Populism
The 61st hour: no love for 'Europe day' on 9 May
Poor Greece, tough nuts Schwarzenegger, people's populism and economic depression. Robert Schuman, the-then French foreign minister who proposed the concept of the European Union on 9 May 1950, would be rotating in his grave. In spite of its celebratory pompous institutionalism and political speeches today, Europe is not in its finest hour
populism, politics, best of cafebabel.com, euweek, arnold schwarzenegger, herman van rompuy, schengen zone
Building a mosque in Warsaw: is it all trouble and strife?
Muslims in Poland go back several centuries, beginning with the arrival of tatar settlers in the eastern reaches of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The muslim community in Poland has only recently begun attracting attention, with the building of a mosque financed by a Saudi sponsor in the Warsaw district of Ochota. Not everyone is happy
populism, identity, politics, immigration, religion, warsaw, catholicism
Sweden elections 2010: rise of European right
Prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's centre-right coalition won Sweden's elections on 19 September with just under 50%. The success is due to the lack of debate over integration and could cripple the country politically, write the Swedish, Danish and Italian press. Clippings
populism, politics, fredrik reinfeldt, euweek, right wing extremism, elections, sweden
Why one third of Austrians back the far right
Votes dropped from 30% in the 2008 legislative elections to 15% in the presidential elections in late April. For many however, 15% is still too high. Is there really a lack of alternatives?
populism, eucrisis on the ground, vienna, politics, neo-nazis, national socialism, heinz fischer
'Bart de Wever's willingness to nominate Elio Di Rupo for Belgian PM seems a trap'
Vincent Laborderie, a researcher at the Catholic University of Leuven (UCL), bakes some humble pie for the alarmists with his portrait of post-crisis Belgium
populism, identity, politics, belgium, nationalism, alexander de croo, yves leterme
Belgium elections: rise of radical Flemish nationalist party, N-VA
13 June 2010 marks just under twenty years since Belgians went to the polls for an early election. Belgians have voted six times in the last seven years: surrealism? Maybe. The last years resemble one long-winded election campaign, during which not one party made the smallest concession
populism, vote, politics, belgium, nationalism, yves leterme, brussels
Dutch elections: did Geert Wilders get the last laugh?
Italian, Dutch and Belgian commentators doubt that VVD leader Mark Rutte will be able to form a more stable government than his christian democratic predecessor Jan Peter Balkenende after elections on 9 June
populism, politics, netherlands, job cohen, geert wilders, euweek, elections
Hungarian minorities in Slovakia: small arrangements between enemies
One week after a law proposing Hungarian nationality to ethnic Hungarians abroad, prime minister Viktor Orbán announced a new era of 'national unity' during his prime ministerial inauguration on 29 May. Hungary is choosing the route of hostile nationalism, much to the delight of Slovak populists
populism, fidesz, identity, robert fico, politics, nationalism, hungary
Polish people: 'united in diversity' in Vilnius
It wasn't the economic weakness of the crisis but the ideological one that harmed Europe most. Who wanted to be be part of the dominoes in the name of solidarity? Unfortunately, the dominoes of each member state provoked nationalist reactions. The region comprising the Lithuanian capital is one of the fewest cities where two nations claim to be at home
populism, eucrisis on the ground, identity, nationalism, poland, lech kaczynski, youth
Viktor Orbán, your boomerang Hungarian prime minister
The centre-right conservative Fidesz party achieved a two-thirds majority in the second round of Hungary's parliamentary elections on 25 April. With his absolute majority, the future premier will do the country harm, warn some. Others say give him a chance. The Austrian, Hungarian and Slovakian press react
Swing right, sweet Hungarian election chariot: first round election results
The right-wing conservative alliance of young democrats or 'Fidesz' scooped Hungary's parliamentary elections on 11 April (52.7%). The socialists in power scored a measly 19.3%. Right-wing extremist Jobbik party entered parliament for the first time (16.7%). The Hungarian, Slovakian, Austrian and Italian media on whether the victory is the start of a new era or a rude awakening
populism, fidesz, politics, hungary, eurotopics, budapest, press review
Looking for Hungarian activism in election Budapest
On 11 and 25 April Hungarian voters are poised to elect the right or even the far-right. Only a handful of people in the country are swimming against the increasingly strong right-wing tide – and even these few are drifting off course, or have thrown their faith in politics completely overboard
populism, fidesz, politics, jews, neo-fascism, neo-nazis, civil society
Far right, far out!
The far-right movement in Europe is resembling a round of shooting stars. In early March, Dutch politician Geert Wilders made big gains in local elections. The Lega Nord (Northern League) in Italy and Jobbik in Hungary too are clocking up the seats in their national parliaments. French ultranationalist Le Pen's daughter Marine continues his legacy. There's also the question of a European underground though, who are cultivating populist anti-islamic, anti-globalisation and regionalist discourse. What is taking place in a Europe of 2010?
- Read the special edition Far right, far out!
- The Netherlands, France, Italy: rise of Europe's right-wing
- Bloc Identitaire: lowdown on France's new far-right
- Germany's far-right: style and tea party shakeup
- Casa Pound Italia: Neo-fascists on the rise
- Understanding nationalist ideology in Hungary: 'enormous potential for violence'
Fathoming the power of right-wing populist Geert Wilders in Europe
If the freedom party leader is successful in the June parliamentary elections, Dutch politics will be destabilised and Europe will be forced to deal seriously with the man once nicknamed 'Mozart', write the Dutch, Swiss, Spanish and Slovakian press
populism, vote, politics, netherlands, eurotopics, geert wilders, press review
A Swing to the Right in Slovenia
Populism and border disputes with Croatia resulted in victory for the opposition parties in the parliamentary elections at the beginning of October
"The opposite of Europeanism is just populism"
Jana Hybášková, European Parliament Member, gives her "New European" view on European identity, federalism and the power of the parliament.
The future of the Left under threat in Central Europe
It's not a good time for left-wing parties in Central Europe. Can they survive in the face of a changing electorate and an increasingly right-wing world?
