Just what is going on in EU politics? Date: 02 June 2009 By Ethan McNern Gabrielle Pauli, of Germany's Free Voters party, once advocated a seven-year limit on marriage WITH centre-left parties in disarray, and a record low turnout expected, fringe candidates have a much better chance of winning seats in the European Parliament in this year's elections. Across the continent, people of a less conventional political background are running, many with somewhat flaky credentials and others with hugely controversial views and agendas. One German fringe player with a good chance of becoming an MEP is Gabriele Pauli, a flamboyant motorcyclist, who rocked conservative Bavaria in 2007 by suggesting marriages should automatically expire after seven years. She caused a crisis of leadership in her former party, the Christian Social Union, by accusing long-time leader Edmund Stoiber's office of spying on her. She also accused him of having "a problem with women". Shortly afterwards, she was pictured on the cover of a magazine wrapped in the Bavarian flag, wearing latex gloves and a lusty expression. Mr Stoiber retired in 2007 amid the ensuing scandal, and Ms Pauli lost her bid to replace him as party leader. She switched parties and is now the top candidate in the European Parliament election for the free-market Free Voters. Another interesting potential MEP is George "Gigi" Becali. The 50-year-old Romanian entrepreneur owner of the Steaua Bucharest football club recently spent two weeks in pre-trial custody. His five bodyguards are said to have tracked down three thieves who had stolen his luxury car. Once found, the thieves were allegedly stuffed in the boot of a car, driven off and beaten for hours. Mr Becali apparently feels he was born to rule. "I will be a firm and wise ruler," he said when he unsuccessfully ran for president of Romania. Now – with the help of extreme right-wing slogans – he's fighting to become an MEP. A better-known loose cannon is also running – Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi leads the list of candidates for his People of Freedom party, which the opposition complains cheats voters because he will have to resign his seat in the European Parliament immediately in order to remain premier. Mr Berlusconi's supporters say his participation is meant as an antidote to abstention, with pan-European polls suggesting turnout could be as low as 49 per cent, or even less. • While the UK votes on Thursday, the rest of Europe goes to the polls on Sunday, with the British results delayed until then. GEERT WILDERS Freedom Party Geert Wilders is facing prosecution for anti-Islamic hate speeches and has been banned from Britain, but a lot of Dutch voters seem to like what he's saying. Wilders' Freedom Party is contesting the European Parliament elections for the first time, but already it is vying with the Dutch Labour Party and Christian Democrats to become the Netherlands' biggest single vote-getter. That's largely thanks to Wilders and the anti-Islam rhetoric that has sent his political stock soaring in a country troubled by the growing influence of some 800,000 Muslims. Wilders is tenth and last on his party's list of candidates but says he will not take up his seat if elected. ELENA BASESCU Independent Elena Basescu rarely speaks in public, but when she does, she creates a stir. President Traian Basescu endorsed his youngest daughter's run for the European Parliament with the words "she's smarter than you think". Basescu is trying to transform her image from spoiled party girl to serious politician in touch with Romania's youth. In her first televised interview, she said she supported legalising cannabis. That sparked days of front-page stories, television comment, and criticism from politicians. Ms Basescu, 29, has shrugged off allegations of nepotism and inexperience, saying she's been on the campaign trail with her father since she was 12, and has been an intern in the European Parliament. EMANUELE FILIBERTO Union of the Centre Emanuele Filiberto, 36, the once-exiled grandson of Italy's last king, failed to win a seat in Italy's legislature last year. But after conquering the dance floor in the Italian version of Dancing With the Stars, he is trying politics once again. Filiberto's family was banished when Italy became a republic after the Second World War, but he returned to his homeland in 2002. Representing a small party in northwest Italy, the prince is vying for a seat in the European Parliament. "I was in exile for 31 years and I know Europe well," he said. "I speak five languages. I know half of the current heads of state personally, and the other half I'm related to." RICKARD FALKVINGE Pirate Party Hollywood's successful court action against a notorious file-sharing site in Sweden has propelled a new movement advocating copyright reform to the doorstep of the European Parliament. Once a blip on Sweden's political map, the Pirate Party has gained followers by the thousands after four men behind The Pirate Bay website were given one-year prison terms for helping users break copyright laws. "We tripled our member count in a week," Pirate Party founder and chairman Rickard Falkvinge said. The party has been receiving about 6 per cent support in recent polls, which would be enough to win a seat in the European Parliament.
