TMID Editorial: An important few weeks for Europe
This is an important period for Europe. The European Parliament elections were recently concluded, and a new term is set to begin. Meanwhile there are two major elections taking place, one in France and one in the UK. The first phase of the election
This is an important period for Europe.
The European Parliament elections were recently concluded, and a new term is set to begin. Meanwhile there are two major elections taking place, one in France and one in the UK.
The first phase of the election in France has already taken place. In Sunday’s first round, the National Rally and its allies arrived ahead with around one-third of the votes. Now France faces another week of campaigning to come before the decisive final voting next Sunday. If the far-right obtains a majority, it could end in a cohabitation situation in France, where President Macron will have to appoint a prime minister belonging to that new majority and he might stay on as President. Such situations have happened in the past.
But what kind of impact would that have on a wider Europe? What kind of impact would a far-right France have? The Associated Press, for instance, reports that The National Rally has historical ties to Russia, and one wonders what exactly that would mean in terms of France’s support for Ukraine.
One understands that people are getting fed up of the way politicians handle certain issues, such as immigration, or are upset at policies struck by a country’s politicians, but moving towards the far right is never the right answer for any country, and carries with it its own dangers.
Thankfully in Malta the more extreme parties have not come anywhere close to power.
Meanwhile in the UK, the general election will be held this week, and it seems that the Labour Party is heading for a victory. However one wonders what kind of impact Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party will have. News articles read that it is likely to take votes from the Conservative party.
Following rocky years since Brexit, people in the UK will be hoping for more stability in their government. It is also looking to improve its economic situation.
As for the European Union, Recently EU Leaders agreed on three top jobs, tapping European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for a second term, Portugal’s António Costa as European Council President, and Estonia’s Kaja Kallas as their top diplomat. While Costa is confirmed, von der Leyen and Kallas have to face a grilling by the newly constituted European Parliament, which will meet for the first time in mid-July.
There, the Parliament will also elect its own President, a job which Maltese MEP and current EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola is also gunning for.
One awaits to see what kind of impact all of this will have on Europe.
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