April 1, 2005

WHAT THE SPECTER LEFT BEHIND:

Joblessness casts a cloud on politics of Europe: Schröder and Chirac face hurdles after dismal numbers (Mark Landler, April 1, 2005, The New York Times)

As Germany and France released a fresh batch of dismal employment numbers on Thursday, the specter of seemingly ineradicable joblessness is hanging over both Europe's economic recovery and the fortunes of its political leaders.

Unemployment in Germany rose to 12 percent in March, a record in the post-World War II period, while in France, the rate remained at 10.1 percent in February, its highest level in five years.

Economists and public officials struggled to find a silver lining in the statistical clouds, but political analysts said the trends were negative for the German chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, and the French president, Jacques Chirac, who face difficult ballots in May.


It's all silver.

Posted by Orrin Judd at April 1, 2005 8:51 AM
Comments

Is it merely a coincidence that Schadenfreude is a German word?

Posted by: Mike Morley at April 1, 2005 9:50 AM

If and when Chirac loses office, and thus his protection against prosecution, how soon til we get to seem him frog-marched into a paddy-wagon?

Posted by: Jim in Chicago at April 1, 2005 10:18 AM

And in economic news in the Netherlands: for the first time in a year joblosses are below 100.000. But all my friends getting their news from the Dutch MSM are very sure that America under Bush is going down in flames.

Posted by: Daran at April 1, 2005 10:42 AM

Jim: the president of France, being "frog-marched?" Good one!

Posted by: Mike Morley at April 1, 2005 11:46 AM

Get out the May Pole and put on the dancing shoes.

Posted by: Genecis at April 2, 2005 5:43 PM
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