Greece's far left-wing bloc, Syriza, made dramatic gains in last weekend's election to become the country's second largest party. The vote has split the country politically and the party's charismatic young leader Alexis Tsipras is credited with its success based on a populist anti-austerity message. After three failed attempts to form a government the country now faces another election - and the far left coalition could well make further gains.Tsipras has been described as a cool, mild-mannered politician who shuns neckties and likes to get around on his motorcycle. Born four days after the fall of Greece's military dictatorship in July 1974, his first political experiences were as part of Greece's school occupations in 1991. Mr Tsipras became leader of Syriza in 2008 and was elected to parliament in 2009. He first emerged on the political scene when he came third in the Athens mayoral race. The former communist youth activist has been accused by some of inciting violent protests and failing to condemn their actions. Others claim he is misleading voters by promising an economic future he cannot possibly deliver. Presenter: Andy DenwoodProducer: Rob Cave.
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Folge vom 12.05.2012Alexis Tsipras
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Folge vom 05.05.2012Roy HodgsonMulti-lingual, a good listener and a surprise choice for arguably the biggest job in British sport - manager of the England football team.Hodgson has coached football teams in eight different countries during a career which has lasted 36 years. He is said to have revolutionised the techniques of some players - he took Switzerland to the last 16 of the 1994 World Cup. He's much better known in Italy than the UK after his time at Internationale Milan.At Fulham he was regarded as an eccentric but clever choice as they avoided relegation before reaching the 2010 Europa League Final. Hodgson is not into mind games and isn't known for saying things for impact - like some other Premier League managers. Some say he is bereft of ego and a gentleman, others that he can be as passionate and defensive as the rest. He has a rigorous approach to preparation - players at Liverpool complained about the complexity of his training schedules. A great lover of literature he is said to have read the works of nearly every Nobel prize winner - not intimidated by taking on the works of foreign authors. Gerry Northam profiles the man friends say has a complex character - on the one hand obsessed with football, on the other never happier than when away from the beautiful game.Producer: Samantha Fenwick.
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Folge vom 28.04.2012Jeremy HuntMary Ann Sieghart profiles Jeremy Hunt, the Culture Secretary, who has come under pressure to resign following the release of emails to the Leveson Inquiry. The compromising emails suggest that he or his office was providing inside information to the Murdoch family over the BSkyB takeover bid. He, however, insists that he behaved with complete integrity during the process.Producers: John Murphy Anna Meisel.
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Folge vom 21.04.2012Ralf HutterChris Bowlby profiles Ralf Hutter, the only founding member left of the German electronic band Kraftwerk. Coming from an obscure industrial background, Kraftwerk first formed in 1970, and are now credited with being hugely influential on a host of musicians and on music of diverse types, including electronic, hip hop, house and drum and base. Notoriously uncommunicative with the outside world, Kraftwerk used to only have a fax machine as a point of contact at their studio though Ralf Hutter says even that has now gone. Krafwerk have just completed a major series of concerts in New York and are promising that they will be releasing a new album "very soon" - the first in nearly a decade. Producer: John Murphy.