British writer: Populist governments face difficulty in transitioning from campaigns to governance

The British writer David Frost believes in an article published by the Daily Telegraph that the success of populist leaders in winning elections does not necessarily mean their ability to manage governance, according to the BBC News Arabi press tour.

Frost cites US President Donald Trump, who pledged in his 2024 election campaign not to start new wars before the United States entered a war with Iran, coinciding with the rise in fuel prices. This is contrary to his campaign promises.

The writer considers that Trump's problem is not limited to breaking promises, but lies in his inability to move from a campaign mentality to the requirements of governance, which requires interpreting difficult decisions and maintaining the support of voters. He says Trump has lost focus on his cost-of-living and immigration priorities, and that his trade policies are inconsistent with his stated goals.

Populist leaders often escalate by challenging prevailing situations and raising issues that others avoid, Frost explains. But the qualities that help them win are not enough to run the state, as governance requires reforming institutions, setting priorities, and dealing with the opposition. He points to the faltering of populist parties in the Netherlands, Austria and Sweden, arguing that EU restrictions make it more difficult to carry out electoral promises.

The British Conservative Party has historically succeeded in combining the ability of populists to connect with voters with the experience of traditional conservatives in running institutions, citing the experiences of Benjamin Disraeli, Margaret Thatcher and Boris Johnson. However, he considers that these two currents have become politically separate, and that the rapprochement between them is a condition for the return of the British right to power.

Source: BBC News Arabic - https://www.bbc.com/arabic/articles/c62e993lvl23o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss