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European Parliament elections 2009: Pleas not to ‘aid’ extremist parties

Sun, May 24 2009 14:23 CET 3480 Views 13 Comments
European Parliament elections 2009: Pleas not to ‘aid’ extremist parties

CHOICES: Teenagers look at the screen of the interactive ‘Choice Box’ for European Parliament election campaign in Riga, Latvia, May 22 2009.


In the Hague, Geert Wilders is preaching politics against the "Islamization" of Europe, while in the UK the far-right British National Party is said to be gaining in opinion polls; in the Czech Republic a party has flighted advertisements calling for a "final solution to the gypsy issue" and in Austria, the leader of the far-right Freedom Party is alleged to be vilifying other religions and ethnicities.
 
In this spectrum, Hungary’s nationalist Jobbik party, with its demands to keep foreigners from buying land in Hungary and for protection of the domestic market from foreign produce, seems among the least extreme in the runners in the June 2009 European Parliament elections.
 
In the Netherlands, Wilders’ Party for Freedom is aiming for four of the Netherlands’ 25 seats after the country votes for its MEPs on June 4. The party is campaigning for "More Netherlands, Less Europe", is vehemently opposed to Turkey joining the EU, wants Bulgaria and Romania evicted from the bloc and for that matter, appears intent on dismantling the EU itself.
 
In the UK, the BNP was said by a Sunday Express poll, the results of which were published on May 24, to be poised to get enough votes for its leader Nick Griffin to become an MEP.
 
Support for the BNP and fundamentally euro skeptic UK Independence Party is said to have been augmented by the expenses scandal currently shaking Britain’s political landscape.
 
Against a background of concern that British voters could opt for extremist parties as a means of protest voting, Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and the Archbishop of York John Sentamu issued a statement saying that it would be tragic if people stayed away from voting, or voted for extremist parties, because of the recent scandals.
 
European Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering said in an interview published in Spain on May 23 2009 that a low turnout in the European elections would favour "extremist" parties.
 
"If people don't vote, the danger is that will be more extremist parties or from outside the mainstream" in the European Parliament, Poettering told Spanish newspaper El Mundo.
 
In the Czech Republic, there was outrage from the government and a ban on a repeat after an advertisement by the far-right National Party (NP) called for a "final solution to the gypsy issue".
 
Prime minister Jan Fischer said that the NP should be banned, and that the advertisement was illegal, invoking the "final solution" terminology used by Nazi Germany in the Holocaust in World War 2.
 
In Austria, the leader of the far-right Freedom Party, Heinz-Christian Strache, has been sharply criticised by opponents for his party’s campaign opposing not only Turkey’s but also Israel’s accession to the EU.
 
Strache has led a campaign that has included posters for "the West in Christian hands".
 
Chancellor Werner Faymann said that Israel was not a candidate for EU accession and it made no sense to mention it. "The only reason to mention Israel is to serve anti-Semitic prejudices. It is disgraceful," Faymann said.
 

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Comments

Anonymous Euro non sceptic Brit Thu, May 28 2009 00:21 CET

Enoch Powell, Barbara Castle, 1960's 70's I remember their concerns well, along with my late GrandFather and Late Father!
Nothing changes since, except political animals in Uganda and former Rhodesia forcing mass exodus from these countries to the UK and our European counterparts. The likes of some of these ignorant people's comments written on this blogg, who seem to think that the UK can survive like the British Empire days are living in a land of nod!
Get real and work to integrate NOT as someone so elequently expressed themselves sticking heads up ones own orifice! [...]

Read the full comment
And, try coming out to Bulgaria 1st before you try and "UK tabloid stlye" write it off! You may well discover what it can and does offer much more than the UK and its pathetic lifestyle!

Anonymous Optomist Wed, May 27 2009 01:24 CET

liisten to some music, watch a play, have a laugh, take up some new hobbies, get some exercise, learn language.

Ooh I forgot the end of Europe is nigh- only 15 years left i best hurry up and enjoy!

