Macron, Steinmeier urge citizens to vote amid fears of right-wing surge

3 months ago 10

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron have urged voters to take part in June’s European elections, which they say is a bid to protect democracy amid a likely shift to the far right in the EU parliament.

Earlier in the day, Macron had arrived in Berlin for a three-day state visit as Germany marked the 75th anniversary of its Basic Law (“Grundgesetz”).

“History teaches us that where there is a lack of democratic structures, humanity and political reason are also stifled. It is not surprising that those who question freedom, human rights and democracy are the very same people who are questioning the European project,” Steinmeier told journalists.

“That is why (…) we have a very specific message during this state visit. Say yes to Europe, go and vote on 9 June,” he added.

Macron directed his plea at young people.

“We will do everything we can to encourage young people to go to the polls, including those voting for the first time,” said the French leader.

The comments come as Eurosceptic far-right parties are expected to gain significant seats in the upcoming European Parliament elections.

Germany and France will see particular shifts, with Germany’s AfD in second place in some national polls, while Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National (ID) is leading in France, almost 10 percentage points ahead of Macron’s Renaissance (Renew).

However, voter turnout could be the key to limiting the predicted gains, as far-right voters tend to be less likely to vote.

In Germany, 54 % of AfD supporters said they had little or no interest in the upcoming election, according to a recent Forsa poll, putting it second to last among all parties, ahead of the left-populist BSW (64%).

But Steinmeier – a former member of the centre-left SPD (S&D) – admitted there were no easy, sustainable ways to stop the far-right’s rise.

It could not be expected “that after a long-term evolution (…), any government, any party, could flip a switch and the situation would be as we would like it to be,” he said.

Macron blamed the far right’s gains on people’s fear of change, which he said needed to be heard and addressed, but not by “promoting bad ideas” and “engaging in demagogy.”