Welcome to European Tribune. It's gone a bit quiet around here these days, but it's still going.
Display:
There was an article in a recent edition of Le Nouvel Observateur (I think) that French politicians in general view sitting in the EP as a form of political exile; it focused in particular on Rachida Dati (as L'Obs is wont to do) and her reluctance to stand for the EP elections. Since media coverage is so tepid, amibitious politicians don't view it as a viable career option or more than a temporary gig, creating an attention downward spiral of sorts (and so much for serving the public as its own reward!).

"The basis of optimism is sheer terror" - Oscar Wilde
by NordicStorm (m<-at->sturmbaum.net) on Tue Apr 14th, 2009 at 07:02:06 AM EST
I have written a few months ago that in nowadays French political culture, running for the European parliament, away from the real center of power (Paris, where else?) was tantamount to political exile in Siberia; a punishment doled out by His Majesty our president to disgraced aides who have incurred his wrath for one reason or another: Rama Yade (who refused at her peril), Rachida Dati (who accepted).

Media coverage is just a reflect of the conventional wisdom of the French pols class: EP doesn't matter; only the Executive branch does, and the French parliament to a lesser degree.

Oh, Europe has always been convenient as a tool to help ram down neolib reform (it's Brussels who made us do it, not our fault; honest), and even then, the perceived center of European power is Brussels, not Strasbourg.

The European Parliament has always been considered as a potted plant; a retirement home for old glories like Michel Rocard or not so old like Daniel Cohn-Bendit.

Look at the HADOPI "Three strikes" circus: even though this law would be in direct contradiction with the EP decisions, our own lawmakers (and the contents owner lobby), are hell bent into passing it at any cost, even postponing another law about incest for the purpose. This is beyond autism.

Blaming the French media for the superficial or wanting coverage is besides the point: its the French political class that needs a serious wake-up call.

As of today, they still believe they can legislate their own way and the  rest of Europe will comply. To be fair, the example is coming from the top.

by Bernard (bernard) on Tue Apr 14th, 2009 at 01:11:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I agree with all this except that it's not just the French media - it's everyone's media across Europe. And it's not so much blame the media as wonder why the media aren't covering. Mostly, I suspect, because belief in European institutions is at an alltime low and that no one really cares about these elections, so why waste media time on them?
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Tue Apr 14th, 2009 at 01:36:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Display:

Top Diaries

Occasional Series