Pro-war parties punished in EU elections
Anna Pha The elections held in the recently expanded European Union were marked by a record low turnout and the massive hammering that electors gave many of the major parties. Voting took place over several days, finishing on June 13, for 732 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). The lowest participation rates among the 25 member countries were to be found among the newest members — the former socialist states in Eastern Europe admitted on May 1, 2004. So why such a small turnout? And why did voters turn on governments and major parties? The Communist Party of Greece's newspaper Rizospastis, commenting on the results across the EU, noted that the ballots delivered a strong message of condemnation of the imperialist wars and the anti-popular policies promoted by the EU and national governments. The Communist Party of Greece increased its votes compared to the results in the general elections last March and those of the EU in 1999, particularly in urban centres. It has three seats with 9.9 per cent of the vote. The ruling New Democracy and social democrat opposition PASOK held their positions relatively well compared with other major parties in the EU. Iraq was one of the biggest issues, along with fears over further integration and loss of sovereignty in the EU, and strong discontent over government policies. In many instances the electorate rated the opposition parties as no better. This was the case in Britain, where there was a 38 percent turnout. Blair's Labour Party was thrashed, receiving 22.6 per cent of votes and 19 seats — a loss of 8 compared with 1999. The Conservatives did not do much better with 26.7 per cent of votes and 27 seats — a loss of 8. Again, the main issue was the disastrous and criminal war in Iraq. Labour also took a hammering in local government elections that were also held, losing more than 460 council seats. It only just held onto the London Assembly under the leadership of anti-war campaigner Ken Livingstone, who recently returned to the Labour fold. The newly formed and strongly anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) won 16.1 per cent of the vote and 12 seats. It attracted much of the right-wing nationalist votes. The Liberal Democrats increased their MEPs from two to 12 with 14.09 per cent of the vote as a consequence of their anti-war position. In the Netherlands parties supporting the country's involvement in Iraq lost votes and opposition parties opposing the war in Iraq made gains. The government is presently considering whether to extend the mandate of nearly 1400 Dutch troops in Iraq beyond July 15. The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (CPBM) won six seats in the Czech Republic with 20.3 per cent of the vote, finishing second only to the right-wing Civic Democrats (30 per cent, 9 seats) The governing coalition of PM Vladimir Spidla took a hammering, winning only four of the 24 seats. Spidla's Social Democrats polled a mere 8.8 per cent (2 seats). CPBM vice-chair Vaclav Exner told the communist daily Halo Noviny, that the Communist Party's result "means a significant strengthening of the European radical left". The opposition Socialist Party came out well ahead in France with 31 out of 78 seats. President Jacques Chirac's conservative UMP and its UDF government partner improved their positions with a combined 28 seats (up by 9). National Front increased its seats to seven (up by 5). The Greens lost two seats (now have 6) and the French Communist Party's list saw the loss of three of its five seats. The strong support for the "Olive Tree" opposition coalition in Italy is seen as a blow to the extreme right political agenda of media baron-cum-prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi. The Party of Italian Communists and Communist Refoundation both improved their vote. In Germany the left-wing Party of Democratic Socialism, which has its origins in the former Socialist Unity Party of the German Democratic Republic, received its best result ever in a nation- wide election gaining 6.1 per cent of votes and 7 seats. In one of the states in the east it came first with 30.8 per cent. Voters punished Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's ruling Social Democrats for their ruthless attacks on the welfare system. They polled a record post-World War II low of 21.5 per cent, gaining only 23 seats. The opposition conservatives got more than double that vote, and the Greens, despite being in government with the Social Democrats, did well, increasing their number of seats from 6 to 13. In addition to France, the Netherlands, Britain, Germany and the Czech Republic, ruling parties also suffered defeats — some of them very significant — in Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Denmark, Lithuania and Portugal. There was however, one very significant exception to this trend. In Spain the recent general election result was upheld with the ruling Socialist Party gaining a majority over the opposition Popular Party, following its promised withdrawal of troops from Iraq. The success of the government in this case is consistent with the views expressed elsewhere towards the Iraq war and occupation. A very encouraging development.