Ivaylo Kalfin, MEP (BSP/PES): European voters gave politicians a lesson in shrewdness

- Why did Nicolas Sarkozy lose the elections? He is among the French Presidents who ruled for one term in office only.
- Nicolas Sarkozy lost the elections for the same reason that brought him to power five years ago - because of the economy. He was elected to safeguard the welfare of the broad middle class in France. He vowed that he will create conditions for businesses to recover quickly from the crisis, and thus solve the problems of unemployment and the social services. He failed in all these promises. The crisis proved to be longer and more severe than expected. Frenchmen feel that their President has been working entirely in favour of the Franco-German tandem, but his policies have not been efficient either in his own country or abroad. His support for Merkel's extremely limited spending in many areas led to poverty, unemployment, bankruptcies. Frenchmen are realists and do not rely on miracles. However, the thesis that growth will come by itself, as a result of budgetary constraints, has proven to be absolutely indefensible. When a remedy apparently does not work, you need to change the treatment, not to persist with it. Severe measures are inevitable in European countries. The big question is whether the constraints can be combined with a targeted policy of economic growth and job creation? Are there any tools that can ensure consistent growth? Sarkozy  avoided this issue, while the winner - Hollande - placed it in the core of the debate.

- Global stock markets reacted negatively to the election results in Greece, which failed to produce an outright winner. Do you think that the fate of the Eurozone is questionable again?
- The question is whether the eventual exit of Greece from the Eurozone means a failure of the common currency. I think that such a decision would be unfavourable for both Greece and the Eurozone, and the authorities should make every effort to avoid it. However, a consolidation of Greek society will be needed for this and this did not happen during the recent elections. Regarding the systemic risk for the existence of the Euro, this is a very interesting question. If the Eurozone manages to build the missing tools, introducing options for the implementation of a stronger general budgetary policy and a possibility for fiscal transfers, it will remove the systemic risk for its existence. This effort is worthwhile and makes sense.

- What consequences would you predict for Bulgaria after the elections in these two countries where the right-wing party of Nicolas Sarkozy and the left-wing party PASOK lost power?
- Bulgaria needs to reach the appropriate conclusions given the political processes in Europe. The question is not just about left and right-wing policies. PASOK lost power in Greece long before these elections. And it lost the elections not because of its left-wing policies but precisely because there was no opportunity to pursue such policies. European voters once again gave politicians a lesson in shrewdness. It is evident that budgetary constraints cannot be the only efficient approach. Economic growth will not return automatically. Jobs cannot be residual - they must be a general concern and a persistent policy of the government. Voters do not always have the right answers, but they do change the politicians who are not able and ready to show them the way forward. These are lessons worth remembering in Bulgaria.

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