The celebrations over the stunning victory of the Conservatives in the British elections were barely over when Western media started evaluating the impact of the polls' outcome on the future of the European Union. The biggest concern is whether David Cameron will go through with a referendum to seek popular opinion about the United Kingdom's association with the EU by the end of 2017.

Cameron gambled (as politicians often do in times of crisis) ahead of elections and promised to seek public endorsement for remaining a member of the union. He failed to realize that the possible exit, also dubbed "Brexit," may herald the undoing of a political experiment that has several virtues and that can serve as model for other regions facing territorial conflicts and economic rivalries. Britain is not part of the Euro currency group, but its departure from the union will result in problems.

The main issue with the Tory victory is the party's thin majority in Parliament, as the party has just 330 seats in a house of 650. This situation exposes David Cameron to undue pressure from hard-line MPs who may try to twist his arm over several issues, including EU membership and the tightening of immigration laws. It is feared that inter-party rivalry and politicking will increase Euro-bashing, dragging EU membership into the fray and possibly subjecting it to referendum.

Other European countries therefore fear that the British domestic political situation will impact them. Cameron, bedeviled by internal politics, may try to negotiate a costly deal with fellow nations to remain part of the EU. His success could open a window for other countries to seek preferential treatment, while his failure could lead to the weakening of the union. If Britain were to remain a member, uneasiness would increase, and it would become quite a burden for other countries to pull along a weary partner.

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