As a French Socialist and PES activist, i was astonished by the participation of the former English prime minister Tony Blair to the national council of the right-wing party UMP, together with Nicolas Sarkozy. I thought that the UK Labour party was a sister party, member of the PES and the SI... At least, it is clear. Politically, it means something. It is true that Sarkozy and Blair share some points of view on the role of EU in the World and the relation with the United States. But it is also a challenge for the Party of European Socialist to be politically coherent. The drafting of the 2009 manifesto can be an opportunity to clarify our common visions based on a clear Left point of view.
Behind the participation of Tony Blair to the UMP national council, we have the candidature of the former British PM to the presidency of the European Union, supported by Nicolas Sarkozy. Clearly, this candidature can't be the one of the European Socialists. Last week-end, Tony Blair showed he was closer to the European Right-wing parties, and he won't be the candidate of a more social, federal and democratic Europe. The PES has to think on what would be his position regarding this election of a president of the EU and a possible alternative to the candidate of a neo-liberal and pro-NATO Europe. In France, this possible candidature was strongly critized within the Left (Pierre Moscovisci said he can't be the candidate of the Socialists) and the Right. Edouard Balladur and Valery Giscard D'Estaing said the next EU president should come for a country fully integrated in the EU (Euro, Schengen zone and Charter of Fundamental Rights). Well, it seems it will difficult for Tony!
Read the analysis of Jon Worth, and the one of Jean Quatremer (Coulisses de Bruxelles).
Behind the participation of Tony Blair to the UMP national council, we have the candidature of the former British PM to the presidency of the European Union, supported by Nicolas Sarkozy. Clearly, this candidature can't be the one of the European Socialists. Last week-end, Tony Blair showed he was closer to the European Right-wing parties, and he won't be the candidate of a more social, federal and democratic Europe. The PES has to think on what would be his position regarding this election of a president of the EU and a possible alternative to the candidate of a neo-liberal and pro-NATO Europe. In France, this possible candidature was strongly critized within the Left (Pierre Moscovisci said he can't be the candidate of the Socialists) and the Right. Edouard Balladur and Valery Giscard D'Estaing said the next EU president should come for a country fully integrated in the EU (Euro, Schengen zone and Charter of Fundamental Rights). Well, it seems it will difficult for Tony!
Read the analysis of Jon Worth, and the one of Jean Quatremer (Coulisses de Bruxelles).
1 comment:
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