Over the Weekend: Right Wing-Nationalist Gains Foothold in German Election
For a while it seemed that the nationalist backlash against the EU had spent itself. When Macron won the French election, it seemed more "centrist" pro-EU sentiment was regaining the initiative. But now that the AFD, the so-called "right-wing" nationalist political party, has gained a foothold in the German Election over the weekend, that doesn't seem so assured. In fact, Macron really isn't all that popular in France anymore. It seems the main-stream media - which tends be pro-EU - had a lot to do with painting his election in broad strokes that really didn't reflect reality. Soon we'll see if the AFD victory marks a serious trend toward resistance to open borders, reaction against existing large Muslim populations, and policies that question the dominance of the EU in local politics.
The Wall Street Journal coverage noted the possible resumption of the nationalist trend:
But even more interestingly, some countries of Eastern Europe - those which had been under the thumb of the Soviet Union from the end of WW2 until its collapse in 1989-1990 - are now openly speaking of the Christian roots of their societies. You would think that decades of atheistic communism would have extinguished the flame of Faith, but it seems the opposite may have occurred. Thus we've witnessed the little-reported building of a fence across the Hungarian border, to prevent any unwanted aliens entering their country. We've also seen the Poland's public defiance of the EU, which insists that it keep its border open to immigrants from the Middle East. Things are heating up.
If you haven't seen it, you might take the time to watch this speech by the leader of Hungary. He clearly lays out the argument for Hungary (and other European countries) as a people with a Christian tradition and culture. His thoughts are well-organized, non-polemic, serious, and quite clear. This is a determined man, and what's transpiring in Hungary and Eastern Europe may be worth keeping our eyes on.
The Wall Street Journal coverage noted the possible resumption of the nationalist trend:
However, so far, a bigger issue has been lost in the shuffle: the long-term compatibility of Muslim population with what was once an overtly Christian society and culture in Europe. Of course, most of Europe hasn't been particularly Christian in its beliefs and behavior for centuries - ever since the Enlightenment. Yet even there, local populations are pushing back against what they more and more characterize as some form of "alien" invasion. Yes, some countries have been absorbing Muslims from the Middle East for decades (e.g., Germany, France, the UK), some more recently in growing numbers (e.g., the Scandinavian countries). But the native population has grown wary of this lately.From a European perspective, the AfD’s success—and the worst showing by the center-left Social Democrats in the postwar era—-fits a pattern of a weakening political center and a strengthening of relative outsiders.In France, nationalist Marine Le Pen drew 34% of the vote in the presidential runoff against victor Emmanuel Macron in May, and the Freedom Party in neighboring Austria is polling above 20% ahead of that country’s elections next month.
But even more interestingly, some countries of Eastern Europe - those which had been under the thumb of the Soviet Union from the end of WW2 until its collapse in 1989-1990 - are now openly speaking of the Christian roots of their societies. You would think that decades of atheistic communism would have extinguished the flame of Faith, but it seems the opposite may have occurred. Thus we've witnessed the little-reported building of a fence across the Hungarian border, to prevent any unwanted aliens entering their country. We've also seen the Poland's public defiance of the EU, which insists that it keep its border open to immigrants from the Middle East. Things are heating up.
If you haven't seen it, you might take the time to watch this speech by the leader of Hungary. He clearly lays out the argument for Hungary (and other European countries) as a people with a Christian tradition and culture. His thoughts are well-organized, non-polemic, serious, and quite clear. This is a determined man, and what's transpiring in Hungary and Eastern Europe may be worth keeping our eyes on.
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