Europe’s voting for the right just as we're turning left!

As I understand it from the French media and my Twitter feed:
1. If Macron had gone with the status quo, very little could have been done in Parliament as there was no clear majority from the last elections and the right would continue to block legislation.
2. The far right is very disorganised, the timing is totally unexpected and very short and Bardella is not impressive.
3. There will be a much better turnout for a general election.
4. My personal opinion after 20 years here: The French love a protest but are often more conservative when it comes to it. Hence "we don't like Macron, but we will vote for him" in the last Presidential election.
5. Our village voted 30% for Bardella. Hrumph. 😨
6. It is a bold move and very risky.

I don’t see that Galaxy. Who is it that is going to vote Labour this time if it’s not the centre left - the majority is large, and it’s not because of Tory or further left voters?

The left have on the whole embraced identity politics and completely lost touch with those they purport to want to help. The idea of social class/poverty is not a regular feature of the discourse. They treat a large part of the electorate with disdain. They are losing many people like me who have been centre left all our lives.

Europe has the same problems, different solutions. After a couple of years the UK will veer to the right no doubt.

Hope NATO stays together?

Well it will be an extremely interesting few months. We all know what is going to happen in the UK, but what of the countries of Europe?

Galaxy

Yep no surprise there. This is a failure of the left. I am not sure how many times this is going to happen before they realise.
What I cant work out as my knowledge of French politics isnt extensive, is Macron being brave or foolish? Joseann?

How is it the failure of the left?

I think it's the failure of the economic orthodoxy that has prevailed for nearly the last 50 years. It has favoured capitalism, even in slightly left wing countries, which promotes the myth of 'trickle down' even as the wealthy become visibly more and more wealthy and the rest of the population gets 'left behind' in ever increasing numbers.

When the left tries to address this, albeit less than radically, the right has raised the spectre of communism to great effect.

Extraordinarily the far right populist parties are bankrolled by the wealthy. This has to be because they know they won't be affected by measures proposed by the populists.

Starmer's head must be exploding - do I do this, do I do that ?Will he still want to get into bed with a far right Europe once he's in No 10 ?

I agree Siope, I said the same thing on another thread yesterday.

Casdon I think that very much depends on the make-up of the opposition, which is why it bugs me when people say it doesn’t matter what X, Y or Z party think, because they won’t be the government.

These results have been on the cards since 2015. It was only a matter of time.
I mix with a lot of Germans in the winter. To put it mildly they aren’t happy.

This is going to be an interesting few months this summer, politically.

Siope

And we are, of course, not turning to the left. The current Labour Party is centrist at best, even centre-right.

I don’t agree, I think the UK will be centre left - that is what the electorate wants.

I think Macron is making a shrewd move myself, good on him for taking immediate action, my respect for him has grown.

Personally, I don't think Macron has been as damaging for France as the Tories have been for us.

👍 Urmstongran, yes, in order to save democracy Macron knows he has to "redonner la parole au peuple" ...... basically give back the voice to the people of France.
From what I'm hearing from the discussions here, France wants its identity back.

And we are, of course, not turning to the left. The current Labour Party is centrist at best, even centre-right.

In fact, most of the EU are electing centre/centre right parties.

The ID bloc have so far gained 11 seats, and the ECR just one (there are 15 additional seats this year) while the EPP IS UP 10 and looks set to be very influential.

The situation in France and Germany is very much a response to local issues. macron’s decision, I assume, is based on the idea that either Le Pen et all will lose again, or that, should they win, they will have a period in government, and will be unpopular by the time of the presidential elections. Brave, but a gamble.

For you Joseann -

France’s Macron calls for new elections after EU vote
French president Emmanuel Macron has dissolved France’s lower house of parliamen and called for new parliamentary elections after his camp heavily lost to the far right National Rally party in the country’s EU election.

“Far right parties... are progressing everywhere in the continent. It is a situation to which I cannot resign myself,” he said. “I decided to give you the choice... Therefore I will dissolve the National Assembly tonight.

“This is a serious and weighty decision, but above all it is an act of trust.Confidence in you, my dear compatriots, in the ability of the French people to make the right choice for themselves,” Mr Macron added.

The first round will be held on June 30, with a second round on July 7, Mr Macron said in a televised address.

And over in Germany -

Germany’s young voters switch from green to AfD
The German green party has dropped 8.5 percentage points since the last election, from 20.5 per cent in 2019 to 12 per cent today, initial polls suggest.

Its losses appear to be particularly pronounced among under-30s, who have shifted toward the far-right AfD and newer parties, the German public broadcaster reported.

Galaxy, I'm trying to unravel what the tv is calling a "séisme politique". There have been a lot tensions in France, and strong criticism of Macron that he has made the mistake of ignoring what his citizens want. At the moment there's a lot heated discussion going on, I need to speak with French friends tomorrow.
Perhaps Macron, as President, feels duty bound to act in this way, he has a responsibility to the state?

This information is available pretty much every where I am looking. The results are nothing to do with the political slant of the telegraph
Yes UK is behind not ahead. Starmer has by my reckoning this five year term to not bugger it up or we will be in the same position.

I’m glad the UK is ahead of the curve
Or behind it Casdon as Europe has been very ‘left’ these past few years and are now turning right.
While just us outliers are going left …

Indeed it is Wyllow3. Doesn’t mean it’s not fact based or breaking news. Elections there today are important.

Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister has struck a Rwanda-style deal with Tirana, which is expected to be operational and housing 3,000 people a month, by August.

Wyllow3

......and yes! its another Telegraph O/P....

I’m glad the UK is ahead of the curve.