Nor is the slowdown a gift to the right-wing opposition, even were it to turn to populism.

ECONOMIST: Chile

Mr. Bersani may be committed to honoring Mr. Monti's existing reforms and, if he is bold enough to face down his party's left wing, may even be willing to go further as the price of coalition.

WSJ: Post-Election Inaction Could Reawaken Crisis

With both France and Greece deciding to jump out of the left-wing frying pan into the even-more-left-wing fire, European fiscal policy has become quite a controversial topic.

FORBES: Paul Krugman and the European Austerity Myth