THE RAPID RISE OF THE POLITICAL RIGHT IN EUROPE
by Barbara Riddell
The first round success of Jean-Marie Le Pen in France's presidential election has focused attention on a resurgence of far right political parties in Europe. Not since the 1920s and 1930s has Europe experienced such a rise in nationalism. Anti-immigration is by far the most pronounced dogma of the far right. While its rhetoric has been largely camoflauged in the past and not perceived as a threat, many political analysts have attributed its more pronounced form as a direct correlation to contemporary societal values. While few far right political parties are attaining particular hold of governmental power, many are gaining sufficient support to influence legislation. There appears to be a shift to the political right across most European countries in recent years.
THE FAR RIGHT IN ENGLAND
The most established far right political party in the United Kingdom is the British National Front. Its support is marginal but even at 1-2% of popular support, its popularity has apparently risen in the last few years.
British ultranationalists have been gaining ground in certain deprived areas with high immigrant populations. With its tough line on crime and anti-immigration policies, the British National Party (BNP) won three council seats in the northern town of Burnley. Ironically, this was scene of riots fuelled by racial tension in summer 2001.
Overall, the BNP averaged 18% in the 19 results contested nationwide. This represents the political far right's best showing since the late 1970s in the United Kingdom.
GERMANY'S POLITICAL RIGHT
Despite its reknowned humanitarianism around Erupoe and the Third World through generous foreign aid packages, Germany is host to three major ultra far right political entities. The German People's Union, the National Democrats, and the Republicans account for 3% of the popular national electoral vote.
The election of the controversial former judge Ronald Schill as Hamburg's interior minister has prompted fears that a new generation of far right politicians with strong views on crime and immigration may be poised to emerge. Germany’s Christian Democrat party has also embraced ultra right wing policies. It sparked controversy with an anti-immigration advertising campaign which urged people to put "kinder statt Inder" (children before Indians). Such propaganda offended many in Germany and they responded with overwhelming rejecction of the party at the polls.
While there appears to be a rapid rise in right wing support, most of that has been enjoyed by moderate conservatives to neo-conservative political parties. No ultra right wing party has ever passed the 5% threshold needed to gain political representation nationally. Germany has strict laws against any rehabilitation of its Nazi past, and many Germans feel a heavy moral responsibility not to allow nationalist politics to return.
THE GROWTH OF THE RIGHT WING IN FRANCE
France represents the most organized and most popular nationalistic movements in Europe. Although they do not have as many established poltical parties in comparison to countries such as Germany, parties such as the National Front and the Republican National Movement account for as much as 17% of the popular vote in France.
When senior far right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen beat incumbent socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin in the first round of the presidential election, many became aware that such views resonated well with many French citizens. Mr. Le Pen recorded 16.9% of the vote to enter a run-off with President Jacques Chirac. The result triggered a massive popular backlash on the streets of many cities.
THE FAR RIGHT IN ITALY
ITaly's political far right appears to have emerged and most influential in the nation's northern provinces. Fueled by its historical north v. south political rumblings, the major parties such as the Northern League and the Northern Alliance have shifted their targets of antagonism elsewhere. Where they once blmed the southern provicnes for sponging off of the wealth and techological advancements of the north, their rhetoric has been centered on anti-immigration policies and tougher crime bills.
While both established political parties have altered their tactics and strategies, it appears that the Northern Alliance has gone one step further. Political leaders, including Benito Mussolini's granddaughter Allessandra, have lobbied for political support from the poorer regions of Italy. Where in the past, the party has been viewed as a regional party with fringe ideas, it has shown considerable support in federal elections.
THE SUCCESS OF THE FAR RIGHT IN AUSTRIA
No other far right political party in Europe has attained as much success as Austria’s Freedom Party. Led by Joerg Haider, it stunned Europe and the rest of the world when he won the Austrian national election two years ago. With anti-European Union, anti-immigrant policies and its leader’s apparent nostalgia for the fascist era, the Freedom Party grew from the extreme fringes of Austrian politics into a powerful force.
The party entered the Austrian Government coalition after a shock local election victory in the south of the country. Mr Haider’s success triggered European Union political sanctions, but gave hope to other European far right parties aiming to match his achievement.
While many dismiss the far right's rapid rise in popular support in recent years as an abberration and not the norm, many remain concerned. Many wonder if such policies are so extremist and intolerant, how are they able to gain support from the wider society. It is difficult to dismiss any correlation between how society feels and how they vote. Often, both go together. The rapid rise of the political right in Europe is not a singular phenomenon. It appears to be continental. If we are to determine why this is occuring, we should examine the phenomenon as collective. Once we do this, we can begin to focus on explaining why it is, in fact, occuring.
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