Elections to the EU parliament were held this week. I have to admit that I’ve not really been paying too much attention, or really even know how their electoral system works, other than that is it a Proportional Representation system.
But the twittersphere and my google search for “Green Party” sure have been busy sending updates.
Of all the comments I read so far though, I like this one the best: (emphasis mine)
THOMAS KLAU, Center FOR EUROPEAN REFORM:
“The most striking feature of the election results, and I’m speaking, of course, as of now, is the fact that the center-left parties across Europe, the Social Democrats and Socialists have not been able to give a plausible answer, political answer, to the economic crisis.
“We haven’t seen … a far-right wave washing across the European continent. That has not happened.
“The rise of the Green Party has been striking. The Green Party are the one political force in the EU that has (been) closest to creating a true European political party, a true European political movement … with a political message that is strong and plausible, pro-European, that looks for European answers to the big problems the world and European society are facing, starting with climate change, of course.
“This is something that a substantial part of the electorate has welcomed. The success of the Greens, I think, is a clear indication there is a substantial part of the electorate that responds positively to European parties that give a European answer to the big problems of the day.”
