Lapins qui rougissent et une Europe qui tremble
In the latest local elections France faced two very uncommon - and frightening - phenomena :
Far-right Front National party made significant gains in the local elections in several towns, reaching up to a 50.26% in towns such as Henin-Beaumont, historically a left stronghold in the North,
Avignon and Perpignan in the South etc.
The results, a lethal mixture of high unemployment, low economic growth and political disillusion
- Hollande's popularity (or better, unpopularity) is now around a 19%, leave space to a widespread and rising Euroskepticism.
The second irregularity is abstention, that growing up to the 34% - some say even 38% - rings a much alarming bell in the countries surrounding Paris.
Popular exasperation brought the centre-right opposition to a 58% poll result, out of which a 7% was
gained by the anti-immigration party. Marine Le Pen said it is now time for France to face the end
of a two-party political system.
Now, in less than two months 504 millions of european citizens will be - hopefully - voting for the
European Elections, and the general picture is covered with a grim veil embroidered with secessionist referendums, Crimean crisis, Scottish call for a "Yes Scotland" or a "Better Together" exit poll and the evergreen resentment for the Troika social butchery.
Nevertheless, while the focus wished by the media is the catastrophic scenario, it is fundamental to look past the doom and gloom, and touch with hands what these elections mean and will look like.
They will take place from the 22nd to the 25th of May and probably see the most Euroskeptic Parliament coming out of the elections, which is even adding a reason to vote.
Personally, I think Europe is still too far from our political sphere of action and yet too close
to our daily complains, leading to very easy conclusions and feelings.
For further details :
http://www.elections2014.eu/en
