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THREAD: 1. Everything needs a bit more analysis and a cooler head. Stop catastrophising. Our despair is the far right’s biggest weapon. In France, for instance, I hear from a couple of friends within En Marche they’re delighted being 0.9% behind LePen after months of turmoil.
2. Remember, in a presidential election, most of the rest of the vote unites against LePen. Macron is in a commanding position for a second term. LePen won in 2014 with 24.4%. She’s now on 23.3. In the Netherlands, Geert Wilders - an absolutely key figure in the Euro alt-right -
3. ... was annihilated, losing all 4 of his MEPs. In Greece, Golden Dawn have dropped from 9.4% to 4.9%. In Austria the FPO from 20% to 17%, in turmoil over financial scandal, and out of gov’t. In Germany the AfD barely moved the dial, adding 1 MEP, while the Greens came second.
In Spain far-right VOX dropped more than 4% since the GE *only a month ago* and the Socialists did very well. In Denmark the DPL has gone from winning in 2014 with 25%, down to 10%. So, dig into the data. Don’t buy the easy media narrative of “The Rise of Whatever Bogeyman”.
We must be realistic, but also optimistic and positive. Despair is de-energising and, in this case, utterly misplaced. The truth is people are politically engaged and pro-European parties are rallying brilliantly, from a very desperate base. #EP2019
