Category Archives: Top Story

Letter From Paris: French Populists Surge in Euro Parliamentary Elections, But Are Unexpectedly Denied Victory in France

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Nicole Prévost Logan

The elections to the European Parliament on June 9, 2024, raised more interest, but also more concern than ever because of the rise of the populist movement in the continent.

Every five years, the 720 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are elected by universal suffrage in a number proportional to the size of the states’ population, e.g., France is allotted 81 seats. The parties existing in each European Union (EU) country join the seven main political groups of the European Parliament, which can be described as follows:

  • The centrist EPP (European Popular Party) is the largest group with 186 members. The president of the Commission—incumbent and reelected Ursula von Leyen (who used to be the Minister of Defense in the cabinet of Angela Merkel)—belongs to the EPP.  The nomination of the leaders of the main EU institutions (Commission, European Council, diplomatic services, etc.) have to be approved by the Parliament, hence the importance of this legislative body.
  • The second largest party—S & D (Social Democrats)—has 135 members. The right-left coalition with the EPP has dominated the Parliament’s history for a long time.
  • In third position comes the ID (Identity and Democracy) It is a far-right group, which has just been transformed into the “Patriots of Europe” on July 8, 2024. It is growing fast, attracting populists from several countries like Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic and a few others. It has 78 members.

Giorgia Meloni and her party, the “Brothers of Italy,” as well as AfD (Alternative for Democracy) in Germany, have been keeping away from the new Patriots party until now. For the time being, they they remain in the ECR group (European Conservatives and Reformists). Although a far right prime minister, Meloni is an Atlanticist and praises pluralism—she is gradually growing more pro-Europe and wants to assist Ukraine . 

The results of the June 9 elections were grim.

In Western Europe, governments of some countries are trying to adjust and contain the populists. As an example, in the Netherlands, a coalition of four right-wing parties runs the government, but Dick Schoof—the Prime Minister—is a centrist. In Germany, the left-wing AfD obtained only 16 percent of the votes whereas the ruling coalition of three parties (FPD, CDU and Greens) received 30 percent on June 9.

In Eastern Europe, however, the populists seemed to be losing steam somewhat. Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister is working hard at undoing the societal damages done by his predecessor in the PiS (Poland’s Law and Justice Party). The right-wing prime minister of Slovakia must govern with a strong opposition and so does Viktor Orban, who now has an opponent, Peter Magyar. A liberal is heading the Romanian government. 

But the populist onslaught came mostly from France. In meteoric progress, Marine Le Pen’s party the RN (Rassemblement National or National Rally) increased its number of seats in the Assemblée Nationale, from 8 in 2017, to 89 in 2022 and then to 193 on June 30, 2024.The Cac40 (French stock market) plummeted by 6 percent on June 9.  

It is interesting to note that In the new landscape of the European parliament, three strong women—Marine Le Pen, Giorgia Meloni and Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas—cannot stand each other. 

On the evening of June 9, President Emmanuel Macron of France made a decision, which took everybody by surprise, including his own prime minister Gabriel Attal. He dissolved the Assemblée, which was not supposed to happen until 2027 at the end of his term.

French President Emmanuel Macron.

Actually Macron had been thinking of doing just that for several months. He believed that this decision could achieve two goals—first, give the population a chance to express its opinions through a referendum and second, gamble on the hope that the new legislative body would function better within the Elysée.

Working sessions in the Assemblée had become a dysfunctional exercise with the two extreme parties—RN and LFI (La France Insoumise, or Unbowed France.) The latter is a far-left party headed by Jean Luc Mélanchon. Both these extreme parties became allies to hamper debates with the repeated use of motions de censure (votes of no confidence.) It was a dangerous decision for the president to dissolve Parliament, but whatever the outcome, he had nothing to lose.

When Roger Cohen, the New York Times correspondent in France, declared, “The Macron era is over, a chapter is closed,” he missed the complexity of French politics, and the ability of the people to rebound and emerge from chaos.

Actually “Macronism,” consisting of holding the center and acting as a magnet for moderates in both the right and the left, is still a force to reckon with, although it had been depleted by the loss of 100 seats since 2022. Given the visceral hostility of most French people toward the president, however, Macron’s name is best left unmentioned.

The two-round French elections to elect a new Assemblée were scheduled for June 30 and July 7. Those dates coincided with the beginning of the summer vacations. Families had made plans months in advance. 

The problem was solved by creating more than three millions proxies and by people voting via the internet. There was a moment of panic but somehow the French got organized in record time. A swift electoral campaign got off the ground. 

Participation in the voting process was impressive, reaching 69 percent—a number unsurpassed for 40 years .

