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Published on 3 December 2012 at 10:57

Social Democrat Borut Pahor has been elected president with 67 per cent of the vote, defeating outgoing president Danilo Türk. Turnout for the election was 41 per cent, which in part can be explained by the largely ceremonial role of the head of state, but also by popular disenchantment with politics prompted by the economic crisis, corruption and unemployment. In fact, the last two weeks have been marked by several demonstrations protesting against graft and the political class. Pahor has pledged to rally the left-wing opposition and other opponents of the ruling right-wing government, which is currently implementing strict austerity policies.

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Pohor wins with two-thirds majority – Delo

France’s central bank governor Christian Noyer has called for European financial decision-making to be shifted out of London and brought to a country within the eurozone. Noyer said there was “no rationale” for allowing the euro area’s financial hub to be “offshore” in the City of London. More than 40 per cent of worldwide euro foreign-exchange is handled in London, a bigger share than the eurozone combined.

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France targets UK euro trade supremacy – Financial Times

The secretary of the Democratic Party (PD), Pierluigi Bersani, 61, won the second round of the primary election to lead the centre-left party in the 2013 general election. With over 60 per cent of the votes, he beat the mayor of Florence, Matteo Renzi, 37. Turnout was almost 3 million, which might give a significant boost to PD in the run up to the next elections.

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All with Bersani – L’Unità

Close to 50,000 people gathered in front of parliament in answer to a call from the ruling conservative Fidesz party, the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) and the centre-left "Together 2014" movement. The demonstrators were protesting against remarks made by an MP from the extreme right Jobbik party, who on November 26, demanded “a tally” of Jewish MPs and ministers who pose “a national security risk".

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Together against the fascist virus – Népszava

Last week the Ukrainian government signed a $1.1 bn agreement with Spanish company Gas Natural Fenosa for the construction of new liquid gas sea terminal that could reduce the country’s dependence on Russian gas. However, despite much pomp surrounding the accord, the Spanish side soon claimed they did not know the person who signed the deal on their behalf. It turned out later it was Jordi Sarda Bonhevi, a Spanish lawyer working in Kiev, who was not authorised to sign the agreement. Both sides declared the contract void.

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Kiev signed an agreement, but with whom – Gazeta Wyborcza

Almost 20 years ago, on December 6, 1992, Swiss citizens voted “no” to the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement in the wake of a campaign that had profoundly divided the country. On December 1 this year, anti-European parties demonstrated in Biel against “creeping accession to the EU”. A record 62 per cent of the Swiss population now believes that the needs of the country are best served by bilateral relations between Bern and Brussels, and less than 10 per cent want to join the EU.

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Switzerland’s European future? Party leaders speak out – Le Temps

According to the Merkel doctrine, Germany should arm “partner countries” to enable them to take control of their security, instead of sending German troops to regions in crisis. In 2011, Berlin granted export licences for €10 billion of arms, of which some 42 per cent were destined for countries outside of NATO and the EU. “Israel has ordered anti-tank rockets. The Saudis may be on the point of buying more tanks, which will add to the stockpile of arms in what is a volatile region of the world. More and more authoritarian regimes want to buy German arms,” notes the weekly.

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German arms for the world – Der Spiegel

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