Even if it was not completely a surprise like in 2016, the election of Donald Trump to the White House seems to be an electric shock for European citizens.
In Switzerland, left-wing parties have reported an unprecedented influx of new registrations since then, reports the SRF: the Swiss Socialist Party (PS) has recorded more than 1,000 in three days. “There have never been so many in such a short time since we started recording the figures, that is to say since the beginning of the 2000s,” summarizes Mattea Meyer, co-president of the party.
The politician attributes this trend to a desire to fight populism and defend women’s rights. A similar effect was observed in 2016, but half as large.
“In the shock of this election, people need an option to act. It’s an outlet for one’s own impotence,” analyzes political scientist Cloé Jans of the gfs.bern research institute. On the Green side, there were around a hundred new arrivals in two days. A difference which can be explained by a crystallization of the campaign around values, rather than climate, she believes.
Professor of Political Science at the University of Bern Marc Bühlmann judges that these parties behaved intelligently in terms of marketing. Better than other political sides? “To gain members, it is easier to play the victim card than to be on the winning side.” The PLR has, however, reported new memberships in recent days, but not expressly linked to the US election.
