Comment du Jour

Political Earthquake Shakes European Union


Earthquake, was the page one headline in the respected French daily Le Figaro.

A electoral earthquake had jolted Europe as voters throughout the 28 member European Union
(EU) broke with the political establishment and elected a wide range of rightists and far left parties.

The results were particularly pronounced in Britain and France where the anti-EU United Kingdom Independence Party  (UKIP) and National Front (FN) jolted the outcome with first place wins in the elections for the European Parliament.   For example in Britain, the upstart UKIP won 27% of the vote and gained 24 seats. Labour followed with 25% of the vote and 20 seats, while the ruling Conservatives won 24% and 19 seats.

In France the results were equally jarring with what even Socialist Prime Minister Manuel Valls admitted was a "shock, and earthquake."   The vote was anti-establishment across the board.

The National Front (FN) which has long been associated with far right politics, but has recently moderated, gained 25% and 25 seats, the conservative UMP party gained 21%, while the ruling Socialists of President Hollande garnered a paltry 14%.

Le Figaro editorialized  that Hollande "was humiliated in the eyes of Europe."

But look at the Czech Republic as a case.  Of the 21 EU parliamentary seats,  14 went to conservative parties while 7 went left.  Yet only 18% of the electorate even voted.

While many commentators will focus on the rise of the right, there are a few other points to consider; there are a plethora of small anti-establishment parties ranging from the Greens to a myriad of others such as the communists who were in the races.   Equally the turnout Europe wide for voting was quite low at 43%.  A total of 751 seats were contested throughout the EU.

Comment du Jour

       (The Solidarity Trade Union as the New Sheriff in Town)







Polish Film Posters Evoke Wild West


A series of Polish communist-era film posters surprisingly evokes the American Wild West.  The  exhibit at the prestigious Denver  Art Museum  brings together a collection of 1960-1980's movie posters which illustrate surprisingly free handed and engaging art.  These are among the more interesting pieces in the collection.

                            Cat Ballou a 1965 Western starring Jane Fonda and Lee Marvin.

                                              John Wayne's immortal El Dorado from 1966

                                                   Oklahoma! The movie musical 1955


The Polish poster exhibit is on loan from the Autry National Center of the American West in Los Angeles.

Comment du Jour

Happy Europe Day!!

New York's iconic Empire State building bathed in the  blue and gold colors of the
European Union (EU).

On 9 May 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman presented his proposal to create in united European coal and steel community.   The proposal would both integrate commerce and encourage peaceful relations among member states. 

The Schuman Declaration is viewed as the first step to create what emerged  as an economic pact known as the Common Market, later the European Community, and today the European Union.