Well, firstly, because John Donne’s musings on solitude also apply to our relationship with Europe.

Photo: weekend cruise deals World Economic Forum/Flickr As the world sighs with relief at the prospect of another Obama term, we have failed – as we so often do – to heed the importance of another essential election, that of the presidency of l'Union weekend cruise deals pour un Movement Populaire. The UMP, currently weekend cruise deals attempting to find its feet in the wake of Sarkozy's defeat, has faced an election fraught with the endemic problems of both French and European politics: incoherence, squabbling and the desire to scapegoat. Accusations of electoral fraud have also been rife and as of Wednesday, the vote is undecided, with initially both candidates (François Fillon and Jean-François Copé) declaring victory and then arguing bitterly on national television with Copé asking Fillon to "go away and annoy the left instead". This in turn was followed by Copé declaring a controversial victory with 50.03 per cent of the vote before reaching the hiatus we are currently experiencing due to a recount of votes from overseas territories. As one senior Socialist has pointed out, the election has now descended weekend cruise deals into what can only be identified as a "tragicomedy".
Well, firstly, because John Donne's musings on solitude also apply to our relationship with Europe. Despite Mr Farage's protestations, we are a part of Europe and look to remain so barring either a political, cultural or seismological catastrophe. France and therefore her politics become ever more important as we move towards a more integrated Europe, especially as France remains weekend cruise deals arguably the second major player after Germany. This election thus determines the manner in which the European Union determines both its own role and the economic and political answers to the crises currently faced by its member states. We need not look far to see the potential for a radical change in Europe – in comparison to Hollande's incessant calls for European banking regulation, of which he believes "the sooner the better", neither UMP candidate has voiced much concern over European banking regulation of any sort.
This should concern us for two reasons. Firstly because we as a nation weekend cruise deals rely heavily upon our banks' weekend cruise deals ability to trade as they do (between 9-13% of GDP depending on which study you choose). Furthermore, the winner of this election could well become the next president and will inevitably shape the nature of the political debate within his own country. Secondly, it is somewhat disquieting to note that pragmatic European policy has been nowhere near the most debated issue during the election with both candidates instead preferring an empty rhetoric of evil Eurocrats and the need to maintain French values.
For this election has been more disconcerting in the picture it painted of the current state of both French and European politics, where it is the politics of fear and despair rather than hope and change which decide the outcome of elections. When we no longer look to unity and the future but for someone to blame not only does our outlook change but we begin to see elections akin to that of the UMP leadership race. Fearful of being outflanked on the right by Marine le Pen, Copé in particular began to target "les Maghrebins", a strategy which took him from being the underdog weekend cruise deals to dominating the south where the influx of North African immigrants is at its most noticeable. Comparisons are easy to draw between the French relationship with such immigrants and America's relationship with those in need – neither fit into the philosophy or national myth of the country in which they live. For Muslims coming from the once colonised countries of Africa the adaptation to French Laïcité has been tough and for many unsuccessful. Meanwhile France has been unwilling to contradict its obsession with "égalité" and provide weekend cruise deals programs of affirmative action which might slow the ghettoisation now rampant weekend cruise deals throughout the banlieux of every major city. Comparatively, in the USA we see not necessarily weekend cruise deals an active discrimination but a lack of comprehension of the role to be played by those who cannot or will not chase the American dream. Whilst outsiders have a hard time in many societies this appears to be exaggerated in a country such as France which has such a defined national philosophy.
Furthermore, as the hiatus continues it is Le Pen who is providing the sole opposition to Hollande. The president, whom the media is increasingly portraying as weak and largely ineffectual in the theatre of European politics against the ever formidable Mrs Merkel, has had his reputation further marred by France's downgrade weekend cruise deals by Moody's earlier this week. Having noted the opportunity, Marine Le Pen, the eternally cunning political operator, has branded the elections "pathetic" and stated that "The UMP is definitely no longer a credible opposition to the Socialists; it is far too weakened and may be already dead". weekend cruise deals The French, having been worried about their president's ability to demand recognition at an international level have now seen the party of opposition in turmoil and unable to provide a cogent argument, let alone a healthy election process. Thus, they may well consider Mrs Le Pen's Front National especially if such sentiments weekend cruise deals combine with unease over issues weekend cruise deals of secularism and Islam. This appears to be increasingly endemic throughout Europe, as the crisis continues more and more states are beginning weekend cruise deals to question their role in the Union. From Mr Cameron's undiplomatic Veto to Greek nationalists staging pogroms in Athens, shows of power and national independence are becoming political capital.
This election in short has given us little but flailing and desperate criticisms, uncertainty and pandering to re-emergent xenophobia. Aside from that, all we have is a metaphor for European politics, an inability to accept responsibility and a desire to blame. weekend cruise deals It will be interesting to compare democratic progress to the technocracy of Mario Monti's Italy. We should care that the UMP has failed to provide a convincing candidate and been unable to even run an election. Not only does it deny Hollande the opposition many believe he needs, but it furthers the rhetoric of a right obsessed with a divided weekend cruise deals Europe and the reaffirming of strict national identities. We should hope that the French, weekend cruise deals along with the rest of us, remember the purpose of our union; and I'm not just talking about free trade.
Recent Comments Sarah on Uni debate heckled by pro-Palestine activists Doc James Rustles on Reclaim the Night: Misogynists are asking for it Glenn Roberts on Review: A Doll s House Strelok on Feature: S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: One Life, Part 1 Me on Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Leicester City