Milei’s bizarre and grotesque style of politics is breaking all stereotypes of populism and nationalism. Seeing an Argentine president present his book to the rhythm of rock before thousands of enthusiasts in Luna Park in Buenos Aires goes far beyond that propaganda slogan of “Perón, Perón, how great you are”, which I still heard in mass demonstrations. in the Plaza de Mayo to claim the Malvinas 42 years ago.
Rationality is giving way to absurdity and rudeness. “Hello everyone, I am the lion, the beast roared in the middle of the avenue,” Milei shouted before an audience that chanted insults against Sánchez, finished off with “long live freedom, damn it” and acting like a presidential rock star. A minimum of good taste should not be at odds with politics.
Populist currents are deeply rooted in practically the entire American continent. But we also have it in Europe, which in two weeks is going to elect the new EU Parliament.
Each of the 27 states is going to carry out a national campaign. It is logical. But what happens in France may be the litmus test of whether the centrality of European politics can resist the avalanche of populism that is advancing noisily in many countries.
The polls give victory to Jordan Bardella, 28, head of the list of Marine le Pen’s party, more than ten points over Macron’s party, which would be hot on the heels of a resurgent Socialist Party, which would come in third place. . The novelty would not be that the French extreme right won the European elections but that it did so with such force that it would mark the path for Marine Le Pen to succeed Macron in the 2027 presidential elections.
When France has a cold, all of Europe sneezes is a phrase attributed to Metternich at the Congress of Vienna in 1815, which ended the Napoleonic Wars.
The extreme right aims to break the balance with which social democrats and Christian democrats have managed to make Europe a space of peace, freedoms and prosperity. France can be the experimental laboratory for a change of course in European policies. In a few days we will know.
