What the europopulists have already achieved

“Europopulists of all countries have united”, writes Wawrzyniec Smoczyński in Polityka newsmagazine, in the wake of last May's European elections. But according to the Polish editorialist, apparently, there is nothing to worry about: EPP has won European elections for the fourth time in a row and europopulists either from right or left, are unlikely to change EU politics. The power will firmly remain in the hands of the mainstream parties, and they will make appointments for key EU posts.
But is it really the case? The populists have already shrunk the vote base of the mainstream parties; French president François Hollande whose Socialist party lost to the National Front is unlikely to sign TTIP treaty with the US; Angela Merkel – having the anti-euro Allianz für Deutschland breathing down her neck, will be reluctant to write off Greek debts while British Prime minister David Cameron, beaten by UKIP will not agree to subject British banks to the EU supervision. “Europopulism is a response to the soulless Union”, concludes Smoczyński.