Centre right tightens grip on Europe

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Far right, nationalist and anti-EU parties looked set to win up to 50 seats. But the election's basic

message was that voters in the EU's biggest countries preferred the centre-right to the centre-left

at a time of severe recession.

I have no problem whatsoever with Europeans voting"center-right", "moderate, right", "conservative", what have you. They can vote as economically as conservative as they like for all I care.

It's the phrase "Far right nationalist" in the European context that makes me exceedingly nervous. 1933 is not so far ago in history as to have been forgotten.

Yep. And you know they are just salivating over the possibilities.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

the trend may be to center right but its far right parties like the BNP that are making historic gains.

Its been going that way for a few years now but I expect the recession has exacerbated tensions, especially given that EU citizens can work anywhere in the union. The main thing this has done is flood western Europe with East European immigrants. Perfectly legal but its changing the character of some areas and nationalism is on the rise, so you get a backlash at the polls.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

It's funny how when the Left ascends to power, it's always seen in its proper context as part of the usual fluctuations in public opinion that are part and parcel of every democracy; but when the Right ascends to power, watch out - the Left has been beaten for good and the Right will rule forever.

Seen by you, maybe.

Are you saying you habitually piss your pants every time the Left gains vote share in an election, thinking that their modest gains are irreversible and the beginning of an inevitable slide into the oh so scary kommunism?

Not me. I don't see the need for redoctrination camps like the left seems to need to instill "correct thinking"and prevent the right from ever regaining power.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think its pretty shameful that the UK BNP got a seat in the European Parliament. That really is terrible.

[justashooter 430]

socialism works well in groups that have cultural homogenity. it does not work well in groups that have natural division, or are so big that everybody doesn't kow everybody elses' first name.

[scandal 951]

socialism works well in groups that have cultural homogenity. it does not work well in groups that have natural division, or are so big that everybody doesn't kow everybody elses' first name.

Bollocks.

It hasn't worked out well on the scale of Israeli kibbutzim, communes of typically a few hundred dedicated families. They've all pretty much given up on their socialist roots and gone for a market based economy.

[Minya's wife 25]

socialism works well in groups that have cultural homogenity. it does not work well in groups that have natural division, or are so big that everybody doesn't kow everybody elses' first name.

i thought you were some sort of expert on China and its socialist form of government...'working' for over 50 years now.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Socialism is an umbrella term. What the governments of Europe have are Social Democracies. Not exactly the Marxist ideal.

[Peikko 1,575]

I think its pretty shameful that the UK BNP got a seat in the European Parliament. That really is terrible.

It's not so much that the BNP made gains (their share of the vote did not change). The change was that those who traditionally support the Labour party simply did not do so. Their share of the vote plummeted. As such the BNP was allowed in as apposed to forcing its way in because their support has magically increased.

It would appear, rightly or wrongly that the British Labour Party is being made the scape goat for the economic woes. Couple that with the expenses scandal that has soured the UK public, it's not surprising that this election produced some quirky results.

I don't think that this is a rejection of the direction that Europe has been taking in the sense that has been portrayed on this thread though. A little backlash against whatever government is currently in power is inevitalbe given the current economic conditions. Really, I am not sure how anyone expects anything different. Don't be expecting some massive shift away from socially inspired government though. That simply isn't going to happen. The health service is not going to be dismantled.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think its pretty shameful that the UK BNP got a seat in the European Parliament. That really is terrible.

It's not so much that the BNP made gains (their share of the vote did not change). The change was that those who traditionally support the Labour party simply did not do so. Their share of the vote plummeted. As such the BNP was allowed in as apposed to forcing its way in because their support has magically increased.

It would appear, rightly or wrongly that the British Labour Party is being made the scape goat for the economic woes. Couple that with the expenses scandal that has soured the UK public, it's not surprising that this election produced some quirky results.

I don't think that this is a rejection of the direction that Europe has been taking in the sense that has been portrayed on this thread though. A little backlash against whatever government is currently in power is inevitalbe given the current economic conditions. Really, I am not sure how anyone expects anything different. Don't be expecting some massive shift away from socially inspired government though. That simply isn't going to happen. The health service is not going to be dismantled.

Domestically it won't make much of a difference - but I think we'll see more of a pushback impact in the European Parliament.

[Peikko 1,575]

It's possible that Europe has got to the limit of what it wants to see in terms of a European political federation. Mostly, as the OP suggested, each country voted in opposition to whatever government is currently in power in their country or as with the 43% turnout figure, simply stayed at home. Understandably as it's about the only way you can protest at the current state of affairs which is obviously unsatisfactory given that everyone is experiencing high unemployment and the decimation of retirement funds.

[Peikko 1,575]

BNP is the hot topic on twitter. I would just ignore the buggers.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It's possible that Europe has got to the limit of what it wants to see in terms of a European political federation. Mostly, as the OP suggested, each country voted in opposition to whatever government is currently in power in their country or as with the 43% turnout figure, simply stayed at home. Understandably as it's about the only way you can protest at the current state of affairs which is obviously unsatisfactory given that everyone is experiencing high unemployment and the decimation of retirement funds.

The anti-immigrant bandwagon is pretty disturbing though - seen in Switzerland, Austria and Holland. Hungary even has an anti-gypsy party. To say nothing of the "Keep England White" brigade in the UK BNP.

[Peikko 1,575]

It's an easy target. "What's wrong with my world? Bloody immigrants taking my money/jobs/country" It's bound to happen when things are tight financially. What's encouraging is that there is no real progress being made by the BNP and there will be a back lash against these two being elected, of that we can be certain.

I don't know enough about the European versions, but I suspect it's a similar scenario. They made political progress not because there are more of them, but because the protest vote mainly took the form of not voting. What needs to be done, is encourage people out to vote. That should be a priority of all the main political parties.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Its just a shame that there is nothing to really vote for in the UK. The Tories will undoubtedly get back in - but David Cameron is a tosspot of the highest order.