One Europe and a half

It seems clear that in the next elections for the European Parliament we will not be presented with two competing models of Europe. The Right has for some years now renounced the process of European construction. It wants to put on the brakes halfway through the project; it proposes "half a Europe."

Socialists and Christian Democrats knew how to weave a united Europe from the 50s to the 90s. They did so with different accents, but with a desire for agreement and untiring ambition. In the last years of the twentieth century, Aznarists, Neo-Gaullists and Berlusconians interrupted the Christian Democrat family through a strange system of reciprocal invitations. They took hold of a tradition that was not theirs and dynamited the reputation of Europeanism and social conscience. In reaction, some who were unhappy with this machination moved to the liberal family, which thus became equally unfocused.

Liberal-conservative action for the future is predictable. Going into the elections, they will identify two or three subjects that awake particular fears in the public, not in order to present solutions, but to hide their knowing renunciation of a project of European political union. In the spaces of control that belong to them, they will follow the same line they started upon: administrating the status quo and taking advantage of any fault line to re-nationalize politics without attracting too much attention. They will work to improve the market and they will work to dismantle the checks and balances of the market.

The Left has the responsibility of making a political and social Europe fully visible in this coming electoral campaign. Let no one think that we will always have what we have. Let no one think, either, that "Europe moves" without us having to push it from behind. A much greater ambition is possible, but we need all the mobilization and all the commitment we are capable of.