Tax Justice Network: Does the EU want a president who opposes co-operation?

Tax Justice Network: Does the EU want a president who opposes co-operation?

There we go! One non-candidate is now an "unofficial" candidate. All non-candidates can escalate their non-candidacy into an "unofficial" candidacy. All "unofficial" candidates have to submit then to a "non-vote". We European citizens will be "non-voters" and cast no vote for "unoffiicial" candidates who have no program. It is so much better to have in fine an "unofficial" President rather than a non-President.

There would be some logic if that "unofficial" President is a "non-cooperative" President.

Egide Thein

Luxembourg, Tony Blair, Luc Frieden, Tony Blair, Jean-Claude Juncker, Tony Blair, Andy Schleck, Tony Blair.

I just wanted to see what's doing in Luxembourg. And, hop! Tony Blair pops up on my screen as the non candidate leading a pack of four non candidates for the European Presidency. According to London bookmakers, Luxembourg's Juncker is number four in that race, as I learn from the popup. He, himself only an outsider!?

Actually I only wanted to double check on what friends in New York, by all means, told me to do urgently: Luxembourg's Minister of Finance Luc Frieden it appeared had found his way out of denial and of the frenzied defense of the Luxembourg bank secrecy. The very official website says, (or said):

Afin de garantir la position de la place financière du Luxembourg après la crise, "il ne suffit plus de défendre la situation actuelle, mais il y a lieu de définir une nouvelle orientation pour notre place. Une position constamment défensive peut en effet susciter des réactions à l’instar de celles de l’avant-dernier sommet du G20 !".

I went to the google engine which translates automatically, not without a popup that says that London bookmakers have Tony Blair leading the pack of non candidates 4-1. Though he denies being a candidate, as there isn't yet a job opening. Thanks for your patience, here is the translation, and I won't change a word, in order to make sure my personal bias doesn't infiltrate the text:

To ensure the position of the Luxembourg financial market after the crisis, "it is no longer enough to defend the current situation, but it is necessary to define a new direction for us. A constant defensive position may indeed provoke reactions like those of the penultimate G20 summit! "

Are we finally turning to reality? Question the indefensible? Let's see online what Prime Minister Juncker has to say on that same subject.

First Tony Blair pops up. He is leading the pack of non candidates but Mr. Juncker and his Benelux colleagues do believe he shouldn't lead the pack of non candidates as the favorite non candidate. Some say if there should be a leading candidate among non candidates, it should definitely be JCJ. Blair doesn't speak a word of Luxembourgish, which should disqualify him! Though Blair was not my question. Those popups are so distracting! The question was Juncker's stand on bank secrecy, because Luc Frieden seems to give in to reality, brutal reality.

Not so fast. Only over my dead Presidency says Juncker, who anyway is not a candidate unless someone would ask him, which would be premature, as there is no job opening yet. The Luxembourg bank secrecy may well be like a sand castle on the beach. Juncker is going to defend it to the last grain of sand! And let's say it again: too bad if the European Presidency, where he isn't a candidate, is lost.

This isn't Luxembourg anymore. This is ancient Greece! Choking Drama! Or maybe Shakespearean tragedy, because of the undeletable popup. It is all but the same development, a slow but inescapable climax. We know our heroes are lined up to meet Destiny. Dark clouds gather over the frightfully calm ocean. As mighty Stratocumulus sarkozyus and Cumulus merkelensius are swelling with anger, everyone knows, the sand castle and its defender are doomed.

Only Tony Blair thinks it is a good idea for Juncker to try hold out. Perfidy! He wants you eliminated from the lot of non candidates, or even worse: he wants that no one even asks you to be a candidate. How treacherous!

Let me get you someone in the real world to guide your strategies, all of you. Go to www.letour.fr to see information about the Tour de France 2010. I bet you 4-1, that first Tony Blair will pop up. Delete, and watch Andy Schleck at the presentation. He knows that being second doesn't win the Tour. He says he is going to race and he is in it to win.

That's honest talk. He says he is a candidate. He is not saying that he isn't yet a candidate because someone has to ask him to be a candidate. And he is in it to win. He also knows that the one, Tony or someone else, who leads a sprint too early, is not going to win. As is the one who plays sand castle and lingers in fourth position. That's too far behind.

Though Andy Schleck knows how this all works, he cannot be a candidate for President. He says openly, honestly, he wants to win the Tour 2010. Now don't do this to me. As no one seems to be a candidate, I dread the day when they call me out of retirement! But let me tell you right away: I'll only accept if my place of work remains Naples Florida.

Egide Thein

Ech schwëtzen Lëtzebuergesch, Je parle français, Ich spreche Deutsch, Hablo español, Falo Português, Io parlo italiano, Ik spreek Nederlands, Jeg taler dansk, Jag talar svenska, Μιλώ ελληνικά, Mówię Polski, Eu nu vorbesc limba română, Аз говоря български, I speak magyar,

Or at least I'm going to learn. But I do understand Tony Blair's language.

Silvio Berlusconi backs Tony Blair to be President of Europe - Times Online

Silvio Berlusconi backs Tony Blair to be President of Europe - Times Online

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‘Elephant’ has finally charged » Comment » This Is Guernsey

‘Elephant’ has finally charged » Comment » This Is Guernsey

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This is well in line with my former blogs on egidethein.blogspot.com and the French language blog feierwon.blogspot.com. Well in line, but it still is a surprisingly fast and brutal blow at a not so much expected place. One could have assumed some biased protection from the British tutor for some time. This is the most serious signal that tax havens and "paradis fiscaux" are to be smoked out. Those who push the startegy, expect to repatriate billions of tax dollars/euros/etc.

The Guernsey Income Tax (Zero - 10) system basically is taxing resident companies at 20% on worldwide income. But companies that are wholly owned by non-residents and have no Guernsey source income are subjected to either 0% or 10% corporate tax since 2008.

The consequences of the war on tax havens will be immeasurable on those jurisdictions, the Channel Islands and many Caribbean Islands. I would argue that the powers out there might well have to intervene in support of the economies of most of their targets.

Alea jacta est!

Tour de France 2010 and Contador, Armstrong, Schleck Previewing

Here is the magic route. Holland has, it seems, some mysterious power of attraction on Tour organizers. I bet the next Tour of California will start in Amsterdam. But here it is, TdF 2010:

http://www.letour.fr/indexus.html

Rainy days in the Low Lands, wind, cobblestones and lots of mountains. You'll know the Tourmalet inside out.

Versus, be there!

Luxembourg Is Home To Specialised Investment Funds

Luxembourg Is Home To Specialised Investment Funds

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