Monday 25th April 2016

Weekend updates from across the Union; Austrian Presidential elections, Obama’s visit to Europe and the growing protest movement in Paris. Summaries only with Dimokratía.

Obama urges Europe to get its act together: US President Barack Obama arrived in London on Thursday night with the express intention of restoring some semblance of order to the European continent after successive crises paralyse the Union. Specifically, on Friday, the President gave a speech outside Downing Street urging British voters to vote to remain in the EU, saying that it magnifies British influence in the world, is a boon to British industry, and that Britain “would be at the back of the queue” following a Brexit with regards to trade deals with the US. Later in the weekend the President made it clear that it could take up to 10 years for the beginning of the negotiations on a US-UK trade deal. This drew the ire of Brexit campaigners, who highlighted that the President would not subject his own country to being part of a wider Union. Boris Johnson suggested that due to the President’s Kenyan roots, it could possible that he held some animosity against the British state. Meanwhile on Sunday the President arrived in Hanover in order to discuss the stalled US-EU trade deal (TTIP) with the German Chancellor. That evening he made another speech in which he defended the international trade deal that has faced European and American opposition, arguing that such a deal would strengthen the EU and US economies. On Monday the President and Chancellor will be joined in Hanover by British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President François Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, in order to discuss the current stall in TTIP negotiations further.

Far-right FPÖ candidate wins first round of Austrian presidential elections: On Sunday, Austrian voters stunned Europe in the first round of the presidential elections, when far-right Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ) candidate, Norbert Hofer, won the vote. He will go up against the second place candidate in a second round on 22nd May. Hofer one around 35% of the vote, far more than any of his opponents, on a manifesto of stricter limits on immigration and tougher asylum seeker rules. The vote saw the end of Austria’s two-party system which dominated Austrian politics since 1945 – both of the two major parties (Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs, SPÖ and Österreichische Volkspartei, ÖVP) polled only around 11% and came 4th and 5th place. The President does have a largely ceremonial role in the Austrian government, however such a strong showing from the electorate in favour of the nationalist party demonstrates a huge amount of discontent for the status quo, and is the biggest sign of voters shifting to the far-right since the French regional elections in December last year. FPÖ leader, Heinz-Christian Strache, said “One thing has become clear here – a huge and massive dissatisfaction with the government”. Meanwhile it is assumed that FPÖ opponents will coalesce around the 2nd place candidate in the 2nd round in May. Green party candidate Alexander Van der Bellen came in second place with 21% of the vote, with the independent Irmgard Griss coming in 3rd place with 19%.

French Economy Minister confirms British nuclear power stations project will go ahead: French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron has made it clear that the planned EDF Energy power-plant at Hinkley Point will go ahead as planned, despite rumours that the energy concern were to put the plans on hold indefinitely. Mr Macron said that the planned nuclear power station would be given the green light in September, however the reactor would not be operational until 2030. The planned power station is intended to provide 7% of Britain’s energy needs and is the first to be built in decade, by EDF in partnership with China’s General Nuclear Power Corporation. It is expected to cost €23bn, one of the most expensive power stations in the world. Doubt has been cast over EDF’s involvement in the project as it struggles with a debt of €37bn. The French government announced however on Friday that it would inject €3bn into the energy concern as part of a €4bn capital-increase; the French state owns 85% of the company. However French Trade Unions have complained that this will not be enough and that the Economy Minister is rushing EDF into commitments it cannot keep. “We need 3 years, not 3 months”. Nevertheless, the leadership of EDF was more positive releasing a statement on Friday saying “the significant recapitalisation of EDF agreed by the board makes it possible for EDF to proceed with its strategic investment programme – including Hinkley Point”.

Nuit Debout campaigners debate issues in the French capital all night: Last month French activists protesting the negative effects of globalisation and the planned French Labour reforms managed to successfully convince the Hollande Administration to water down its plans. One evening last month they stayed up the whole night discussing ways to protest against and influence their government; this has continued every night since, with protesters gathering in the Paris’ Place de la République in a movement that has been called ‘Nuit debout’ (Up all night). These protests have attracted thousands every night, in direct defiance of the post-terror attack State of Emergency ban on mass demonstrations. The protesters organise into different ‘commissions’ or ‘general assemblies’, and discuss issues ranging from the environment to feminism to freedom of speech. All age-groups and social backgrounds are present. The protesters are unaligned politically and of course peaceful, and have fascinated Parisian intellectuals. The movement has been described as similar to the Spanish Indignados and the Occupy movement in the US. According to the FT, the movement has unsettled the French political class, who witnessing the populist tide sweeping over Europe, are still in awe of the power of the street and its connections to France’s revolutionary tradition. By mobilising against the Parti Socialiste’s shift to the right on economic and labour policy, it will prove a blow to President Hollande’s chances of reelection in 2017.

Sources: Telegraph, FT, Süddeutsche Zeitung, France 24