Minorities in Euro government

[McClathy Newspapers] In Britain’s House of Commons, only 15 of 646 members are non-white, although minorities make up about 8 percent of the country’s population.

In France , there’s only one minority deputy among the 555 members of the National Assembly who represent mainland France , although perhaps one in five citizens is of minority descent. Two members of the 305-seat Senate hail from North Africa , although no senators are black, and President Nicolas Sarkozy has appointed three minority women to his Cabinet.

Neither Britain nor France has significant affirmative action programs, nor is there a sizeable black middle class, as in the United States . The French, for whom national identity is paramount, don’t count race in their census.

European political systems also function differently than the American-style primaries. In Europe , tight circles of party insiders, who often attend the same elite schools, choose the national candidates. Critics say that makes it harder for outsiders, and minorities, to break in.

…”I think because of Obama a lot of people feel it’s more possible now here because they didn’t expect it in America,” said Zachary Miller , a black man who hails from Ohio , lives in Paris and is vice chairman of Democrats Abroad in France and an Obama supporter. At the same time, Miller said, “the conclusion is certain things would have to change. No one’s really very optimistic that will happen anytime soon.”

Didn’t expect it in America..? In America? Sounds like Europe should worry about Europe and stop casting stones at America.