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(Special Envoy to Florence)

The tax collectors, 1540, Marinus van Reymerswaele personal business card. (Florence, Museo Stibbert)

LE FIGARO – You met President Nicolas Sarkozy Friday. What is your analysis of the crisis in the euro area?

Pedro Passos Coelho – Our views are converging. We must accelerate the process of ratifying the plan in July that the EU speaks with one voice. It is essential to avoid systemic risk. How to convince the markets where European leaders expressed doubts on the future of Europe! It must be absolutely avoided, it is better to be silent than to sow doubt.

Would it be better to organize the failure of Greece?

I refuse to make predictions, I'd rather be patient and hope that Athens takes its objectives and carry out sustainable reforms. If Greece dark, the entire EU to be at risk.We need to help Greece and at the same time strengthen the EU, to establish a more integrated economic government which deals with taxation.

What are the consequences in Portugal of the deepening crisis in Greece?

Portugal is in a vulnerable position vis-à-vis Greece. If the crisis worsens, it will make our recovery process more difficult. My vision is very pragmatic: we must make every effort to carry out reforms and fiscal consolidation.

Economists doubt your ability to meet commitments on fiscal 2011?

The aid package was negotiated before the elections. Since then we have taken additional steps preventive and our calendar of spending cuts is more ambitious. We have the political support for it.We will keep the target of 5.9% of GDP deficit in 2011 and are targeting a primary surplus (excluding debt service) in 2012 for a balanced budget in 2015 and an external account deficit by half a point against 9% last year. In addition to the expenditure side and the privatization plan, we will conduct several structural reforms, justice, labor market, too rigid regulation. We will create a board of public finances, which will be independent to ensure full transparency in the management of the state.

Where are you from privatization?

We are to remove the golden shares held by the state in public enterprises, then we will begin the process of privatization in the energy sector by mid-November, by selling the companies for electricity, gas and oil, which Galp.We will then proceed to the privatization of the airline TAP, the airport manager Ana, mail, freight rail and radio station public television RTP. The whole process should be finalized in late 2012, the objective to recover at least 7 billion euros.

Have you received expressions of investors?

Yes, many, from the European economies but also emerging countries, Brazil, China and several Arab countries bad credit unsecured personal loans.The president of the National Bank of Economic Development in Brazil (BNDSE), the President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, Lula and his predecessor have already come to us with investor interest in Brazil.

This interest is there also for the government debt?

The purchase of public debt is subject to specific rules, but the important thing is that there were demonstrations of confidence in this government about the quality of Portuguese debt.

Will you create a wealth tax, such as Spain prepares to do?

We refused this solution, not to discourage large fortunes to come and settle in Portugal. However, we have created a special tax of solidarity that will help tackle the portion of 2.5% marginal tax on income that will affect higher wages and will last two years.We also created an additional tax of 3% on business profits in excess of 1.5 million euros, also for two years. The purpose of these taxes is not to create an additional revenue but to allow us to finance social assistance measures for families hit hardest by the crisis.

What are these measures?

They are primarily related to housing. Households that can no longer repay their debts to buy their apartments can contact their bank for the loan to be converted into low-rent, which will relieve the financially while allowing them to remain at home. Similarly, those earning up to one and a half times the minimum wage benefit from using public transport.In addition, if we were forced to raise to 23% VAT on gas and electricity, we have created a social tariff for the poorest.

How to boost growth given that domestic demand will remain very low?

It is true that the austerity has a recessive effect. The middle class will suffer significant sacrifices. That's the ticket out of the crisis, the price of a country that has spent too long. Domestic demand will have a negative contribution to the end of 2012. This will be offset by exports that are doing well. The adjustment must be done very quickly to ensure the financing of the economy. Privatization are important to increase the availability of cash to help recapitalize banks. This will improve competitiveness, greater openness and internationalization of our economy.The State abound 12 billion euros in guarantees for banks.

Competitiveness remains the weak point of Portugal?

Hence the urgent need to launch structural reforms, which should have been done in conjunction with the entry into the EU. The country in several sectors – textiles, information technology, biotechnology … the high performers.

GroupM was promised a destiny to Twitter and Foursquare. Like the latter, the start-up in New York was revealed at the conference Internet "South by Southwest," which was held in Texas in March. But barely a year after its creation, GroupM has already attracted the attention of the giants of the Internet and has just been bought by Skype for an estimated $ 80 million.

