The pandemic inspires a Global Political Movement

 

The pandemic crisis continues and we are excited about any news of a life-saving vaccine. We also have enjoyments from the European context: promises that we will have a European budget for the period 2021-2027, and that a Brexit trade agreement will be reached. Even the US elections bring hope for global normalcy.

 

Of course, the impact of the pandemic crisis will have a huge effect on 2021 and I do not want to go into the economic crisis now, but I want to analyse a political phenomenon that is already showing its fangs.

 

There are strong messages that are opposing the way the authorities manage the crisis. Not everyone is happy that they are isolated at home, that they are forced to wear a face mask or that they are blocked from visiting their family and friends.

 

Recently, the German chancellor said that "populists who question the seriousness of the crisis are putting people's lives in danger." But the leader of the French left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, is already launching his candidacy for the presidency of France in 2022, with messages such as: "When everything is bad and it seems like a dark night for many people who do not find their purpose in this society, it is necessary to turn on a light. The German far right, AfD, is protesting virulently, with 40,000 people in the streets, "calling on Putin and Trump to liberate the country." After the unexpected success with the Brexit procedure, Nigel Farage even launches an anti-lockdown party. European liberals are trying to position themselves with a message along the lines of "Covid-19 measures must not jeopardise democracy, the rule of law or fundamental rights".

 

There are two political extremes that paradoxically have a point of interest. Far right and far left. With totally contradictory doctrines, they come to a similar conclusion, going as far as a common approach to tackling the corona crisis. The "narrative of dictatorial governments and the world conspiracy" catches some, finding that we already have a bud of "global liberation movement." With a little bit of well-coordinated fake news, a phenomenon like the protest against the Vietnam War of the '70s can be quickly reached.

 

Politicians are race entrepreneurs and they will feel the pulse of the electorate. At the level of EU member states, some parties will quickly convert to a single "anti-corona management" message, and in other countries even new parties will appear, with charismatic leaders.

 

I do not think that there will be a majority of such political movements, but they will certainly have an impact on the European political landscape. I am referring in particular to the elections in Germany in September 2021, but also to those in France in the spring of 2022.

 

If the budgets for 2021 were made like an interception of previous years, surely those of 2022 will twist unexpectedly. Societal priorities will impose massive reforms on politicians in the allocation of public funds to sectors such as health, education or defence.

 

We live in exceptional times, and the difficult part is just beginning…

 

Dan LUCA / Brussels

Pandemia inspirã o mișcare politică mondială

Criza pandemică continuă și ne entuziasmãm de orice veste care preconizează un vaccin salvator. Mai avem și bucurii de context politic european: promisiuni că vom avea un buget european pentru perioada 2021-2027, că se va ajunge la un acord comercial de Brexit. Chiar și alegerile americane aduc speranța unei normalități globale.

 

Desigur, impactul crizei pandemice va avea un efect enorm asupra anului 2021 și nu vreau să intru acum în dosarul crizei economice, ci doresc să analizez un fenomen politic care își arată deja colții.

  

Există puternice mesaje care sunt împotriva modului în care autoritățile gestionează criza. Nu toți sunt încântați că sunt izolați în casă, că sunt obligaţi să poarte masca pe față sau că sunt blocați să-și viziteze familia sau prietenii.

 

Recent, cancelarul german a spus că ‘’populiștii care pun la îndoială gravitatea crizei pun viața oamenilor în pericol’’. Însă liderul stângii din Franța, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, își lansează deja candidatura la Președinția Franței din 2022, cu un mesaj de genul: „Când totul este rău și pare o noapte întunecată pentru mulți oameni care nu își găsesc rostul în această societate, este necesar să aprinzi o lumină”. Extrema dreaptã germană, AfD,  protestează virulent, cu 40.000 de oameni în stradă, ‘’chemându-i pe Putin și Trump să elibereze țara’’. După succesul neașteptat cu procedura de Brexit, Nigel Farage lansează chiar un partid anti-lockdown. Liberalii europeni încearcă să se poziționeze printr-un mesaj pe linia ‘’măsurile Covid-19 nu trebuie să pună în pericol democrația’’.

