Mon May 26, 2014, 06:19 AM
cali (114,904 posts)
Far-Right Parties win big in European Elections
Big wins for French far right, Britain's UKIP rock EU elections
Eurosceptic nationalists scored stunning victories in European Parliament elections in France and Britain on Sunday as critics of the European Union more than doubled their seats in a continent-wide protest vote against austerity and unemployment. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls called the breakthrough by Marine Le Pen's anti-immigration, anti-euro National Front in one of the EU's founding nations a political "earthquake". Anti-establishment parties of the far right and hard left, their scores amplified by a low turnout, made gains in many countries although in Germany, the EU's biggest member state with the largest number of seats, and Italy, the pro-European center ground held firm. In a vote that raised more doubts about Britain's long-term future in the EU, Nigel Farage's UK Independence Party, which advocates immediate withdrawal, led the opposition Labour party and Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives comfortably with almost half the results declared. A jubilant Le Pen, whose party beat President Francois Hollande's ruling Socialists into third place, told supporters: "The people have spoken loud and clear ... they no longer want to be led by those outside our borders, by EU commissioners and technocrats who are unelected <snip> http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/26/us-eu-election-idUSBREA4N0DK20140526 I hope center left parties in countries though out Europe finally got the message about "austerity" governance.
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5 replies, 1578 views
Always highlight: 10 newest replies | Replies posted after I mark a forum
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Author | Time | Post |
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cali | May 2014 | OP |
Laelth | May 2014 | #1 | |
Behind the Aegis | May 2014 | #2 | |
MannyGoldstein | May 2014 | #3 | |
Laelth | May 2014 | #4 | |
muriel_volestrangler | May 2014 | #5 |
Response to cali (Original post)
Mon May 26, 2014, 06:34 AM
Laelth (32,017 posts)
1. Sigh. I think I need to launch a thread about this.
I have an explanatory theory, but I suspect it will be widely condemned.
k&r for exposure. This development is quite significant. -Laelth |
Response to cali (Original post)
Mon May 26, 2014, 06:35 AM
Behind the Aegis (52,684 posts)
2. Bad news all around.
Europe showing a rise in the far-right is frightening.
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Response to cali (Original post)
Mon May 26, 2014, 06:41 AM
MannyGoldstein (34,589 posts)
3. The standard fruit of austerity
Coming here, too, if we don't take back our country.
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Response to MannyGoldstein (Reply #3)
Mon May 26, 2014, 06:43 AM
Laelth (32,017 posts)
4. I don't deny that austerity plays a part, here.
That said, I think something deeper and more fundamental is happening. It saddens me.
-Laelth |
Response to cali (Original post)
Mon May 26, 2014, 09:09 AM
muriel_volestrangler (100,062 posts)
5. I don't think this is about austerity
UKIP, for instance, wants to cut spending (apart from on defence).
eg http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/mar/22/ukip-benefits-claimants-tobacco-alcohol |