A sharp decline in popularity of traditional parties – Republicans and Socialists – and a mandate of trust in the political party of the French President Emmanuel Macron are the evidences of the crisis of representative democracy in this country.
In such a way the diplomat, Chairman of the Board of Maidan of Foreign Affairs Fund and the head of Kyiv city organization of the UKROP party Bohdan Yaremenko commented on victory of the party “La République En Marche!” in the first round of elections to the National Assembly of France (lower house of Parliament – the National Assembly – Ed.) in the program “Information Day” on the air of 5th Channel.
“Macron has got a new party, which does not cause irritation and which has brought together the representatives of the first and second levels of French politics, and the voters are leaning towards them. The election has not ended, but the French sociology provides very accurate exit polls and predictions about the results. Apparently, after the second round Macron’s party, which has never participated in the parliamentary elections, will not just get a majority, but a constitutional majority,” said Bohdan Yaremenko.
He has also expressed an opinion that the current French President will not be a pocket politician and will show himself as a strong head of the state. Despite this and the constitutional majority in Parliament it will be difficult for him to work because his party is not an ideological one. According to the expert, “La République En Marche!” is most likely a political project of the Socialists, who have managed to find the way out of the situation and carried out re-branding. In addition, the new President Macron will not be actually confronted by the opposition that is usually a safeguard against usurpation of power, which guarantees that the opposite opinion will be heard.
“If the opinion of the minority is ignored in a democratic country, then some very difficult processes are starting, as we experience it permanently in Ukraine,” said Bohdan Yaremenko.
According to the diplomat, the President Macron will have to deal with the problems related not only to France but also to the entire European Union. “There are some lasting complex and negative processes in the European Union. France is an important EU country and on the way it takes up the issues of the economy, politics and NATO depends a lot for us, for our future,” said the UKROP representative.
At the same time Bohdan Yaremenko does not expect big surprises at the elections to the German Bundestag, as evidenced by the recent regional vote, Angela Merkel’s position is strengthening. Long time in power and migration crisis play against her, but Angela Merkel is one of the most powerful politicians in Europe, so she will be able to cope with the election challenges. In contrast with the British Prime Minister Theresa May, whose party has failed to increase its representation in Parliament.
According to Bohdan Yaremenko, it is possible that we may observe some subsequent negative processes in the UK, as negotiations on leaving the EU will be quite difficult and may have bad economic consequences. In addition the deteriorating economic and political situation in Britain may also affect the interests of Ukraine.
Photo by Olga Snitsarchuk
