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Brussels can be a comfortable city for a politician. A place far from voters and their concerns, where the grand scale of European issues can overshadow the very real impact of decisions made, or not made. It’s a stark contrast to the immediacy of local politics.
When I worked in Düsseldorf, people walked up to me in the street or around town, telling me their concerns and how decisions affected them. Or about how politicians’ indecision made them unsure about the future. The same goes for Berlin. It’s this direct interaction that taught me the value of stepping out of my comfort zone as a leader. Making myself uncomfortable.
Make no mistake, these are uncomfortable times for Europeans. We face uncomfortable challenges. There is no comfortable way forward. No way of pleasing everyone. Difficult decisions must be made. And precisely at this time, we see politicians shying away from these hard choices. Shelving them for later. Pushing them further into the future. Hoping that problems will solve themselves.
Most of all, people want competent politicians who can deliver.
I believe this is one of the fundamental reasons why European voters are increasingly disappointed with politics. Research from ALDE Party shows that most of all, people want competent politicians who can deliver.
And what do they get? Quarreling politicians. An increasingly hostile political environment. Populist rhetoric which sounds nice — if you’re into it — but has never delivered a single solution to real-world problems.
Populist politics is easy. You don’t have to shock people with uneasy answers.
Populist politics is easy. You don’t have to shock people with uneasy answers. You just tell them what they want to hear. Bend the truth a bit. Blame problems on others. We see this type of politician on the rise all across our continent. In some countries, they are winning elections. This sends a signal to other politicians: If you copy them, you can win, too.
That as well, is a comfortable approach. Why fight them if you can copy them? The answer is simple. If we don’t stand up against radical populism and extremism, the fundamental values of the European Union — democracy, the rule of law and human rights – will be at stake. These values guarantee prosperity, security and peace. Now more than ever, we must resolutely defend our values against the false prophets of extremism and authoritarianism — from inside and outside our union — who promise stability and a return to a nonexistent past, while delivering chaos and rolling back our freedoms.
Politicians have no time to be comfortable when so much is at stake. If we want to make Europe thrive, we need to be action-oriented. We have to invest in skills, digital and sustainable technologies, and embrace innovation. If we want to make Europe secure, we need to be courageous. We must fortify our defense capabilities and confront those seeking to hold us hostage. If we want to make people optimistic about the endless possibilities that this union of ours provides, we have to be combative.
So many people in Europe are disappointed. They are looking for politicians who can protect what needs protecting. Who stand up for their European values. They are looking for politicians who are straightforward, competent and who deliver results. Let’s give them what they want. Let’s not stay comfortable — let’s dare to act.
