Voters Steer Europe to the Right

[TomClash]

Source: BBC News

Far-right and anti-immigration parties also made gains, as turnout figures plunged to 43% - the lowest since direct elections began 30 years ago.

The UK Labour Party, Germany's Social Democrats and France's Socialist Party were heading for historic defeats.

The centre-right European People's Party (EPP) looks set to continue to hold power in the parliament.

<snip>

Fringe groups appear to have benefited, with far-right and anti-immigrant parties picking up seats in the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Slovakia and Hungary. The British National Party won two seats - its first ever in a nationwide election.
Jobbik party celebrates
Hungary's Jobbik party was one of several far-right groups to do well

Greens also made gains - the Green-European Freedom Alliance bloc has so far taken 50 seats, compared with 43 in the last assembly.

Sweden's Pirate Party, which wants to legalise internet file sharing, won 7% of the national vote and one of the country's 18 seats in the European Parliament.

Several governments battling the economic downturn are facing a heavy defeat, says the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels.

However, governing parties in France and Germany appear to have done relatively well despite the crisis.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel described the increase in the vote of her Christian Democrats over the Social Democrats as "sensational" and said it boded well for her chances in the nation's general election in September.

In results so far:

* French President Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP trounced socialist opponents, while greens from the Europe-Ecologie party also made gains
* In Italy, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right coalition is ahead of the socialist opposition, with around 35% of the vote
* In the UK, the governing Labour Party suffered a serious defeat, gaining its lowest share of the vote for a century
* Spain's governing Socialists were slightly behind the opposition Popular Party, according to partial results
* Poland's governing centre-right Civic Platform has gained ground at the expense of the Eurosceptic Law and Justice Party
* Early results show Portugal's ruling Socialists dropped a massive 18 percentage points, losing out mainly to greens and far-left parties
* Germany's Social Democrats saw their worst election showing since World War II



Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8088309.stm

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Ugh.

[redqueen]

1. What the hell?

I don't understand why turnout levels are so poor... it just doesn't make sense.

[TomClash]

4. People are cynical

They are tired of corruption, business as usual - and the economy in most of Europe is worse than it is in the US. Voting right or left makes no difference to them and I think many are disgusted with the EU anyway.

[redqueen]

6. Everyone is tired of corruption.

But just staying at home plays into the hands of the far right. It's idiotic, unless you like far-right parties.

[LeftishBrit]

7. Also...

the people who are hostile to the EU tend to make up a disproportionate number of those who actually go to the polls in Euro-elections. And while there are some left-wing Euro-sceptics (I used to be one), most strongly anti-EU voters are right-wing nationalists: at best on the right-wing of conservative parties, at worst members of small far-right parties.

Even in less 'cynical' times, turnout for Euro-elections tends to be under 50%, and in some countries, like the UK, under 35%. Most people feel less affected by what happens in the Europaean parliament than what happens in their own general elections. Which means that the extremists make up a disproportionate number of those that do bother to vote.

[laborinvain]

22. Yeah, and then there's those computerised voting machines

France and Germany have both shifted right since they started using them. Coincidence? Who knows. That's the thing with computer voting. You never freakin know.

[LeftishBrit]

23. Britain doesn't have computerized voting machines

and the same phenomenon happened here.

And as regards France: Conservatives have *usually* held the presidency. Of 6 postwar presidents, only one, Mitterand, was a Socialist. The switch to the right, from Chirac to Sarkozy, was *within* the Conservative party (equivalent I suppose to replacing a retiring liberal Republican with a right-wing Republican); and it's difficult to explain this in terms of a change in the voting system.

I wouldn't trust electronic voting machines further than I could throw them, and they would be introduced in my country over my dead body; but unfortunately they cannot be the main reason for the current election results.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

24. I doubt that most people in Europe...

...could even name a recent decision by the European Parliament.

[xchrom]

2. recommend -- this is what happens epidemic corruption and

governments working more on the behalf of business than on behalf of the people.

the problems we're having here are global.

[Betty]

3. they couldn't learn from our mistakes?

do they not see the total mess we have due to so-called "conservative" government?

[9119495]

5. But these results are for the relatively weak EUROPEAN parliament

right?

The national governments still have the power in Europe. Also, how will far right parties work together? They are inherently nationalistic so while they might agree on immigration restrictions, they really can't accomplish anything else.

Or am I way off base on just what these elections are for?

[LeftishBrit]

8. You are absolutely right...

and also right about how the ultra-righties are generally too xenophobic to get together on much!

