A democratic threat ” “

The front of European populism is widening day after day. November 13th the French National Front of Marine Le Pen and the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV) led by Gert Wilders signed an agreement with a view to the European elections next May. They were joined at a meeting in Vienna on Friday, November 15th, by eurosceptic groups from Belgium, Italy and Austria. Adhesion of movements from two more EU countries would open the possibility of a distinct group in the next European Parliament. In fact, at least 25 MEPs from seven nations are needed for the establishment of an autonomous group in the Chamber. Whether or not the project develops, the fact remains that populism, a creeping enemy of European integration ever since, is getting organized for the first time at continental level and, if added to abstention, expected to be high, it could weaken the European project further. Sarah Numico addressed the issue for SIR Europe with Paul Lucardie, from the Documentation Centre on Dutch Political Parties of the University of Groningen, The Netherlands, author of several books on the subject of democracy. Professor, what is your opinion of this new European phenomenon whereby political forces with nationalist, Eurosceptic or overtly anti-European traits, seek allies in other countries to stand for election?”It’s ironic, as you point out. But I see it as a contribution towards a more democratic Europe: voters can now choose and there is hope that the next European elections will focus on Europe and not on national issues”. Which claims do these parties uphold? What are their social and cultural roots? What are their objectives?”The populist parties have different roots: some stemmed from regionalist movements (such as the Northern League in Italy or Flemish Vlaams Belang), some from far-right groups (such as the Front National in France or the Swedish Democrats), others are born from libertarian groups (Danish and Norwegian political parties), and others still were founded by dissenters from majority parties (such as Wilders in the Netherlands, and to some extent the British UKIP or Alternative für Deutschland in Germany). As far as I know, they all share the goal of restoring national sovereignty at the expense of European integration, as well as, but not always in a clear way, a critique of elitist policies and the request for more referendums. Many, but not all, are also in favor of restrictions on migration and want immigrants to assimilate or emigrate again”. In case of a positive turnout at the polls, what will be the implications if populist forces gain many seats at the European Parliament? Doesn’t it contradict the very nature of the European project? “Perhaps it’s not a contradiction, but certainly it’s a tension. However, it is difficult to predict who will be the strongest, if the European project, or the populist opposition. Either the project wins thereby incorporating and assimilating the populists, or they will win and the EU will disintegrate. I imagine that the result depends more on external factors such as a new economic and financial crisis, rather than on the influence of populists. Moreover, the powers of MEPs are still rather limited”. What should be, in your opinion, the response of the pro-European parties? How can people be convinced to choose the “Europe of nations” rather than the Europe “of the Populists”? “Good question! The Europe of the peoples is a myth, I would say, but maybe it’s a positive myth. It would be nice if pro-EU parties were able to ‘sell’ this myth to voters, making the project more tangible, without making it elitist. Up to now, the strategy of many Europeanist parties, at least in my country, was either too negative, i.e. foreshadowing disasters that could occur if the populists won and the EU disintegrated, or too elitist, defending, to use an image, the Europe of Erasmus student exchange, which concerns too few people. Another possible strategy would be to ‘give hospitality’ to the populists: that is, to meet them halfway and take some of their ideas, in order to strip them of some of their menace and voters, as the Liberals are trying to do in The Netherlands, although with conflicting results”.