Rise of Populist Parties

[ErasOmnius]

Now the True Finns have won almost 20% of the vote in Finland. They want to amend the Portugal Bailout, and have been compared to the 'Tea Party Movement' in the USA. Are populist parties replacing traditional parties replacing the Left/Right axis in legislatures?

[Edric O]

Comparing the True Finns with the Tea Party is too much of a stretch, considering the fact that they are calling for a strengthening of the welfare state (albeit for Finnish people only). However, having said that, the main focus of the True Finns lies in anti-immigrant policies and other nationalist causes. And, like the Tea Party, they are a reactionary movement drawing support from a frightened middle class who believes that the only way out of the current crisis is to go back to some past golden age that exists only in their imagination. The True Finns, like all other recent far-right movements in Europe and North America, are a bunch of relatively well-off people who want to take refuge in the past because they are afraid they have no future.

And their fears are justified, even if their response is utterly wrong. Capitalism is in crisis - a very deep and long-lasting crisis - and the ruling class seems determined to "fix" this problem by pushing down the living standards of everyone else. It's like a milder version of the Great Depression, and therefore it has created a milder version of the political trend that swept Europe in the 1930s.

When capitalism enters a major crisis, it always leads to radicalization and polarization. It provides an opportunity for socialists to fight and win, and it may even lead to communist revolutions. But on the other hand, far-right movements also rise, feeding on fear and suspicion.

The True Finns, the "Sweden Democrats," the Freedom Party in the Netherlands, the BNP and EDL in the UK, the reinvigorated Front National in France, the Northern League in Italy, the Swiss People's Party, the FPÖ and BZÖ in Austria, Jobbik in Hungary... they are all part of a Europe-wide trend, and this is a trend we've seen before, after the Great Crash of 1929.

Ladies and gentlemen, fascism is back.

[athanasios]

We have to kill it before it kills us.

ErasOmnius: Would you please consider changing the title to Rise of Fascism/Nazism or of Fascist/Nazi Parties?

The economic crisis serves very well their purpose. They have found the scapegoat: immigrants. So they offer their 'enlightened' solution: "As good Nationalists we have to throw them out of Europe because we have to save our Motherland from the invasion of the unbelievers."

NO! We will expose you day and night till you are no more. You challenged YHWH and his appointed King Jesus Christ and he smashed your Third Reich. You will have the same fat.

[Edric O]

I wouldn't go so far as to call them Nazis. Let's be fair here, these parties are not nearly as bad as the NSDAP. They are more similar to Franco and Horthy than to Hitler. They are fascists, yes, but they are not Nazis. If they came to power, they would make life hell for "non-white" people (meaning arbitrary ethnic groups that they happen to hate), but they would not commit genocide.

But you are absolutely correct about these groups using immigrants as scapegoats. That is always their main concern, and the reason why they've gain in popularity recently. It is absurd to say that immigrants had anything to do with the current economic crisis, but since the mainstream parties can't offer any good explanation for what's going on (because they can't admit that capitalism is at fault), the "blame immigrants and ethnic minorities" excuse is gaining ground.

And yes, it is very important to fight this new wave of fascism, just like another generation of communists fought the one before. We won last time. We can win again.

[athanasios]

Fascist Italy supported Hitler. Similarly today those parties view the Nazi parties as their brothers and friends-at least here in Greece.

The immigrants here are a small part of the problem: They work and send the money they make back to their families. You see the dictators here are so smart not to allow their families to join them.

But the bulk of the money that is leaving the country is from European chain stores and Greek businessmen who shut down factories and move their ventures to 'cheaper hands' countries and deposit their profits in Swiss banks to avoid taxes (black money). We only consume without producing. Inevitably the money will run out one day.

To further expand on the immigrants, I wouldn't consider them a burden at all. Lack of vision and interest to fill their pockets from the side of the dictators is what is preventing the utilization of such a huge workforce.

-

A synagogue in Corfu was put on fire. Needless to add who is behind such attacks here in Greece.

[ErasOmnius]

My next question was going to be: Is there a way that these parties can be 'moderated', or made more 'normal'? The Tea Party, not being a separate party, but a sub-group of the Republican Party, is already very moderated. This is in comparison to the way their members voted on the 2011 Federal Budget, as compared to the platform of what many of them ran on.

