Populism

Old Europe is disaggregating. The new Europe, which has long been a reality in the mind of many European citizens, is waiting for its constitution, one that will effectively take us into the future.

A quarter of the French electorate supported the far-right Front National at the last European elections. Yet the party’s political programme remains founded on the same illusions and scapegoating, only with a new, softer and more media-savvy face.

In the face of rising populism, Europe must adopt an audacious approach that addresses the anxieties of citizens and proposes a vision of the welfare state beyond the nation state.

Using the symbolic politics of ‘government of the people for the people’, Orban secured a comfortable re-election. He skillfully captured shifting political moods, and helped fracture the left. However his future plans remain unclear, and Hungary may now witness a battle between right and far-right.

Once again, the Dutch politician Geert Wilders and his far-right party, the PVV (Freedom Party), found themselves in the headlines. At an election meeting Wilders made racist remarks and stood by them. It is a distasteful development that will have consequences beyond the Netherlands.

Nelson Mandela personified the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and became a worldwide symbol of hope in the face of discrimination. Although apartheid was ended, racism and discrimination still remain present in our society, and that needs to be remembered.

On 29 September 2013, Austria went to the polls. The results gave the Greens 12,4% of the vote, a plus of 2%.

Europe’s difficulties are undoubtedly causing a rise in populism and Euroscepticism, and while it needs to be more democratic, it needs to push for a more tolerate and humanist future; built through education, exchange and understanding.

The European Union is an unfinished symphony. The most important thing now is to cut the cacophony and mend the discords.

Polish commentator Cezary Michalski likens Germany to a nuclear power plant – providing energy to Europe when working well, but a destructive force when it fails.