European Elections 2014

Okay, so let me admit this first, right off the bat: i did not vote in these European elections. Specifically, the French elections, which as a French citizen, I am entitled to do.

But that certainly does not mean I am not watching the result, just like everyone else is. And troubled by the growing trends towards far right parties, much like everyone else is nervous about, as well.

In France, the winner of this election, for all intents and purposes, was the Front Nationale (the National Front), a far-right wing party that is basically anti-European Union, and anti-immigration.

Not long ago, the Front Nationale was headed by Jean-Marie Le Pen, and the party was basically known as a racist party. They viewed Muslims with hostility, and Le Pen himself had a shady past during World War II, and once suggested that the Holocaust was merely a detail in history. For a long time, the party was seen as overly extremist, and remained on the fringe of mainstream politics in France.

That changed, however, in 2002, when Le Pen, running for President, pulled off a shocked and placed second overall in the general elections, which meant that he was one of two candidates who qualified for the run-off election, which he lost, overwhelmingly, to Chirac. Still, the fact that such a party, and such a man, could get as many votes as he got, and qualify for the final election, was alarming.

There are many far right wing parties that have enjoyed increasing success over the course of recent years, and even decades. The Front Nationale has continued to grow in France, of course. But it is not alone as an example of increasing political extremism in Europe.

In the Netherlands, two center right political parties have come to an agreement to form a minority government by including the extremist PVV Party, led by Geert Wilders, who is set to now play a prominent role, and who's party infamously has staunch anti-Islam leanings. Wilders has called for an outright ban of the Koran, which he compares with Mein Kampf.

In Hungary, the Jobbik has become more prominent over time, as well as more vocal in not just anti-immigrant messages and ideology, but also taken a decidedly anti-Semitic stance. They blame the Roma for everything, becoming the scapegoat of convenience for all of Hungary's ills.

In Switzerland, anti-immigration sentiments have grown, and this has been reflected in recent elections.

In Great Britain, UKIP leader Nigel Farage scored big gains behind an anti-immigration, anti-European Union platform.

In Austria, a far right wing party, the Austrian Freedom Party led by extremist Jörg Haider even was able to win enough support in one election to collaborate (known as The Alliance for the Future of Austria, with Haider chairing it) with the conservative party in forming a government. Austria received some sanctions for this, although this was well over a decade ago. It should also be remembered that in the 1980's, Kurt Waldheim, who had been an active Nazi during the war, served as Austria's president.

In Germany, there have been attacks with decidedly anti-immigrant, and often racist, undertones. Similarly to other nations, anti-immigration sentiments have been increasingly reflected in election results.

And the most famous example, at least for now, of a very extremist, far right wing political party gaining national prominence has been in Greece, where the Golden Dawn has made some considerable political gains.

It is still obviously far from a majority, but it has actual representation in government, and continues to grow, alarming many people the world over.



This is an older article from a couple of years back, but serves as a good introduction and starting point regarding Europe's far right parties, and I recommend taking a look at it:

Meet Europe’s far-right groups by Olga Khazan of the Washington Post, October 20, 2012:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2012/10/20/meet-europes-far-right-groups/



European Elections: 9 Scariest Far-Right Parties Now In The European Parliament The Huffington Post UK  |  By Jessica Elgot Posted: 26/05/2014:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/26/far-right-europe-election_n_5391873.html



Anti-Islam party to feature in Dutch minority government by Author: Sarah Harman Editor: Michael Lawton

http://www.dw.de/anti-islam-party-to-feature-in-dutch-minority-government/a-5858573
 
  Dutch far-right party set to be part of a minority government by Nigel Tandy, Andrew Bowen (dpa/Reuters):

http://www.dw.de/dutch-far-right-party-set-to-be-part-of-a-minority-government/a-6054981


UK's Eurosceptic UKIP party storms to victory in Europe vote by Andrew Osborn and Guy Faulconbridge of Reuters, May 26, 2014:
http://news.yahoo.com/uks-eurosceptic-ukip-party-poised-victory-europe-vote-001805817--business.html;_ylt=AwrBJR6PBodTZ1cApPDQtDMD



Not all countries trended to the far right, of course. Here is some news reminding us that, despite the headline grabbing, and rather alarming gains and sharp right turns seen throughout Europe, the left enjoyed some considerable wins in elections in other countries:

European elections: six countries that went left, not right (Video by The Guardian)

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/shortcuts/2014/may/26/european-elections-six-countries-went-left