The Airportline: Observations

Big day in Amsterdam today. The EU election kicks off and the atmosphere is pumping with excitement. EU flags are waving in the wind, Polish workers and unemployed Dutch men drink beer and hug each other in this celebration of the Europe wide democratic process. It is big, exciting and the pan European public sphere is on fire. Its like a monster truck show but with substance! Or as DutchNews.nl report:

Only voters in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania and Sweden are less interested in the election. Ireland tops the list with 66% of its poll certain to vote.

Two out of three Dutch voters polled said they had little information about the elections - the lowest percentage in the 27-country EU block. And 53% do not know the election will take place on June 4.

Yeah, can you feel the excitement!? Of course not. No one cares about this election here. In Berlin, were there were EU posters all over the place, Andrea Merkels serious face was hanging over the drugdealers at Kottbusser Tor claiming something about having a voice in Europe. The Amsterdam people probably does not care about this, they are more occupied with constructing the most expensive and most delayed subway in history.