Tunisia elections: The most popular party is an Islamist Center Right? wow

[R_P_A_S]

Seriously? This is the best and most popular party in the country? Don't these people wanna move forward? The Renaissance Party or Nahda

[Smyg]

Have you ever taken a look at who gets elected anywhere? Yeah.

[OHumanista]

If you start looking in depth at politics you won't get surprised anymore.:D

[Tim Cornelis]

Islamic center right isn't that bad compared to European politics...? European politics is constantly dominated by Christian center right after all.

[eric922]

Islamic center right isn't that bad compared to European politics...? European politics is constantly dominated by Christian center right after all.
I thought most of Europe's parties were social-democratic parties? At least I always associate Europe with social-democracy, but I am probably wrong. I am no expert. Though, as someone from the U.S., I have no room to talk. Hell, our choices for next election are between an imperialist neo-liberal and a a field of various religious fanatics. You know you're country is screwed when Mitt Romney is the most sane candidate for a major political party.

[Smyg]

You have a very misguided view of Europe, my friend. It is, as a matter of fact, completely wrong, I'm afraid.

[Seth]

In other words, the ruling class goes on ruling.

[Sentinel]

I thought most of Europe's parties were social-democratic parties? At least I always associate Europe with social-democracy, but I am probably wrong. I am no expert. Though, as someone from the U.S., I have no room to talk. Hell, our choices for next election are between an imperialist neo-liberal and a a field of various religious fanatics. You know you're country is screwed when Mitt Romney is the most sane candidate for a major political party.


The problem is that since the 1990's, most social democrat parties in Europe are neo-liberal as well, with only cosmetic differences to the right wing. And in any case, at the moment, most of Europe is governed by actual, openly right wing governments.

The situation is different from the US in some ways -- notably that while socialism/communism is heavily blackpainted and has a bad reputation, it still has some following even though most of the larger organisations leave much to hope for -- but unfortunately not nearly as different as you seem to believe. :(

[Tim Cornelis]

I thought most of Europe's parties were social-democratic parties? At least I always associate Europe with social-democracy, but I am probably wrong. I am no expert. Though, as someone from the U.S., I have no room to talk. Hell, our choices for next election are between an imperialist neo-liberal and a a field of various religious fanatics. You know you're country is screwed when Mitt Romney is the most sane candidate for a major political party.

The European Parliament is dominated by the European People's Party, an alliance of Christian Democratic Parties (as well as more right-wing liberal leaning). It has 265 seats. Social Democrats have 185 seats. Social liberal (equivalent of Democratic Party I suppose) ALDE has 84 seats. Conservative anti-federalists have 56 seats. Greens parties have 55 seats. Alliance of democratic socialists, Marxist-Leninists, and reformists democratic "socialists" (EUL-NGL) have 35 seats. National Conservatives have 27, and non-aligned parties (mostly national conservatives and neo-fascists) have 9.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BBX3JtcSim0/TO9-kTem57I/AAAAAAAAAbM/bAbOHFwp_1A/s1600/the_more_you_know2.jpg

[Os Cangaceiros]

opinion piece on AJE about the elections: http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/10/201110247219829674.html