(Original text: Published in May 2, 2016)
The extreme right wing, neo-Nazi parties are getting stronger. Not yet in power, but more effective in government policies. Liberals are without honour by throwing the blame on immigrants and even to the communists. They ignore the failure of neoliberalism.
The success
of AfD (Alternative for Germany) leaded by Frauke Petry which is known by
anti-immigrant rhetoric, have shown how the extremist nationalism became closer
to power during the local elections in Germany by March 2016. It is especially
noteworthy that the AfD could get the 24% of the votes in Lower Saxony, part of
ex-GDR. A similar case is also visible for Marine Le Pen's National Party in
France. Not only in Germany and France, extreme right wing parties in Denmark,
Switzerland and Italy are in a serious rise.
In Eastern
and Central Europe, extreme right also became important figure of daily
politics, not because they came to power, but because their political ideas
became popular among ruling political parties.
The latest elections
in Slovakia in March 2016 was under discussion widely in the European politics.
People's Party – Our Slovakia leaded by Marian Kotleba performed a serious
success by getting 8% of the votes. Kotleba is recognized with his boldness in
dressing the symbols of Nazi puppet state of Slovakia (1939-1945) in public
places.
The real
success of Kotleba and his party is not getting 8% of the votes, but his
anti-immigrant discourse found positive reflections in the ruling so-called
Social Democratic Party. Even more important is that Kotleba got significant
support from youngsters. It also has to be noted that when compared with other
European countries, less immigrants exist in Slovakia.
A similar
case is valid for Czechia. Currently social democrats hold the power in Czechia
and extreme right wing DSSS (Worker's Party for Social Justice) was banned in
2010. Currently, there is not any neo-Nazi party in political arena, but there
is also not any political party in Czechia confronting nationalism as well. Since
2010 numerous conservative organizations were established in the country.
Although none of them do not have any neo-Nazi names or any neo-Nazi expressions
in the discourse, everybody knows that if any opportunity will exist they will
show off in city centres chanting „Sieg Heil“. Thanks to communists in Czechia,
who are relatively powerful, they do not give any opportunity to neo-Nazis to
exist in public space.
PiS (Law
and Justice) in Poland is a great trouble. Poland is currently like the stronghold
of conservatism in Europe. Even those liberals, who usually do not have problems
with conservative values, religion, etc began to feel discontent with
conservative politics. The misogynist discourse of anti-abortion law in Poland
began to trouble some Poles. Last month (February 2016) number of Poles
attending street protests confronting PiS and its politics have shown a rise.
However, the ever increasing political strength and political effect of neo-Nazis
must not be underestimated. It may sound a bit weird that neo-Nazis would be
existing in a country like Poland which have experienced such a huge
devastation because of Nazi invasion in World War II. However, during the last
ten years numerous nationalist, extreme religious organizations are established
and get significant support from youngsters. Their actions even sometimes
trouble PiS government.
There are
those who sympathize Viktor Orban in Hungary since he is following a balanced
politics between Russia and USA/EU. Orban and his government have sometimes
even important political problems with EU and USA because of that. This should
not mislead us: Orban is not that much different from Erdoğan: Vulgar, arrogant
and aggressive... and fascist! On the other side, Orban and his Fidesz are even
sometimes not enough to conform racists and conservatists. Jobbik (which has
got sympathy to Turkish nationalists) has a clear racist political programme.
When we
come to ex-Yugoslavia... Those who are governing ex-Yugoslav republics are
either the same ones who drove Yugoslavia to bloody warfarein 1990’s or their
kids and successors.
Immigrants
are seen as the basic reason behind the empowerment of nationalism and racism
in the political arena in Central Europe. On the other side, empirical evidence
shows that, number of immigrants in those countries are just a few thousands in
each. According to an average European politician, the basic reason behind the
rise of nationalism and racism is the fear from immigrants and moreover „antidemocratic
legacy of half century long communism“. Solution for them is easy: Ban
communism, deport immigrants! This is what the liberal right wing politicians
cannot utter clearly, but what exactly is done by extreme right wing bullies
without any confrontation with those who defend liberal values.
What is
ignored is the ongoing effects of global economic crisis of 2009, which caused
tens of thousands to be unemployed. Those people had lost their jobs long
before the flow of immigrants!
Those
shameless right wing politicians, those idiot analysts who easily blame
immigrants and even communists turn a blind eye to 2009 crisis, the crisis of
neoliberalism.
The near
future of Central Europe is dark. But no need to darken the neck. There are
those who struggle. We will continue to be the voice of those who struggle in
East and Central Europe.
