Evidently, Greece, which is holding their elections today, has a genuine Nazi Party and early exit polls indicate that it came in in sixth or seventh place with 6-8% of the vote. Three percent is needed to join parliament, so for the first time since the end of World War Two a European country will have the honor of Nazi representation. This is a result of the ongoing economic calamity in Greece and the severe austerity measures imposed by Germany. So, in an indirect way, Germany has brought back the Nazis. Poorly done.
I saw exit polls leaked that predict Sarkozy will lose, but it was fairly close at 53%-47%.
We’ll see what happens and what it means.
This is no surprise, and this isn’t really the first move towards fascism in Europe. Many of the political movements in Eastern Europe, post-Iron Curtain, were filled with the residua of mid-century European fascism.
For that matter, the Republican Party here in the US is essentially the moral and political equivalent of Mussolini’s movement.
Fascism is like a plague. It never completely disappears. It hides and waits for its opportunity. As I recall, Brecht had a quote on this.
“Do not rejoice in his defeat, you men. For though the bastard is dead, the bitch that bore him is again in heat.”
there’s a big difference between fascism as it has existed in post-war Italy or Turkey or Argentina and Paraguay, and an out-an-out Nazi Party. They use the Nazi salute and their party flag is basically a swastika.
Have you read about the party leader? I just read his Wikipedia entry. And that alone tells me what a nasty piece of work the guy is. And he’s been at it since his teens too.
yes. he’s a very nasty piece of work.
If you want Nazi salutes, you don’t have to go farther than Arizona.
International fascism never went away. The party names change, and salutes come and go like dance steps. There’s a good book that’s 25 years old, INSIDE THE LEAGUE, which goes into fascist movements around the world. There are many other good books on post-WWII fascist movements, BLOOD IN THE FACE, DREAMER OF THE DAY. More ominous than the the continuing attraction of fascism to a percentage of humanity is how many of these movements have been incorporated into working governments. Gehlen’s Org was absorbed into the early CIA. The genocide after Suharto’s coup in Indonesia was very much an eruption of fascism and its consequences.
Don’t forget that the far-right is already in control of Hungary. As I said to someone on Twitter, when elites fail it helps with the rise of the far-right. Then again, a lot of elites in the world would belong to the far-right if they could get away with it.
And now the AP confirms.
(shrug) Just like Wisconsin, or the US House – the voters have only themselves to blame for the racist tears that are certain to ensue.
Not totally. When the elites fail to do the right thing, stuff like this results. Remember, this all started with a Socialist government in Greece. Meaning, while like here, Greece’s version of the GOP left the country in debt, the Greek Socialist party didn’t tell the banksters to go bleep themselves. In fact, they hopped aboard the austerity bandwagon. It’s just like the Democrats in D.C. in the lead-up to the Iraq(W.’s) war.
Yes, totally. W didn’t appear magically from a vacuum. Similarly for the Greek analogue.
“Shrug”? Charming, because that response right there is exactly how the voters get there.
Nice
The only good thing is that the results make it highly unlikely that a government can be formed. But, watch the Nazis gain support next time around.
Why is it ‘a good thing’ that the formation of a new government seems impossible? It’s a positive disaster one way or the other! Greece’s only recourse is to get out of the Euro (formally Germany’s D-Mark, hence Germany’s crucial role). The same probably applies to a few other Euro countries (not naming any names). Is it possible preparations are already underway to restructure the Euro and they’re being kept secret?
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France24 Breaking News
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."closer than expected.
At least he won.
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In 1st round results, there was still a movement of a few percentage points after the preliminary forecast. I expect the presidency will be for Hollande at 53%. Many Marina Le Pen’s voters stayed away from the polls.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."Vive le Liberte!
Vive le Equalite!
Vive le Fraternite! (et Sororite!)
Vive le France! Old ally that leads the way.
Rumor is that Obama add this guy to his list of dead terrorists. Pretty big name, actually.
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"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."Good old SHOL from which my wife’s family patriarch emigrated to Chicago in 1846. Sounds like they still have sensible people there. BTW, roughly half the people are Danish, another sensible people.
Of course it was austerity that brought the Nazis to power in Germany in the first place. Makes you think about the real aims and foreseeable consequences of neo-lib/neo-con ideology.
Interesting too that the Pirate Party, as reported by Oui above, won about the same vote in a German state, and got into parliament, as the Nazis did in Greece.
I wouldn’t agree that “austerity” brought the Nazis to power.
A global depression, unforgiving reparations, hyperinflation, a dysfunctional parliament, aging and incompetent leadership, rampant anti-Semitism, and fear of communism brought the Nazis to power. It wasn’t some policy of budget cuts.
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I’m trying to follow the panel discussion on France24 about the election result, the analysis and the near future on Hollande’s domestic and foreign policy. It seems the French are shell shocked as I hear no coherent statements. It’s been 24 years since the previous Socialist president was elected and at precise the same election result!
The commentators telling us there won’t be a shock change in policy as the French presidents try to maintain stability. However, I believe Hollande will have a different policy on Europe and the cooperation with Germany’s Angela Merkel. Hollande will try to give priority to the domestic concerns, economic growth and jobs. He will find it difficult to fulfill his campaign promises of change. I think on foreign policy there will be a shift towards Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Israel. On France24 a Likud spokesperson was already interviewed and he expressed his concern for an attempt to give diplomacy with Iran a chance. President Hollande won’t be so naive he said.
Israel’s atomic arsenal could fall victim to a new U.S. nuclear policy if Obama wins 2nd term
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."When Obama beat McCain by 53-46 most people called it a “landslide.”
Yeah, but Obama isn’t a French socialist.
Only people with short memories. After 2000 and 2004, a seven-point margin looked impressive, but only in context. 53-46 is a fairly close race in the greater scheme of things.
By way of comparison, the Democrats in Congress voted against the Iraq War AUMF by 58%-42%. Now 16 points – THAT’S what we call a landslide.
Shame I apparently can’t search this site back to 2008…
sure you can. Click the archive box on the search page.