07) OMINOUS RESULTS IN EURO-ELECTIONS

 

People's Voice Editorial

 

            Confirming a trend which has emerged since the financial crisis of 2007‑08, the European Union elections held May 22‑25 saw rising support for both so‑called "Eurosceptic" and anti‑austerity parties. Some far‑right parties drew millions of votes with their xenophobic policies, while establishment pro‑European parties paid a price for their imposing their anti-people Lisbon Treaty.

 

            Most shocking, France's far‑right National Front scored its first victory in Euro Parliament elections, with 25 per cent of the vote. The right‑wing Danish People's Party topped the polls, as did the governing right‑wing Fidesz party in Hungary with 52 per cent and 12 seats. For the first time, the fascist Golden Dawn party in Greece elected a member of the European Parliament. In Britain, the "eurosceptic" UK Independence Party, home to many far‑right elements, defeated Labour and the declining Conservatives. Overall, such parties elected over 60 members of the European Parliament (MEPs), with their biggest gains in the UK and France.

 

            On the other hand, Greece's Syriza party topped the polls with more than 27 per cent and 6 MEPs, and the more radical Greek Communist Party climbed back to 6% and elected two MEPs after losing ground in previous elections. In Spain, the ruling conservative Popular Party and the "Socialists" lost ground to smaller parties on the left. In the Irish Republic, Sinn Fein elected two MEPs, plus another in Northern Ireland. Overall, the parties belonging to the European United Left/Nordic Green Left grouping, which includes a number of Europe's communist and workers' parties, won 6% of the total vote, electing a record 51 MEPS, a gain of 16.

 

            The lesson? Years of economic upheaval and insecurity can generate support for revolutionary ideas, but also create the breeding grounds for fascist ideology. Much more needs to be done to expose the fascist menace as the deadliest weapon in the arsenal of the ruling class.

(The above article is from the June 1-15, 2014, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading socialist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)