Europe’s moderate parties lack a clear political vision

Despite the win for the left and far left in the French parliamentary elections, the results have produced a fragmented parliament, with the need for a coalition to obtain a majority. So much so that several news websites have developed interactive simulations that allow their readers to try and build this majority using the different blocs. This majority, according to the French constitution, will choose the next prime minister and government.

Beyond the entertainment of such simulations, they quickly highlight that, at the core of French politics, there are only two political blocs: France Unbowed and the National Rally. Despite being complete opposites, they are clear in their political programs about how they will answer the people’s grievances. In contrast, the rest of the political formations — from center-left to center-right, which includes the presidential majority — have a transactional mindset and lack a real political vision.

If we shift to the other side of the Channel, we notice that, in the UK, the Conservative Party has lost to a clear and undeniable Labour majority. Yet, just like in France, the Conservatives have become a center or even center-left party ruled by technocrats. This is why I see that the shift to Labour is an interesting one, as change was needed. Decency and respect in the transition of power should also ease the polarization.

Unfortunately, decent politics has been vanishing as the stakes have become unprecedentedly high

Khaled Abou Zahr

It is now important for each to play their role, in opposition and as the ruling party. This means, for the UK Conservative Party, going back to its roots and stopping the centrist politics. Alternation as witnessed in the UK is good and positive. If pushed positively, this helps the country readjust and continue developing. This is true when we maintain decent politics from across the aisle. Unfortunately, decent politics has been vanishing as the stakes have become unprecedentedly high.

In France, the transition does not look likely to be this smooth. On the day of the second round of the parliamentary elections, retail businesses expecting a victory for the National Rally were covering and protecting their windows in fear of attacks. They were, like everyone else, expecting the far-right party to win and for far-left supporters to stage violent demonstrations against these results. They were all proven wrong, as the far left gained the most seats.

Despite their win, they still participated in a violent demonstration and confronted police in the streets of Paris. The mayor of Limoges was even attacked. Despite having the most votes, the National Rally came third in the elections due to the voting rules. Yet, its supporters did not riot, the far left did. Go figure. Analysts considered that supporters of France Unbowed, which is part of the New Popular Front alliance, carried out this violence as a warning to other members and the president’s party to not try and bypass it in the formation of a coalition.

Macron’s plan was quite obvious. The first objective was to block the National Rally with the help of the New Popular Front and then carve out the far left, or France Unbowed, from the winning coalition. Until now, the second part of the plan has not materialized and alliances keep shifting. What is happening, regardless of the outcome, is a real twisting of the people’s true wish for the governance of their country.

One worrying point was that, as I was witnessing the demonstrations following the results, the French flag was the one that was least visible; as if it was being erased, along with all it represents, by a multitude of flags with various meanings and no real unity. This is a far-left theme that resonates across geographies — burning their own country’s flag while raising others has become a trend. Despite all the violence and threats, traditional media outlets — even supposedly conservative ones — easily qualify right wing as far right, but seldom use the term far left. Moreover, they justify the far-left violence.

The reality is that Europe is facing fundamental challenges and citizens have been plunged into uncertainty

Khaled Abou Zahr

The reality is that Europe is facing fundamental challenges and citizens have been plunged into uncertainty. This has led to two movements colliding: the far left and the conservatives. They are the compass points that people are looking at and that the centrist politicians are trying to control. They each offer completely different policies to face the core challenges, which are an aging population coupled with slowed growth and mounting debt.

The differences are clear. To counter the aging population, the left has chosen mass immigration, while the conservatives promote a mix of birth incentives and immigration. To solve the economic slowdown, the far left sees the need for more government control and spending, sometimes going as far as nationalization, while conservatives promote less government intervention and spending and greater private sector involvement. This is mirrored by their political visions, where the far left pushes, just like in the Soviet Union, for a unique party political line, while the conservatives cherish personal and political freedom. Incidentally, their position on tech innovation and cryptocurrencies reflects that.

Many are describing France with the term “Libanization.” Jokes have even erupted that, as France tried to help Lebanon elect a president with a parliamentary vote, now Lebanon can help France in return. Jokes aside, Europe and the wider West, which have been beacons of stability and prosperity for the greatest part of modern history, are losing their status simply because they have given up on their values. This is exactly why conservatives need to reformulate their programs to be in line with their core values, while being aware that the complacency of the center regarding the far left is their true political opponent.

• Khaled Abou Zahr is the founder of SpaceQuest Ventures, a space-focused investment platform. He is CEO of EurabiaMedia and editor of Al-Watan Al-Arabi.