Is history repeating itself? The far right were the big winners of this week’s elections to the European Parliament. Some fear they will soon be in power all over Europe.
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Far right surge shakes France and Germany
Is history repeating itself? The far right were the big winners of this week's elections to the European Parliament. Some fear they will soon be in power all over Europe.
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In European UnionA political and economic union of 27 countries. elections over the weekend, far-rightA range of ideologies that emphasise social order, racial purity and the elimination of opponents. parties won in France, Austria, Belgium and Italy and made gains in Germany.2
Now, people are asking: what does this mean for the future of Europe?
Some say the far-right is not what it was 100 years ago, in the years before the NazisA German political party of the twentieth century, led by Adolf Hitler. The Nazis controlled Germany from the early 1930s until the end of World War II. rose to power. It is more subtleSo delicate it is difficult to describe. Or doing something in a clever and indirect way. , and so more dangerous.
Back then, far-right parties attacked democracyA system of government based on the idea of rule by the people. as weak. Today its aim is not to destroy democratic systems but to use them for their own purposes.
So when they get into power, they gain control of the media and the legal system and use them to harassPester someone, or intimidate them with aggressive pressure. people who disagree with them out of public life.
That means that elections continue, but the far-right parties rig them in their favour.
However, that policy can backfireNot work out in the way intended. . The far right is good at campaigning but bad at being in charge, some say. People soon grow tired of them in power and chuck them out.
Others think the problem is not the far right getting into power. It is that non-far-right parties are taking on far-right ideas.
Across Europe centre-right governments are making stricter laws, especially cutting back on the right to protest.
So to focus just on the far-right parties, some say, is a mistake.
Is history repeating itself?
Yes! Right-wing movements are on the edge of taking power across Europe. They will probably win the next election in France, and maybe in other countries too.
No! The far-right today is very different to in the past. It is not trying to get rid of elections and democracy. We are not going to see a return to the politics of the 1930s.
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Keywords
European Union - A political and economic union of 27 countries.
Far-right - A range of ideologies that emphasise social order, racial purity and the elimination of opponents.
Nazis - A German political party of the twentieth century, led by Adolf Hitler. The Nazis controlled Germany from the early 1930s until the end of World War II.
Subtle - So delicate it is difficult to describe. Or doing something in a clever and indirect way.
Democracy - A system of government based on the idea of rule by the people.
Harass - Pester someone, or intimidate them with aggressive pressure.
Backfire - Not work out in the way intended.
Far right surge shakes France and Germany
But the left also rises: Martin Lidegaard and Sigrid Friis of the Social Liberal party celebrate in Denmark. Glossary
European Union - A political and economic union of 27 countries.
Far-right - A range of ideologies that emphasise social order, racial purity and the elimination of opponents.
Nazis - A German political party of the twentieth century, led by Adolf Hitler. The Nazis controlled Germany from the early 1930s until the end of World War II.
Subtle - So delicate it is difficult to describe. Or doing something in a clever and indirect way.
Democracy - A system of government based on the idea of rule by the people.
Harass - Pester someone, or intimidate them with aggressive pressure.
Backfire - Not work out in the way intended.