Europe Yawns Over US Election

The next occupant of the Oval Office will not improve damaged US-European relationships, said almost half of Europeans in a recent poll. In an opinion not reflected by leaders like Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy, only 35% said relations would improve, while 46% said they would not. A study sponsor said, “It will take more than changes in leadership to mend past rifts.”

Au contraire across the pond—42% of Americans believe that next year’s elections will improve affairs with Europe, the Politico reports. Democrats were much more likely than Republicans to expect better welcomes for their next commander in chief from Berlin to Budapest. And US support for the international promotion of democracy continued to drop. (More Europe stories.)