Change

Conservatives racing ahead in EU parliament voting

BRUSSELS – Conservatives raced toward victory in some of Europe's largest economies Sunday as initial results and exit polls showed voters punishing left-leaning parties in European parliament elections in France, Germany and elsewhere.

Some right-leaning parties said the results vindicated their reluctance to spend more on company bailouts and fiscal stimulus amid the global economic crisis.

First projections by the European Union showed center-right parties would have the most seats — between 263 and 273 — in the 736-member parliament. Center-left parties were expected to get between 155 to 165 seats.

Right-leaning governments were ahead of the opposition in Germany, France, Italy and Belgium, while conservative opposition parties were leading in Britain and Spain.

Germany's Social Democrats headed to their worst showing in a nationwide election since World War II.
French Socialists said their defeat signaled a need to rethink left-wing policies if they are to have any hope of unseating President Nicolas Sarkozy.
"Tonight is a very difficult evening for Socialists in many nations in Europe," Martin Schulz, the leader of the Socialists in the European Parliament,

Graham Watson, leader of the EU's center-right Liberal Democrat grouping, said early results suggested a rejection of the Socialist approach.

"People don't want a return to socialism and that's why the majority here will be a center-right majority," he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090607/ap_on_re_eu/european_elections

European voters punish the left

Spain's centre-right Popular Party was one of the night's big winners

Centre-right parties have done well in elections to the European Parliament at the expense of the left.

Far-right and anti-immigrant parties also made gains, as turnout figures plunged to between 43 and 44%.

The UK Labour Party, Germany's Social Democrats and France's Socialist Party were heading for historic defeats.

Correspondents say the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) looks set to continue to hold power in the parliament. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8088309.stm

Kliphnotes : In the EU a right leaning government is not as far right as in the USA. And the Left in the EU is further Left than in the US. (But the Left in the US is doing it's best to catch up to the Left in the EU.)

At least that's the way is was. Maybe not any more. It is getting closer. The EU is moving right.

After having been left, for what seem like, ever. And do they have a reason why?

They have seen the far left and they don't like it.

But they will remain Social-Capitalist.

The EU as a whole is about the same size as the USA, economically.

One wonders how long the emperor can continue to parade around the country naked.