A quartet could be filled with them: the great European crises. Think of the Dutch nitrogen issue, the French pension plan reforms or the German conflict over tackling the climate crisis.
The common thread is the coalitions that have difficulty responding to major social issues. “What most countries lack is a powerful story that connects groups and points to a clear focus of where a country is headed,” says de Vries. “Parties hardly have a history that citizens like”.
What’s good on the market
Consider BBB’s win a typical example of this. ‘The parties respond from day to day. And when a newcomer like Caroline van der Plas arrives, they start imitating her. This is definitive proof that parties have no ideology of their own, other than that of getting votes and responding to what is available on the market.’
The climate is another example, adds Sandrino Smeets. He carries out research on the European decision-making process. “Parties often agree on the goal, but lack a line or vision on its implementation.” While for this kind of “Brussels dossier”, he believes parties should return to their home country with a strong history. This way they can explain to citizens exactly why they intend to implement these reforms.
“I dare to say with some certainty that Meloni manages to keep things together”
Italian leadership
Smeets believes Giorgia Meloni from Italy is a politician who tells a coherent story. “I dare say with some confidence that she manages to keep things together. You work well with your president and with Brussels, but you also show leadership towards your people, and not just in the field of migration. Things seem to be going quite well there by Italian standards.’