European Commission’s Post

#EU #PARLIAMENT #ELECTIONS www.goeu.org The EU democratic deficit[i] remains one of the recurring themes of the indictment of the EU. The facts are known.  In the sixty years of their existence, the Brussels Institutions with all their elite/exclusively staffed bureaucracy have not managed to create a democratic forum for Europe. Equal opportunity is not even a tangible dream. This is illustrated by the increasingly weak participation in the EU “parliament” elections every five years.  Despite repeated efforts, the European Parliament has not managed to ascertain itself in this terrain. There is a very widely perceived lack of legitimacy. Many view the European Parliament as a time-limited golden sinecure bestowed at the digression of the leadership of the main national political parties that arrange the electoral lists. It is only in the Member State parliaments that debates have democratic legitimacy even if their naturally imperfect nature because they are incomplete and represent a single member state, is immediately obvious. [i] See: https://lnkd.in/dpZaQwV

Having succeeded in this coalition of various left-wing parties, the NFP alliance actually seems to be collapsing. Though it is hard to say if President Macron is mostly responsible, he clearly has played a part in the tensions and splits among the left. Since his re-election, President Macron has attempted to show himself as a "protector" of stability and order against political disintegration. He thus consolidated his power and undermined the left-wing parties, using the fear of the RN and the menace of the far right. Based on a limited agreement, the NFP coalition hid major ideological divides among the several left-wing parties. Also, the conflicts among the left leaders—especially between Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Olivier Faure—help to undermine the alliance by means of their "agenda," which does not satisfy dissensions and weakens it to present an alternative to the policies of President Macron. The alliance's future as well as the political scene in France are unknown, so France is finally the only "loser".

History is shifting. The lurch to the Right and far Right in the elections of the European Parliament across Europe is a worrying portent. Results have panicked Macron into a snap election. This is a calculated gamble to focus French minds on giving him a clear working majority in the French assembly, but his gamble is going to fail because it is clear that the Right are going to win big on 30 June and 7 July. And all this in the shadow of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day celebrations on Thursday and the fight against fascism. Oh, the irony! It’s clear that people have forgotten their history. Once again, Britain will be the outlier as the centre Left Labour Party is set to win a landslide victory on 4 July. A Biden victory in the U.S. on 5 November may limit the advance of the far Right. An unthinkable Trump victory will only inspire and accelerate their advance. Worrying days ahead. I fear a war is coming but will Europe be on the right side of History?

Meet the parties fighting for power in the European elections The European People's Party (EPP) The EPP is one of the oldest and most powerful political groups, with an iron grip on the Commission presidency since 2004. Formed in the 1950s, bringing together Christian democratic parties, an idiosyncratic strand of European conservatism. Since the French Gaullist wing reduced in power, the party is now German dominated, but includes other powerful actors, like Poland’s Prime minister Donald Tusk, from the Civic Platform (PO) party. Its ideological orientation is centre-right conservatives. Currently, the EPP holds 177 seats. Ursula von der Leyen, the lead candidate: The incumbent Commission President and former German defence minister is the overwhelming favourite to regain the presidency again. Under her leadership the office gained more international attention, but her centrist, green-leaning record was not always popular within her own political group. 🔗 You can read the full guide at the link in bio. #useyourvote #EUelections2024

Although the National Rally is unlikely to secure an absolute majority, France will likely experience its first cohabitation since 2002. Even without holding power, this cohabitation presents nothing but a long-term opportunity for the National Rally.

All you need to know about French President Macron's announcement to dissolve the French National Assembly in 10 minutes: I joined War on the Rocks Warcast to discuss the potential reasons and implications. Most important information first: The election of the parliament in France is detached from the election of a President, who is directly elected by the voters. However, it can lead to a change of the prime minister. Listen in: 🇫🇷 🔽 https://lnkd.in/eBtMJgba

Most sensible people are breathing a sigh of relief this morning given the weaker performance of French far- right political parties than the electoral polls there had forecast. While the resilience of French liberal values and democratic culture are definitely worth celebrating, it would be foolish for a general sense of complacency to kick in. The rise of far- right political forces across Europe over the past decade or more is a matter of very deep concern. Given the current vulnerabilities in the global economy ( inflation etc) a sharp economic shock internationally could drive voters into the arms of populist far- right parties. The political landscape of Europe could quickly lurch to the extreme right in such circumstance. There is a need for the European Union to take this growing risk extremely seriously and to adopt a strategic approach to countering the longer- term threat posed by far- right political forces across Europe. The necessary resources, expertise and capacities exist with the European Union to mount a comprehensive and strategically planned counter- offensive to the darker political forces in Europe that will only be further emboldened by the likely election of Donald Trump as US President in November this year. Let’s hope that those in leading positions within the EU are already thinking about a major European mobilisation to defend democracy and human rights at home and abroad, and to respond to the growing range of threats posed by the far- right! #frenchelectionresults #frenchfarrightparties #democracyineurope #defendingdemocracy #riseoffarrightineurope

ON FRENCH PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS In any case, this will be interesting… especially for the French international and European engagement, lets see what emerges from the hung parliament and what kind of government #France actually gets! Via POLITICO Europe