Europe Decides - Start in the Netherlands
By: Andrew Belshaw
Head of Investment Management, Europe
After the political tsunamis of 2016—with the unexpected decisions by the British to leave the EU, and the Americans to elect Donald Trump president—the political nexus in 2017 shifts to the eurozone. The coming months herald parliamentary and presidential elections in the Netherlands, France and Germany—all founding members of what became the EU—and all vulnerable to the rising populist tide. The immediate focus is on...
the Netherlands and France (on which this paper will primarily concentrate), whose electorates make their choices over the next two months, and are seemingly most vulnerable to political rebellion. What is the likelihood of success for the anti-establishment parties? What are the implications of such success politically? And what will it mean for financial markets?
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