And it bodes ill for the conservative sweep of Europe.
Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to see His Excellency Simeon Djankov, Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria,
speak on both the global economic crisis and Bulgaria. He was a brilliant individual and is among the most-cited economists in the world, who has helped oversee a five-fold decrease of the Bulgarian budget deficit since being in power. One remarkable thing that he pointed out, when explaining the economic crisis, is how very different the crisis was in one particular aspect-- the political aspect. Historically in times of economic crisis, the governments of Europe would elect to power socialists and left-wingers. This time around it was all different; today, 23/27 European Union governments define themselves as center-right or conservative, including every major country except Spain and Greece (both of which are floundering). For the first time in Swedish history, the right-wing government has remained in power through two elections.
This was, argued Djankov, because there had been a change in thinking for Europeans. No longer could free markets, capitalism, and economic liberalism be to blame for financial crises-- this time, nations blamed regulations and governments for the mess, and subsequently were clamoring for more economic freedom to get out of it. He used Bulgaria as an example; today, a record number of people are moving TO Bulgaria for work and citizenship due to the low taxes and great job growth. The debate in that country right now is some radical finance reform-- putting fiscal rules into the Bulgarian constitution that include a cap on expenditures, a cap on deficits, and a 2/3 majority to raise taxes.
While conservatives have thus managed to remain in power despite massive public demonstrations against seemingly-draconian cuts in spending seen throughout the United Kingdom, France, and Italy, issues of personality, corruption, and fear may threaten to topple some of these governments. Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi narrowly avoided a vote of no confidence at the end of last year; I happened to be in Italy at the time and witnessed how entirely enraptured the country was in the attempt to remove him-- the general consensus was that they did not like his cuts and really did not like him as a person, but understood the necessity of some of his politics. His personal corruption--mafia ties, media control, "bunga bunga" orgy parties, etc--has led to a
trial against him for allegedly sleeping with an underage prostitute. So far, his strongest defense is that, at his age, it would be impossible for him to sleep with as many women as he is accused of. Combined with his now-awkward friendship with many of the fallen and falling Arab dictators, his grip on power is slipping fast.
Today, German Chancellor Angela Merkel also suffered a serious setback. Her Christian Democrat party
lost control of a state government to the Green Party, giving that party its first governorship in Germany. The Greens campaigned against corruption in her government and, in the wake of the Japanese disaster, against her government's support of nuclear energy. With nuclear power
now abandoned in Germany, it was still not enough for her ruling coalition to maintain power, and bodes as a bad sign for her government's reelection prospects nationally. It is also said that French President Nicholas Sarkozy has been so forceful about Libya in order to bolster his flopping image at home as he prepares for reelection-- government missteps, gaffs, some corruption, and general dissatisfaction with Sarkozy are threatening to topple him as well. Thus while the conservative wave in Europe may maintain its influence in restoring the economies of those states once trapped behind the Iron Curtain, it is increasingly appearing that the personalities of the Western European leaders could return center-left governments to power in the next round of elections despite the fact that their economic policies are what is saving those countries from the brink of bankruptcy.
Ummm, it was a government of the right which falsified Greece's public accounts and a government of the left that attempted (and has now failed) to implement a responsible austerity plan in Portugal.
No contest on Greece; most politicians in that insanely corrupt and bureaucratic mess are guilty and unable to address the problems it faces.
In regards to Portugal, the prime minister helped oversee (but, of course, was not entirely responsible for) his country's inflating deficit, and was forced to (try to) adopt the economic policies of the right in order to deal with the crisis. The point still stands that the response to this crisis in most European countries is less government spending and cuts, and that the nations fully embracing this are doing better than those that aren't. Portugal is just unwilling to face this reality, and for that I feel bad for Socrates. At least he woke up. Hopefully the government that replaces him (presumably center-right Social Democrats) will get over the attachment to certain "entitlements" and jump on board before the country sinks.
Germany's turning against nuclear power in light of the Fukushima incident is astounding. As a Tocquevillian I should not be surpised at the raw power of Common Opinion against science 101, but it is still breathtaking.
And speaking of astounding mental states, let's recall the words of Joe Biden: " ...the president has no constitutional authority to take this nation to war... ...unless we’re attacked, or unless there is proof that we are about to be attacked. If he does, I would move to impeach him. .... I don’t say it lightly...."
Can I make a suggestion? I feel youve bought something good here. But what should you added a couple links to a web page that backs up what youre saying? Or possibly you would give us one thing to take a look at, one thing that may connect what youre saying to something tangible? Only a suggestion. Anyway, in my language, there aren't a lot good source like this.