As far as the 'cultural patriotism' of a Party such as True Finn. How is that different from 'The Party of Wales', which strives for Welsh independence, for example? Or the Flemish Parties of Belgium that want French-only spoken? Certainly they do not seem anti-Semitic at their core, like the Nazis were.

[athanasios]

PARTY of admirers of former Greek military junta:

http://lefteria.blogspot.com/2011/04/21_27.html

http://lefteria.blogspot.com/2011/04/21_2541.html

NOTE the presence of LAOS party local politician Chrysoula Zarogianni.

Ridiculous and graphic?

[athanasios]

The site of Marine Le Pen was hacked repeatedly:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428742

[athanasios]

Trouble in Igoumenitsa port. Fascists-with the aid of the Police-against illegal immigrants. They attacked them shouting: Kill them, burn them, f*** them...

[ErasOmnius]

Those fascists, they are always causing trouble.

[athanasios]

More trouble created by Nazis here in Athens during a court case for 2 of them who had severely injured 2 anarchists with knives. A number of them gathered in the court and prevented leftists and anarchists to enter the room. Soon a fight started inside the court and the 2 tried to escape or escaped (?). A lawyer was injured by the Nazis and was admitted to hospital. The court changed the charge to serious injuries and attempt of murder and sent the case to a higher court.

[athanasios]

Russian skinheads jailed for filmed race attacks

[Anathema]

As far as the 'cultural patriotism' of a Party such as True Finn. How is that different from 'The Party of Wales'' date=' which strives for Welsh independence, for example? Or the Flemish Parties of Belgium that want [b']French-only spoken? Certainly they do not seem anti-Semitic at their core, like the Nazis were.

I asume you mean "Dutch only" :P

Actually, allthough the (truly) racist Flemish Block/Interest party was probably the first to capitalize the language issue, it's become something of a mainstream debate. Virtually all Flemish people speak both Dutch and French, while the same can't be said about the French-speaking Wallonians. Many Flemish think it's unfair that they're expected to accomodate the Wallonians visiting Flanders by speaking French.

More generally, many European parties can be said to be anti-semetic (like the Front National or the Austrian FPO). The Dutch PVV (i.e. the "Freedom Pary" of Geert Wilders) are however fiercely pro-Israel. Their target of choice is islam, allthough they insist it's because of the religion as such and not because of race.

For that matter, the PVV and Wilders deny that they're fascists or nazis, and use any means at their disposal (short of breaking the law) to silence people who make that comparison.

On the other hand, they put this in their election manifesto last year:

On May 4th we remember the victims of (national) socialism

The fifth of may is the day the Netherlands celebrates their liberation (that being the day the German forces in our country surrendered). The day before that, may 4th, is the remembrance of the people who died in WWII. In any other context you could have argued that this was a poor play-on-words. Mentioning it like this however is rather disrespectful - especially considering that the vast majority of the Dutch resistance members against the occupation were either A ) orthodox protestants or B ) socialists (including communists & social-democrats)

[athanasios]

LAOS party in Greece, even though its members are anti-Zionists and hate Jews, proposes a cooperation with Israel against Turkey and Islam.

[athanasios]

Protest of leftists and anarchists outside the house of one of the two fascists who attacked immigrants inside a bus. Photos of him and their names (article in Greek):

protest against a fascist

[ErasOmnius]

I asume you mean "Dutch only" :P

Actually, allthough the (truly) racist Flemish Block/Interest party was probably the first to capitalize the language issue, it's become something of a mainstream debate. Virtually all Flemish people speak both Dutch and French, while the same can't be said about the French-speaking Wallonians. Many Flemish think it's unfair that they're expected to accomodate the Wallonians visiting Flanders by speaking French.

I'm sorry, you're right. I was talking about the Flemish Interest Party, and should have said 'Dutch'-only. I had thought that the Flemish Bloc Party was illegal, and considered a Nazi-like entity.

The Flemish Interest Party seems to be very much like the True Finns. In that the strong belief that a return to yesteryear of European policies [barrier-oriented trade policy, protectionism, languages allowed and spoken, anti-EU Member economic bailouts, and anti-immigration laws] are going to somehow bring back prosperity. As we study this phenom across The West, I would also group in what happened in the UK last week, with the rise of the Scottish National Party [sNP] and the decline of Labour. Perhaps this belief that the Labour Party of the UK did not have enough of these 'vigorous ideas', show that maybe they are slow to capitalize on some's desire to return to the regional, ethnocentric return of the Europe of yesteryear?

