UK and France.Left wakes up, right-wing wave slows down

United Kingdom and France

The left wakes up

The right wave brakes

Within a matter of days, two major countries in Europe, The United Kingdom and France, debunked a refrain that has long circulated that the Old Continent is moving inexorably to the right.

In fact, the June 9 European Parliament elections had already shown that the center-left-Green majority that had supported the European Commission for the past five years had remained solid and without any particular shake-up. 

The British elections marked an unprecedented defeat for the Conservatives, who had wanted an exit from Europe to boot: an absurd decision supported by demagogic and populist leaders such as Boris Johnson and extremists such as Nigel Farage.The damage the British economy has suffered from 0exiting Europe is enormous. The repercussions on civil society have been very harsh. After 14 years and 5 premiers( Cameron, May, Johnson, Truss, Sunak) the Conservatives have been failed by voters disappointed by the failed management of the economy. It will not be easy for the new prime minister to repair the serious damage caused especially on the health care system that was once a jewel of the United Kingdom and on the country's social tightness that is in tatters due to the economic crisis and sharp social inequalities.

In France, Marie Le Pen's extreme right wing was defeated because in the second round, when parties have to make alliances to win in ballots, it was left alone while all its opponents coalesced and with a meticulous policy of nominations and desistances, managed to corner the Front National. By suddenly dissolving the Assembly and decreeing early elections, President Macron had fractured a very courageous choice that few understood and agreed with but instead proved right in the goal of halting the advance of the right.

The French vote was very important for the European Union. If Le Pen had won there would have been an anti-European and pro-Russian turn in Paris, and this could have weighed heavily on European policy, which so far has been pro-Ukraine, pro-NATO and against the neo-imperialist aspirations of Russia and China

President Macron is firmly in the saddle and with much dip0lomacy will have to find a parliamentary majority that dispenses with the leftist extremists of the tribune Mélénchon. But he will not beat them. In both London and Paris, policies must change especially on two issues: security and social justice. Citizens need to feel secure; they want the state to be able to defend and protect them. But they also want the purchasing power of their salaries to match the cost of living and for public health to work. Otherwise, the risk of populists and demagogues catching their breath remains very high.