Economy and Politics in France

France is one of the most powerful countries of the world. The country is a member of the European Union. Today, the Economy and Politics of France play a pivotal role in shaping the fate of the world at large. France Travel Guide gives you a better understanding of the Economy and Politics of France.


France is a strong member of the G8 group, which is a formation of the leading industrialized nations of the world. According to the surveys conducted in the year 2005, the economy of France is the sixth largest in the world. The economy of France is only behind that of countries like United States, Japan, Germany, the People's Republic of China and the United Kingdom. On 1st January 1999, France joined the league with 11 other European Union countries to initiate the use of Euro as the national currency. It is seen as one of the historic steps by the country. With the introduction of Euro, the French `Franc' was completely replaced by Euro banknotes and coins.
Today, there are about 2.5 million registered companies that fall under the category of private enterprises. Ownership of some of the premier infrastructural sectors, such as the railway, telecommunication firms, aircraft, and electricity is still controlled by the French government. However, from 1990 onwards, the government is slowly relaxing its control over these key sectors through selling off its holdings. This is evident in the fact that Air France, France Télécom, and sectors like banking, insurance, and defense are gradually getting out of strong government control.


The Politics of France follows the structure of semi-presidential representative democratic republic. The country is headed by the President of France, who is the head of the state. The French prime minister acts as the head of the government. The political scenario constitutes of a multi-party system. The executive power lies with the government. The legislature and the executive do not participate in the functioning of the judiciary. Thus, in the face of its burgeoning status as a world power, the top powers of the world keep a close eye on the course of Economy and Politics of France

The Financial Crisis and its Impact on Mauritius

Port Louis — The economic outlook in the US and EU, the two largest export markets of emerging countries, has worsened as the credit crisis has deepened and some major players are in recession. How does this affect us?

The grey outlook for Europe has affected the performance of our hotel stocks. Tourist arrivals are also bound to suffer as our tourists come mainly from Europe.

The now famous "financial crisis", which started in the US markets in July 2007, has already had a spill-over effect on European banks and other global major banks and economies. A recent observation that sums up of how people view the current situation: "On the left side of the balance sheet, nothing is right, on the right side of the balance sheet, nothing is left." Though some might argue that most economies are decoupled with one another, we believe that the Mauritian economy and local stock market is fairly correlated with US and European economies. From February 2008, the local stock market and Mauritian economy (which have seen growth forecasts trimmed) have been put under enormous pressure and major players such as the Central bank have been in the dilemma of sustaining growth or inflation control, thus the split in the Central Bank Monetary policy.

Between the positive assurances of our ministers and the pessimistic outlook of our lobby groups, it can be hard to make sense of how the financial crisis has and will continue to affect the Mauritian economy. Being a small and open economy, Mauritius can hardly be sheltered from global economic hiccups. Over the past six months, exports to Europe, our main trading partner have come under increasing pressure and tourism receipts have slowed. Over the next year, the current account deficit is likely to widen and volatile capital inflows should continue to slow. Despite a favourable interest rate differential, the Mauritian Rupee has come under sustained pressure since the end of April and has since then depreciated by 17% vs. the USD putting a negative dent on inflation. The medium term outlook for the MUR/USD remains uncertain but biased towards the downside unless a sudden large inflow of Foreign Direct Investment. On its part the mere fact that Europe may be in deeper trouble than the US has had a negative impact on the EUR and the USD has rallied from 1.58 to 1.34 USD/EUR. Volatility in the MUR/USD exchange rate has shot up in recent months and the recent 40M dollars worth of dollar sales in the FOREX market has done precious little to break the Rupee's volatile trend. Hence the Rupee has been negatively affected by the crisis so far. Over the next twelve months, the Bank of Mauritius is likely to be forced to sell more dollars in the market as our trade balance deteriorates (supply of forex dries up as export receipts slow) which in turn is likely to absorb in a certain amount of Rupee liquidity out of the money markets. The crisis seems to have redirected the priorities of the Monetary Policy Committee towards growth rather than inflation. Real interest rates in Mauritius are negative and detrimental to long term growth.

