosovo, racism, nationalism, serbia, belgrade
Podgorica: Balkan youth, beyond corruption
An application for membership to the European Union, a resignation of a prime minister after nineteen years, a gust of accusations of corruption and mafiose activities of the latter, Milo Djukanovic. The first snow in many years, and against it Kosovar refugees building their homes in their promised land. A Roma minority working for other refugees, politicians who beat journalists, younger journalists wondering why they do this job in a country ranking 104th for the freedom of the press. It's all there in text and images in the second stop of cafebabel.com's Orient Express Reporter project. After Bosnia, welcome to four days in Montenegro
Albania-Kosovo mafia, ‘cablegate’ and other cases of blindness
After two years of investigation, the council of Europe has accused the Kosovan prime minister of leading an international network trafficking organs, weapons and heroin with the silent acquiescence of European countries. Will these Wiki-Like revelations destroy public confidence in politics? Here's a little theory on scepticism
corruption, kosovo, best of cafebabel.com, drugs, nato, european union, society
Hung out to dry
Mutiny! Political culture is one funny subject in the European Union. Whilst one poor English politician’s body is likened to being hanged from a tree, a French one is being popped in a cupboard whilst the Czech media can’t even translate the sense of the term when covering the story, so rife is corruption. Idiom of the week
2010: which EU member state is more corrupt?
In Europe, Denmark, Finland and Sweden tie as the world’s 'very clean‘ countries according to Transparency International's most recent Corruption Perceptions Index. Latvia and Bulgaria edge dangerously towards the bottom of the pile, while Ireland reprimands itself despite a 'fair' rating. Thoughts from Europe’s blogs and portals
Corruption, crime and journalism in Europe
Political corruption in Europe is the drama of the season. Confronted by media revelations, the governments of Old Europe are criticising, even muzzling the media space whose influence they fear. Not all countries react in the same way: in Great Britain, Germany and Poland, media investigations pressure governments to fire people. In France and Italy, the news isn’t causing a stir at all
corruption, italy, information, germany, poland, european media, european press
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