♪ >> hello and a very warm welcome to "european journal" don dw. here is what is coming up for you today -- the white ribbon. how more and more russians are speaking out against putin. the gorilla in the room -- house slovakia is facing up to corruption. its palace of culture. he is doing it again -- vladimir putin is asking the russians to elect him as president.

yet, for the first time, tens of thousands of people have been speaking out against their current prime minister. the symbol of their protest is a white ribbon. it is their way of saying they want a new russia without the stain of corruption, such as vote-rigging. >> she loves watching this music video on the internet. it is called "our madhouse is voting for putin." it is a satirical take on politics in russia, said in a fictitious mental hospital where the patients are left to their own devices. doctors and terrors are described as lazy, greedy, and corrupt. more than 2 million russians have watched this video online. anna says it gives her the courage to carry on. >> everyone used to stay at home with their families complaining among themselves. that was all. now, we feel like we are many and we are united.

we are creative, and we want to make a change at last. >> the success of their video took the members of the banned by surprise. -- members of the band. alexander and his band usually play their satirical music in a cabaret theater. they do not see themselves as an opposition band, but the new anti-putin movement has put them in that position. >> these protests have been a breakthrough for our society. the message they are sending to the one in power is clear -- they are saying, "hey, why are you cheating us?" we support that sentiment, but we are not political activists. >> but these demonstrators certainly do see themselves as political activists. the district -- distribute white ribbons to show that their protest for presidential elections is peaceful.

this financial analyst works for an international company and burns a good wage. like many people here, she has profited from the putin regime, but she says she has had enough of the blatant electoral fraud and open corruption in russia. >> i cannot afford to buy an apartment in moscow. friends of mine worked as financial auditors, so i know why a flat in moscow costs 40% more -- because of the bribes you have to pass. >> even three months ago, hardly anyone in russia would have predicted such a long-lived opposition movement. it seems to be taken the authorities by surprise as well. political scientists say putin is clearly at a loss as to how to deal with these nationwide protests. >> putin is used to being the star, the strongman, the leader, but his protests had turned him into a weak leader, and he will continue to be a weak leader after the elections.

he will no longer be in a position to dictate terms and will have to make compromises. >> the musicians want to expose putin's system for what it is, by making it appear absurd. they took part in past protests, although they doubt the movement will be successful. putin is still a powerful opponent, and band members believe he will win the first round of elections, even if by electoral fraud. they think the white ribbon movement is no danger to putin's power base. >> these people will not be able to act effectively enough to achieve their goals. they are not able to find a leader. there are just far too many people, each with their own axe to grind, and getting in each other's way. >> anna says she will keep on protesting, even after president elections, she says because the white ribbon movement is made up of so many small groups, it is a

difficult target for the apparatus. >> that is the great advantage that our movement has. there is no single great leader, just lots of little people. they cannot take every single person to task. >> despite the arrest of many government activists, -- anna is undaunted. she says the movement is already a huge success simply because it has mobilized so many people against vladimir putin. >> the economic crisis is taking its toll on europe in many ways. it has destroyed jobs and toppled governments, and it has taken the relationship between greece and germany to a new low point. many greeks believed berlin's stance has made things worse. there are those who are aware that germany has contributed the bulk of financial aid, but overall, degree crisis has fuelled prejudices and

stereotypes everyone thought have long been overcome. >> of greece was once a favorite vacation spot for germans, but holiday paradise is being tainted by media images of poverty and violence. the political gulf between the countries is also growing. >> i refuse to accept my country being insulted. who is he to insult greece? and the degree president was referring to a proposal by the german finance minister that a european budget commissioner be appointed to oversee greece's finances. the suggestion enrage many greeks. >> we should follow the examples of argentina and iceland. they do not let people -- they do not let people tell them what to do. we should stop agreeing to everything. >> merkel is not a woman. she is a mommy. she and sarkozy release sued each other -- suite each other.

>> his best seller was recently published in german. the writer is still concerned about his country, but even the rage that has prompted the burning of german flags in athens cannot discuss the fact that without german help, greece could not survive. >> in reality, they are helping us, but they are doing it in such a way that it is making people really angry. although they should be grateful. it is like giving money to a beggar while scolding him for being a better and not giving -- not getting a job. the beggar would not want your money any more after that. >> he was born in 1935 and has lived through several chapters of the stormy history between his country and germany,

including the german occupation during world war ii and the arduous reconciliation that followed. >> the germans behaved very badly during the war, to put it mildly. they wiped out whole villages and took away all our money. also, the gold greece had in the bank. >> i was 6 years old when germany marched into athens. i can still hear the sound of german boots in might years -- my ears. >> these young germans are working to improve relations between the countries. alexander works in the assets office of the german academic