Mauritian Politics

Mauritius Politics is based on the principles representative democracy. The parliament of the Republic of Mauritius plays a major role in the political scenario of the country. There are various social as well as political forces that work in the country. Mauritius is the 29th among the countries, which are under the British Commonwealth.

Mauritius Politics became dominant in the country after it gained independence from the British Rule in the year 1968. Mauritius elections were held for the first time in December 1995, followed by elections in 2000 and 2005. The National Assembly in the country that has total 66 members. General elections are held after every five years to select 62 out of 66 members of the National Assembly. The remaining four members, who represent different ethnic minorities, are appointed by the election commission.

The most interesting part about politics in Mauritius is the myriad political parties in the country. Some of the important Mauritius political parties are as folows:
Militant Socialist Movement (MSM)
Militant Movement of Mauritius (MMM)
Mauritian Labor Party (MLP)
Mauritian Social Democrat Party (PMSD)
Rodrigues People's Organisation (RPO)
Independent Forward Bloc (IFB)
Mauritian Party of Xavier-Luc Duval
Rodrigues Movement
Mauritian Militant Socialist Movement (MMSM)

Materialist politics

 We're all materialists, to one extent or another. We all use and enjoy material goods in our daily lives, and most of us simply couldn't get by without them. And there's nothing wrong with that, as long as the desire for material goods doesn't control us and our actions.

Materialism becomes an obstacle when we start allowing things (or the desire for things) to control us, to keep us focused on things outside ourselves rather than on things that would be truly beneficial to us, such as our spiritual selves, our relationships, our learning, our peace of mind. . . .

Materialism is a distraction. It gives us a direction in which we can focus our attention and our energies that seems to be attainable. After all, if I want a new stereo system or a closet full of new clothes, all I have to do is pay money or use credit to get them. I know which ones I want, and I know where to find them. The people who sell things have made it so easy for us to buy that fulfilling our materialistic cravings never has been easier, which is a very unfortunate fact for the millions of people who are now trapped under a mountain of debt with no realistic way out.

But what are our motives when we pursue our materialism? Why do we want or have to buy things to satisfy our cravings? Are we working towards happiness in life? If so, we have thousands of examples to see of people who have been "successful" in acquiring material wealth, but who have been miserably empty inside. Do we feel that we'll reach a level of peace and contentedness by having more things? Again, we have tons of anecdotal evidence that tells us that the feeling of contentedness that comes from buying something fades rather quickly after the purchase is made, leaving us feeling just as empty as before.

Many people feel that by acquiring just the right material goods, they can make other people see them in a positive light. In other words, they buy their new car or clothes or electronic gadget in order to impress others. They're often setting themselves up for great disappointment when others don't react as they think they should.

It's very obvious that while the Who’s enjoy their material goods, they are not essential to their happiness. They are able to be happy without them.

 

Some of Barack Obama's saying!

- A good compromise, a good piece of legislation, is like a good sentence; or a good piece of music. Everybody can recognize it. They say, 'Huh. It works. It makes sense.'

-Al Qaeda is still a threat. We cannot pretend somehow that because Barack Hussein Obama got elected as president, suddenly everything is going to be OK.

-America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles of justice and progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.

-Americans... still believe in an America where anything's possible - they just don't think their leaders do.
-As a nuclear power - as the only nuclear power to have used a nuclear weapon - the United States has a moral responsibility to act.

-Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.

-Community colleges play an important role in helping people transition between careers by providing the retooling they need to take on a new career.

-Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.

-I can make a firm pledge, under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes. 

-I cannot swallow whole the view of Lincoln as the Great Emancipator.

-I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.

-I don't care whether you're driving a hybrid or an SUV. If you're headed for a cliff, you have to change direction. That's what the American people called for in November, and that's what we intend to deliver.

-I don't oppose all wars. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war.

-I don't take a dime of their [lobbyist] money, and when I am president, they won't find a job in my White House.

-I found this national debt, doubled, wrapped in a big bow waiting for me as I stepped into the Oval Office.

