Agora
Posts by Wolfango Piccoli
Turkey: Multiple policy challenges from all directions
A massive surge in daily coronavirus cases has put the tourism season at risk.
Meanwhile, Ankara’s almost exclusive reliance on the Sinovac vaccine is becoming a major liability due to supply and efficacy concerns.
Markets expect the TCMB to maintain the key policy rate unchanged on 15 April. This sounds reasonable but given the circumstances the potential for a negative surprise is substantial.
Already strained US-Turkey ties could worsen due to the likely recognition of the Armenian genocide by US President Joe Biden.
Contributor: Wolfango Piccoli
Categories: Europe (246), Politics (325), Economy (286)
An uncertain and wasted year for Italy
PM-designate Carlo Cottarelli is expected to submit his cabinet composition to President Sergio Mattarella on Tuesday, May 29. Within ten days from the oath-taking ceremony, the new government will have to go before both houses of parliament to secure a confidence vote.
Contributor: Wolfango Piccoli
Categories: Europe (246), Politics (325), Economy (286)
Collapse of Cyprus talks, "Justice March" raise risk of offshore drilling standoff
The collapse on 7 July of the latest UN-sponsored talks to resolve the Cyprus issue has increased the risk of a naval confrontation between Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus when Total of France and Eni of Italy begin exploratory drilling in Block 11 of the Cypriot exclusive economic zone (EEZ) this week.
Contributor: Wolfango Piccoli
Categories: Europe (246), Politics (325)
The implications of Erdogan's referendum victory
As both the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are likely to win any upcoming elections, the approved constitutional changes will institutionalizs a populist one-man system equipped with vast additional powers
Contributor: Wolfango Piccoli
Categories: Europe (246), Politics (325)
Greece: The moment of truth is inexorably approaching
The Greek government faces a dire financial situation in the coming weeks, especially as lenders are unlikely to relent on the conditions of last month’s loan extension. In fact, Tsipras’ insistence on of pushing for a “political deal” is going nowhere: German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who he will meet in Berlin next Monday, 23 March, is unlikely to deviate from her preference for technical, rule-based solutions.
Contributor: Wolfango Piccoli
Categories: Europe (246), Politics (325), Economy (286), Greece (433)