scobienz wrote:salvajeuno wrote:Negan Jones wrote:The recent trouble in Rotterdam will be like music to Geert Wilders ears I am sure,would you not agree?
I'm following the election in France more closely than the Netherlands but
it seems that several European Union countries are starting to embrace populist and nationalist political ideas. TBO... I'm still trying to wrap my head around what's happening in the States. We are living in interesting times to say the least.
Is that actually happening, or is it a bit of a media construct? It's certainly not the case in the Netherlands where the election is taking place today. Wilders' poll rating have been sliding from a high of 25% down to around 22-23%, and every other party is relatively centrist, meaning their support is around 1 in 4 or 1 in 5. Even if they were to finish as the biggest party, they would have no chance of being in Government because none of the other parties want to form a coalition with them.
Let me try and clarify... my statement was in reference to articles similar to these:
How Far Is Europe Swinging to the Right?
New York Times
Europe’s populist insurgents Turning right Parties of the nationalist right are changing the terms of European political debate. That does not guarantee them lasting electoral success
The Economist
Can the EU Survive Populism?
Carnegie Europe
"Is that actually happening, or is it a bit of a media construct?" I think it's a bit of both. Granted Wilders is on what I would call the fringe right and you could probably add Le Pen into that group but there are other more middle right to right groups that are starting to make electoral gains. It seems to me that although these far right groups may not make much ground the sentiment is changing across Europe. At least for now.