With the victory of Emmanuel Macron, the EU gets a moment to
reconfigure its future. It would be wise not to waste time. European electorates
are in considerable stress with far-right and far-left movements adopting
nationalist, anti-EU positions to compete with old center parties.
The next European elections are as important as Brexit,
Trump and Macron. Prime Minister Theresa May wants to strengthen a governing
majority in Great Britain for EU negotiations. Chancellor Angela Merkel must
renew her five-year mandate. She represents the dean of world globalists, and
with the new French president, the essential partner in preserving the EU. And
finally, the most troubled Mediterranean EU member, Italy, will likely have an
election in 2018. It could put an anti-EU populist party in control. Italy’s
parliamentary election isn’t set yet. It’s likely to be in mid-2018 and the
Eurosceptic Five Star Movement could be the largest party.
Nationalists and Eurosceptics continue to have clout. They
control the Polish government and are a force in Britain, France, Austria and
various parts of Eastern Europe. In fact, a snap election has been called in
Austria due to the instability of old governing coalitions and politicians.
Although Ms. Merkel’s party appears well-positioned to be
the dominant player in the September 24 election, this will continue a
government that has lasted 12 years, a very long run in current European politics.
Her challenge comes from the center-left more than the far-right.
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