Far right populist parties have mobilised economically insecure voters by scapegoating immigration. Social Democrats should re-set the agenda by mobilising around equality, rather than copying far-right populist strategies. The far right is no longer confined to the political margins. Under the more palatable guise of ‘populism’, and a language that centres on national and popular […]
Social Democrats
The Danish Social Democrats gained the highest number of votes in 20 years, after a nail-biting count. An exit poll early on election night indicated a loss of six mandates, pointing to a loss of the majority for the ‘red bloc’. However, the final results at midnight were different. The ‘red bloc’ won 87 seats […]
Do we realise how important Sunday 24 April was for the progressive future of the European Union? President Emmanuel Macron won the presidential elections in France, defeating far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and Slovenian citizens overwhelmingly said ‘no’ to the Orbán-like government of Prime Minister Janez Janša. If either of those two elections had resulted […]
In the Hungarian elections on 3 April, the Fidesz-KDNP alliance reached a two-thirds majority in parliament for the fourth time. The result clearly indicates that the System of National Cooperation (an autocratic structure abbreviated as NER in Hungarian) now already constitutes a specific period in Hungary’s history, like the Horthy system between the two world […]
Calling the situation of the centre-left parties in Central and Eastern Europe ‘difficult’ equals hiding behind a diplomatic langue de bois. In none of the countries of the region, Social Democrats are in government – neither at the helm of a coalition, nor as a partner in one. Sometimes they even failed to enter parliament […]
Politically, Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is disappointing – but looking at it from outside of Europe it is a stunning economic success story. However, this success cannot be taken for granted – and its end could make the region even more politically disappointing. However, there are things Progressives could do. But they require political […]