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.