26 votes

An unexpected Donald Trump bump for the world's centrists

8 comments

  1. [2]
    sparksbet
    Link
    This is an absolutely ridiculous spin on the German election. The incoming chancellor is the result of a big rightward shift for the CDU, which is extremely obvious and well-known by anyone who...

    In Germany, the incoming center-right chancellor is dominating the agenda after an election many feared would be a breakthrough for the hard right.

    This is an absolutely ridiculous spin on the German election. The incoming chancellor is the result of a big rightward shift for the CDU, which is extremely obvious and well-known by anyone who pays even a cursory amount of attention to German politics. Presenting them like they're still the center-right party of Angela Merkel is completely off-base. And the AfD, the "hard right" we're worried about, got the second largest proportion in parliament. The only thing preventing them from influencing the laws that are passed is the refusal of other parties to work with them, and Merz demonstrated in the run-up to the election a complete willingness to rely on them for votes. The recent German election didn't go as badly as it potentially could have, but it's absurd to view it as a victory for centrism when a misogynistic right-wing asshole who works with the AfD is going to be chancellor.

    15 votes
    1. elight
      Link Parent
      Those who forget history repeat it. It saddens me how successful the AfD has been.

      Those who forget history repeat it. It saddens me how successful the AfD has been.

      4 votes
  2. Fal
    Link

    As President Trump’s “shock and awe” policies radiate around the world, they are galvanizing support for moderate leaders and unifying Europe.

    In Britain, a languishing prime minister is suddenly a statesman, while his up-and-coming populist rival has been thrown on his heels. In Canada, the incumbent Liberal Party has a chance to win an election long thought out of reach. In Germany, the incoming center-right chancellor is dominating the agenda after an election many feared would be a breakthrough for the hard right.

    As President Trump’s “shock and awe” policies radiate around the world, they are reshaping global politics in unforeseen ways.

    Mr. Trump’s sweeping tariffs and threats to the trans-Atlantic alliance have breathed life into centrist leaders, who are regaining popularity for their willingness to stand up to the American president. His clash with Ukraine and tilt toward Russia have thrown right-wing populists from Britain to Germany off balance, blunting, for the moment, their efforts to capitalize on Mr. Trump’s restoration to the White House.

    13 votes
  3. [4]
    kingofsnake
    Link
    Canada's centre left leader is an untested politician with elite technocrat credentials, a B- speech delivery and a political party which, until recently, was gearing up for an almost total...

    Canada's centre left leader is an untested politician with elite technocrat credentials, a B- speech delivery and a political party which, until recently, was gearing up for an almost total blowout election.

    And now they're polling alongside the populist right! Who knew??

    11 votes
    1. [3]
      cfabbro
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Let's not count our chickens before they've hatched. I was not a fan of Trudeau (FPTP election promise breaking a-hole) and am glad he's gone. And I think Carney was a smart choice by the Libs,...

      Let's not count our chickens before they've hatched. I was not a fan of Trudeau (FPTP election promise breaking a-hole) and am glad he's gone. And I think Carney was a smart choice by the Libs, and believe he will actually make a good PM. But a dead heat in the polls is not a win yet, and the PCs/Poilievre have already pivoted hard with their new "Canada First!" messaging and a bunch of particularly vicious attack ads against Carney. And we also have yet to see how Carney's selection and performance will actually effect things, especially since, as you rightly pointed out, he is untested as a politician, he is a highly educated "technocrat" (which many Albertans hate), and his speech delivery really is subpar (especially in French, which hurts his chances in Quebec).

      Fingers crossed the Libs actually do manage to pull off a win next Federal election though, or are at least able to form a coalition government with the NDP, Greens, and Bloc, because Poilievre legitimately scares me (esp his views on LGBT people). And I fucking hate how the PCs have been working to bring American-style political rhetoric, and polarizing politics to Canada, so I desperately want to see them get punished for that. But my faith in humanity (even Canadians) has been greatly diminished over the last few years. So, while I am now slightly hopeful, I still have my doubts that Trudeau's resignation and Carney's selection will be enough to make a difference. I hope I am wrong, and it is enough to turn the right-wing tide here in Canada. But I am not holding my breath, especially after Doug Ford's recent win here in Ontario. :/

      14 votes
      1. [2]
        chocobean
        Link Parent
        He could have made a real difference and earned a permanent place among the greatest Canadian contributions to our democracy. Wasn't the only scandal of his government, but I could have forgiven...

        Trudeau (FPTP election promise breaking a-hole)

        He could have made a real difference and earned a permanent place among the greatest Canadian contributions to our democracy. Wasn't the only scandal of his government, but I could have forgiven far worse if we'd have gotten rid of FPTP.

        Ford: NS conservatives recently won a supermajority and is doing all kinds of anti freedom anti democracy nonsense. We're rallying around a flag pole for now but we're far from being out of the woods

        4 votes
        1. cfabbro
          (edited )
          Link Parent
          Yeah. If he had actually followed through with his election promise to get rid of FPTP I could genuinely see him sitting alongside Tommy Douglas in the annals of Canadian History. Instead he will...

          Yeah. If he had actually followed through with his election promise to get rid of FPTP I could genuinely see him sitting alongside Tommy Douglas in the annals of Canadian History. Instead he will just be a scandal-laden footnote on his father's page.

          6 votes