Europe vote and Turkey

Although it was not given much attention in Turkey, with the latest Lisbon Treaty, the European Parliament has gained prominence in European politics and thus the winners and losers of the last weekend’s elections indeed will have an impact on the climate between Turkey and Europe as well.

Of the 752-seat Parliament, the two biggest groups, European Peoples’ Party (EPP) now has 213 seats with 28.3 percent of the vote and the union of Socialists and Democrats, the S&D, has 190 seats with 23.3 percent of the vote. ALDE, union of liberals and liberal democrats, 64 seats with 8.5 percent of the vote, the Greens (EFA) with 53 seats and a mere 7 percent of the vote, European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) 46 seats with 6.13 percent and In dependents (NI), 41 seats and 5.46 percent vote, Europe for Freedom and Democracy (EFD) 38 seats and 5 percent of the vote and others 64 seats and 8.5 percent vote.

What do these results indicate? Euroskeptics are definitely seen to have made serious advances while groups in favor of advancing European integration comfortably enjoy two-thirds majority in the legislature.

In Britain, France, Hungary, Denmark, Greece and Finland Euroskeptic conservatives and the far-right have made serious headway. Most people would perhaps underline the advances of Euroskeptics, particularly in Britain and France, as the most serious indication of May 25’s vote, while many others with awareness of the threat it poses would most likely underline the fact that Greek fascists, the Golden Dawn, have exceeded ten percent.

Perhaps the election results should be considered with awareness that Europe has not yet left behind a very serious economic-fiscal crisis and, for...