EU Leans Right, Socialists Re-think Strategy

The EU Parliament election results are in, and surprise surprise:

Conservatives raced toward victory in some of Europe's largest economies Sunday as initial results and exit polls showed voters punishing left-leaning parties in European parliament elections in France, Germany and elsewhere.

Will this make it harder for President Obama to deal with European nations? Also, check out this:

"Tonight is a very difficult evening for Socialists in many nations in Europe," Martin Schulz, the leader of the Socialists in the European Parliament, told party faithful in Brussels via video link from Berlin. "(We will) continue to fight for social democracy in Europe."

Many Socialists ran campaigns that slammed center-right leaders for failing to rein in financial markets and spend enough to stimulate faltering economies.

Obviously the voters didn't buy it. Good for them.

Graham Watson, leader of the EU's center-right Liberal Democrat grouping, said early results suggested a rejection of the Socialist approach.

"People don't want a return to socialism and that's why the majority here will be a center-right majority," he said.

This is possibly one of the more heartening things I've read in the last year. Take note, American socialists! If Europe can't stomach it, then it's doubtful Americans ever will.