Voters in the European Union are more interested in the war in Gaza than in Ukraine

In France today, on the day when the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen delivers her state of the union address in Strasbourg, a blockade is set to begin. The national call for ‘blocking the country’ (French ‘Bloquons tout!’) threatens to paralyze the entire state, including Strasbourg itself. The blockade is expected to affect all sectors, from transportation to schools.

Blocked France

All approximately 300 accredited journalists who will be following von der Leyen’s speech in the European Parliament are already entering the building in long lines from early dawn, passing through the usual strict security checks. There are almost no available hotel rooms in the city, but today there is no sense around the parliament of the people’s event that started on social media and has turned into a clear response to French politicians who have been collapsing the government for the second consecutive year due to an inability to agree on the budget.

Budget and Gaza

In the parliament itself, the most discussed topics these days are the budget and the new EU financial framework. At every press briefing or official conference, there is a demand for more space and clarifications from budget creators, commission representatives, and parliament members who are yet to express their views on how it will ultimately look, although the official version will only be available in two years. Besides the budget, the topic that is continuously discussed is the war in Gaza!

– It is a fact that European voters, immigrants from numerous Arab countries, are more interested in the war in Gaza than in Ukraine – it has been heard these days in the European Parliament.

Both the budget and the war in both countries will certainly be mentioned in the introductory speech by President von der Leyen, who will not miss the opportunity to present detailed achievements of the Commission in the past year and current challenges. Political group leaders will then lead the discussion, and parliament members will evaluate the work of the Commission and its plans, while also presenting their own priorities.