Intense internal debate to understand how to deal with the new emerging political forces, with S&D at the window ready to change alliances. What future for the traditional European right-wing political class?
by Emanuele Bonini
European right is concerned about the rise of the far left parties all across the Old Continent. Syriza in Greece first, then Podemos in Spain. Political balance is changing in Europe, and with it also the political agenda can change. The future of Europe is at stake, and that is something in Brussels know very well. It is not a case if EPP members held «an intense internal debate» on the outcome of recent elections in Spain and Poland. The untold truth is the European Popular Party starts to consider itself in danger.
EPP officials stressed that MEPs fear the allies from the left. Socialists & Democrats are now in coalition with EPP, granting the majority into the Parliament. But - that is what EPP MEPs are worried about - S&D could look to the far left parties with sympathy, searching for understanding on different files. That would mean the end of the EPP leadership, and here we have what politicians from the right don't want to officially admit. «It has to be clear that Podemos as well as Syriza represent a challenge for everybody», people say from EPP, showing all the anxiety animating the main European party.
The truth is people from the traditional right are afraid of being overthrown by all the other parties. In some how, the EPP members see the national elections all across Europe as a test against the actual political class. EPP has been criticized for the austerity measures, has been considered as the main responsible for the social crisis in Greece. After the European election of May 2014, EPP has obliged to abandon the severity which has characterized last years, opening to the flexibility so desired by the left. Such a change was a political defeat for the European right, since flexibility was an unavoidable concession in order to maintain the leadership in the plenary. The European Popular Party has the problem to still be the first party in Europe in a very weak condition.
After the election of one year ago it appeared immediately clear that with a coalition among the three major groups, EPP was that one who had everything to lose, and so it has. Now EPP can't risk to lose the majority because of sympathy of S&D group for Podemos or similar parties. EPP officials admitted that in this legislature «it's difficult to deliver» because of a majority not always coherent. Whilst other political groups have different internal political streams, they stress several times that EPP is the political group most united in the European Parliament, with few divisions at the votations. At the same time EPP made clear since the beginning that the European right would never have any relationship with extremist parties, «S&D should clarify its position». OK, EPP sources in Brussels pointed out that «it is difficult to saw when a party is extremist one or not», but in order to be clear the European Left should say at what game to play. And, of course, in order to preserve the role of leadership that And, of course, in order to preserve the role of leadership felt as disappearing day by day.
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European right is concerned about the rise of the far left parties all across the Old Continent. Syriza in Greece first, then Podemos in Spain. Political balance is changing in Europe, and with it also the political agenda can change. The future of Europe is at stake, and that is something in Brussels know very well. It is not a case if EPP members held «an intense internal debate» on the outcome of recent elections in Spain and Poland. The untold truth is the European Popular Party starts to consider itself in danger.
EPP officials stressed that MEPs fear the allies from the left. Socialists & Democrats are now in coalition with EPP, granting the majority into the Parliament. But - that is what EPP MEPs are worried about - S&D could look to the far left parties with sympathy, searching for understanding on different files. That would mean the end of the EPP leadership, and here we have what politicians from the right don't want to officially admit. «It has to be clear that Podemos as well as Syriza represent a challenge for everybody», people say from EPP, showing all the anxiety animating the main European party.
The truth is people from the traditional right are afraid of being overthrown by all the other parties. In some how, the EPP members see the national elections all across Europe as a test against the actual political class. EPP has been criticized for the austerity measures, has been considered as the main responsible for the social crisis in Greece. After the European election of May 2014, EPP has obliged to abandon the severity which has characterized last years, opening to the flexibility so desired by the left. Such a change was a political defeat for the European right, since flexibility was an unavoidable concession in order to maintain the leadership in the plenary. The European Popular Party has the problem to still be the first party in Europe in a very weak condition.
After the election of one year ago it appeared immediately clear that with a coalition among the three major groups, EPP was that one who had everything to lose, and so it has. Now EPP can't risk to lose the majority because of sympathy of S&D group for Podemos or similar parties. EPP officials admitted that in this legislature «it's difficult to deliver» because of a majority not always coherent. Whilst other political groups have different internal political streams, they stress several times that EPP is the political group most united in the European Parliament, with few divisions at the votations. At the same time EPP made clear since the beginning that the European right would never have any relationship with extremist parties, «S&D should clarify its position». OK, EPP sources in Brussels pointed out that «it is difficult to saw when a party is extremist one or not», but in order to be clear the European Left should say at what game to play. And, of course, in order to preserve the role of leadership that And, of course, in order to preserve the role of leadership felt as disappearing day by day.
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