After the shock of the Spanish general election which saw a centre-right government ousted by a left wing socialist party, Europe woke today to the news that another major government was on the brink of being ousted.
Jacques Chirac, the French President, is facing calls to hold a general election after the combined might of the Socialists, Communists and Greens destroyed his right wing Union for a Popular Movement party in regional elections. They took 20 out of the 22 mainland regions, and sent a clear message to Chirac that his time may be running out.
Chirac may have been against war in Iraq, but his recent domestic policies have been immensely unpopular. Whether this success will turn into similar gains in a general election remains to be seen, but there can be no doubt that this result will send shockwaves through the leading governments of Europe.
Whether it's unity brought about by unpopular invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan or anger at increasingly oppressive domestic policies, one thing is certain. The political left is undergoing a unified resurgance unseen in my lifetime. I can only hope that this one voice does not fragment into petty squabbles in the coming months. I can only hope that the traditionally apathetic people of Britain will take a lead from our European partners and oust Tony Blair, while simultaneously destroying Michael Howards Tories in the general election. It may only be a dream... but at least it keeps me happy!
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