The extraordinary rise of the RN in the first round of the French election with the electoral map turning bleu marine (navy blue)—an appropriate color for Marine Le Pen—seemed to give a jolt to the population and incite it to rise up to block the hard right in the second round.

Instructions were given to candidates running for a seat in the Assemblée to withdraw from the race in the case of “triangular elections” in order to beat the RN candidate. It was quite an unusual sight to see French politicians disciplined enough to follow instructions! Since there were more than 300 “triangular elections,” the result was astounding.

The RN came out in third place with 143 seats instead of the 220 seats for which they had hoped. The former Macron ‘s majority, called today Ensemble, was second with 163 seats and the NFP (Nouveau Front Populaire or New Popular front) was first with 182 seats .

Between the two rounds Jordan Bardella, 28, the chief of the RN and protégé of Le Pen, had been trained for four years by a communications specialist. He began to behave like a prime minister during his official appearances, obviously relishing the prospect of a future “co-habitation” with the president. He considered it a done deal that he would become prime minister. 

He had set the bar very high, declaring that he would not accept that responsibility unless his party obtain the absolute majority. Bardella, acting effectively as a pure demagogue, made numerous promises and commitments which Marine Le Pen—a very seasoned politician—kept correcting and toning down. 

One must note that the politicians during this intense time of post elections behaved with absolute correctness. No one questioned the validity of the elections’ results. In fact Prime Minister Gabriel Attal offered his resignation immediately on the very night of July 7. 

Bardella said, “We have made mistakes and that includes myself.” They did not dwell on their disappointment but rather rebounded. Le Pen declared, “I have been a politician for too long to say that I was disappointed in the result.” Attal transitioned from being a prime minister to become the leader of the Renaissance party in the Assemblée.

Bardella turned his defeat in France into an advance in the European parliament. He now is the head of the new populist group called “Patriots for Europe” in Strasbourg. Unfortunately he will be even more dangerous there than in France by threatening to undermine the EU from within. Le Pen is placing herself in pole position for the 2027 presidential election.  

For several days after the July 7 elections, the political scene in France has been rather confusing. It is going through labor pains to form a government. The left-wing NFP had been the driving force in the prior elections. They feel that they have a right to nominate the prime minister since their party came out as a winner on July 7—but they do not have the majority enabling them to decide.

Furthermore their alliance is fragile and made up of socialists and hard left politicians, who do not get along. Belgian neighbors advised the French people not to be too impatient. Belgium remained one whole year with a “technical government,” which just managed routine issues .  Even Germany operated for two and a half months without a government.

None of the three French groups acquired the 289 seats needed to qualify for an “absolute majority.” In the future, whether they want it or not they will have to enter into alliances with other parties in order to govern. Otherwise, ironically, they will have to use the 49-3 (equivalent to Executive Orders) for which Macron has been so criticized in recent years.   

The NFP has a program, which appeals strongly to the people—raise the minimum wages or smic, return to the retirement age to 60, reduce the tva  (value-added tax.) But these measures will cost billions, which France can ill-afford. Besides, when the NFP declares that it wants to promote its own program and nothing else, and rejects compromises, it is a sure recipe for stalemates. 

Today the Elysée Palace looks empty. The power has shifted to parliament. 

France itself saved the day—at least for now. The results of the July 7 second round of French legislative elections were greeted almost across the board in Europe with a huge sigh of relief. 

Editor’s Note: This is the opinion of Nicole Prévost Logan.

Nicole Prévost Logan

About the author: Nicole Prévost Logan divides her time between Essex and Paris, spending summers in the former and winters in the latter. She writes an occasional column for us from her Paris home where her topics will include politics, economy, social unrest — mostly in France — but also in other European countries. She also covers a variety of art exhibits and the performing arts in Europe. Logan is the author of ‘Forever on the Road: A Franco-American Family’s Thirty Years in the Foreign Service,’ an autobiography of her life as the wife of an overseas diplomat, who lived in 10 foreign countries on three continents. Her experiences during her foreign service life included being in Lebanon when civil war erupted, excavating a medieval city in Moscow and spending a week under house arrest in Guinea.

How Do They Do It? With Thanks from a Volunteer, a Look Behind-the-Scenes at ‘White Elephant’ Sorting

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Intake!
All artwork is original by Edie Twining.

Editor’s Note: The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme’s 86th Annual White Elephant Sale is over. The results have not yet been finalized but we are hearing it was perhaps yet another record-breaking success. But how do the organizers pull it off year after year? We received this delightful series of cartoons from Edie Twining illustrating how the remarkably efficient sorting process is followed prior to the sale. She also sent a written description of the steps that are pursued with precision and expressed her thanks to all involved for welcoming her as one of the volunteers. Twining submitted the artwork and text as a ‘Comment’ but we have chosen to share them as our lead story today because, in our opinion, they offer such a pleasant way to start the week.
OLD LYME—The volunteers at the White Elephant Sale are an amazing group of people from all denominations and all persuasions. We all work in our sections sorting miles and miles of donations. 