The result is worrying not so much in itself, as because it could indicate a rise in far-right, ultra-nationalist sentiment within countries. While the anti-establishment anti-Europe Right does tend to vote disproportionately in Euro-elections (see my other post), and is unlikely to have quite the same influence in national elections, nonetheless it's a somewhat worrying sign.

[comtec]

9. You're over analyzing it, too much thought

and I agree.
Holland wants out of the EU, but people don't understand that NOT being in the EU won't improve Holland's lot, it just means we aren't' at the table when they decide to kill us!

The anti-EU feelings also come from the fact that the EU parliament is CLOSED, EVERYTHING is done behind closed doors, and there is pretty much ZERO transparency.

To me Holland's parliament is very closed door compared to the US congress, and if the Dutch see Brussels as closed door, then it MUST be really bad.

Here's the other thing, as Americans the idea of a strong Federal over-government makes sense to us, that's how OUR system works.

But here, it's only seen as something to distrust...and to be honest they have a point. Brussels is so fucking corrupt, as to make Bloggo look like an alter boy.

The anti=immigrant haters like wilders (i've written about him, i SWEAR he looks the part of a former hitler youth) are getting a lot of votes because they are very verbal against the EU and the "pollution" of the Dutch culture by all the Muslims and Turks who come to the Netherlands.

It's very disturbing, because I am starting to like it here. if things get unfriendly to allochtonen I don't know where I can go. I laugh at the idea of returning "home" as there is nothing for me in California anymore, with the job market shot. I LEFT because the job market was shot, and it sure as hell hasn't improved! =[.

[9119495]

10. Thanks for the good info...

My wife and I are considering moving to Europe...probably Spain. Based on your experiences, (1) Are we dumb? (2) Is it a bad idea to go to Spain--some other place to go? (3) Any jobs for US-trained educator types?

[oldironside]

14. Moving to Europe...

... is something I can recommend. We're not all fascist meatheads here. As a Brit living in Germany I have a few American friends here who love the place. I can vouch for the quality of the services, the cleanliness of the country, the quality of life and the fact that most Germans are decent, level headed and not at all politically extreme. For example, at the weekend 200 neo-nazis tried to march through Pinneberg (just outside Hamburg). They were bussed in from all over Germany to make up the numbers, and were confronted by 1,000 police (a slight overreaction?) and between 2,000 and 4,000 locals who were absolutely determined that the extreme right weren't going to march through their town.

Word of advice. If you're an educator type DON'T go and work for a private language school in any European country. They will treat you like shit.

[Blue_Tires]

15. welcome to the site!

[oldironside]

19. thanks very much but...

I've been here for weeks. Actually I've been reading you since the dark days of 2003 (I think - I can't actually be bothered to check my facts, so I may get a job with Fox) but was too depressed to comment until now.

[Blue_Tires]

20. hope things turn around for you

there are quite a few Europeans and other Germans on the site as well...

[comtec]

21. I'm not really sure, it depends on your language skills

Spain is 100% Spanish - which I assume isn't a problem.
My experiences are only with The netherlands, and I only aired my bitchings :)
Liek germany holland is very VERY clean, and it really has a lot of charms.

if I wasn't so annoyed by the politics and being jerked around by the IND so much, I think I could really fall in love with this country. the attitude in Europe is mellow, relaxed, and not hurried.

that goes 5x as true in Spain. Spain still has ciesta, 2-5, NOTHING happens. OK that's not completely true, many stores are open during Ciesta, but it depends.

My in-laws live just outside Salamanca - an old university city back to the days of the Arabs 1000 years ago.

Some stores are open, some aren't and it just depends. Spain is modern yet old - much like most of Europe.

Have you spent much time in spain as "residents" staying with someone?

I can only assume you've spent time over here. I would not recommend just up-and-moving to a country before you spend some time there not as a tourist, but as a resident.

I have prejudices when it comes to spain (very unpleasant history of conquest and brutal genocide)which makes seeing all it's beauty .. difficult for me.

Other countries I would suggest?

about any of the Scandinavian countries, they are very good about foreign workers from the US, and as teachers, I imagine you can find work. Germany as someone posted, but you really must speak the language!

Holland, despite all my bitching, is also a nice country, and I think instructors would not have half the time finding work as I have. Dutch is a hard, illogical language, and there are few JC courses on it in the US - if you find one take it!!

I found a nice site turks.nu which has a nice dutch course, 25 lessons, free, and in english

Otherwise... come "look around" for work, and be sure you have something BEFORE you move... the EU countries are very strict that you have work lined up BEFORE you move here.

Anyway, welkom naar Europa, en ik hoop dat jullie iets leuk vinden.

