We’ve been told by numerous sources that there will be major government changes in the coming months prior to Ascension and that a new way of governing will be called for by the people.
Earlier today, two of Europe’s historically important countries, France and Greece, went to the polls.
Voters in both countries immediately showed their distaste for and distrust of the way their nations’ – and wider Europe’s – politicians and tough fiscal policies are ruining the lives of many.
Today, France has a new president, socialist Francois Hollande. As predicted, Nicolas Sarkozy is gone.
Mr Hollande says he looks forward to “giving back hope” to the people of France and promised to be the president “for everyone”, adding he would put young people and social justice at the centre of all his decisions for the next five years.
Analysts say today’s French vote has wide implications for the whole of the Eurozone. Mr Hollande has vowed to rework a deal on government debt in member countries and is expected to be at odds with the reigning ”queen” of the Eurozone, Germany’s Angela Merkel. Some are saying the European Union is now on a course for turmoil.
Mr Hollande has immediately warned that Germany would be the first nation to be told that Europe must put growth, employment and prosperity before austerity.
Meanwhile, in a reflection of other major elections around the world in recent years – the UK, Australia and elsewhere – the Greek result remains in total gridlock.
Although voters across Greece have shunned the two major parties who supported the Euro bailout and the implementation of tough austerity measures, there is no clear winner ye t- and may not be for days.
The party with the most votes – New Democracy on barely 20 per cent of votes – now has three days to try and form a government. If that fails, the three-day mandate passes to Syriza, the party with the next largest amount of votes. If that doesn’t work out, the party with the next highest number of votes, Pasok, has its chance. After those nine days, if no government has been formed, Greek President Karolos Papoulias will call all parliamentary leaders together to see if any government can be formed.
Alexis Tsipras, the head of Syriza said voters had given him a mandate to renege on bailout agreements negotiated with the EU and the International Monetary Fund.
“Merkel should worry and Europe should hope in us,” he told the Observer. “If the politics of austerity continue, Europe is in big danger of breaking up. These policies are causing unhappiness, unemployment and poverty, as in the 1930s. Europe needs social solidarity and not to work according to market laws.”
Not surprisingly, the Euro has fallen to a three-month low following today’s elections, stoking concern austerity efforts in Europe may be derailed.
Here is a small sample of stories one the above, if you wish to read further:
France:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17975660
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-07/francois-hollande-wins-french-presidency/3994466
Greece:
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/05/06/greek-elections-2012/
Euro Falls:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/-/world/13616599/euro-falls-in-asia-after-france-greece-elections/
