EU-elections

[Mischa]

Eurosceptics, EU-lovers, Haters, Sceptics, Pragmatics, Sympathizers, Opportunists and... Brits!

Now that the elections are over with the traditionally low turnout and the general concentration on inner affairs in the campaigns, it's time for a résumé! How did it go in your neck of the woods? Any surprises or woes? Will Gordon Brown survive the next week as PM (poor fellow really looks like Beethoven in his Missa Solemnis phase these days)? Any further broadening of your party system?

I'll start with some pro's and contra's here:

Contra:

* fairly low turnout. Quite a shame.

* the sunset of social democracy goes on (same applies to France)

Pro:

* relatively low result for the left (a sort of GDR revival project) - given the current insecurity and crisis it's quite surprising

* very good results so far all around the EU for

* in contrary to other countries the extreme right wing parties didn't pop up in the results. In fact, the election campaigns seemed to be free of any populism.

Here are the results of other countries (http://www.spiegel.de/politik/auslan...ml#Europa-2009) - quite interesting. So - how did it go?

[micrologus]

Low turnout? Did you say "low turnout"?
Not possible in Belgium! Nor in Austria nor in Luxemburg!
Everyone should follow our example and be obliged to vote

[Philidor]

There's a volatile atmosphere in Britain, with voters furious at the entire mainstream political class owing to the MPs' expenses scandal - MPs have been caught with their hands in the till.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVKPxAEicGU"]YouTube - Bill Cash, MPs' Expenses[/ame]

So it's hard to work out what's a protest vote, what's genuine and how people would behave in a national election. But the fact remains that 6.5% of voters went out and voted fascist, with the British National Party winning seats in the European Parliament for the first time. Share of the vote (change from 2004 in brackets):

Conservative 28.6 (+1.2)
UK Independence Party 17.4 (+0.5)
Labour 15.3 (-7.0)
Liberal Democrats 13.9 (-1.1)
Green Party 8.7 (+2.5)
British National Party 6.5 (+1.4)

A record low turnout in Britain is expected - c. 34%.

[micrologus]

Very low turnout indeed! Approximately 34% for the UK And this for 72 seats! These seats only represents 34% of the British people! The same problem in most of the other European countries.
If the turnout is so low, the number seats should also be adapted. That would be democratic

[Philidor]

Originally Posted by micrologus

If the turnout is so low, the number seats should also be adapted. That would be democratic

That's a very good idea.

[Philidor]

I've just been informed on another forum that Elena Basescu, daughter of Romanian President Traian Basescu and dubbed during the campaign the "Paris Hilton of the Carpathians", won a seat as an independent with 4.23% of the vote.

Here she is:




What are the chances of Ms Basescu and Nigel Farage - a cad if ever there was one - having a steamy affair? Evens? Here's Nigel (on the left):

[micrologus]

Originally Posted by Philidor

I've just been informed on another forum that Elena Basescu, daughter of President Traian Basescu and dubbed during the campaign the "Paris Hilton of the Carpathians", won a seat as an independent with 4.23% of the vote.

Here she is:

Attachment 3536

It's going to be very hot in the European Parliament!

[Philidor]

Damn, I wish I could speak Romanian:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srwSgEDgx10"]YouTube - Elena Basescu[/ame]

[micrologus]

Already at work