[athanasios]

Two attacks on immigrants, one with ample proof that it was from Nazi terrorists:

1. Arson of an unofficial mosque in Kallithea, Athens. This was the second time. The first time they were detected earlier and didn't have the time to put on fire the gasoline they had spilled at the entrance of the mosque.

Links in Greek, but with photos:

Link 1

Link 2

2. Attempted arson with Molotov in Patras. The Molotov bomb missed target and hit the entrance of the next house-the house of a beggar.

And quite shocking the reply comment on youtube:

καψτε ζωντανους ολους τους ξενους εισβολεις, τις οικογενειες τους και τους αναρχοκομουνιστες συνεργατες τους!!!!!

εχουμε πολεμο. τα παντα επιτρεπονται!!!!

poutsas69

TRANSLATION:

burn alive all the foreign invaders, their families and their anarchocommunist comrades!!!!!

we have war, everything is allowed!!!!

sl**g69

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Anonymous launches Operation Blitzkrieg

[athanasios]

A horrible day for Ukraine that brought back very bad memories. It is a shame Europe is moving straight ahead into the black ages again:

[athanasios]

A horrible crime was committed yesterday in Athens. A man going to take his car from the parking to carry his pregnant wife who was lagoring to the hospital was stubbed to death. the murderers stole his money and the camera he was going to use to record the birth of his daughter. He was found in a pool of blood by his laboring wife.

Now this is somewhat irrelevant to the topic, but the events that followed are not. As usual the neo Nazis and the Fascists took the opportunity to accuse the immigrants for the crime and started attacking foreigners. They broke into houses, shops of foreigners and caused severe damages and hit many people. Also they tried to invade into 2 occupied (by anarchists) buildings. The anarchists retaliated and protected many passing by immigrants who sought refuge in the occupied buildings to save their lives. The police once again proved that the majority of them are fascist pigs not only by refraining to arrest their 'comrades' but by also doing nothing to prevent the attacks on the poor immigrants. 2 Nazis attacked an immigrant worker but for his luck his 4 coworkers since they outnumbered the Nazis beat them so much that they ended in the hospital-I hope they stay there for long. There are rumors that the Nazis murdered one immigrant but I cannot confirm this. Maybe by tomorrow we will have more information.

[Dunenewt]

The True Finns are anything but a fascist party. Even the left-wing BBC have not painted them as such! I've met Timo Soini and he is definitely not racist, just a socialist who is anti-globalisation, and as a Millwall fan he is anything but "scared middle class". I'm surprised the rise of left-wing extremists has not been mentioned, such as Bildu in Spain who are linked to the terrorist organisation ETA.

[Oh yeah]

I asume you mean "Dutch only" :P

Actually, allthough the (truly) racist Flemish Block/Interest party was probably the first to capitalize the language issue, it's become something of a mainstream debate. Virtually all Flemish people speak both Dutch and French, while the same can't be said about the French-speaking Wallonians. Many Flemish think it's unfair that they're expected to accomodate the Wallonians visiting Flanders by speaking French.

on the contrary, French speaking Belgians speak booth languages, Flemish won't.

Especially the youngest.

That's what I see every summer. No way to speak French with them ! in France I say !

So...

And I practice my Dutch with waloonians :D

[Oh yeah]

The True Finns are anything but a fascist party. Even the left-wing BBC have not painted them as such! I've met Timo Soini and he is definitely not racist, just a socialist who is anti-globalisation, and as a Millwall fan he is anything but "scared middle class". I'm surprised the rise of left-wing extremists has not been mentioned, such as Bildu in Spain who are linked to the terrorist organisation ETA.

Their goals are different.

ETA want to create a real State of Euskal Herria. They fight has nothing to do with racism, anti semitism, or ethnical debates. They just want their own country to save their people from oblivion.

[TheCurtOne]

state of Euskal Herria? what's that?

[Oh yeah]

state of Euskal Herria? what's that?

Euskal Herria= basque country in basque ;)

[Wolf]

They have an extremely interesting language.