EP Elections: Cross-Posting

Commentary from our EastWestEurope blog:

Looking for a Home in Europe

Irish politicians and journalists often lament the disconnect between European election campaigns and the great issues of EU policy. They explain this by arguing that the perceived weakness of the European Parliament turns it into an expendable plaything, a tool which to beat national governments over the head in a “mid-term” revolt. Or perhaps a place to put either trainee or has-been politicians.

But the attitudes of Irish parties to EP party groupings give the game away. Those same politicians who lecture the public on its ignorance of European issues haven’t a clue when it comes to the ideological families of European politics. They have to join groups, as if it were some great boring chore.

Martin Will Not Topple Cowen, for Now

Foreign Minister Micheal Martin indicated that the Fianna Fail party would not unseat Brian Cowen, after Fianna Fail scored disappointing results in local and European elections this weekend. Martin is tipped as an ambitious party member with considerable experience and gravitas, despite questionable positions he has taken on EU policy and, as we have reported,  on Irish relations with Cuba. In the climate in which both reporting on and critical analysis of foreign policy are limited, Martin’s Cuba policy will not register at all if he runs for leadership.