Interest in the national politics of other EU member states is growing among European citizens. The elections in Slovakia were headline news all over Europe this Sunday. I consider this good news, albeit for considerably less good reasons. Pro-Russia populist Robert Fico came out with the largest amount of votes (Although not nearly a majority), which gives him a good shot at returning as Prime Minister. His previous tenure was marred with scandal, and a future one bears the risk of giving the European Union new headaches, as he may use his veto to block military support to Ukraine. Orbán was very happy indeed.
There was a time when elections in other EU countries were of little interest to the media. At best they would report on the election of the German Bundeskanzler or the French President. Elections in the rest of Europe were largely ignored. A stark contrast with US elections, which are covered around the clock. Most EU citizens barely know the members of the powerful European Council. Even most political junkies will struggle, while at the same time being able to rattle off the names of not just the President of the United States, but also his rival candidates, the first lady, the leadership of the House and the Senate, and even some individual senators. A senator blocking an important bill enjoys more fame than the Spanish minister who is leading the negotiations on the EU migration pact.
But things are changing. The upcoming Polish elections are getting broad coverage in the mainstream media as well. People understand the implications of a victory for the incumbent authoritarian anti-EU government. Like the election in Slovakia, the one in Poland is giving Europe the jitters. Not just because populists win elections, but because it starts to dawn on people how the current institutional set-up of the European Union gives the main characters, like Fico, an extraordinary amount of power. Especially the veto power, which gives them personal sway over EU policy. The veto’s intended use as an emergency brake for smaller member states has been completely caught up by reality. Whatever the strides being made in the realm of EU competences, Europe is still profoundly intergovernmental. Increasingly so, actually. Each government can use their veto to bring the European Union to a screeching halt. Would we be as scared of someone like Fico, if the veto did not exist? Probably yes; the EU would be more stable and frankly more democratic.
Vetoes are usually dropped after a while, but only after a hefty price is paid. Both in terms of concessions and in terms of damage done by the ugly horse-trading. It is not the rise of populists that is a threat to Europe, but the fragile house of cards that is intergovernmental Europe. A populist government leader, elected with half a million votes or less, is able to hold the entire European Union hostage and determine the outcome of the war in Ukraine, against the will of the majority among 455 million Europeans.
Instead of going from one nail-biting election to another, and instead of descending into ever grubbier horse-trading to circumvent national vetoes, government leaders should finally take their responsibility and launch a complete overhaul of the way Europe is run. The house of cards must be replaced by a stable and solid structure that can resist a bit of internal turbulence.
News
Some personal news: ‘Brussels is my home’: Dutch MEP joins Belgian party for EU elections - Brussels Times
Brussels to unfreeze Hungary funds as it seeks help for Ukraine - Financial Times
Activities
12-13 October 2023 - Democracy, Rule of Law & Fundamental Rights Monitor Group Mission, Sofia Bulgaria
14 October 2023 - Volt activity in Koekelberg
16-19 October 2023 - European Parliament Plenary Session in Strasbourg
28 October 2023 - Volt Belgium General Assembly