 

Există două extreme politice care au, paradoxal, un punct de interes. Extrema dreaptã şi extrema stângã. Cu doctrine total în contradicție, ajung la concluzii asemãnãtoare, mergând până la o abordare comună asupra abordãrii crizei corona. Narativa ‘’guvernelor dictatoriale și a conspirației mondiale’’ prinde la unii, constatând cã avem deja un mugur de ‘’mișcare globală de eliberare’’. Cu un pic de fake news bine coordonat, se poate ajunge rapid la un fenomen de genul protestului împotriva războiului din Vietnam din anii ‘70.

 

Politicienii sunt antreprenori de rasã și vor simți pulsul electoratului. La nivelul țărilor membre UE, unele partide se vor converti rapid spre un mesaj unic ‘’anti-gestionare corona’’, iar în alte țări vor apărea chiar partide noi, cu lideri carismatici.

Nu cred că vor fi o majoritate astfel de mișcări politice, dar cu siguranță vor avea un impact în peisajul politic european. Mă refer în special la alegerile din Germania din septembrie 2021, dar și la cele din Franța din primăvara lui 2022.

 

Dacă bugetele pentru anul 2021 au fost făcute precum o interţie a precedentenţilor ani, cu siguranță că cele din 2022 se va torsiona neașteptat. Prioritățile societale vor impune politicienilor reforme masive în alocarea fondurilor publice sectoarelor precum sănătate, educație sau apărare.

 

Trăim timpuri excepționale, iar partea complexă de abia acum începe…

 

Dan LUCA / Bruxelles

Dan LUCA - panellist at the ‘’News In The Digital Age’’ event

  

Today I participated as a panellist during an international event ‘’News In The Digital Age’’, organized by the ECR party. Below a few points that were expressed for the 1200 participants.

 

Ø  From the beginning I want to draw attention to two components when we talk about the media. Creating media content (news, reports) is the most important - that exploded as a number of readers at the end of March 2020. The second element is media business, how to monetize a press. A successful media includes both elements.

Ø  The crisis is hitting the media business hard. This was the case in 2008 with the financial crisis. We are currently feeling the pandemic crisis and preparing for a major economic crisis.

Ø  Journalism adapted quickly. We set up EURACTIV only online and in 1999 we were pioneers.

Ø  But we kept innovating all the time. Not only technology brings innovation, but also the way it operates.

Ø  The brand will continue to be the strong point in the media business.

Ø  Strengthening transnational partnerships at the level of the EU press becomes a necessity in terms of content, but also in terms of business.

Ø  We work with journalists, and the human factor is crucial. The automated systems will not be able to replace quality journalists, but will help them in their work.

 

Recommendations for the future

Ø  The European Union has the capacity to anticipate the crisis of 2021, be it pandemic, economic or societal. A joint project between the European structure and the Member States is still needed to give citizens security.

Ø  An alliance between institutions (European and national), civil society and business is needed - Media is part of the process.

Ø  The media sector is essential for democracy. It has lost one-third of its journalists since 2008, and – apart from public broadcasting – more are at risk.

Ø  The role of national and European institutions in supporting the independent press is strategic, not only tactic.

Ø  What we wish from Europe is firstly re-balancing the ecosystem and secondly speeding up transformation, which is called ‘capacity building’ and focuses on skills and innovation.

Ø  Innovation is necessary, but difficult to finance. Start-ups can bring the new elements to streamline media production and diversify activities.

Ø  New concrete EU programs give more support to media transformation. Based on the same idea as the Erasmus program launched in the 80's by the EU. Not only for journalists, but also for the entire media ecosystem. As was Erasmus for teachers and the development of educational capacity.

 

Dan LUCA / Brussels