exchange service. >> i have not heard comments like "go back" or "why are you speaking german?" nothing like that. it helps that i can communicate well in greek. people are more open with me than it would be if i spoke in english. >> he is from germany's role valley, but he has greek roots. he knows things could be improved between greeks and germans. >> people should take time to listen. i do not think most germans know what is going on. they had a romanticized picture of greece from their holidays. >> many holidaymakers have been put off the country, prompting german travel companies to cut back on their offerings. the sort that thinks that is a shame and says it is robbing greeks of a chance to show what they are achieving. >> the greeks have worked hard and are prepared to continue working hard if they know there

is a way out of the crisis, if they see there is a light at the end of the tunnel. they need help and good leadership. >> she enjoys showing german tourists her country's historical treasures like the acropolis. she hopes germans and greeks will patch up their differences sooner rather than later. the greeks are not the only ones in financial trouble. portugal is also receiving aid from the eu and the international monetary fund, but there are strings attached, of course. the prime minister has had to issue harsh austerity measures, and while he insists he is trying to make it as fair as possible, it is largely normal people who are hardest hit, so many portuguese feel the days of big celebrations are over. >> 2012 was set to be a good year for portugal.

it started well enough with this city celebrating its new status as a european capital of culture, and there was good cause -- the title comes with generous subsidies. >> the eu commission proposes that 180 million euros should be allocated to the program created europe. that is 37% more than the current amount. >> weeks later and further south in the capital lisbon, money is being talked about in a different vein. lisbon is being compared to a crisis-hit athens. people are saying portugal might be the next greece. is that the driver is feeling the pinch. he started work at 4:00 a.m., and six hours on the job, he has only had two customers. in his 30-year career, he has never known things to be this bad, and he is not the only one

who is suffering. >> i work all day, and it is not worth it. i earn seven euros a day, and at the same time, everything is getting more expensive. >> petrol, in particular, takes almost all my profits. >> the portuguese are fed up with being both pete and blamed for the eurozone's problems -- pete and blamed. they are well aware of their country's economy. the country's record unemployment rate is just one example of that. marques is torn between edgar and dejection. >> europe is a good idea, but where do we stand now? portugal is doing badly. spain, too. greece's a disaster. where is it going to lead? i do not know. >> there's evidence both for and against the theory that portugal is heading in the same direction as greece.

in the construction industry, lucrative contracts are becoming increasingly scarce. public funds for road maintenance are lacking. that is causing problems for laborers who only get paid when there is work to be done. portugal was once successful as a low-wage country, but many sectors that once thrived here like shoemaking industry, have since been sidelined by asia and latin american countries. reinventing the portuguese economy is proving a long and painful process. but portugal has one big advantage over greece -- its political system functions better and is much more stable. but there are still deep concerns about the economy, and nearly every day, the newspapers deliver more bad news. >> it has been quite a case of far, but even i have noticed that things are changing. >> i think we are in the middle of the journey. europe has to make real decisions now, or things will end badly.

>> the atmosphere on the streets of lisbon is not nearly as heated as in athens, although the unions have called for protests. with the world's attention on greece, it appears portugal has so far managed to dodge the worse. marques has had enough of being a taxi driver. he wants to retire and return to his home town in the north of the country, but he cannot afford it. he has been one of the losers in the crisis. >> i would have to continue working. what would i do at home? i would not get any money. in my taxi, by at least manage to make a little. >> his story is just one example of the problems faced by many people in portugal. despite the optimistic tone of the celebrations, it appears portugals glory days are truly over, at least for now.

>> after this -- after the slovaks split from the checks some 20 years ago, they experienced one of the fastest economic growth in europe and have since become an eu member state, but slovakia could never shake off the suspicion that many politicians were lining their own pockets. now, recent allegations from an intelligence file have said many politicians there into free fall. >> stealth and speed are tonight's main priorities. this is the night on which the anti-government group generation 89 is staging a protest under the cover of darkness. completely corrupt through and through. you cannot imagine what kind of scandals we have here. >> their weapon of choice is a bucket of white paint.

