Britain today is like Game of Thrones on steroids

The Brexit is the living proof, is indignant Frans Timmermans. You have to let the nationalists for far too long, exercise, and "many of our voters to the Right lost," says the Dutch social-Democrat, on stage at the European Parliament. What was the result? "Britain today is like Game of Thrones on steroids."

It is election time for the European elections of 23. to 26. May and the debate all over the Europe-wide top candidate, apparently, is to give all. In the autumn, a successor to the EU must be found-President of the Commission Jean-Claude Juncker. Whoever follows him, will have something to say about this evening. Because if it's supposed to go to the European party families, then only someone can be head of the Commission, also competed as a European top candidate. So it is only logical that the only debate in this election is the fight with all six leading candidates also exactly where the idea was born: in the European Parliament.

"We have many of our voters lost to the Right": Frans Timmermans during the debate on the European elections. (15. May 2019) image: Francois Walschaerts/Reuters

The plenary session in Brussels, has been spruced up for this, especially in a huge TV Studio transforms. To guide with ushers in white tie and tails, the audience and the press, the Seats, with blue light effects and dramatic musical interludes.

More than 50 television stations broadcasted the discussion with Manfred Weber (EPP), Frans Timmermans (PES), Jan Zahradil (AKRE), Margrethe Vestager (ALDE), Ska Keller (EGP) and Nico Cué (EL). In Germany, however, only Phoenix. This may probably be due to the fact that this Thursday the next election-is pending in the duel, but also due to the fact that the concept of Europe-wide top candidates rises so far and in the past few weeks, more damage has been taken.

As leaders, first of all, the President of France Emmanuel Macron, who will try to prevent the so far most promising candidates, Manfred Weber, and in addition to the top candidate may also use other names in the game want to bring to a state. Because the Europeans themselves are able to start on the other, but that, according to surveys by Weber, Timmermans and Co.

all of This is hanging over the debate, which begins as a fast paced, issues-Tap, and then a discussion on the big issues of the continent developed: Migration, climate change, trade, and populism. Especially when the subject of the environment, the sound is emotional. The Green Ska Keller calls that "Europe cannot wait longer." Weber strives to emphasize his commitment to the environment, but also wants to be "sustainable Jobs" in the EU. In the target that the EU needs to be carbon neutral by 2050, agree it with the other parties that his way is another. "I believe in Innovation," says Weber.

Pro-European

positioned to a social-Democrat Timmermans criticized the EPP candidates and calls for a CO2-tax: "I am the excuses of suffering." The Liberal Margrethe Vestager stressed that climate change was "greater than all" – you should not think in this matter of party politics, but must work together.

solidarity is one of the great keywords of the Evening. It was the climate or the Migration, most of the candidates highlight the European cooperation as a tool against all of the problems. It is clear that all six politicians that have been working for many years in Brussels and Strasbourg, are similar in many ways. Above all, they position themselves clearly Pro-European – even the Conservative Jan Zahradil, of the propagated more self-determination of nation-States, is committed but at the same time clear to the EU.

And it shows that they all have more or less skepticism for the EU-skeptic left, which will probably increase significantly if the surveys are right. Also Weber, otherwise binding and prudently, in the case of this topic, no Game-of-Thrones-comparisons of how to his colleague, Timmermans, but sharp words. Europe had to defend it against the nationalists, the Christian Democrat.

(Tages-Anzeiger)

Created: 16.05.2019, 09:32 PM