Art & Frames.

A typical morning of intake consists of a rush of ‘in-takers’ unloading vehicles and unpacking plastic crates, cardboard boxes and garbage bags. 

Cleaning, sorting, tagging.

Each item is sorted into rows of shopping carts along one side of the hall and tables across from them. Big yellow signs indicate categories like: pots ‘n’ pans, appliances, books, music, men’s, kid’s, women’s clothes, toys, shoes, art, fine goods, kitchen, knick-knacks, linens, etc. …

Pots ‘n’ Pans

The carts are rolled down to departments or the elevator and taken to Sunday School rooms in the basement where sorters clean, sort and tag every item. Bag after bag of clothing is distributed to Men’s, Kid’s and Women’s departments. Some days you can barely get by the piles of bags of women’s clothes. Helpers hang each item onto a rolling rack or place it into Accessories bins.

Thank you for having me as part of the gang!

Edie Twining,
Old Lyme.

Looking Back at the Always Extraordinary ‘White Elephant Sale’, 10 Facts You May Not Know About It

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Dressed for the rain, but still ready to spend!

OLD LYME—It may have been a little damp but the eagerly-anticipated White Elephant Sale hosted by the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme duly opened yesterday on the first strike of the church clock at 9 a.m. It was open again Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, when most items were half-price. 

Waiting for the bell to peal — but all ready for the crowd to surge!

Organized by the LBS (Ladies Benevolent Society) of the church, the sale has been a summer mainstay of the area since 1936 (except for two years due to the pandemic).

It was all action both inside and outside at the sale yesterday.

Here are 10 facts about the White Elephant Sale that you may not know:

  • In the earliest years of the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme – in the mid- to late 1600s – the women of the church cooked food and sewed clothing to raise money to help support the church’s charitable projects.
  • In 1888, the women of the church officially formed the Neck Road Society and, over the years, the Society held concerts, socials and other events to raise money for local causes.
  • By 1917, the Society was holding suppers for the men in the Connecticut National Guard.
  • In 1920, the Society held its first-ever rummage sale – a small event confined to a single room of the church – which raised $200 for charity, a surprising amount of money at the time.
  • The name, “White Elephant Sale,” was given to the event in 1936 and it thereafter became an annual tradition.
Umbrellas were the early order of the day yesterday.
  • In the 1950s, the sale briefly expanded to include a country fair, horse show and square dance; then in subsequent decades, evolved into the popular, two-day local tradition we enjoy today.
  • During and after World War II, the Society used the proceeds of the sale to support a variety of international charitable causes – including helping an orphan from Czechoslovakia, a church in England and children in China. (Today it benefits more than 25 nonprofit organizations across our region and around the world.)
  • Sometime during mid- to late- 1900s, the name of the group was changed to the Ladies Benevolent Society. Since that time, as the Society has expanded to include men as well as women, and people of varying faiths and backgrounds, the Society has increasingly gone by just its initials, “LBS.”
  • In 2020 and 2021, the sale was canceled for the first (and only) times in its long history due to the coronavirus pandemic.
  • Proceeds from the sale benefit the many ministries of the church, including a wide variety of local, national, and international endeavors such as food pantries, health organizations, family support centers, children’s programs, literacy volunteers, affordable housing, native American causes, social justice initiatives, and disaster relief.
Plants, pots, vases and so much more.

While there are other garage and rummage sales throughout the year, few can match the size, color, camaraderie, and excitement of this one.  Renowned for its quality merchandise, you will find antiques, art, books, bikes, canoes, clothing, collectibles, kayaks, kitchenware, musical instruments, shoes, ski equipment, tools, toys and more.

Jim Fairfield-Sonn (left) and Roger Nosal joined the throng in the search for bargains.

Volunteers are needed in every area of the sale. If you would like to volunteer, call the church office at 860-434-8686.

For more information on the sale, visit this link.

Letter to the Editor: Management of Major Projects in Old Lyme is Problematic

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To the Editor:

With reference to Howard Margules recent Op-Ed published in LymeLine.com, ineffective leadership by Old Lyme’s First Selectperson has been the root cause for ongoing issues with the Lymes’ Senior Center renovation and the going-nowhere Halls Road Improvement Project. The failure to appoint competent individuals to manage these projects is a major factor in their ongoing issues.

Only in Old Lyme is a renovation project, (the Lymes’ Senior Center) that is 9 months behind schedule and $900,000 over budget before construction begins, called a successful and well run project.

