« Antidemocratic and xenophobic forces of Europe have always been attracted by the European unity dream, the mystic of the imperial Rome»
(FB - 1998)
" Being a citizen is a voluntary act "
(FB - 2009)
"Thinking about the future only makes sense if it is aimed at improving one’s thinking about the present and about the trends at work"
(FB - 1998)
"The European project is not a dream, but a hope. It is rooted in rationality, which is not the case with dreams. We Europeans have seen our dreams end in nightmares too often not to be suspicious."
(FB - 2005)
"The strength of a network is judged at the information level of the weakest link, or more precisely the link furthest from the centre of the network."
(FB - 2004)
"Europe's destiny is escaping the two "Greats" and it will come knocking on the door of the Europeans."
(FB - 1989)
"The history of Europe is a bit like a multifaceted diamond. Everyone sees the same diamond... but no one sees exactly the same facets."
(FB - E-storia project, 2004)
"Let us dare the future as the founding fathers of Europe did"
(FB - "From EU to Euroland", 2001)
"The European citizenship can not be decreed. The European citizen can only be born..."
(FB - 1992)
"Every state is a minority in the EU. In any case, let’s not forget that if all our states went into building the EU it is because they all felt too small to face alone both their future and the rest of the world."
(FB - 2003)
"From a single (EU) Currency to a single (EU) Citizenship. The euro is only an instrument."
(FB - 1997)
"An empire is always providing platforms where conflicts and wars prolife­rate... an empire needs enemies, whilst a Community requires partners."
(FB - 1992)
"Europe’s history has taught us that dreams and nightmares are the two faces of the same coin"
(FB - “Europe is Peace” 2006)
"Everybody wants to have a successful enlargement whereas it is a successful enlarged EU which is important."
(FB - 2002)
"It is clear that the existing national political parties can not serve two masters: national and European."
(FB - IDE, 1989)
"It takes teamwork to make Europe move forward."
(FB - 2005)
"There is nothing like one European. The European is a team of Europeans... the only way we can imagine a European, it is a team of people from different countries, not a single man or woman."
(FB - Enschede (NL) 2012)
"On the horizon with a heaven of freedom and a land of responsibility, this is perhaps the soul of Europe."
(FB - 1992)
"The future challenge for the European project is not about Europe anymore, it is about the Europeans."
(FB - 2005)
"The more Brussels speaks English, the less Brussels understands the Europeans"
(FB - 2004)
"Occupy the Future of Europe!"
("What do YOU want as a future for AEGEE?" Franck Biancheri at the 2012 Agora in Enschede)
"To combine new technologies and democratic principles to succeed in the entry of European integration in the 21st century or e-democracy at the service of Euro-democracy"
(FB - EUSV, 2001)
"In the years 00 of the 21st century, democratization can only take place in the perspective of the democratic election of a European executive that remains to be invented."
(FB - EUSV, 2001)
"We must build the European Community, otherwise Europe will soon be culturally Americanised, politically Finlandised and technologically Japanised"
EGEE I, 1984

The 10 Lessons from the election of Donald Trump (Cyril Castro, Nov. 22nd, 2016)Les 10 leçons de l’élection de Donald Trump (Cyril Castro, 22 Nov. 2016)

Cyril Castro is the President of Europe Populaire, a French political party, a partner of the N-Platform network launched in 2014 (with the support by the Association of Friends of Franck Biancheri) to help small and medium-sized political parties in Europe to get closer together and to bring a genuine European dimension to the debates in the context of the European elections. In this article, he gives us his movement’s analysis of the victory of Donald Trump in the American elections.

