Anti-immigration parties with fascist roots, and an unclear commitment to democracy, are emerging as Europe’s new leaders, the New York Times reports.
Already a subscriber?Jordan Bardella, 28, is the new face of the far right in France. Measured, clean-cut and raised in the hardscrabble northern suburbs of Paris, he laces his speeches with references to Victor Hugo and believes that “no country succeeds by denying or being ashamed of itself”.
In France, Bardella, as president of the National Rally, is leading his party’s campaign for the elections in June to the European Parliament, a relatively powerless institution, but one still important for being the only directly elected body with representatives from all European Union countries. The showdown in 2018 at a G7 meeting in Canada between Donald Trump and European leaders, including then-German chancellor Angela Merkel.Historical lessons, it seems, fade after three generations.
As for Meloni, she got her start in the postwar Italian Social Movement, founded in 1946 by Mussolini supporters bent on defending the legacy of fascism. It had violent strands into the 1970s, but it eventually folded and its leaders broke off to start new more moderate parties, though still proud of their lineage. The symbol of the Brothers of Italy is a tricolour flame, previously used by a neo-fascist party, and its hostility to immigrants remains firm.
Progressive changes in social mores have offered a new rhetorical weapon to these leaders. For them, as for Putin, it has been easy to present a simplistic portrayal of the West of liberal urban elites as the decadent locus of cultural suicide, the place where family, church, nation and traditional notions of marriage and gender go to die.
The program also envisaged the expulsion of immigrants living in the country without legal permission. “Because they are sovereign, and the only sovereign, the French people have the right to make decisions considered necessary to remain themselves,” it said.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘A paradigm shift’: will Jordan Bardella finally normalise Le Pen’s far right?Smooth-talking National Rally president aims to change the tone- but not the content- of party’s anti-immigration message
Read more »
Meloni ‘turning Italian broadcaster into megaphone for far right’Investigation urged into alleged bid to turn Rai into propaganda channel for ruling parties before elections
Read more »
‘Waiting for Trump’: Viktor Orbán hopes US election will change his political fortunesExclusive: Hungary’s PM and EU’s most isolated leader says he is pursuing ‘friendship with everybody’ – particularly the former US president
Read more »
Hungary tired of ruling elite, Viktor Orbán challenger tells large rural rallyPéter Magyar, who is running in European elections, has shot to prominence by pledging to end corruption
Read more »
Italy passes measures to allow anti-abortion activists to enter abortion clinicsOpposition parties say women’s rights dealt blow after package approved by Georgia Meloni’s cabinet
Read more »
Rai journalists strike over ‘suffocating control’ by Meloni’s governmentUnion calls for end to politicians’ interference in state broadcaster amid debate over censorship
Read more »