The operation allows the specialist to Internet telephony to build a niche in the amount of online communication: messages grouped. With services such as GroupM, users can create discussion groups on their mobile phone and communicate with others, forming "chatrooms" private SMS.In recent months, major Internet players have been enamored of such services, which range from communication, and coordination, like Facebook, which bought the Beluga service in March 2011, eight months after its creation. In addition, the social network launched mid-August, Facebook Messenger, a mobile instant messaging application.

For its part, Google has made this communication bundle a cornerstone of its community platform + Google launched in late June, with the "hangouts" spaces bundled instant messaging and video. Finally, as recently shown by the London riots, the BlackBerry is an actor to be reckoned with in this area, through its private courier BBM (BlackBerry Messenger). Now owns GroupM, Skype will better stand up to these types of communications fast cash without a hassle.

175 million monthly users of Skype

"Skype and GroupM have a common vision.GroupM's team has created a messaging experience incredibly attractive bundle that runs across the terminals and mobile platforms, making it a perfect complement in voice, video and text of the Skype family, "said Tony Bates, general manager of Skype, in a statement.

For Jared Hecht, co-founder Steve Martocci GroupM, "there is a natural affinity between Skype and GroupM.""Our goal is to continue to develop tools that allow people to easily communicate, share and keep in touch with their close relations and important," he said, arguing that integration with Skype would allow the start-up achieve its vision of "ten times faster."

The start-up is already looking forward to see the service offered to 175 million monthly users of Skype.

The acquisition of Skype by GroupM, which is the subject of discussion for several months, could also be beneficial to Microsoft. It announced the acquisition of Skype for $ 8.5 billion in May.While sentencing the operating system (OS) Windows Mobile Phone 7, the software giant could find with GroupM a valuable feature to include in its bid for smartphones.

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In May 2010, McDonald's France was a sensation with a TV spot in which a teenager going on a phone call to her boyfriend before having lunch with his father, who explains that, as he did at that age, it could be a 'real card with the babes. " Advertising has been around the world. In the original French with subtitles in English, it even triggered a controversy in the United States. The conservative Fox News channel has even made a field day. Sacrilege: great American brand in the gay friendly side!

In this spot, designed by BETC Euro RSCG, is not known if the son ends up coming out to her.But the statement by McDonald's, which has declined in all genres, is very clear that you're straight or gay, black or white, young or old, rich or poor, we do not judge, "just like you are. "

Before, we criticized the pub not to be representative of "visible minorities", not to be sufficiently "black-blanc-beur". Today, the debate has shifted to the "non-visible minorities" and still gets carried away on the issues of communalism, which are still taboo in France.

10% of "non-white"

The proportion of ads depicting characters perceived as "non-white" compared to the total advertising (TV, press and poster) distributed and reviewed by the Regulatory Authority's professional advertising (ARPP) reached 7% in 2008 against 3% in 2005, and this share has increased further since then, around 10%."Racial minorities are now represented quite rightly, said Ingrid Zerbib, image editor for the magazine Strategies, who viewed all the ads that come out in France. The next step is in progress. Homosexuals, the disabled and the sick are increasingly visible. "

McDonald's campaign has been emulated. Krys posted Orangina or gays in their pubs. Personalities with disabilities such as Down syndrome Pascal Duquenne for the virtual mobile operator Simyo, or the blind Gilbert Montagne, for heating specialist camera, turned in spots. Diseases are also commonplace."You can be sick without stigma," said Anne Ramon, communications director of the National Cancer Institute (INCA), the last campaign "I am a person, not a cancer," conducted by the agency La Chose , seeks to change social perceptions of one of the most widespread diseases in France.

In another, more commonplace, but also an affirmation of reality: that of the Community consumption, with the campaign launched last year by the brand halal Isla Delight "Proudly halal." On the occasion of Ramadan, for the first time in France, the brand was as diverse a reference food, free of any cliché. "This campaign is a marker, decrypts the marketing consultant Jean-Jacques Urvoy.The brand was treated as the French leader Charal. "On a halal market estimated at over 5 billion euros – and therefore highly competitive – the whole trick of the ad was to challenge the EU labeling, while displaying a rooster and a Charolais beef! A war of images in a way.

