Sunday, May 4, 2014

EU Assembly Faces Shrinking Middle

For the first time since the unpredicated European debt crisis, voters will be choosing a new parliament. Parties that are anti-EU are expected to win a third of the vote, which is a 20% increase from the last European Parliament. An outcome like this could add complications to projects that political groups are already divided on, such as the free-trade deal with the U.S.

Polls this week showed the support for four mainstream political groups has fallen from 80% to 70%. This includes,the center-right European People's Party, the Center-left Socialists & Democrats, the Centrist Alliance of Liberals & Democrats of Europe and the Green Party. The rest of the is expected to be dominated by the leftist euroskeptics, right-leaning anti-federalists and the far-right nationalists. These groups support and oppose several things such as financial constraints. In addition, the far-right nationalists favor pushing an anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim agenda.

Even in the traditionally pro-EU groups, politicians are having a difficult time containing the gaps between rich and poor countries, which have been bailed out by other rich countries such as Germany.

The elections are May 22-25.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB20001424052702303948104579534023203551040

-Jackie Bland

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