European press review

German papers on Friday take Chancellor Schroeder to task over post-election manoeuvring, while the resignation of Italy's economics minister is seen as a serious setback for Prime Minister Berlusconi.

German rules

Several papers in Germany take issue with Chancellor Schroeder's Social Democratic Party (SPD) for suggesting a change to the rules which would make it, and not its CDU/CSU opponents, the strongest party in the new parliament after Sunday's election.

The SPD had suggested that Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) should be considered separately from Edmund Stoiber's Christian Social Union (CSU) even though parliament recognises them as a single bloc.

Under the headline "SPD backs down", Sueddeutsche Zeitung reports that the Social Democrats were forced to abandon the plan "after vigorous protests" by opposition politicians.

Berliner Zeitung believes Chancellor Schroeder had a hand in the move, describing the methods used by some Social Democrats in the aftermath of the election as "unfair" and "silly".

"The chancellor is giving the Germans a new language," the paper says, suggesting that henceforth the "loser" of an election should be called the "winner", while the "biggest parliamentary group" should be one which has "fewer seats than another group".

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung thinks the chancellor and Russian President Vladimir Putin have a similar approach to power.

The paper is struck by "how much understanding" it says Gerhard Schroeder has shown for the methods used by the Russian president to entrench his position.

"Of course Schroeder is not Putin and Russia is not Germany, but, in terms of the conditions which apply in this country, the chancellor is increasingly turning out to be a spiritual brother without excessive respect for democratic rules and institutions."

According to the paper, the plan to change the standing orders of parliament to give Mr Schroeder's claim to the chancellorship "the appearance of legitimacy" is only "the latest example of his nonchalant attitude towards the law".

Frankfurter Rundschau believes that the election result does not justify any claim by the SPD that the chancellor should come from its ranks. "The fact that Social Democrats are thinking aloud about changing the standing orders... represents a break with the democratic consensus," it says.

Identity crisis

Under the headline "Europe in grave crisis", Spain's ABC says the German election result is symptomatic of the problems faced by all European countries.

The paper argues that "the electoral confusion that German society has placed on the table is no more than the tip of the iceberg".

Europe, it says, is "fearful for its identity, in a world which is becoming ever more globalised - a Europe that wants to preserve its wellbeing without risking anything".

A commentary in France's Le Monde thinks that it is not just in Germany where social democratic parties are finding it difficult to win elections.

It notes that the left in France as well as in Germany is divided.

"In both countries, the battle between the supporters of radical change along socialist lines and the advocates of a reformist line is giving rise to political one-upmanship and controversies."

The paper thinks it is unclear whether or not these rifts will spread to other countries or whether the left's unity can be restored.

"Everything will depend on the ability of socialist parties - in particular of the French Socialist Party and the Social Democratic Party of Germany - to provide themselves with a coherent and stable project which accepts essential changes to their ideas without betraying their historical identity."

Berlusconi under fire

Papers across the continent have harsh words for Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in the wake of the resignation of his Economy Minister Domenico Siniscalco.

Spain's El Pais thinks Mr Berlusconi's government has been "foundering on all sides" for some time.

"Siniscalco's resignation worsens the political instability", it says.

Domenico Siniscalco resigned after failing to compel Italian Central Bank governor Antonio Fazio to leave his post over a takeover controversy. The paper believes Mr Fazio's attitude is damaging the financial prestige of the country beyond its borders.

"This ugly business demonstrates the tricks still being used in Italy to prevent foreign companies from entering its inefficient protectionist financial system".

Germany's Frankfurter Rundschau believes the minister's resignation is "a heavy blow for Berlusconi, above all for his image".

"Less than half a year after the cabinet reshuffle, it is no longer possible to hide the fact that the government is as divided and paralysed as before."

Austria's Die Presse urges Mr Berlusconi to resign straight away.

The paper argues that the prime minister has plunged his country into "chaos", which has "reached its climax" with the resignation of the economy minister.

It adds that Italy cannot afford to allow this situation to continue until parliamentary elections next spring.

"Fazio business is sinking Silvio Berlusconi", states a headline in Switzerland's Tribune de Geneve.

"The waning star of Silvio Berlusconi unleashed the hostilities", it says, adding that the controversy involving Mr Fazio is further proof that "economically, Italy has seized up, and morally it is anaemic".

The European press review is compiled by BBC Monitoring from internet editions of the main European newspapers and some early printed editions.