AnonymousOptomistWed, May 27 2009 01:22 CET

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AnonymousOptomistWed, May 27 2009 01:21 CET

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AnonymousOptomistWed, May 27 2009 01:19 CET

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AnonymousOptomistWed, May 27 2009 01:16 CET

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AnonymousOptomistWed, May 27 2009 01:16 CET

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AnonymousOptomistWed, May 27 2009 01:12 CET

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AnonymousOptomistWed, May 27 2009 01:09 CET

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Anonymous Optomist Wed, May 27 2009 01:06 CET

Censorship on these boards:

I see only far right posters are allowed post on these baords as anything calling for racial tolerance, goodwill and enjoymeny of likfe to the full. Sad embitterd people on here. Posted Mon 26th 23.05 .

Anonymous xp Tue, May 26 2009 12:15 CET

Islamization has already taken place. Sharia law has taken over and the demographic shift has begun. Europeans shall become dhimmis in their own countries within 15 years.

If you allow Turkey into the EU, it is all over sooner than that!

Do not fall into the "multi-cultural" trap which my country has fallen into and now crime and lawlessness is the norm!
Do not become dhimmis and do not pay the jizya tax!

AnonymousOptomistTue, May 26 2009 02:20 CET

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Anonymous Aries Mon, May 25 2009 23:24 CET

The dreaded "islamization"
Is a by product of Globalization politics and the so called "war on Terror" An American rightfull reaction to the shock of 11th September.
Islam is another "culture" another "world" i wish them all the best providing they stay out
out of Europe it may sound it bit awckward but it's true.

Anonymous JohnJo Mon, May 25 2009 21:32 CET

First of all we had been promised a referendum by the labour party on Europe 1Oyrs ago this never happend why you might ask. The political fraudsters in the UK would lose, the majority of brits do not want to be intergrated with the so called EU we will not accept the euro currency in place of the British pound some time soon the peoples of some EU countries will erupt over imigration policies if you do not want hitlers treat your own people first.

AnonymousColeMon, May 25 2009 19:45 CET

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Anonymous JohnJo Mon, May 25 2009 19:30 CET

After years of being brainwashed by goverments in europe it is now time to stop all imigration it is now getting to boiling point. There have been riots in some countries on this very issue but we still carry on with our heads up our arses. I would also like to say to the french please do not encourage illegal imigration to the UK deal with it on your own soil. Vote BNP. or UKIP perhaps we can stem the tide and rule ourselves in the UK.

AnonymoussnapdragonMon, May 25 2009 14:58 CET

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Anonymous InsideTheVoid Mon, May 25 2009 11:09 CET

Would be great if Australia had a party similar to Britain's BNP.

Anonymous Brit Mon, May 25 2009 07:39 CET

I've been debating whether I should vote for UKIP or the BNP. I've finally decided that I will vote for the BNP since it is the only party which opposes the ongoing ethnic genocide of the British people.

Anonymous JohnJo Sun, May 24 2009 22:48 CET

We need more like the BNP to teach the other 3 main parties that the British public will not put up with the expences scandal they are fed up with the MPs on the take while we have to lose our jobs and houses. They make me (sick) we need a revolution in the UK we are sick and fed up with the other lot in Brussels also on the take. I hope UKIP & the BNP get the most votes and tell the so called European Union to P*ss of.

Anonymous C. Martel Sun, May 24 2009 20:51 CET

As long as explotive capitalist and leftist governments commit soft core ethnic cleansing of European national cultures, I applaud the rise of the Far Right.

It is morally wrong to destroy the culture of a nation, especially through the use of non-white and Muslim immigration. Ask Native Americans and Canadians whose lands were taken over and destroyed by White Europeans.

This is what the Han majority do in China- just ask the Buddhists of Tibet. Ethnic cleansing by replacing national cultures through immigration of another group.

Anonymous Rocky Sun, May 24 2009 18:40 CET

Politics is a lot like marriage. It won't work unless you both have a voice, are willing to compromise and to often make sacrifices for the good of everyone involved.

This is how I see the problems of politics. Yes...very very simplified but at least it makes sense. If your governments had listened to the people instead of acting like god, they might have been in a much healthier position.

So vote with your head and not your hearts. It's easy to see now how intertwined the world really is and your [...]

Read the full comment decisions will eventually affect the world.

Anonymous Cryptic Sun, May 24 2009 16:09 CET

Why do people compare the BNP to Geert Wilders' Freedom Party? The differences are astronomical.

As a Britain, the mere existence of the BNP ashames me - yet I mourn the lack of a party in Britain that even compares to the Dutch Freedom Party.

AnonymousAnthony RatkovSun, May 24 2009 15:28 CET

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