Europe's Right-Wing Populism, The EU's Elephant In The Room, DW
Last edited Wed Jan 2, 2019, 07:14 PM - Edit history (2)
"Right-wing populism is EU's elephant in the room." If we want to combat rampant right-wing populism in Europe, we must above all address the issue of migration, By DW's Christoph Hasselbach. Opinion, DW, Dec. 31, 2018.
Where has the European spirit of cooperation and reconciliation gone, at the turn of the year 2019? You only have to look at the situation in a few member states to come to the conclusion that the EU is in an extremely bad state.
Author Christoph Hasselbach, DW (Deutsche Welle)
Crisis hotspots everywhere: Britain wants to leave the EU altogether, possibly completely unregulated; in France, former beacon of light, President Emmanuel Macron has already lost his shine. Ordinary citizens in yellow vests are taking to the streets there in droves, and some are not shying away from violence. Extremists from the right and left are trying to take advantage of the mood.
Italy's populist government at first openly opposed the EU Commission in the budget dispute. Shortly before Christmas, the Commission made a big move towards meeting Italy's needs, renouncing a deficit procedure that was due and selling it as a victory of reason over confrontation. Rome's audacity should soon set a precedent.
In the dispute over the rule of law, the governments of Poland and Hungary also only give in when and exactly as much as is unavoidable. In Spain, one of the last bulwarks against right-wing populism, the strictly right-wing Vox party has now made strong gains in the region of Andalusia. It pays homage to the country's former dictator Francisco Franco.
Concern about the European elections: Right-wing populism is the big phenomenon in Europe: Right-wing parties are on the rise in practically every EU country. Some of them are already form part of governments, for example in Austria and Italy. The citizens of these countries don't seem to mind. Germany has not been spared either...
More, https://www.dw.com/en/opinion-right-wing-populism-is-eus-elephant-in-the-room/a-46909084