-I know my country has not perfected itself. At times, we've struggled to keep the promise of liberty and equality for all of our people. We've made our share of mistakes, and there are times when our actions around the world have not lived up to our best intentions.

-I opposed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. It should be repealed and I will vote for its repeal on the Senate floor. I will also oppose any proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution to ban gays and lesbians from marrying.

-I think it is important for Europe to understand that even though I am president and George Bush is not president, Al Qaeda is still a threat.

-I think when you spread the wealth around it's good for everybody.

-I will cut taxes - cut taxes - for 95 percent of all working families, because, in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle class.

Corruption

Corruption is a belief system giving rise to political and social instability which reinforces the cycle. In a society where the citizens believe, rightly or wrongly, that corruption amoung public officials is widespread, even the incorruptibility of an official becomes a handicap to the efficient performance of his duties, which in turn encourages insertia and inefficiency.

Low salaries tempt the official to seek to improve his earnings by corrupt means and the temptation becomes all the greater when the chances of being caught are small.

Corruption is detrimental to the ideals od modernization. It engenders conflicting loyalties amoung the populace and, to that extend, is indicative of a lack of attachment to the state and ideals of the government.

If corruption cannot be contained, if not eradicated, there can be hardly any prospects of development.

War on Gaza!!

6 Aug 2005 ... As WND reported, Hamas last month announced on its website after Israel's Gaza withdrawal the group will begin the next phase of its war.

4 Feb 2007 ... Opinion: Gaza clashes are over values, way of life and future Palestinian identity.(Israel Opinions)

14 Dec 2008 ... The new drug overtaking the Gaza Strip doesn't stimulate hallucinations or give endurance at the dance club. It merely chills you out, ...(msnbc.com)

30 Dec 2008 ... There can be no justification for Hamas’s attacks or its virulent rejectionism. But others must also take responsibility for the current ...(NYTimes.com)

1 Jan 2009 ... On the Israeli war in Gaza. Authored by: clore on Friday, January 02 2009 @ 07: 43 AM CST. "Anarchist communist analysis from Syria" ...(Infoshop News)

4 Jan 2009 ... Government in Jerusalem spent months laying groundwork at home and abroad for assault.

War is part of the landscape in Gaza. Israel pounds northern Gaza to deter Palestinian militants from continuing to launch Qassam rockets into Israel.(Washingpost.com)

The International Crisis Group is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation committed to preventing and resolving deadly conflict.(B26 ending the war in Gaza)

So is the war in Gaza hopeless? Not really. The God of Abraham did promise peace will eventually be restored not only in Gaza but all the way from Egypt ..(BBC News)

Gaza; Jan 8 2009. UNRWA says it has lost all confidence in... Gaza; Jan 8 2009 ... Death toll in Gaza rises to 763 after 50...

Jan 2009 ... Hamas: We will win war in Gaza. Hamas political deputy sets out conditions for a ceasefire with ... Watch our coverage of the war on Gaza ...(Al Jazeera).

Financial crisis

Who is responsible?

Tromelin - Major Breakthrough

12 dec 2008:
Après des négociations entre les hauts fonctionnaires de l'île Maurice et la France sur le dossier Tromelin, une percée a été réalisée sur la question de la "congestion" (gestion conjointe). La partie française a accepté pour la première fois que les deux pays seraient d'accord pour travailler sur les modalités d'une gestion conjointe. Il ya eu des négociations dans les années 1990 et 1995, mais aucun progrès n'a été réalisé. Une troisième tentative a été faite par les experts des deux pays en 2006, toujours sans succès.

(Tromelin est une île de 200 acres située à 350 milles au Nord Ouest de l'île Maurice. Il s'agit d'un banc de sable à plat pour atteindre une hauteur d'environ 15 pieds au-dessus du niveau de la mer, près de 1,5 milles de longueur et de 0,25 mille dans l'haleine).

Bush deserve the shoes?

Politics in Malaysia

New ideas needed!

Old one do have experiences but i believe youngsters should now take over to show what they are worth...

Politics

It is a clean game played by dirty hands...