Nuestra NEBRIJA 30 - julio 2019

On May 26, much more was decided than the composition of the future EU Parliament. Europe had to look in the mirror and, after facing its own reflection, identify the defects that, whether con- genital or the result of the passage of time, had made it lose the joviality and vitality of yesteryear. In fact, the anticipated possibility of finding in its image wounds so deep that they endangered its own physical integrity caused such intense chills that they ran along the spine of the Old Continent from one end to the other. This alarming hypothe- sis was completed with the probable amputation of one of its members if, finally, Brexit was con- summated. However, and despite the fact that the result has been very different depending on each country’s internal reality, what Europe saw in itself was not so unpleasant. It is true that, although some light cosmetic fixes will not be enough and that the big questions will require very precise surgery, Europe's appearance will be much more recog- nizable than was expected a priori: pacts will be needed, but the Europhobes, even marking miles- tones of great importance as that of Le Pen’s victory in Fran- ce (capitalizing on the social unrest manifested by the yellow vests), will not get the decisive blocking majority. Putting the brake on the popu- list far right has been due not only to the fact that the Liberal Group has ma- naged to rise to the third position, but also to the important results reaped by the green left. This has been the case in Germany, where the traditio- nal parties of the Grand Coalition have collapsed and have highlighted the voter's preference for alternative solutions to the policies of a tradi- tional nature that the EU has been develo- ping in recent times. In this sense, there has been a certain paradox in France where, despite the already mentio- ned victory of the National Front, the Greens have also grown in number of votes. The United Kingdom deserves a separate chapter, where the Bre- xit Party has obtained a resoun- ding triumph, most likely encoura- ged by the resignation of Theresa May (relegating the Tories to fifth position) and the possibility that a few days ago she herself contempla- ted convening a second referendum. The second position has been taken by the liberal-democratic forces, with a line of argument that is diametrically opposed to leaving the EU. With regard to southern Europe, Portugal and Spain were shown as fertile ground for social de- 46 Artículo T he pro - E uropean parties must agree on a road map that avoids drastic course alterations The EU's appearance is much more recognizable than expected a priori: pacts will be needed, but the Europhobes will not achieve the decisive blocking majority. May 26 : the day Europe looked at itself in the mirror José Manuel Muñoz Puigcerver. Professor of the School of Social Sciences at Nebrija University