The Paris Bourse closed this week very agitated in the green. This Friday, the CAC 40 ended on a net increase of 4.02% to 3213.88. The London Stock Exchange gained 3.04% at the close, the DAX 3.45% to 5997.74 points, Milan 4%. But everywhere, the sessions have been very volatile in trading volume lower than the previous day (4.84 billion euros in Paris).

The CAC 40 is thus fell into the red immediately after opening up 0.17%. It still yielded 1.59% in morning before rising slope, and show an increase of 2.09% to 3154 points in mid-session.Around 16:15, the Paris index gained 2.76% to 3174.79 even despite the publication items, across the Atlantic, two mixed macroeconomic statistics that have hampered the enthusiasm of investors in New York.

Retail sales in the U.S. in July and were up 0.5% (after 0.3% in June), but the U.S. consumer confidence has it, fell in August. According to an index released Friday by the University of Michigan, which stood at 54.9, its lowest level since it is established, either since 1966. This drop has surprised analysts who had forecast a smaller drop to 62.5.

No growth in the second quarter

On the macroeconomic front in France, INSEE reported this morning from zero growth in the second quarter in France (0.0%), against an increase of 0.9% in the first quarter.Inflation also slowed: the consumer prices fell by 0.4% in July, resulting in an increase of 1.9% over the year (against 2.1% from June 2010 to June 2011 ).

Faced with these new investors are so cautious again after a week marked by extreme market volatility, which saw the CAC 40 push the psychological threshold of 3000 points during the session Thursday. Investors were finally reassured by the announcement of a meeting between Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on August 16 to issue joint proposals on the governance of the euro area.

Bank stocks rebound

Since the ban on short selling in the securities of eleven banks and insurance companies to counter the extreme volatility of the stock market values, the latter continuing their rebound started the day before, the image of BNP Paribas (4, 91% to 37.47 euros), which issued a statement Thursday night to reaffirm the strength of its capital, Societe Generale (3.15% to 23.72 euros) and Credit Agricole (1.77% to 6 , 49 euros).

Natixis wins 7.26% to 3.06 euros and signs the largest increase in the CAC.

Carrefour jumps more than 5%

Other values ​​to follow, Carrefour pulls out of the game: the way ahead vigorously 5.13% to 18.85 euros.U.S. giant Wal-Mart have mandated UBS to investigate the acquisition of the Brazilian subsidiary of French retailer, according to Reuters citing a source familiar with the matter.

Goldman Sachs lowered its recommendation on Lafarge (-0.17% to 28.96 euros) and withdrew the title from its list of recommended values ​​in priority to the purchase.The intermediary has instead built his list to Saint-Gobain (3.72% to 34 euros) and Vinci (2.42% to 35.3 euros).

Europacorp (3.13% to 3.30 euros), the production company of Luc Besson, Thursday reaffirmed its goal of a return to balance for the current year, despite a sharp decline its turnover in the first quarter.

Derichebourg (2.98% to 3.63 euros) on Thursday confirmed its target of improving its annual net income, after recording a sharp increase in sales over the first nine months of the year.

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Baroin the stage. He keeps repeating the last few days: it will require further cuts in the tax loopholes in 2012. For now, the government planned to cut $ 3 billion. "It is very likely that we will go beyond, as part of the Finance Act," warns the Minister of Economy. Otherwise, the objective of reducing the public deficit (4.6% of GDP in 2012, 3% in 2013) will not be met. The IMF says the same thing Wednesday, in the final version of his report on France, he warned that without additional effort, the deficit "would decline more slowly contemplated" and still reach 3.8% two years.

However, Prime Minister François Fillon reiterated last week even as the French would not have to tighten their belts further.If the IMF is seeking new revenue – or additional savings – is that it considers the government's growth projections too optimistic. He did not table more than 1.9% next year (after 2.1% this year), where the government is preparing its 2012 budget on an assumption of 2.25% (after 2%).

The cost of Greece and Libya

But that's not really what worries Bercy. Growth at 2.25%? "The account will be," says without a doubt a top official of the Ministry of Economy.

However, Bercy identified several elements that could degrade the accounts. First, the second bailout of Greece. While it will not weigh directly on the deficit of France, as François Fillon stressed. The private sector has agreed to cash a loss equivalent to 21% of the value of the loan granted to Athens.The slate for French banks would exceed 2 billion euros. "We will inevitably income tax on companies and less," admits the Ministry of Economy.