Sadly, economic crises always throws up right-wing crackpots. But this current one, coupled with the highlighting of the crookedness of established "mainstream" politicians seems to make some of these extremists more attractive to some voters. Though I absolutely loath right-wing extremists I can well understand the attraction for some voters. Their rhetoric is full of sound-bites that feed into the fears of a lot of people. However, when one starts looking at the core of their so-called policies, and their core support base, it soon starts to fall apart. Unfortunately, the mainstreem parties have burnt their bridges when it comes to voter trust. I have to admit that I am genuinely frightened of what will happen in the European elections, and the general election in this country. Though the BNP and its ilk won't get more than a token vote, it maybe enough for them to feel legitimised, and give their hidden supporters more courage - courage that will involve prejudice, abuse and violence against minorities. And the mainstream politicians are not helping by making announcements telling people not to vote for the likes of the BNP etc. If anything, the attraction of these parties is wider amongst those who want to register a protest against mainstream parties than it is amongst their actually core supporters. It's the protester voters who will make the difference, and not in a good way
Have to admit I am seriously considering voting for the first time ever in the European Elections. God knows who I'd vote for. Will never ever be Labour or Lib Dem on principal, but usually Tory but they're just as bad. Would never go for UKIP/BNP or other extreme groups. But it doesn't precisely leave much choice. Am facing the same problem at the next General Election as our long standing Tory MP has just announced her retirement for family reasons after getting caught claiming money she shouldn't have done.
Kitty is it really the first time that you have voted in the European elections? It really is a dilemma, isn't it? I was chatting to another old lady the other day who did not realise that the BNP had its roots in the National Front (wonder where she has been all this time!). I presume that if we all showed our disgust at the feeding frenzy by spoiling our ballot papers, it would pave the way to victory to some extremist of some sort. That said I'm not at all sure that the majority in parliament, of whatever political hue, still understand quite what they have done wrong. I try to compare their individual responsibility with senior positions that I have recruited for and would not agree that they are seriously underpaid. I'm afraid that the "within the rules" bit really sticks in my craw. They KNEW that that were manipulating the system for their own ends. I actually have more sympathy for the payments of sums of money to finance jobs which couldn't be done because of commitments away from home than the niggardly claims for wreaths, collections, food and pet food. I also question the witch hunt about employing relatives since most self employed and professional people would also utilise dependable resources around them until the size of the job became big enough to go to the labour market. There has clearly been no executive management of the group as a whole which has allowed these situations to go unchecked and out of control. I'm sure that this goes on elsewhere and the big stones of the European Parliament have yet to be turned over, but surely we have the absolute right to expect that those who have been exposed should do the honourable thing and go NOW, not wait to collect another year's salary, severance pay and a very enviable pension. Much of this gripe is aggravated by notification that my state pension has risen by £145.08 p.a. and my private pension by no less than £1.10 p.a.. Should you have any suggestions as to how I might enjoy these princely amounts I would be pleased to consider them. Got it I should stand for parliament!!!!
Just when we thought there maybe some hope, we get numpty Cameron doing this Anti-gay, climate change deniers: meet David Cameron's new friends | Politics | The Guardian
Nana, I only ever vote in the General Elections. Couldn't tell you what political make up our local council is, and i never clap eyes on the people who are running for the country or European (We no longer have a Borough Council). Am just completely dismayed, the only group left I can vote for is the Green Party, and I wouldn't trust them to run a party in a locked brewery. Independants just seem to have some kind of ego issue and don't care less about helping. Just who the hell do i vote for? Am still considering voting in the European, but the only papers I've had through are for parties I've already vetoed.
Well, it's crunch day in Britain...and I am genuinely scared. Let's just hope that the likes of the BNP don't get the level of support that is implied in the media, or I will be looking for a new home. Haven't felt like this since the late 1970s, and back then I was too young to really understand what was going on...but I still remember the fear of walking down the street, and the constant vigilance for that possible petrol-bomb attack. I'm not in any way a religious man but I now understand that saying that there are no atheists in a foxhole. So if anyone reading this is thinking about voting for the likes of the BNP, remember one thing....I pay my taxes, I work hard, I contribute to this society, I support this country, I am proud of this country.......and I am of brown skin.
Well I have to say I cxan completely empathise with all of the above statements. Now I am absolutely convinced that there is no 'one size fits all' political party - similarly there is no altruism in UK politics anymore. I look at all of the [reasonable] parties and choose the closest fit for me. For a long time I had erred on the side of the Lib-Dems but they decided that national security and defence has a limit, therefore, I read this as cutting back the armed forces and supplying our guys with even crappier terms, conditions and equipment than even Labour have done (and I honestly wouldn't have thought that was possible!). And the Tories - well they seem to swing towards whatever the popular topic of the day is, irrespective of how frequently and diametrically that may change. Oddly enough the closest fit for me this time ...... was UKIP, they actually espoused a lot of sense, particularly on the more sensitive domestic issues ... Anyway, come the next general it doesn't matter who gets in because Labour know they won't, so, they will spend the next 12 months or so invoking suicidal and ridiculous policies that will not come to fruition until the next term, therefore, underminig the superceeding government. Yes the schoolyard rules are more applicable in parliament than they are in the... er.... schoolyard. And if Labour get in again.. well we may as well sell UK Plc off to the highest bidder, they have systematically destroyed what it was to be British - they are a national embarassment. /0.2p
My two penneth worth! They will all sell you out! Having said that, I would not be a politician for quids!
