Sunday, May 6th was an important day for the European Union : French and Greeks alike went to the polls to decide of their countries’ politicalfutures. Theresults were not surprising : Francois Hollande is now the new President of France, making him the second socialist president in the fifth Republic after Miterrand, as Sarkozy was kicked out unceremoniously. While in Greece, the popular vote was split between between multiple parties, while unsatisfied voters punished the two main parties, PASOK and New Democracy and gave to no party the majority needed to rule the parliament.
Though not surprising, the numbers are telling of both voter psychologyand political sentiments of the European populations, on economic problems and questions dealing with national identity crises. As it happens in times of economic turmoil, high unemployment and the risk of further recession, people have punished the (what were) incumbents by substituting them with a new leader, in both name and ideology. It is not the programme that matters, as much as the difference in perception and the empty promises made by politicians in times of uncertainty. Promises of bridging the gap between rich and poor, raising taxes and raising employment – all elements that Americans are also taking into account for the next presidential elections. There is nothing new to be seen here.
But regardless of the many progressive faces of European politics when it comes to questions like gay marriages and drugs that still stir a lot of debate in the United States, Europe is drifting away from social progress and indulging in moral protectionism. What otherwise could explain the fact that Marine Le Pen, head of the far-right National Front, won some 18% of the votes in the first round of the presidential Elections in France, while the Greek vote was spreading evenly between the neo-nazis and new communist parties? Extremism is rising in Europe, following the familiar trend of retreating democratic feelings in the population at large when their wealth is at risk.
Yet, unlike the main parties in France, Greece and even many other countries in Europe, the promises of Nationalist and Extremist parties are not void, nor do these parties try to remain politically correct. Marine Le Pen bashes against Islam more often than not, blaming the high unemployment rate on the great flux of immigrants and reminding people of the many times their streets have been uncrossable because of the traditional muslim prayers. So much for human rights. The same mantra goes on in Greece, where the country while it has stopped receiving immigrants from its surrounding neighbours, is suffering from an influx of Chinese, Russian and Indian immigrants.
Let us not forget the economic aspect of these changes though. All of the aforementioned countries are not merely Eurosceptic. They are plainly against the European Union and the Eurozone. While Sarkozy was reaching an agreement with Merkel on new austerity measures, the new French president, Francois Hollande has pretty much made it clear that he will not be as welcoming and the new measures that are bound to slow down economic growth even further in the future. While the extremist parties in Greece are discussing the possibility of not accepting further sanctions from the EU, or leaving the union altogether.
Have Europeans gone crazy?
To the sensible voter, all these policies look like a veritable nightmare. The European Union, regardless of its many fallacies in times of crises is a good project. It might have been worse to make it through for many countries, had it not been for the support of the union. Furthermore, the hate on immigrants and different cultural practices all over Europe brings back old fears on violent clash between civilisations. Does, then, the fact that some 18% of the French and 24% of the Greek population voted for these parties, mean that this part of the population is racist and going to the extreme?
The dynamics of diverse populations are hard to dismantle. It would be unfair, considering the pressures on citizens in these times, to put the blame on them entirely. Politicians less and less courages in practice, promising and never delivering. In times like this, drastic is appealing, though not assuring.