Then "there will be a time when we look at the balance of external operations," Do we loose the ministry. In other words, the commitment of the army in Libya could be very expensive.

Finally, remember that at Bercy Taiwan frigates affair will cost 460 million euros to France. In early June, after ten years of a bitter legal battle, Thales has indeed been ordered to pay more than $ 800 million in Taiwan, for commissions on the sale of frigates in 1991. The State had brought its guarantee in the contract."Public finances must now endure the heavy consequences of the decision in 1991 to pay commissions, unlike the letter of the contract," Matignon had pointed to the announcement of the court decision. This cost was included in the supplementary budget at the beginning of July. It will, however, offset this expense.

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The 3700 points were in the viewfinder of investors in the Paris Stock Exchange on Wednesday. They were exceeded in the early exchanges. At the close, the CAC shows a new gain of 1.61% to 3754.60 points. Yesterday, the Paris VAIT has already managed to recover, ending on a rise of 1.21% to 3694 points.

Other major European markets advance in unison. The London Stock Exchange was also up, the stock exchanges of Madrid and Milan are the most active with gains of 3% each. In London, the FTSE-100 index gaining 1.1% to 5853.82 points in mid-session and featuring Dax index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange advancing 0.40% to 7221.36 points.

Operators are encouraged by the good performance of U.S. markets, driven by advances in parliamentary negotiations in the United States for raising the ceiling on the debt.President Barack Obama for the first time reported "progress" in this debate, adding that the new Senate plan, presented Tuesday, was "consistent" in its approach. The Chairman stressed however that "not much time" before the deadline of August 2 to avoid a default. Wall Street was also reassured by good indicators of industrial performance and better than expected. Asian markets were also sending positive signals this morning.

Time, however, should still be prudent on the eve of a crucial European summit for the future of the euro area. The heads of state are to meet Thursday in Brussels to discuss the bailout of Greece. Several proposals for involving the private sector are on the table.

On the currency side, the euro rose slightly against the greenback at 1.4181 dollars against 1.4150 dollars late Tuesday.Oil is, him up: a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in August takes 80 cents to 98.30 dollars and that of Brent North Sea crude for September delivery gained 69 cents to 117.75 dollars .

Values ​​to follow

Havas: + 1.88% to 3.46 euros

The advertising group has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in the Australian Host, the first independent agency of the country, for an undisclosed sum.

Saffron: + 3.25% to 28.60 euros

Tuesday the group received the green light from Washington for the purchase of American specialist of biometrics L-1 Identity Solutions. The agreement was announced last September for $ 1.1 billion in cash.

Edenred: -5.14% to 20.49 euros

The company specializes in prepaid service said Wednesday he was informed of an investment for 8% of its capital.Nearly 18 million shares have been placed Edenred Wednesday market at a price of 20.30 euros, a total of around 367 million euros, according to a source familiar with the matter said that the placement was the act of a U.S. institutional.According to a source market, it is South Eastern Asset Management.

Alstom: -1.30% to 37.95 euros

The group said Wednesday sales down 12% in the first quarter of fiscal year 2011-2012, to 4.5 billion euros, reflecting the "low level of orders registered during the crisis," but a sharp rebound its order intake over the same period (+44%).

Schneider Electric: + 1.52% to 106.70 euros

The group announced an extension until August 2 of its friendly takeover of two billion dollars (1.4 billion euros) on the Spanish Telvent, which it already owns to 19 July, before the closing date of the offer, 97% of the shares.

Laurent-Perrier: -1.15% to 97.75 euros

The group announced Wednesday an increase of 11.5% of its turnover in the first quarter thanks to a mix effect prices soaring and exports still strong.

Accor: + 3.03% to 30.40 euros

The group was optimistic Tuesday in announcing an acceleration of organic growth in the second quarter due to increased occupancy rates and the gradual recovery of prices.

ADP: + 1.12% to 61.38 euros

The group announced a 4.6% increase in passenger traffic at its airports in June, driven by growth across all trajectories with the exception of Africa and the Middle East.

PPR: + 0.98% to 128.75 euros

Fnac, a subsidiary of luxury group, unveiled Tuesday a five-year strategic plan, called "Fnac 2015", which should enable it to boost sales after a disappointing performance.

