Erstellt am: 28. 11. 2012 - 13:47 Uhr

Morsi's self styled political suicide

Reality Check: Egypt protests, Syria opposition, France conservative leadership battle, Russia and Putin, new ratings regulations.

It's almost a flashback to the lasts days of Mubarak. Tahrir Square is full of protesters angry about the behaviour of the president. Only this time it's Mohammed Morsi they are complaining about.

The expected counter demonstrations by the Muslim Brotherhood and other Morsi supporters have not happened, in part because the Muslim Brotherhood want to quieten things down, and in part because if they were to take to the streets they would be seriously outnumbered by the anti-Morsi groups.

What's puzzling is that Morsi brought this whole crisis on himself. There was no obvious need for him to assume the sweeping powers he bestowed upon himself last week, and having done it, he could easily fix it. It is would be entirely possible, if just a little embarassing, to either take back the decree completely, or modify it in a way that would take the wind our of the sails of the opposition. But he's not showing any signs of doing either, leading some people to speculate that, at least metaphorically, he has been given enough rope, and now he's hanging himself.

Shashank Joshi analyses the continuing unrest and what it means for the political future of the country if violent opposition to President Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood persists.

The disintegration of Syria

As Egypt struggles to find post revolution stability, the same fate almost certainly lies in store for Syria when an end to its civilo war is finally reached. While a loose coalition of opposition parties has been formed and recognised by at least some foreign powers, Middle East expert Rosemary Hollis says there are many more forces that are threatening to rip the country apart.

France looks for an opposition leader

The battle to fill the shoes of Nicolas Sarkozy is splitting the conservatives of France. Hugh Schofield reports from Paris on the complex political landscape, and why parties are not really that important when it comes to getting to the top in French politics.

Putin and the Russians

Russian economist, Vladislav Inozemtsev, explains why Putin remains popular among Russians, despite his controversial style of government and Russia's social problems.

In essence, Russian people still feel Putin protects their economic and personal interestes, and that, to them, is more important that western ideals of democracy.

Ratings Agencies curbed

New regulations will require ratings agencies to modify their announcements to stop them destabilising the markets.

FM4 Reality Check

Monday to Friday from 12.00 to 14.00, and after the show via Podcast or fm4.orf.at/realitycheck.