[9119495]

27. Okay, I have no idea what you said at the end.

We are thinking of a plan to move in a few years. We have spent time in France and Spain, one of us living in Valencia for about 6 months. Our plan would be to spend some summer off months in various regions to see which we like best in the coming years--and probably just in parts of Spain. My language skills need work but I have time and a great instructor living in house.

We definitely would want employment before we go and we would not work at one of the private language schools mentioned earlier. A few friends of ours did that (at different times and places) and both were treated like shit. Our quality of life matters as well. We have it pretty good in the states and are not interested in moving somewhere and ending up impovrished. We would want to be able to travel to the states twice a year or so with a third emergency trip funded if necesary. We also want to be in a position to take in the continent. I love the cheap flights from small airport to small airport that allow for country hopping even in the span of a long weekend.

I appreciate the laid back nature of many of the places you mention. I think our kids would fare better in that type of setting. Thank you so much for all of the inside info.

[comtec]

30. Welcome to Europe, and i hope you find something nice

it's dutch.

sounds like you guys have a great plan.
if you want to do a lot of traveling i dunno about spain.
the best places are in the middle of nowhere LOL.

if you want your kids well educated Scandinavia. Not to be too down but the spanish educational system kind of makes California's look good.

france has a good system, holland - to an extent, but i'd put my money in Norway or some of the northern countries.

they generally have the best educated - and nice - people in europe.

Sweden is very nice i hear, and all the sweeds ive met are good people, but thats my 2 cents on that =]

anyway welcome and enjoy. 26+ days of vacation time a year ROCKS!!!!!

[santamargarita]

11. Low voter turnout = fascist pigs...

we've done that too!

[Joanne98]

12. Low voter turnout and centrists on the left. It's a warning.. centrists fuck up everything

[AlphaCentauri]

13. The price the EU left has to pay for been nice to arbuste

in spain the left was elected after the terrorist attacks of 3-11 and to reject arbuste friend Aznar but Zapatero didn't become an agent of change so people is just looking at him as more of the same.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

25. Have you ever heard of capitalization or punctuation? n/t

[reorg]

16. What the article says about the German results is nonsense

>>Germany's Social Democrats (...) were heading for historic defeats.<<

Result in 2004: SPD 21.5
Result in 2009: SPD 20.8

A "historic" loss of 0.7%?

It is due to the shift of some votes to the Left Party:

Left Party in 2004: 6.1
Left Party in 2009: 7.5

>>Angela Merkel described the increase in the vote of her Christian Democrats over the Social Democrats as "sensational" and said it boded well for her chances in the nation's general election in September.<<

Oh yeah?

Result in 2004: CDU 36.5
Result in 2009: CDU 30.7

A loss of 5.8% - who didn't vote for the extreme right, BTW - some conservatives did what they always do when the CDU is in power and their "junior partner", the FDP, is not:

Result in 2004: FDP 6.1
Result in 2009: FDP 11.0


So, at least in Germany, nothing has changed. And nobody gives a rat's ass about the European elections, anyway.


Results for Germany:

http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/de/europawahlen/EU_BUND_09/ergebnisse/bundesergebnisse/b_tabelle_99.html

[David__77]

17. "Free market" social democrats get what they deserve.

Why vote for phony socialist/real pro-capitalists when you can just vote for the open and above board real deal?

[kpominville]

18. Because Corporatism is represented by the "Left" in Europe

Thats why what we call Neo-Conservative is "Neo-Liberal" in Europe.

This is a rejection of corporatism, but is being spun by the media as "left vs right" as if that meant the same thing there as it does here.

[LeftishBrit]

26. Nope. In many countries, the 'left' parties have accepted too much of conservativism and corporatism

but voting conservative is not a rejection of that!

'Left' and 'right' are not that different in Europe and America - though our left tends to be further left (or at least it did); our mainstream right is probably less right-wing, though there are VERY far-right (neo-Nazi and borderline neo-Nazi) parties that made gains in the Euro-elections; and the religious right is less influential here.

There is a general anti-incumbent mood with the poor economy; and also low turnout with a disproportionate vote by people wanting to make a statement of opposition to the EU. Most of the latter are right-wingers.

[No Elephants]

28. How the heck are Portugal's results cited as supporting the premise? There,

the "ruling Socialists" dropped votes to greens and far left parties. That is not exactly a win for the right.

Greens made gains in France as well.

Besides, these seem to be partial results in several of the countries.

Sounds more like people are unhappy with the status quo. The low turnout indicates they don't see real differences betwwen the two sides.

I won't be surprised if turnout in the United States goes down in the next decade.

[Vidar]

29. They're still considerably to the left of our misbegotten oligarchy.