Wobbly Lady... the world’s media mock PM

THE world’s media reacted with surprise and derision to the election result. In Germany, there was little sympathy, with newspapers calling the election a debacle.

‘Vote slap for Theresa May,’ said Bild newspaper, adding: ‘An election debacle before the start of Brexit negotiations. Theresa May is facing an exit from her own party.’

Spiegel magazine, using German wordplay to compare her with the Iron lady Margaret Thatcher, called her instead ‘Die eiernde Lady’ – the wobbly lady. ‘Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May has been playing poker – and has lost almost everything. After a memorable night, the country is politically paralysed,’ it said.

In France, the hung parliament was met with mockery. Le Figaro newspaper wrote: ‘Theresa May, who had called this poll with the sole purpose of strengthening her existing majority, was caught in her own trap.’

Ouest France pointed to ‘an election for nothing’, saying that a ‘profoundly disorientated Britain’ had voted.

Le Monde suggested Britain was facing the prospect of a ‘terribly fragile’ minority government that will be a ‘blow to the Brexit schedule’.

In Spain, El Pais called it a ‘total failure, adding: ‘If May brought yesterday’s elections forward to achieve electoral backing for the UK’s crucial Brexit negotiations, as she repeatedly claimed, the result she’s obtained has been exactly the opposite.

‘If she did it, as everything appears to indicate, to solve her problems of authority and legitimacy in the Conservative Party, we can talk very clearly about a total failure.’

The New York Times said: ‘What a mess. Britain was supposed to wake up on Friday with the political clarity, finally, to begin formal negotiations to leave the EU.’

The Wall Street Journal said the poll was a ‘stunning blow’ to Mrs May.