  1. Scores were tight state by state. So it was not the polls that were all wrong (we are within the margin of error and Mrs. Clinton finally got more popular votes than Trump), but the pollsters and the so-called experts, who have not been able to explain the refining of their figures and measure the wish to change, the tone, speech, and the anti-incumbency factor;
  2. Even if some like me had announced in different ways, the victory of NO to the 2005 referendum, the FN (Front National french political extrem rightist party leaded by Marine Le Pen) to the European elections, of Natanyaou, of Brexit and Trump, and our “elites” had hoped the opposite, their fault, their big fault, is never to forsee a plan B, resulting in being captive to a single thought;
  3. Donald is not Ronald: Comparing Trump to Reagan is nonsense and a lack of cultural filth, shared by many, for it is forgetting that Reagan had been a political expert for 30 years, had made a tour of the republican states since the Fifties, he had even competed 12 years before at the Republican primary, and especially, was governor of the great state of California! Reagan in 1980 in a relatively stable and predictable world was more prepared than Trump in 2016, in an extremely uncertain and constantly changing world;
  4. One must be extreme in his remarks, hold incoherent and vehement speeches in order to be noticed, to promise everything (these are the weaknesses of my party Europe Populaire which proposes an ambitious program but quantified and coherent, which is not attractive enough to the voters), taking on a different, more flexible line when elected. And this raises two problems: first, the respect for public statements, which, by contradicting it in a more consensual manner, will disappoint many; second, the Front National has been doing the opposite of TRUMP for two years. Indeed he softens his speech, which foreshadows a program that is harder and more dangerous than announced;
  5. The desire for greatness of a country (America First or America Great Again) no longer means the need to oppose or impose itself but also to retreat into a protectionism that does not protect anything in the long term especially when its debt is held by an outsider;
  6. Europe, which didn’t make a shift after the jolt of the Brexit vote, should have responded and spoken with one voice following the election of TRUMP. We have two months before January 20, 2017 to act. Thinking of a plan B for weeks as Europe Populaire demanded, would have facilitated the task instead of believing there is no issue by burying our head in the sand!
  7. The split between men/women is low, and ethnic differences have narrowed in the US in voting preferences. White women voted TRUMP. The glass-ceiling will break but for a candidate who carries a project of change for the whole Country, not only for women. This will happen one day, and probably on the Republican side first, because it will mean that certain prejudices will have fallen and this candidate will not refer to the hated Hillary (who in any case has already made history, as recognized by the president-elect). The current divide, which applies to the USA as well as to us, is between those who profit or believe in globalization, and those who feel relatively failed, neglected, belittled, or who no longer have the strength to believe in the future drawn for them but not by them and not right away;
  8. The election of TRUMP raises questions for us, as French and Europeans, because America has been our ally and we share so much with this country, even if some can, sometimes, deplore it. Indeed, the issue is whether we are headed towards political protectionism, detachment by choosing a diplomacy based on tension, obstruction or even confrontation, or a more subtle diplomacy that ultimately maybe softer and fuzzier;
  9. Europe must rely on itself, believe in its power, give itself the means, and be proud of its values, not in confrontation with the USA but independently, vis-à-vis this Friend. Especially since, in spite of the extreme violence of the US campaigns, we know how Americans can close ranks around national and supra-national goals. It is important to re-invent the world or to invent a new world, including standing steadfast on asking the US to respect of the current treaties that bind it to the rest of the Planet. To be strong for oneself and by oneself is the duty of Europe vis-a-vis the citizens of here and elsewhere, which will make of us a trusted continent, one that is listened to and respected … Hence, a more dependable ally by demanding more, including for the United States itself…
  10. The People are always right … Politicians must show that they are up to the task by trusting them or pointing out the path by adult to adult instruction!!!
    In any case the American youth won a utopian and idealist wise who also marked this campaign: Bernie Sanders, who remains the big missed appointment of this America which in fact is playing the American bullies because it is afraid of the world…

Cyril Castro, 22nd of November 2016
Europe Populaire

Cyril Castro est président de Europe Populaire, parti politique français, partenaire du réseau N-Platform dont le lancement avait été soutenu par l’Association des Amis de Franck Biancheri en 2014 pour aider les petits et moyens partis politiques en Europe à se rapprocher et à apporter une véritable dimension européenne aux débats dans le cadre des élections européennes. Il nous livre dans cet article l’analyse de son mouvement sur la victoire de Donald Trump aux élections américaines.

  1. Les scores étaient serrés état par état. Ce ne sont donc pas les sondages qui ont eu tout faux (nous sommes dans la marge d’erreur et Mme Clinton a obtenu finalement plus de voix que Trump sur l’ensemble du territoire), mais les sondeurs et soi-disant experts, qui n’ont pas su expliquer les affinages de leurs chiffres et mesurer l’aspiration aux changements, de ton, de discours, et d’alternance Républicains/Démocrates ;
  2. Même si certains comme moi avaient annoncé dans des genres différents, la victoire du NON au referendum de 2005, du FN aux européennes, de Natanyaou, du Brexit et de Trump, et que nos «élites» avaient espéré le contraire, leur faute, très grande faute, est de ne jamais prévoir de plan B, cédant au terrorisme de la pensée unique ;
  3. Donald n’est pas Ronald : Comparer Trump à Reagan est un non sens et un manque de culture crasse, partagée par beaucoup, car c’est oublier que Reagan était depuis 30 ans un expert politique, avait fait le tour des états républicains depuis les années 50, il avait même concouru 12 ans avant à la primaire républicaine, et surtout avait dirigé la grande Californie ! Reagan en 1980 dans un monde négativement stable et lisible était plus préparé que Trump en 2016, dans un monde extrêmement incertain et protéiforme ;
  4. Il faut être extrême dans ses propos, tenir des discours incohérents et véhéments pour se faire remarquer, tout promettre (voilà les faiblesses de mon parti Europe Populaire qui propose un programme ambitieux mais chiffré et cohérent, ce qui n’attire pas assez l’électeur), quitte à tenir une ligne différente, plus souple une fois élu. Et cela pose deux problèmes : d’abord le respect de la parole publique qui en se démentant de manière plus consensuelle fera des déçus en nombre ; ensuite le FN fait le contraire de TRUMP depuis deux ans. En effet il adoucit son discours, ce qui présage d’un programme plus dur et dangereux qu’annoncé ;
  5. L’envie de grandeur d’un Pays (America first, ou America great again) ne passe plus par le besoin de s’opposer ou de s’imposer mais aussi de se replier dans un protectionnisme qui ne protège rien à terme surtout quand sa dette est détenue par l’étranger ;
  6. L’Europe, qui n’a pas pris le virage du sursaut fort après le Brexit, aurait dû réagir et parler d’une seule voix pour proposer à la suite de l’élection de TRUMP. Nous avons deux mois d’ici le 20 janvier 2017 pour agir. Penser un plan B depuis des semaines comme Europe Populaire le réclamait, aurait facilité la tâche au lieu de faire l’autruche !
  7. La fracture Hommes/Femmes est faible, de même que les différences ethniques se sont réduites aux USA à propos du vote. Les femmes blanches ont voté plutôt TRUMP. Le plafond de verre sautera mais pour une candidate qui porte un projet de rupture pour le Pays en entier et non en se revendiquant seulement Femme. Cela arrivera un jour, et probablement du côté Républicain en premier, car cela voudra dire que certains préjugés seront tombés et cette candidate ne se référera pas à la détestée Hillary (qui a de toute façon déjà marqué l’histoire, comme l’a reconnu le président élu). La fracture actuelle, qui vaut pour les USA comme pour nous, se situe entre ceux qui profitent ou croient en la globalisation, et ceux qui se sentent relativement recalés, délaissés, déclassés, ou qui n’ont plus la force de croire en avenir dessiné pour eux mais pas par eux et pas tout de suite ;
  8. L’élection de TRUMP nous interroge, en tant que Français et Européens, car l’Amérique doit être notre alliée et nous partageons tant avec ce Pays, même si certains peuvent parfois le déplorer. En effet, il s’agit de savoir si on va faire du Protectionnisme politique, en se refermant, en élisant une diplomatie de crispation, de blocage voire de clash, ou bien une diplomatie plus subtile mais au final peut-être plus molle et plus floue ;
  9. L’Europe doit compter sur elle-même, croire en sa puissance, s’en donner les moyens, et être fière de ses valeurs, non pas en confrontation avec les USA mais en autonomie vis à vis de cet Ami. D’autant plus que, malgré la violence extrême des campagnes US, nous savons combien les Américains savent se rassembler et s’unir vers des objectifs nationaux et supra-nationaux. Il convient de ré-inventer le Monde ou d’inventer un Monde nouveau, y compris en étant intransigeant sur le respect des traités actuels qui lient les USA au reste de la Planète. Etre fort pour soi et par soi, est un devoir de l’Europe vis à vis des Citoyens d’ici et d’ailleurs, ce qui fera de nous un continent fier, écouté et respecté… Donc un allié plus sûr car plus exigeant, y compris pour les Etats-Unis eux-mêmes…
  10. Le Peuple a toujours raison… Aux Politiques de se montrer à la hauteur pour ne pas lui donner tort ou lui montrer la voie par la pédagogie d’adultes à adultes !!! En tout cas la Jeunesse américaine a gagné un Sage utopique et romantique qui a aussi marqué cette campagne : Bernie Sanders, qui reste le grand rendez-vous raté de cette Amérique qui en fait semble faire les « gros bras » parce qu’elle a peur du Monde…

Cyril Castro, 22 novembre 2016
Europe Populaire