In the first of a series on the politics of immigration in Europe, Ian
Traynor reveals how mainstream European parties appear paralysed by
populism, unable to halt the rise of the far right
Interactive map: Anti-immigration flashpoints [http://
www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2010/nov/15/europe-far-right-wing-politics"
title="]
More on Europe's immigrants under pressure [http://www.guardian.co.uk/
world/series/europe-immigrants-under-pressure" title="]
Ian Traynor
Tuesday November 16 2010
The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/15/europe-immigration-far-right-threat
Europe's mainstream political parties are engaged in a worsening feud
over how to deal with the growing power of extreme rightwing anti-
immigrant movements. Amid a backlash against immigration that has
shaken Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Sweden in recent months,
governments of the centre-right or centre-left appear at a loss to
counter the appeal of extremist populists who have moved from the
madcap fringes of national politics into government, or propping up
minority centrist coalitions.
A liberals-led coalition has just taken office in the Netherlands
dependent on the parliamentary support of Geert Wilders, Europe's
leading Islam-baiter. In Denmark, another liberals-led government also
relies on the anti-immigrant nationalists of the Danish People's Party
for survival. Last week, the DPP won a tightening of the most
draconian immigration laws in Europe in return for agreeing to the
government's budget for next year.
Alarmed at the growing appeal of the far right, leaders of the centre-
right and centre-left are struggling to form a coherent response.
Attempts to construct a cross-party European anti-extremism pact are
falling victim to the expediencies of national politics. "This is
becoming a very hot political issue," said a spokesman for the
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, a large grouping in the
European parliament.
Last week Wilfried Martens, a former Belgian prime minister who leads
the European People's party which groups ruling Christian democrats in
most of the EU, made approaches to social democrat and liberal leaders
with the aim of forging a joint anti-extremist position.
"Martens wants a common approach of the political parties," said his
spokesman, Kostas Sasmatzoglou. "The phenomenon is growing and these
far-right parties are getting stronger and stronger. We all face the
same issue, but we should not be trying to score political points."
The overture looks doomed. "I don't see a solution in going hand-in-
hand with the conservative parties," said Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, the
former Danish prime minister who heads the pan-European association of
social democratic parties, the Party of European Socialists (PES).
"The conservatives are saying, 'If you can't beat the far right, join
them,'" he said.
Leading social democrats are to meet in Budapest on Wednesday to issue
an appeal against deal-making with the far right. "It's not about
a cordon sanitaire," said Rasmussen, referring to past failed policies
of ostracising and ignoring the populists, particularly in Belgium and
Austria. "It's about confronting them."
Last month, Europe's social democrats endorsed a policy ruling out
coalitions or electoral pacts "with a party inciting or attempting to
stir up racial or ethnic prejudices and racial hatred at European or
national levels". The policy also rejected the forging of tacit
parliamentary alliances with such parties, and the adoption of far-
right policies that are proving popular. It demanded that all
mainstream parties sign up to the principles.
But conservatives and liberals are already in bed with the far right
in Denmark, Netherlands, and Italy. "We can't dictate or intervene in
domestic politics," said Sasmatzoglou for the centre-right. "They are
all different situations."
Critics say that until earlier this year, Rasmussen and the PES were
supporting a centre-left government in Slovakia that was in coalition
with the extreme Slovak National party. Last week Turkey's ambassador
in Vienna denounced Austria's governing social democrats for being too
timid to attack the militant and increasingly popular anti-Muslim
policies of the far-right Freedom party.
"There is a strong need for real political leadership to resist the
'fortress Europe' temptation and to avoid extremism and demagogy,"
said Cecilia Malmstr?m, the European commissioner for home affairs.
"In a time of economic crisis, migrants are among the most vulnerable
groups."
The centre-left is losing support across Europe to the extreme right.
Recent gains for the extremists have been at the expense of Sweden's
and Austria's social democratic parties and the Dutch Labour party,
with the far right prospering in cities with significant immigrant
populations that traditionally voted for the left.
The anti-immigrant policy gains made in recent months look likely to
continue. In Switzerland polls show majority support for a referendum
this month demanding summary deportation of foreigners sentenced for
petty crimes, not just for more serious crimes as up till now.
The plebiscite is being organised by the rightwing Swiss People's
party, which a year ago won another referendum banning minarets.
In France there are growing calls within President Nicolas Sarkozy's
centre-right UMP party for a merger with Jean-Marie Le Pen's National
Front. A poll last month showed one-third of UMP voters backed joint
electoral pacts with the National Front. In Italy, where Silvio
Berlusconi is in coalition with the far-right Northern League, the
interior minister has announced a new crackdown on expelling EU
citizens who cannot support themselves, a policy aimed at east
European Roma and aping Sarkozy's summer expulsions in France.
Denmark's tightened immigration laws should deploy a new weapon ? bare
breasts ? to deter newcomers, the far-right People's party said last
week. A documentary film on Denmark that is shown to immigrants as
part of the test for entry should include topless bathers, said Peter
Skaarup, the party's foreign affairs spokesman. "If you're coming from
a strict, religious society that might make you stop and think: 'Oh
no,'" he told the newspaper, Jyllands-Posten. "Topless bathing
probably isn't a common sight on Pakistani beaches. I honestly believe
"
guardian.co.uk Copyright (c) Guardian News and Media Limited. 2010
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