Populists did not win. For sure they got numerous seats at the European Parliament, they hit it big, yet they were not able to turn around the balance of power – actually, according to several analysts, they pushed even more people to the polls in the attempt of containing them.
The analysis of the vote will be complex, it will take days, but at a first sight just few hours after polls closed, we can say that notwithstanding some striking victories by anti-euro parties, pro-euro forces held their positions. The European Union is safe thanks to Germany, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Ireland – that is the austerity champions and those subjected to austerity, which however did not allow eurosceptics to win. That is to say, all things considered, taking into account the need to reform several things – as shown by Syriza victory in Greece – the European project is shared, sacrifices were made because the idea is worth the suffering. To sum it up, both eurosceptic and pro-Europe forces grew, as well as the left. The Italian result is important as well, as it goes well beyond its borders. The defeat suffered by the ‘euro-destroyer’ Grillo and the success obtained by the Democratic Party show what could and should be the next Europe, with a critical – not devastating – approach.
Now it’s time for politicians. The eurosceptics avalanche is clear, and to contain it, in order not to have it turned into the real devastating force in five years, one of the steps to be taken is reinforcing the European Parliament and its powers. It is the European institution directly indicated by citizens: this is why we need the next European Commission President to be chosen among the candidates offered by parties to voters. Government must wait for the European Parliament indications, not the other way round this time. At the same time, the Parliament needs to justify its role as leader in this debate with the Council: it needs to find a true majority, not the one already doing the rounds in Brussels, with Socialists, Populars and Liberals, which makes MEPs weaker, not stronger. It would be a simple institutional majority. The parliament needs a true political majority. Citizens went to the polls, and as it seems with an increasing turnout for the first time in the European Elections: they deserve a significant leap forward, something offering a true view of a different Union for the years to come.
