Denial reigns supreme as extremists and fringe groups head for EU election bonanza
Question: What happens when you try to hammer a square peg into a round hole? Answer: Well, it’s going to look a mess isn’t it. Question: What happens if you keep on banging a square peg into a round hole even when you know you’re going to make a mess? Answer: You get an even bigger mess and you humiliate yourself in the process.
As we gear up for next month’s elections to the European Parliament, that is a pretty fair summary of the performance of the EU’s political classes and its laughably servile commentariat in contemplating the rising fortunes of fringe groups from across the political spectrum. With far-Right organisations such as the British National Party, radical EU reformists such as Ireland’s Libertas — fielding candidates in every EU country — and fringe groups of all complexions imaginable now licking their lips you would have thought that this would occasion some soul searching.
Perhaps the absurdly low turnout at European elections reflects the fact that Europeans have no interest in the European Parliament? Perhaps there is no point in continuing to force the European “project” down the throats of the people without their consent? Perhaps it is the absence of a proper debate about Europe in the mainstream offering real alternatives to the headlong rush to deeper integration that is creating the space in which the extremists can flourish? Perhaps the EU itself is harming the democratic culture of Europe with the appalling precedents it has set in ignoring referendum results whenever they have gone against it? Surely, an intelligent discussion would be all over these issues?
Not a bit of it. As the following story from today’s Independent illustrates, the European media in large measure simply lacks the mental capacity to deal with such questions in a serious manner:
“From Stockholm to Sardinia, Waterford to Warsaw, a noisy and eclectic band of nationalists and eurosceptics are on the campaign trail hoping to unseat their mainstream rivals in the European Parliament. Dutch anti-Islamists, Hungarian nationalists, Italian separatists and an Irish-backed anti-Lisbon Treaty party are all clamouring for seats when Europe goes to the polls between 4 and 7 June.”
For the full story click here: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/rise-of-europes-extreme-politics-1687223.html
Apart from handwringing the piece is virtually devoid of serious analysis. There are vague references to the expected low turnout. The disgrace of the repeat referendum in Ireland is mentioned and then passed over in silence. Predictably, the economic downturn makes a more prominent appearance and there is a quick mention of the European Parliament’s reputation for scandals and excessive allowances.
But serious analysis of the core issues? Forget it.