they are painting over the election posters of every political party throughout the city. the elections are scheduled for march 10, but young people have lost all faith in their politicians. the latest scandals have proved to them that their parents' toppling of communism was all in vain. >> when we are done, every poster will be white with nothing on it. that is all that politicians can promise us -- nothing at all. >> these demonstrations are a new phenomenon in slovakia. thousands joined - protests against corruption, throwing bananas at the presidential palace. a new piece of damning evidence has truly got people's hackles up. these are the documents from this lockean intelligence service that appeared to prove what everyone had suspected -- almost every politician in the

country is open to bribes. former secret service agent igor is not surprise. he knows from experience that politicians have been selling of the country for years. the guerrilla file states that a business consortium accumulated 2.7 billion euros through corruption. the company bought numerous showing that the company is being bled dry. >> the file is proof that the country is being controlled by large corporations. they have paid politicians for their support, all at the cost of the taxpayer. >> this is where gorillas live. that was the nickname of the man who rented a flak used as a

secret meeting place, but his neighbor worked for the slovakia intelligence service and became suspicious of all the politicians cars parked outside. he listened to meetings that took place between representatives, the economics minister, and the head of the national privatization agency, and politicians of all political hues. hospitals, airports, insurance companies were sold off at knockdown prices. politicians were bribed. the slovak politician known in europe for opposing the euro rescue fund was not present. as leader of the freedom and solidarity party, he was shocked at the unashamed scheming in the flat. >> it was in effect, a pure distillation of evil. it is normal to hint about these things, but to discuss these and that so openly -- you do not get that every day.

>> he has not himself as criticism. he is rumored to have had shady contract as well, but he dismisses those claims, saying corruption is not just in eastern european problem. >> let's not pretend there is no corruption in germany. it may be a question of how widespread it is and how it is carried out, but let's not pretend it only happens in eastern europe. >> indeed, it could become a wider region problem, says the editor in chief at slovakia's biggest paper. the former prime minister is likely to win with upcoming elections. voters do not appear to be faced by the guerrilla file, which circulated during his time in office. if he is elected again, dissatisfaction could rise in slovakia. >> i think it would be a very bad thing for our country.

many voters, especially those interested in reform, would abstain. this means bigger nationalists would get a bigger share of the vote. there would be a serious radicalization of the political landscape, and the people would become even more frustrated. >> bananas as a symbol of people's anger. he and his comrades come here every week to make a stand against corruption in slovakia. they hope to pave the way for reform for young, disillusioned citizens. >> we have it here in black and white that we have been cheated. sure, there are corrupt politicians in every country, but this is different. guerrilla is proved that a whole country is being systematically betrayed. and no one cares.

>> allies are being crushed under the carpet as usual. he wants the truth finally to be brought out into the open. >> what would berlin be without the brandenburg gate, and what would brussels be without our famous et al. mean? nobody in their right minds would consider tearing down such famous landmarks, right? in poland, the famous building cannot be quite so sure that it will remain standing. the palace of culture may not be to everyone's taste, and it is also high maintenance, but still, plans to tear it down continued to worry the people of warsaw, would come to accept or even like it. -- who have come to accept or even like it. >> it is back in the center of the capital. it is to warsaw with the eiffel

tower is to paris only uglier, and much less love. the palace of culture and science was a present to the people of poland from the soviet union and its back from the time when stalin ruled the u.s.s.r. and controlled its satellite states. it was built by soviet workers. construction was completed in 1955. >> it is sadly a negative symbol of the city. it was a present from the russians, but on the other hand, it has become part of the city's gay, and over the years, it has become quite a friendly building. i like it. >> you can see it from all over. it is 231 meters tall, including the aspire, and still the tallest building in poland. the view from the top is, of course, fabulous, but from

below, it looks kind of weird and a bit surreal. an alien entity. a monument to soviet-style socialism. >> i cannot imagine why people like the palace. i think it is awful. >> there is a joke that goes like this -- what is a lovely spot in warsaw? the top of the palace of culture. why? because you cannot see it from there. what do young people think? they tend to like what goes on in the palace and accept the building as it is. >> it is great. the palace is a symbol of warsaw. we all love it. >> but few people know much about the history of the palace if anything. >> you build it? >> they told us at school, but i have forgotten. >> historical awareness is fading, but are a material still

bears witness. what goes on inside the palace is, however, a pretty impressive. four theaters, exhibitions, a 3d cinema, a huge conference hall where the rolling stones once played. on the 12th floor, there is a private university. what once was a bastion of communist ideology, critical thinking can now flourish. an international college right in the heart of the old stalinist building. since the fall of communism,

there has been much talk of tearing the monster down. in january this year, the foreign minister ended a speech in parliament by turning to the speaker of the house and repeating his call for the palace to be torn down and replaced by. he wants to see a central park with a pond where people could have picnics, but if the palace remains, it will soon be dwarfed by skyscrapers, set to go up all around it. >> this report wraps up today's edition of "european journal." remember to also check out our facebook page. from all of us here in brussels, thanks very much for turning in. until next week. bye for now.

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