German Chancellor Angela Merkel won big twice yesterday. As reported at Deutsche-Welle her Christian Democratic Union party won the state elections in Schleswig-Holstein:
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) easily defeated the ruling Social Democrats (SPD) in state elections in Schleswig-Holstein on Sunday, exit polls and early returns broadcast by public service TV stations show. Provisional results show the CDU received some 33 percent as compared with around 26 percent for the SPD. The SPD has been governing in coalition with the Green party and the regionalist SSW in the northern state for the past five years.
The anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) will enter the state parliament for the first time. The populist party garnered 5.5 percent of the vote, clearing the 5 percent hurdle needed to enter a German legislature. Although receiving just 3.5 percent of the vote, former junior coalition partners the SSW – a party representing the interests of Danish and Frisian minorities in the state – will keep some seats, as it is not subject to the same hurdle as other parties.
and Macron was elected French president. As Marine Le Pen quipped in anticipation of the election whoever was elected a woman would rule France.
I think we’re going to see majorities of both the Germans and the French voting to maintain the status quo. That the status quo cannot be maintained is irrelevant. They’ll try to kick the can down the road.
What is not being mentioned sufficiently is that the right-wing parties, the FN in France and the AfD in Germany, both showed increased strength yesterday. The Eurocrats have received their reprieve but it looks like it’s only temporary.
I chuckled when I read Le Pen’s quote, pretty darn true.
As to Macron, he has an opportunity — France is in a crisis and if France recovers he will be hailed as a great man. But if he fails he will be the goat or worse.
His problem is France needs EU reform, on the basis that trying to turn everyone into Germany is failing, But after these Dutch, French elections Merkel will think everything is good. Sweet talking Merkel got David Cameron nothing and British voters noticed. Macron could credibly go tougher but to do so goes against what he says he stands for (The European Project).