This week it’s Macron’s address, Theresa May in distress, German voters digress and Twitter’s a mess.
Welcome to another episode of Tweets of the Week. After a slow build-up, Germany went to the polls on Sunday.
POLLS HAVE OPENED! Here's everything you need to know about the German election ? https://t.co/KG0c1uLNhc #GermanyDecides pic.twitter.com/p7rdAAImAR
— dwnews (@dwnews) September 24, 2017
Including the President of course.
I love this picture of the President of Germany waiting his turn to vote. Democracy in action. pic.twitter.com/P1ubyVr9YZ
— Marcel Dirsus (@marceldirsus) September 24, 2017
And Angela Merkel was reelected. “The Leader of the Free World has earned a fourth term, a collective sigh of relief can be heard across Europe,” tweeted Eimear Kavanagh.
The Leader of the Free World has earned a fourth term
.
A collective sigh of relief can be heard across Europe#GermanyDecides pic.twitter.com/3bhqUm3CZg
— Eimear (@eimzkavanagh) September 24, 2017
Don’t be so sure. There are now seven parties represented in the Bundestag for the first time since the 1950s.
Germany: There are now seven parties represented in the Bundestag for the first time since the 1950s. #BTW17 pic.twitter.com/zhvxhxaunJ
— Europe Elects (@EuropeElects) September 25, 2017
Including the far right AFD.
Actual Nazis are going to be in the #Bundestag. Like some German people haven't learned anything from their own history? #GermanElections
— Valeria☀️ ???? (@valfromrome) September 24, 2017
Prompting Berlaymonster put on his serious face for once and write a limerick warning of the dangers of political apathy:
“The Bundestagswahl is so boring,
The nation is yawning and snoring,
But as the all sleep
The bigots will creep
Into power, their voter base soaring”
*serious face*#BTW2017
The dangers of political apathy: a limerick. pic.twitter.com/LpGy51ny5S
— Berlaymonster (@Berlaymonster) September 24, 2017
One week on from the State of the EU, and French President Emmanuel Macron set out his vision for Europe. Carl Bildt said it was an ambitious speech that deserves deep debate.
Certainly an ambitious speech on EU future by @EmmanuelMacron yesterday. Deserves deep debate. https://t.co/vVd7Eo2HZJ
— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) September 27, 2017
Stefan Leifert summarised his message saying: “A sovereign Europe should take back control.”
Summary of Macron´s speech: A sovereign Europe should take back control.
— Stefan Leifert (@StefanLeifert) September 26, 2017
Henry Newman cautioned he was “in danger of confirming Brexiteers’ warnings about the real ambitions of the EU.”
Macron's speech, like Juncker's State of the Union address, is in danger of confirming warnings of Brexiteers about real ambitions of EU
— Henry Newman (@HenryNewman) September 26, 2017
Katy Lee, however, was impressed that Macron rounded off his big speech by saying he can’t imagine Britain not wanting to stay in EU after he’s done reforming it!
Wow. Macron rounds off his big Europe speech by saying he can't imagine Britain not wanting to stay in EU after he's done reforming it
— Katy Lee (@kjalee) September 26, 2017
Jeremy Cliffe pointed to some of the more hostile reactions. “You don’t strengthen Europe with new pots of money”, claims FDP.
Hostile reaction to Macron's speech from FDP: "You don't strengthen Europe with new pots of money", says @Lambsdorff
— Jeremy Cliffe (@JeremyCliffe) September 26, 2017
Simon Nixon described the speech as “Remarkable, optimistic, with creative solutions – a complete contrast to Theresa May in Florence.”
Remarkable speech by Macron, optimistic, creative solutions to common European challenges. What a contrast to May in Florence.
— Simon Nixon (@Simon_Nixon) September 26, 2017
Yes, May’s Florence speech was the other big oration this week. But didn’t get quite the same rave reviews!
When @theresa_may opens her mouth on the world stage, this is what happens. Oh my. #florencespeech pic.twitter.com/4gyg0xEowz
— Rachael Swindon (@Rachael_Swindon) September 22, 2017
James Melville said she had managed to piss off both the 52% and the 48% in one speech. Which takes a certain type of anti-genius.
Theresa May has managed to piss off both the 52% & the 48% in one speech. It takes a certain type of anti-genius to do this. #FlorenceSpeech
— James Melville (@JamesMelville) September 22, 2017
Columnist SheHab Kahn thought it was pretty impressive to speak for 20 minutes and say practically nothing.
Got to hand it to May. Pretty impressive to speak for about 20 minutes and say practically nothing #florencespeech
— Shehab Khan (@ShehabKhan) September 22, 2017
MEP Alyn Smith reckons “It says it all about the UK’s image, that the statement “UK will honour commitments” is actual news.
It says it all about the UK’s image now that the statement "UK will honour commitments we have made" is actual news. #FlorenceSpeech
— Alyn Smith MEP ????????? (@AlynSmith) September 22, 2017
Polly Polak thought it was like moving out telling your parents you never totally felt at home with them, but will they please pay your rent.
May's #Florencespeech is like moving out telling your parents you never totally felt at home with them but will they please pay your rent
— Polly Polak (@PolakPolly) September 23, 2017
But David Vance wondered: “what about the 17.4m who said LEAVE?”
Response to #florencespeech. EU approve.The Guardian and BBC like it. The quisling cabinet like it. Now what about the 17.4m who said LEAVE?
— David Vance (@DVATW) September 22, 2017
And in case you still didn’t get the message, Dave Keating lets a picture paint 1000 words!
Spot the difference pic.twitter.com/gkxXx29mTw
— Dave Keating (@DaveKeating) September 26, 2017
And finally Twitter goes long form! Prompting outrage from users.
James Poniewozik said a 280-character limit is a terrible idea. The whole beauty of Twitter is that it forces you to express your ideas concisely. Tweet 1 of 47.
The 280-character limit is a terrible idea. The whole beauty of Twitter is that it forces you to express your ideas concisely (1/47)
— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) September 26, 2017
Stephen Colbert identified the real threat – in one stroke, Twitter doubles the complexity of US foreign policy.
And in one stroke, Twitter doubles the complexity of our nation's foreign policy.
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) September 27, 2017
Despite our best efforts we couldn’t identify a single Brussels-based Tweeter with the coveted extension. Not even big shots like Brussels Independent Correspondent Jon Stone.
wow not such a big shot now am I? pic.twitter.com/3HcdJaNXgM
— Jon Stone (@joncstone) September 27, 2017
Or Harold Tor.
君子长话短说#280characters not needed
— Harold Tor (@HaroldTor) September 28, 2017
Or Brusselsgeek. Ahem!
If #280Characters is the answer, what's the question?
— Jennifer Baker (@BrusselsGeek) September 28, 2017
Get in touch if you are one of the chosen ones, using the hashtag #EUtweets.
This week we are supported by UNESDA. Check out their 140 character tweet highlighting how the soft drinks industry contributes to employment in Europe.
Interesting map. The soft drinks industry employs over 1 million people in the EU both directly and indirectly https://t.co/wd24zPHHCk
— Soft Drinks Europe (@UNESDA) September 26, 2017
Join me again next week for more of the same plus a special look at the European Parliament Plenary. MEP Assistants, on your marks, get set, get tweeting!