Only in OId Lyme are town residents told the Halls Road Improvements are coming when all major funding requests from the state and federal agencies have been denied due to failures at the local level to submit a proper application.

Old Lyme’s Board of Selectmen make the appointments to the committees that are responsible for the projects mentioned above yet major decisions affecting these projects are made primarily by the First Selectperson thus eliminating an honest discussion by the full board. This is an ongoing problem.

Sincerely,

William Folland,
Old Lyme.

Op-Ed: Old Lyme Needs to Do Better on Major Projects

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Editor’s Note: This op-ed was submitted by Howard Margules of Old Lyme. 

Our town’s major projects—Halls Road, Lymes’ Senior Center, Sewers, Shoreline Gateway, and Affordable Housing—are all vital to our town’s future economic viability. 

They also share something else in common: they have been “works in process” for quite a while, and all remain unfinished. It is important to point out that these projects have been ongoing across multiple administrations, regardless of which political party is in power; so this is not a partisan issue but one that crosses party lines. 

Why do these projects take so long to complete, and what can be done to expedite them?

Over the last ten years I have been involved, one way or another, in most of these projects. 

I am a current member of both the Halls Road Improvement Committee and the Planning Commission and the former Chair of the Economic Development Commission. Thinking back on my front-row experiences has led me to some observations on those questions and suggestions for improving timely project completion.

Relying on Volunteers

Our town is very fortunate to have a motivated, engaged volunteer corps staffing our town Boards, Committees and Commissions. I have worked with good people from both parties, and I have been generally impressed with the competence, knowledge and commitment they bring to the job. And, they are doing this work for “free.” 

But, there are issues with relying on volunteers. 

First, there is a town requirement that the Boards and Commissions be balanced politically. This occasionally leads to appointments made simply to fulfill the political balance requirement rather than appointing the most qualified individual.

Additionally, there have been instances where the Committee or Board Chair has had no input in the selection, or, objected to the appointment, but was overruled, even though the person appointed was not the best candidate. 

Second, our town relies almost solely on volunteers to address some very complex projects which often require specific expertise and knowledge that may be absent in our volunteers. 

Additionally, most Boards and Commissions only meet once per month, which is acceptable for routine issues but inadequate for addressing major complex projects. 

Finally, it is also difficult to put too much pressure or expectations on volunteers since they can always elect to just bow out. Relying almost totally on volunteers makes it hard for the town to complete major projects successfully in a timely fashion.

Low Accountability

Many municipalities, especially larger ones, employ a full- or part-time professional planner, to lead major projects. They are professionals with the expertise required to address the complex issues major projects raise. Most importantly, they are held accountable as professionals for completing projects. 

Currently, we don’t have the structure or ability to hold any one person accountable. Accountability gets more complicated given the number of Boards and Commissions involved, various interests that have to be satisfied, and political agendas that occasionally get in the way.

Lack of Collaboration

All of these major projects require approvals from multiple Boards and Commissions Typically, this is done sequentially. One Board or Commission generates proposals that then require approval from another body. Of course, it is natural then for everyone to want to add their two cents. 

The sequential review and approval process frequently leads to varied opinions, occasionally to conflicts, and thus delays. Each set of potential conflicts must be resolved in sequence, drawing out the process and the projects unnecessarily. 

In my view, it would be more beneficial to provide a mechanism for the Boards and Commissions to collaborate initially, perhaps reaching broad consensus and some level of buy-in before the official approval process. 

The Board of Selectman should form a specific project committee for each major effort. We do have some such now, but they do not include representatives of the bodies that will have to provide approval later on. 

The relevant Boards and Commissions or representatives of those bodies need to be involved early in the project, if not from its inception. 

Relevant Expertise

Expert advice (engineering, law, environmental science, design, etc.) is required for these major projects. We are very fortunate in Old Lyme to have a wide range of skills represented in our citizenry and we have benefitted from their help over many years. 

Unfortunately, those with the most relevant skills are often still working, raising children, etc. and have little time to volunteer. We can take advantage of these local skills where they are available, but major projects need consistent and constant expert input, even if it means we must hire professionals to assist.  

Even to manage the work of hired experts can require Board or Commission members to climb a steep learning curve.This is another area in which a professional planner could be very helpful.

Leadership

Finally, these complex projects require engaged leadership from the Board of Selectman. The Board of Selectmen needs to assist with coordination, monitoring, oversight, timetables, expense control, lobbying public officials for funding, and commit to completing projects on time and on budget.

Our town will face more challenges going forward. If we are to successfully face these challenges and secure our economic future, we need to enhance our approach to supporting and managing major projects.