Irish Examiner view: Europe isn't falling for the far right
Of The European Picture: Of Istock Seat The Official The Parliament Building, Louise Entrance Weiss
There seems to be a palpable sense of fear and dread attached to this week’s European elections as, across the bloc, pundits predict an alarming rise in support for far-right parties.
Rest assured, while extreme parties will make gains, they will not take over the EU or come anywhere close to it.
Certainly some with extreme views will prosper in this week’s elections for the European Parliament, but it is comforting to note that the rise of the far-right across the 27 member states has already led to a strong resistance being mounted by those opposed to their radical policies.
Europe’s centre-left, liberal, and green parties have all pledged opposition against any centre-right groupings that included extreme elements, and they have consistently chided liberal conservatives who have signalled they might deal with leaders such as Georgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, or Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s National Rally party.
The concern of many is that the traditional right has failed to take on the far-right, thus lending them credibility and, potentially, access to power. Ursula von der Leyen, who is seeking a second term as the president of the European Commission, has alarmed many by courting support from Meloni — whose party is rooted in post-Second World War neo-fascism.
Ms von der Leyen has said that Ms Meloni’s support for Ukraine aid has distanced her from the extreme right and indicated pro-Europe credentials. At the same time, she had labelled Ms Le Pen’s party as “puppets and proxies” for Vladimir Putin in an attempt to split the extreme right.
Indeed, the far-right is doing considerable splitting without any outside help, and Ms Le Pen has already distanced her party from the German AfD following the claim by one of its leaders that the “SS were not all criminals”.
Experts agree that the old-style centre-right and centre-left parties which have traditionally dominated European politics will almost certainly do so once again after Friday’s poll, but the big question is will they have a big enough working majority? The worry is that, as voters across Europe treat EU parliamentary elections as being fertile ground for protest votes because the way their home countries are governed is not at issue, this may bolster the far-right vote.
However, the popularity of those such as Raphael Glucksmann — a French moderate who has breathed life into the country’s Socialist Party — is a positive. He joined with other European social democrats to “defend our principles and open societies with infinitely more vigour,” to build “a strong barrier” against the far-right, “combat hatred, racism, and xenophobia”, and “defend and fight for democracy”.
Some extreme elements will prosper, but in doing so they will also set in motion a renewal of the forces necessary to contain them.
Pressure grows on Netanyahu
Nothing in Israeli politics is simple, and that salient fact has been underlined in the last few days, as national and international pressure has mounted on prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept the Gaza ceasefire deal proposed by US president Joe Biden.
Over the weekend, hundreds of thousands of Israelis marched in Tel Aviv demanding that Mr Netanyahu stop the fighting and secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, while right-wing members of his government threatened to bring the administration down unless the ‘complete destruction’ of Hamas is achieved.
For weeks now, Mr Netanyahu has been facing competing pressures. On the one side, moderate members of his war cabinet and the families of the remaining hostages seized in October; on the other, the extreme partners in his government who will accept nothing other than “absolute victory”.
Mr Biden’s proposals have brought all those tensions to the surface and Mr Netanyahu now finds himself as the meat in the sandwich. However, there has been some respite for Mr Netanyahu as the opposition leader, Yair Lapid, said he would be willing to provide a “safety net” if the ultranationalists in the coalition try to pull the plug on the government.
American patience with the prime minister is wearing thin. Mr Netanyahu will know US support for Israel’s actions will not, and cannot, survive much longer.
Marathon spirit
All too often in newspapers, online, and on television and radio, talk is dominated by issues which divide us.
On Sunday in Cork, we saw a different side of life where divisive elements of our society, social fabric, and our politics were put aside for a day to provide us with a glimpse of how positivity, co-operation, determination, and hard work can bring joy and fulfilment to so many.
The Cork City Marathon was a celebration of all the good things which bring us together communally and provide us with some joy, on a fantastic day for people of all shapes and sizes.
For more than 10,000 participants, as well as the hundreds of volunteers, the city council, our emergency services, and a supportive media, the event contrived to illustrate the best things people have to offer themselves and those around them. Competitors, even those taking part not with winning in mind, but simply raising money for a myriad of charities by running the 26-mile course, noted how the crowds lining the route — and particularly in the final miles to the St
Patrick’s Street finishing line — lifted their spirits and cemented their determination.
Aside from seeing people at their best, the marathon showed off Cork City at its most beautiful too and the positivity of everyone taking part — from competitors to organisers to volunteers — left everyone wishing, despite some tired legs, that next year’s event can’t come quickly enough.