Elections are breathing fresh air into Europe.
The newly elected French President has received a warm welcome from the upper echelons of the Church.
French bishops have urged him to work towards national unity, emphasising the “political errors” that led to Sarcozy’s defeat.
On the evening of his swearing-in ceremony, Valerie Trierweiler - who has been Francois Hollande’s partner since 2005 - hinted at the new President’s relationship with the Catholic Church, in an interview with France Press news agency.
“Will the fact that you are not married pose diplomatic problems? I don’t think it is a problem, though it could be if we were to pay a visit to the Pope.”
In the meantime, congratulatory greetings are being mixed with subtle warnings from the French and European Episcopate.
“I would like to say to the President of the Republic: you are going to need everyone. I hope the President will really work towards unity,” Mgr. Bernard Podvin, spokesman for the French Episcopal Conference stated, in his reply to French radio station RCF.
In terms of the positions expressed by President Hollande with regards to same-sex unions and euthanasia, Mgr. Podvin pointed out that: “These issues need to be discussed and the Catholic Church has never kept quiet about what it thinks in relation to certain stances taken by the man who has now become the President of the Republic. Said stances need to be discussed in greater depth.”
The analysis of the French elections result appears pretty clear.
“The crisis votes against Sarcozy,” the French daily Le Monde wrote just after the first round of Presidential elections. And so, even in the second ballot on 6 May, the economic recession and the impact it has had on workers and families was a determining element (along with a series of political errors which he admitted) in Sarcozy’s defeat,” SIR (the Italian Episcopal Conference’s religious information service) highlighted.
“The outgoing Neo-Gaulist president - SIR added - was beaten - albeit by a small margin - by the Socialist Francois Hollande. Hollande has referred to himself as “monsieur normal” in an attempt to distinguished himself, in terms of style, from his adversary who had too much media exposure and was extravagant in his promises.”
Now, Paris will be put to the text by Europe: in their race for the Élysée, the two adversaries had each sent their own warnings and musts to Europe on the issues of austerity and growth, immigration control, foreign policy and other sectors, claiming they could orient a Union of 27 States at their own will.”
“Now that the curtain has come down on the elections - SIR went on to say – the winner, Hollande, will simply have to recognise that although he is a core player, he is one of a number of community members. And the messages Merkel and other European leaders are sending out to him are ones of encouragement but also of moderation”.”
Europe is about negotiating not about commanding. The French election result is not the first and may not be the last to be affected by the crisis; in this sense it should be placed under the European magnifying glass. Indeed, one could ask oneself to what extent the new electoral defeat in the Schleswigh-Holstein land will influence German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s policy. This defeat comes just a week before another significant test in North Rhine-Westphalia. The same goes for the UK and Italy and deep questions are emerging in particular from Greek seats.”
Bishops appear concerned over the fragmented landscape that emerged after the Greek elections yesterday.
“People are hungry and this vote risks not marking a positive turning point. Voters showed distrust towards Greece’s two main parties, New Democracy and Pasok, who have governed the Country for years, leading it into the chaos we are faced with today.”
The fragmented political landscape which emerged after the Greek elections worry Mgr. Francesco Papamanolis, President of Greek Catholic Bishops who told SIR he predicted “new elections in June.”
In light of the defeat of the two main parties in Greece which supported the Troika’s (ECB, IMF and EU) austerity plan - New Democracy and (centre-right) and Pasok (Socialist) - as a sign of protest, voters chose leftist alliances such as Syriza or other extreme right-wing alliances such as Chrysi Avgi, (Golden Dawn).
“It will be difficult to form a government now,” the archbishop explained. “The situation became difficult because we have never had a national unity government in Greece.”
According to Mgr. Papamanolis vetoes among parties could have an impact: “Before the elections Syriza and New democracy said they did not want to collaborate. The same applied to Pasok. However, it is still early to talk; we will have to wait for declarations from the various leaders to see what decisions they take. I do not exclude the likelihood of new elections in June.”
“The Troika led us to misery – the prelate lamented – people are going hungry and we don’t have anything left to offer to those who come knocking at our door. The taxes imposed on us have risen to 48% in the space of a year. Indeed, before the recovery plan was introduced, churches were not taxed. Our only income now comes from our property, no one is helping us.”