EU elections may strengthen Putin in Europe with success of far-right parties

[pampango]

Far-right parties are set to do well in next month’s elections to the European Parliament, a fact that has thrown a spotlight on their links with the Kremlin. A recent study by the Budapest-based Political Capital Institute documents the support that far-right parties in the EU have given to Russian President Vladimir Putin, particularly throughout the Ukraine crisis. These parties repeated the Kremlin’s line that it is the EU and the West, rather than Russia, which are provoking tension and fueling violence in the Eastern European country.

Several far-right politicians went to observe the Crimea referendum on re-joining Russia, a vote they said was free and fair although it was denounced as illegitimate by most Western leaders. Among those that went were politicians from far-right or populist parties in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France and Hungary.

Hungary’s Jobbik and Greece’s Golden Dawn are both invited to the Russian National Forum organised by a group with close ties to Putin to be held later this year. Admiration for Putin also extends to Europe’s softer right-wing. Nigel Farage, leader of the eurosceptic UK Independence Party, has openly backed Putin as a skillful "operator".

Amid the controversy and debate about the state of EU-Russia relations, Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s National Front, headed to Moscow for the second time this year. ... During the visit Le Pen asserted her support for Russia in the Ukrainian crisis, blaming the EU for declaring a new "cold war on Russia”.

http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/123887

Birds of a feather and all.

[Benton D Struckcheon]

1. So does that mean none of these folks are fascist?

I mean, by definition they can't be because Putin is the great anti-fascist fighter.

[The Magistrate]

2. It is Just So Confusing, Sir

Fascists in Europe support, and are supported by, the great anti-fascist Putin, who is the fascist all leftists in the U.S. and Europe are supposed to fall into line, alongside the fascists, to support in the name of anti-fascism, because all opponents of Putin are fascists employed by the U.S. and Germany, just like all Putin's friends are fascists, except that is for the leftists who support happily support this fascist in his anti-fascist crusade....

"What do you do when the wolf cried wolf?"

[Benton D Struckcheon]

3. I think I need a Powerpoint for that. Also, time for the old guy at the end of Moonstruck,

who started crying and they asked him why and he said, "I'm so confused."

[pampango]

4. "What do you do when the wolf cried wolf?" I love it. When Europe's fascists support Putin - the

great anti-fascist in the eyes of some - well it does get confusing. You summarized the dance of fascists and anti-fascists better than I could ever do.

At least everyone says they hate fascists - except for the far-right in Europe. They make no pretense of hating fascists and support Putin whom they see quite clearly for what he is.