It’s been said that in the final analysis, all politics are essentially local. And to a certain extent, that maxim has been demonstrated in many countries, including Canada.
In Canada’s case, local factors influencing political attitudes have become increasingly important, especially in the economic sector, with provinces such as Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland attaching increasing importance to petroleum, British Columbia emphasizing mining, forestry and fishing, and Ontario, the industrial sector.
On May 25, the critical importance of local interests seemed to be borne out when most countries belonging to the European Union went to the polls at a time when many EU members were confronting differing viewpoints regarding their nations’ attitudes toward EU membership. Some are increasingly questioning the EU’s value; others, a minority, favour leaving the EU.
Those views regarding EU membership were often quite varied, stemming from hostility toward minority groups, including Muslims, Jews and gypsies.
At a time when regions of Canada, including B.C, have taken steps to acknowledge wrongs committed against various groups — aboriginal people, as well as would-be immigrants from Asia denied entry to B.C. a century ago — some political movements within the 38-member European Union are capitalizing on growing xenophobic feelings.
Due to increasing concern within Europe regarding the presence of relatively large populations of foreigners — more than two million in Germany alone — anti-EU viewpoints have increased their appeal. To the shock of many, far-right and anti-EU political parties in several important EU states made significant advances, especially in France and Britain.
Reacting to the strong showing of France’s far-right National Front led by Marine Le Pen, which won 24 seats in the 751-seat parliament with 25 per cent of the total vote, President François Holland called an emergency meeting of his Socialist party. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls described the National Front’s electoral success “a shock, an earthquake.”
The former socialist president of the European Parliament said: “It’s a bad day for the European Union when a party with a racist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic program gets 25 per cent of the vote.”
For her part, Le Pen said the people of France “no longer want to be led by those outside our borders, by EU commissioners and technocrats who are unelected. They want to be protected from globalization and take back the reins of their destiny.”
Nigel Farage, the leader of Britain’s Euroskeptical U.K. Independence Party, said: “I don’t just want Britain to leave the European Union, I want Europe to leave the European Union.”
While traditional politicians obviously are concerned over increased support for anti-EU parties, the EU’s most important member, Germany, remained relatively untouched by the advances in France and Britain. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative party did well during Sunday’s vote, although a party calling for Germany to leave the euro monetary system, did gain about six per cent of the vote, and the far-right National Democratic Party, accused of anti-Semitism, won its first seat.
Interestingly, in the Netherlands, the right-wing Euroskeptic Party for Freedom, led by Geert Wilders, suffered a setback, losing one of its previous five seats.
Despite Italy’s economic difficulties, the new centre-left coalition of Premier Matteo Renzi won 40 per cent of the vote against the anti-euro movement led by Beppe Grillo, which won 22.5 per cent.
Although moderately inclined parties still hold a majority in the EU parliament, mainstream EU governments cannot ignore gains made by parties benefiting from disillusionment with the European Union, particularly the EU’s inability to deal effectively with widespread economic stagnation and social divisions that threaten to undermine stability.
The recent advances by anti-EU movements are a wake-up call for mainstream parties and governments to restore confidence in the values of the European Union while time is still on their side.
Harry Sterling, a former diplomat, is an Ottawa-based commentator. He served in Europe.
