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A Hot European Summer

Posted By The Media Line Staff On In Mideast Mindset

This summer, the political and environmental climate in Europe is uncertain. The heat wave has been especially dire for southern Europe, with countries such as Spain, Italy, and Greece seeing greater instances of heat, drought, and forest fires. In Greece, severe fires led to the evacuation of thousands of tourists from the popular holiday island of Rhodes. High temperatures have even caused tourist attractions such as the Acropolis archaeological site to close during the day. As the environment continues to suffer, many look to political forces to take the necessary steps to preserve Europe’s future. Whether the coming months will bring a centrist or right-wing power shift remains to be seen. On July 23, Spain headed to the ballots for general elections called by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of the Spanish Socialist Workers Party. Preelection opinion polls suggested that the conservative Popular Party was poised to build a majority in parliament. They were also supported by the hard-right Vox party, founded in the spirit of the late dictator Francisco Franco. However, the election ended in relative disappointment for Vox, quashing any chances of entering the government. The Socialist Party and its allies gained enough seats to open dialogue with more moderate groups and continue in power. Significantly, late voting in Catalonia—remarkably high compared to expectations—contributed to the Socialists’ success, likely due to Catalans’ strong opposition to the legacy of Francoism. In the rest of Europe, right-wing parties have had varied outcomes. Poland and Hungary are led by staunch conservative leaders, whereas in the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany, and Austria, small parties have climbed in popularity. Italy chose Giorgia Meloni for the position of prime minister, a politician linking back to Italy’s Mussolini, albeit having adopted a moderate stance so far and backing Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. French President Emmanuel Macron, despite the rigorous opposition to his effort to prolong the retirement age, was successful in hanging on to the presidency. Britain is facing a significant challenge ahead of the upcoming general election, scheduled to take place no later than January 2025, though it is possible it could be called as early as April 2024. Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, will lead his party into the election and, if successful, will have to face the big question: What will his government do with regard to its relationship with the European Union? A majority of British citizens believe that leaving the European Union, better known as Brexit, was a mistake and that their economy has yet to experience the much-anticipated boom that was promised upon their country’s liberation from the rules imposed by Brussels. Indeed, Britain is projected to have the lowest growth rate in Europe and none of the expectedly lucrative trade deals with non-European countries, the United States included, have been realized. The current talk of the town in Britain is about “Bregret,” a word used to describe Brexit-induced regrets. Could a return to the EU be possible? Although it is highly unlikely, less formal ties between the two entities may be mutually beneficial. Much will depend on the result of the upcoming election, as Labour leader Starmer’s success might spur negotiations between London and Brussels. US elections are also a determining factor in this matter, as Joe Biden favors closer economic ties between the United Kingdom and the EU, while Donald Trump may prove to be an impediment in that regard. —Geoffrey Kemp (translated by Asaf Zilberfarb)