EADS: + 3.30% to 24.72 euros

Boeing, seeking to rescue a potentially very large contract with American Airlines, has offered to install a new engine on the current 737, while the airline is still considering a generous offer to Airbus. Moreover, the French military shipbuilder DCNS said Wednesday negotiate with the German Atlas Electronik the creation of a joint venture between their respective activities of underwater weapons, confirming a report in Les Echos.Atlas Elektronik is owned by EADS and ThyssenKrupp.

Biomerieux: -1.44% to 78.46 euros

The group announced the acquisition of French company Argene Molecular Biology and confirmed the objective of growth of its business year after an increase of 3.5% of its turnover in the first half of 2011.

Sanofi-Aventis: + 1.14% to 55.06 euros

The Canadian Valeant Pharmaceuticals announced yesterday the signing of an agreement to buy the French laboratory marketing rights and distribution in Canada of a cream against osteoarthritis.

Manitou: + 1.03% to 21.65 euros

The group raised its forecast Tuesday for 2011 after signing up 45% of its turnover in the first half despite the continuing difficulties of supply.

Always on the side of publications, after market, Unibail-Rodamco will present its second quarter results and Ubisoft announce its first quarter 2011-2012 revenues.

Alongside the giants Fitch, Moody's and Standard & Poor's, "small" credit rating agencies are somewhat more severe in their ratings of sovereign debt …

In fact, earlier this year, more than half of Canadian sovereign ratings by DBRS, and the Japanese JCR and Rating & Investment (the three "small" agencies enjoying a certain notoriety) are quite correlated, and appear on average equivalent to Fitch, Moody's and Standard & Poor's. Chinese Dagong, however, stands out, since at best one third of his notes are the same as those of Moody's, Fitch and S & P. These notes have several characteristics. First, the "ratings" assigned by Dagong the major emerging countries [Brazil, China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, note] are significantly higher than those of Western agencies.Then, his notes to the major industrialized countries [North America, Europe and Japan] are much lower than those of Western agencies. In both cases, the differential of notes can reach four notches, which is considerable.

What credit can we give these agencies?

They have mainly local influence, at best regional. So even if DBRS has a good reputation, is most active in Canada and the United States. It is also accredited by the SEC [Securities and Exchange Commission, Constable of the U.S. markets]. But it suffers from a lack of notoriety outside of North America. As for JCR and Rating & Investment, these agencies have an influence on the Asian continent, but tend to "surnoter" Asian debt issuers. Both are accredited by the SEC. However, Dagong this accreditation was denied two years ago.The U.S. authorities have found it too especially in the political influence of Beijing. Since then, Dagong never ceases to publish reports critical of both the U.S. monetary and fiscal policy, that the action of three. In summary, Dagong tries to embody the alternative in the rating industry. It is aware that the financial difficulties of the United States and several European countries confirm their views. Still, recent events such as doubts about the sustainability of the euro area and the uncertainties about the ability of the United States to halt the spiral of debt due to give Dagong.

Some leading economists, such as Patrick Artus (Natixis), Dagong now estimate that better reflects the reality, particularly offended to see the 'big three' to keep a high rating for U.S. debt.What do you think?

I share the view of Patrick Artus on the fact that the ratings of several countries are excessively high. Fitch, Moody's and S & P "surnoté" Greece and many European countries because they have seen, wrongly, that membership in the euro area reduces the risk of insolvency overnight pay day loans… It was a mistake. States whose public debt has risen sharply over the past decade that have not reorganized their welfare state and have sufficiently reformed their pension system should be degraded. However, I also think that Dagong "surnote" some emerging, such as China, Russia and South Africa. In detail, the "overweight" on criteria such as economic growth and foreign exchange reserves, but neglects the indicators of political and institutional stability, not thinking enough in terms of debt sustainability.For industrialized countries recorded a triple and double "A" by Fitch, Moody's and S & P can afford debt levels higher than those of emerging markets, given the importance of the middle class, better social cohesion, and greater ease in accessing capital markets.

In a context of debt crisis, and after the disappointments of the "Big Three" during the crisis (widely criticized, especially for high marks stamped toxic financial products) these agencies for the time being heard by some markets , she can gain influence?

