Is optimism back in fashion? Mamdani and Rob Jetten’s win will cost them the return of ‘Yes, we can’

Polanski’s value is on the rise. According to the survey average, voting intention is around 15%, with the Green Party outperforming the Liberal Democratic Party and almost the same rate as the Liberal Democratic Party. conservative party The difference with Labor is less than 4 points.

Since Polanski won the September primary, the group has grown to 150,000 members. A belligerent record also experienced by the Dutch D66, although to a lesser degree.

return of Yes, you can

echo of Yes, you can That shocked the White House. barack obama In fact, Jetten himself says this as his motto: Het Can Well (Yes, you can do it in Spanish). But Stefanoni doesn’t think we’re “before a linear return to a positive campaign. There was also a lot in Mamdani, especially a rejection of Trumpism.”

However, the essayist admits that his victory “instilled considerable optimism into an emotionally depressed global left. Winning a ‘capital within capital’ in the discourse of socialism and social democracy is no easy feat.” And Mamdani “was able to combine his personal charisma with a progressive narrative and building a very professional campaign,” Stefanoni said.

The young immigrant from Queens also kept a smile on his face as he won. “[His smile]was not an empty exaltation or a superficial slogan (…) It was associated with deep reflection, a rarity for politicians, especially those who are in the final stages of a campaign and have answered the same questions hundreds or thousands of times,” the economists wrote. robert reichSecretary of Labor during the administration. bill clinton.

“(Mamdani) radiates hope and enthusiasm that is contagious,” Reich added. “That’s the exact opposite of President Trump’s grimace. That’s what Americans want and need, especially right now.”

Stefanoni himself points out in this sense that “a bitter left will never be able to re-enchant the world.” “Humor is very important. That is why it is wise to move away from solemnity, from excessive moralism and pastoral progressivism. It is not enough, but it may help us reconnect with ordinary people.”

The left wants a formula.

Mamdani took New York by storm with the label of democratic socialism. He’s not the first person to accomplish that, that’s true. This city is one of the progressive indicators of the United States. But that label rarely works in the land of the Stars and Stripes.

independent senator Bernie Sanders He was responsible for paving the way that others, such as Democratic Reps., are now following. alexandria ocasio cortez Or Mamdani himself.

The European left wants to understand this phenomenon and see if it can be replicated in some way on the Old Continent. So last week, dozens of leaders from European progressive parties flew across the Atlantic. morris katzMamdani’s campaign manager met, among other things, with the French co-chairs of the European Parliament’s left-wing group. Manon Aubreyleader of La Francia Insmisa (LFI) Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

Other post-communist Die Linke executives, such as co-chairman of the German organization; Ines SchwertnerI also passed through the city that never sleeps to learn the secrets of success. However, as Stefanoni warns, “It’s not a question of trying to imitate him, or thinking that you can do the same thing as him and get the same results, or looking for Mamdani everywhere.”

“Europe’s problem is that experiences like Podemos and Syria ended in major setbacks. Therefore, no reconstruction of the left can ignore the balance of these experiences,” the essayist reflects.

center looks for space

It is not only the left that wants to capitalize on the Mamdani phenomenon. The center is seeking a new impetus in the fight for survival in these extreme times. For now, Jetten himself is leading the charge.

Former Minister of Climate and Energy in the 4th government mark rutte I understood the importance of networking a little before Mamdani, roy kramerhis former advisor suggested in his book Wharrom Wilders Welwyn (Why Wilders Will Win, in Spanish) Fighting the populists with their own weapons: “Only through struggle, polarization and simple words can we defeat the populists.”

It is true that the D66 party took advantage of the fatigue of the Dutch electorate, with a cabinet mired in turmoil and infighting, going to the polls for the third time in less than five years after the collapse of Wilders’ PVV-led coalition. It is also true that liberal progressives have profited from a divided Congress. Some Wilders voters also moved to other ultra options, such as the Forum for Democracy (FvD) and the more moderate JA21.

But that doesn’t take away from its benefits. “Mr. Jetten’s appeal was based, in part, on the optimistic and energetic campaign he ran, claiming to be a bridge between left and right,” he explained in an interview with this newspaper. Stinge van KesselProfessor of Comparative Politics at Queen Mary University of London. “He placed less emphasis on the more progressive issues on D66’s agenda, such as climate change and LGBT rights, and took a tougher stance on immigration.”

“The Dutch people just want to welcome people fleeing war and violence with dignity, but we also want to deal harshly with the bad apples who destroy the system,” Jetten declared midway through the campaign, saying he supported a “tough but humane” asylum policy.

Meanwhile, in his acceptance speech, Mamdani emphasized that New York “will always be a city of immigrants, built by immigrants, driven by immigrants. And from tonight onwards, it will be led by immigrants.”

The ideological gulf separating Mamdani and Jetten on this issue shows that the left and center do not have a common position to counter the claims of the right.

However, the underlying thread that connects them is the same. “As he said, there is a demand for authenticity and a depletion. Giuliano da Empolithe Davos Consensus with its technocratic political vision where everything is resolved centrally. And there is also a strong rejection of political elites,” Stefanoni said.

don’t let me down too much

What’s complicated is what happens next. “You campaign in poetry and you govern in prose,” Mamdani himself declared the day after his election victory, borrowing the words of his rival’s father. mario cuomoalso serves as Governor of New York.

Both Mamdani and Jetten will try not to disappoint too much. The Queens native will have until January 1 of next year to receive the keys to New York City’s mayoralty, but his administration hasn’t gotten off to a bad start. She was excited about the presentation of the new transition team, which is made up of five women with extensive management experience.

Jetten will have to wait a little longer. He faces delicate negotiations to form a government and will have to work hard to incorporate PdvA-GroenLinks, a coalition of Greens and environmentalists excluded by the conservative-liberal wing of the VVD, into the next cabinet.