Martyn in Europe

Ilana Bet-El writing for The Guardian's Comment is Free online blog has been making some rather odd claims about European socialism and socialists. Even though these articles are opinion pieces, I would have expected something a little bit less speculative and less simplistic - whether the conclusions were right or wrong. Anyway, the opinion piece is along the lines of: "European socialism: defiant in disarray - The European right are sitting ducks – so why are the socialists still shooting each other?" This is my (work in progress) reply to this blog piece.

Well, there are two issues here. Socialist unity throughout Europe and the Presidency of the EU.

Why is there disunity amongst some socialists in Europe? Principally, because there is also disunity amongst a number of socialists at the national levels as well, in a number of countries. Just look at the divergences of opinion between the UK Labour Party in Europe and the UK Government. Another factor that divides socialist is opinion over the first the EU Constitution and then when that was rejected, over the  alternative Lisbon Treaty, especially in places like France.

As for the campaign slogan "They follow the market. We follow our convictions.",  I think it is apt, and for a number of reasons, the primary reason being what this simply states, is generally correct. In Spain the socialist government has made significant efforts to ensure that brunt of the impact of the crisis is not borne by those who weren't responsible for it in the first place, and especially those who really did not benefit significantly from the boom times. The Spanish government, for example, despite protests from the conservatives, aren't targeting the workers or fundamental welfare for cost-cutting, nor are they throwing away tax payers money on bailing out the banks, even that aspects has had a socially libertarian edge to it. So they probably can use the slogan without the stigma of being overly hypocritical. Actually, in Spain the socialist's local campaign slogan is a rather cute one "Este partido se juega en Europa", which has a double meaning – This party plays in Europe and This match - Footie match; A touch of the old Harold Wilson, Spanish style - is played in Europe.

So, what's all this almost existential type nonsense about the EU Presidency? The problem could be that it's a job that many senior socialist politicians simply don't want, or that simply not many people really want it.

Some cynics once suggested that José Manuel Durão Barroso was given the Presidency so that the left in Portugal would have better electoral chances – by removing him from national politics, and so that Barroso would have to temper his pro-Bush Administration stance, in line with the political views of some of the major centres of political power in Europe.

So, is the selection of the President of the EU the biggest challenge facing European Socialists? Does the election of the EU President represent a potential inflection point in European Socialism?

Well, simply stated, no and no. In conclusion, what a thoroughly dismal piece of political analysis.