For four years, it's true that small agencies, few involved in these scandals, have the opportunity to hold their own in the game but break into the industry rating is very difficult because the three major agencies hold almost all (95%) market share.To me, small agencies have only two possible strategies: either they specialize in industry niches or geographic, or they differ in their diagnoses and notations, like Dagong.

Do we need more competition in the industry of the rating?

Yes, and again, the new entrants will be more positive than their ratings diverge from those of the 'big three'. This can particularly help reduce the effects of mimicry on the markets. But regulators must ensure, however, that increased competition does not lead to an inflation of ratings that may be confusing. In addition to competition, agencies must review their methodologies.In the future, agencies should lower the country notes that even in times of growth, are unable to reduce their deficits, as these states will be vulnerable in the first economic downturn. This type of care would include agencies to better anticipate the debt crises.

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The management consulting sector confirms its forecast of market recovery and expects growth of between 5 and 7% of its business for 2011 (against 5% in 2010). Despite satisfactory order books and a volume of proposals being important, firms remain cautious. "The general feeling is that it is always an accident thank you for coming all macroeconomic challenge," says the industry trade association, Syntec Management Consulting, which has today its 2010 balance sheet and persoectives .This visibility results found at least by hiring a reboot, including profiles of graduates.

Who benefits most from this recovery? "It's the mid-sized firms that have the highest growth rate at 7.5%, the majors and large are in turn slightly behind, with growth of around 4.5% 5%, "says Syntec management consulting. Another finding, "the speakers operating on more strategic tasks or missions branches record the strongest growth."

What are the sectors most applicants for management consulting? Financial services grew and consolidated their lead with 30% of the total, followed by industry (23%) or administration (15%).As for the energy sector and the environment they are placed fourth with 11% of the missions.

As for the interventions, they relate primarily to the organizational consulting and change management (30% market share). "These services are carried by the restart of delays in 2009 and the new transformation projects," said Syntec. The consulting cost optimization continues to be well positioned with 17% of operator actions.

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The fear of bankruptcy Greek has never been stronger. Sunday, finance ministers of the euro area have again met in Luxembourg to lay the foundations for a new rescue plan, this time involving the private sector.

To address the most urgent, priority was first to validate the fifth installment of the loan of 110 billion made last year in the first aid plan. "We will work to pave the way for the release" of this slice of 12 billion, assured the German Minister Wolfgang Schäuble on arrival. Otherwise Athens, facing deadlines refinancing risk bankruptcy next month. However, the decision could be taken only Monday, after the meeting, warned the President of the Eurogroup, Jean-Claude Juncker.It is also linked to the IMF agreement, which should provide about a quarter of the promised amount and conditioned his release date for further progress in economic reforms in Greece. But ministers were mostly working on a new rescue plan, with "at least an agreement in principle", according to one diplomatic source. The amount could approach that of the first packet. If the principle is an act, the terms of this extension will however be referred to the next meeting of finance ministers, scheduled July 11. The big question concerns the involvement of banks."We'll talk tonight about the involvement of private creditors, the question is how far it can and must go," summed up Jean-Claude Juncker.

"We play with fire"

Friday in Berlin, Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel had outlined the mechanism, with four main principles: voluntary participation of private creditors, approval of the ECB, nor a "credit event" and rapid implementation. But Wolfgang Schäuble Sunday as Chancellor reiterated that the participation of private creditors should be substantial. Germany prefers the idea of ​​longer maturities on debt, where Paris defends the option of "rollover" that would see creditors renew their credit lines in Athens at the maturity of loans.For Europeans, the most important thing is to convince investors that it is not part of a payment default.

"We play with fire," warned Saturday the President of the Eurogroup. Bankruptcy of Greece "may be contagious for Portugal and Ireland and, before Spain, to Belgium and Italy, given their heavy debt." And in this game of dominoes, the Belgian Finance Minister Didier Reynders, did not rule out that France is also reached, "when you see the level of deficit and debt." The financial world has been rocked in 2008 by the collapse of Lehman Brothers, he said in an interview with The Tribune."Do not repeat this type of bankruptcy."

After the reshuffle of his government, Prime Minister, George Papandreou, has, meanwhile, claimed Sunday the confidence of Parliament in order to get its austerity plan in late June, and thus obtain the release of the new international aid. A vote is expected Tuesday night.

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