European Socialists’ frequent bemoaning of the threats to Europe’s democracy is depressingly undercut by their nomination of a bland lead candidate – an underwhelming challenger to the political right as the electoral campaigns ramp up.
When you listen to the European Socialists, the bloc’s second-biggest party, you will be familiar with their favourite recourse – painting a menacing picture of a democracy in danger.
“All democrats must stand united against the enemies of democracy,” the party said in a press release on 13 January.
Whether it be Hungary or the supposed rise of fascism, the party forecasts a gloomy future. And they may be right: 2024 does have the potential to be awful, and the political fringes are on the rise.
But their response to such dangers is underwhelming and does not match the dangers they are warning us of: Their lead candidate for the 2024 EU elections – a somewhat unremarkable career politician from the EU’s wealthiest country – is not exactly the candidate to head their doom-filled vision of the future off at the pass.
“I confirm that Nicolas Schmit has met the necessary criteria to stand as PES Common Candidate for President of the European Commission,” the Socialist’s Secretary-General Giacomo Filibeck said on Thursday (18 January).
One can imagine his gritted teeth when signing off on the press release.
Schmit, the erstwhile European Commissioner for jobs, “has been widely backed by PES full member parties,” Filibeck added. The Germans and the Spaniards have found their compromise candidate, congratulations!
POLITICO, never one to turn down the opportunity for a joke, ran the headline “Nicolas Who?” when he was announced.
A low-profile commissioner from Luxembourg who appears ever-tired, Schmit could easily walk into any Brussels pub and spend the evening unrecognised. Indeed, a politician who may have made no wrong moves – but will not leave behind any memorable legacy either.
The most senior German social democrat in Brussels, Jens Geier, has said of Schmit that “probably my mother doesn’t know him”.
Search for Schmit on YouTube, and you will see his clips usually garner a few hundred views – and this cannot bode well for a would-be Commission president.
Schmit is all but confirmed to be “crowned” in Rome on 2 March. “Nicolas Schmit stands for a stronger Europe that defends its values against a resurgent far-right,” the party says.
But democracy dies not in darkness but in the awkward silence when politicians no longer clash with their ideas over the right way forward.
Picture this: Schmit, an experienced, seasoned politician who is ultimately rhetorically unremarkable, enters the EU arena.
Then imagine the centre-right EPP’s Ursula von der Leyen, fresh off her first term and bursting with name recognition.
And then the fascistoid triple-threat to democracy: France’s Marine Le Pen, the AfD’s Alice Weidel, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
They charge into the European arena, hungry for votes, and will heatedly debate the pressing EU issues of the day to their various publics.
Except, not really.
Von der Leyen and the right will eat Schmit alive, and citizens will be left thinking (if they will care to think at all): “So, was this guy the best person for the job?”
Seeing Schmit address the Parliament’s hemicycle, one of his tasks as a commissioner, one understands what may have motivated the socialists. He speaks well enough and diligently reads off the pre-written speeches drafted by his busy Eurocrat bees.
But he represents a drab Brussels, a grey, technocrat EU. He stands for processes opaque to the public eye, for debates carefully hidden in back-rooms. Indeed, much like how Schmit himself came to be the lead candidate.
His nomination is another nail in the coffin of the once vibrant hopes pinned onto the Spitzenkandidat approach – which would see the winning EU lead candidate ascend to the helm of the Brussels executive and give the entire process a more democratic appearance.
But imagine what could have been for one glorious moment: Spanish leader Pedro Sanchez could have donned his gloves and taken up the fight for Europe’s future.
Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen could have fought for a Europe that stands firm in the face of far-right extremism. Frans Timmermans, the charismatic Dutchman who evoked a picture of Santa Claus but exuded (multilingual) authority, also could have taken centre stage.
If democracy is truly beleaguered, send in your best fighter. With this nomination, dear Socialists, if you think democracy needs aid – it’s time to up your game.
The Roundup
The European Commission is expected to table five new initiatives as part of its recent push towards a more comprehensive economic security strategy, according to a draft economic security package, obtained by Euractiv.
The European Parliament voted on Thursday in favour of two own-initiative reports on EU fisheries pushed by the conservative EPP, which drop some environmental bans and focus on fleet competitiveness, effectively calling for a reform of the bloc’s Common Fisheries Policy.
Vienna, Paris and Rome, along with nine other EU countries, are set to argue that meat grown in a laboratory is a threat to “genuine food production methods”, a claim a diplomatic source told Euractiv is “exaggerated and premature”.
France’s draft energy sovereignty bill will not include any targets at all, at least for now, the office of Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire has confirmed, responding to criticism about the bill’s lack of consideration for renewables and over-emphasis on nuclear.
Belgium is expected to join the flagship Future Combat Air System (FCAS) to build the next-generation European fighter jets ‘in a few weeks as an observer nation, the country’s defence minister told Euractiv.
Further on Belgium: It stands ready to join the EU’s future maritime security mission in the Red Sea to protect ships from attacks by Iran-backed Houthi terrorists, the Belgian government announced on Friday.
Speculation is mounting that Ireland will head to the polls in the autumn, and healthcare is one of the leading issues, driven by medicines shortages, a staffing crisis, an ageing population, and a stalled modernisation agenda.
For more policy news, check out this week’s Economy Brief, the Tech Brief, and the Agrifood Brief.
Look out for…
- Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski participates in agriculture ministers’ conference in Berlin on Saturday.
- Foreign Affairs Council on Monday.
- Commissioner Ylva Johansson meets with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Monday.
Views are the author’s
[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic/Alice Taylor]
Source: euractiv.com
