I like Merkel. Boring politicians are the best politicians. I must echo the sentiment that I like Merkel, but not the CDU/CSU.

Happy to see the FPD go in. I somewhat equally dislike Christian democrats and social democrats.


Quote Originally Posted by Fragony View Post
Nothing special, or biggest/second biggest (currently tied with mr Wilders) is called the Christian democratic -don't know how to translate last word-.
I think Dutch 'appèl' translates into English - rather surprisingly - as 'appeal'.

(French: appeler)


Quote Originally Posted by Furunculus View Post
one that interested me was La Liberation:

how does the French left define "liberalism" such that it is seen as an alien orthodoxy?
Liberalism in french means right wing free market fundamentalism.

Libération (left leaning) describes a feeling of frustration among the (French?) left. On the one hand, 'liberalism' has driven the Western economies into the biggest depression sinds the 1930's. Leftist parties have warned against this for two decades.
On the other hand, the very parties responsible for this debacle are winning elections.

I must say that I've made a sharp left-turn this past year. I still think of myself as centre-right, but perhaps this no longer applies. I can not ignore the insanity I see around me. For years, neo-liberalism has demanded that there be no regulation and no tax for haute finance. Then the card house collapses. And suddenly there should be taxes to help them out that my grandchildren will still be paying.


The folly of the Euro right has been the embracing of anglo ultraliberalism. The protection of corporations over people. This has undermined, amongst many other things, several of Europe's most cherised qualities:
- Meritocracy. Everywhere in Europe, social mobility is dropping to the level of the anglo world. Whereas in the UK and US your (grand)parents decide your succes, in Europe, hard work and talent is decisive.
- The quality of public services. Healthcare, education etc.
- A certain gentleness, social cohesion, civilization. The social gentleness of Europe has been swapped for the law of the jungle, for greed, envy, 'me me me and the finger to everybody else'.

The folly of the Euro left has been unbridled mass immigration. This has undermined social solidarity, and has destroyed socialism in Europe forever.