Post by MiG on Oct 23, 2007 15:39:26 GMT -5
Croatia Surrounded By Radical Neighbours
This is quite dangerous, comments political scientist Andjelko Milardovic, on the high percentage of votes for Zmago Jelincic.
he gathering of neo-Nazis in Serbia and rightist extremists in Hungary, and the unexpectedly great support for Zmago Jelincic at the presidential elections in Slovenia, showed the alarming radicalization of Croatia’s neighbours.
Six hundred people in black uniforms with badges that remind of Nazism, swore an oath at the main square in Budapest this Sunday. The Hungarian guard denies allegations of anti-Semitism, and claims that their organization wants to guard Hungarian culture.
Two weeks ago, the Hungarian police had to intervene in Novi Sad where the neo-Nazi organizations “Nacionalni Stroj” and “Obraz” disrupted an anti-fascist gathering by throwing bottles at protestors. Thirty neo-Nazis were arrested, including the leader of the organization, Goran Davidovic.
At yesterday’s presidential elections in Slovenia, Zmago Jelincic, an extreme nationalist, a man that calls a whole nation (Croatians) cattle, gained 20% of the votes from the public. Mitja Gaspari and Danilo Turk, who are the most likely candidates for the second round, only won a few more percent than him.
Slovenia should consider
- That is surprisingly dangerous – comments political scientist Andjelko Milardovic, on the high percentage of votes for Zmago Jelincic in the elections.
- Zmago Jelincic is a member of the right-populist current in Slovenia, and indicatively he won 20% of the votes. It is bad for Slovenia that such a high number of people voted for a man that calls a whole nation cattle. That is clear political psychopathology – considers Milardovic.
On the other hand, the former Croatian minister of foreign affairs, Mate Granic thinks that this is nothing new.
- Similar things are happening in some western countries like Germany and Denmark, but it is questionable, how strong the movements are, and how society treats them – considers Granic.
The former vice-president of the Croatian Cabinet says that Zmago’s results in the elections should worry Slovenia, their public and politics.
- The stances of Zmago Jelincic are far from democracy, the standards of the European Union and good neighbourly relations. Those 20% of votes should be thought about – says Granic.
March in Novi Sad
Radicalism in Serbia has existed for some time now. This was helped by the separation of Montenegro from Serbia and the demands for the independence of Kosovo.
- Serbia has not yet gone through their catharsis – considers Granic, and added:
- It was only a matter of time when somebody with even more unacceptable stances than the radical party, which is objectively the strongest, would appear in Serbia, and Kostunica is flirting with them – he says.
Milardovic considers that the gathering of the neo-Nazis in Novi Sad is a classic strike at democratic institutions.
- That is militant populism. Modernisation and globalization is good for right-populist parties of which some accept parliamentary rules, and others turn to violence. Here we have a case of the misuse of the democratic procedure in order to force totalitarian order – says Milardovic.
European countries in crisis
Croatia is in an interesting position in these surroundings. Doctor Granic says that he can say with pride that in Croatia, the radical right and left wings are marginal.
- If the radical parties tried to demonstrate their stances with violence, they would be judged by the Croatian public – said Granic.
Radical trends in western countries such as Switzerland are also concerning, where the right-populist party won more votes than any single party in the last half century. Radical movements are appearing in Denmark and Germany, and great support from voters was just like Zmago Jelincic, given to Le Pen in the presidential elections in France, 2002 when he entered the second round. Even though Milardovic thinks that the disturbances in European Union countries are to blame for this, he considers that the source of the problem is not the same as in the countries more to the east. Radicalization appears in transitional countries because the democratic institutions are not consolidated, and there is a crisis of rejecting modern things, considers professor Milardovic.
Granic thinks that it is most important how the country treats such appearances, because everybody has the right to show their stance, and say things against, for example, the European Union, but when somebody calls for violence, the nation should sanction them right away.
Published: October 23, 2007 20:51h
Source: www.javno.com/en/world/clanak.php?id=92256
This is quite dangerous, comments political scientist Andjelko Milardovic, on the high percentage of votes for Zmago Jelincic.
he gathering of neo-Nazis in Serbia and rightist extremists in Hungary, and the unexpectedly great support for Zmago Jelincic at the presidential elections in Slovenia, showed the alarming radicalization of Croatia’s neighbours.
Six hundred people in black uniforms with badges that remind of Nazism, swore an oath at the main square in Budapest this Sunday. The Hungarian guard denies allegations of anti-Semitism, and claims that their organization wants to guard Hungarian culture.
Two weeks ago, the Hungarian police had to intervene in Novi Sad where the neo-Nazi organizations “Nacionalni Stroj” and “Obraz” disrupted an anti-fascist gathering by throwing bottles at protestors. Thirty neo-Nazis were arrested, including the leader of the organization, Goran Davidovic.
At yesterday’s presidential elections in Slovenia, Zmago Jelincic, an extreme nationalist, a man that calls a whole nation (Croatians) cattle, gained 20% of the votes from the public. Mitja Gaspari and Danilo Turk, who are the most likely candidates for the second round, only won a few more percent than him.
Slovenia should consider
- That is surprisingly dangerous – comments political scientist Andjelko Milardovic, on the high percentage of votes for Zmago Jelincic in the elections.
- Zmago Jelincic is a member of the right-populist current in Slovenia, and indicatively he won 20% of the votes. It is bad for Slovenia that such a high number of people voted for a man that calls a whole nation cattle. That is clear political psychopathology – considers Milardovic.
On the other hand, the former Croatian minister of foreign affairs, Mate Granic thinks that this is nothing new.
- Similar things are happening in some western countries like Germany and Denmark, but it is questionable, how strong the movements are, and how society treats them – considers Granic.
The former vice-president of the Croatian Cabinet says that Zmago’s results in the elections should worry Slovenia, their public and politics.
- The stances of Zmago Jelincic are far from democracy, the standards of the European Union and good neighbourly relations. Those 20% of votes should be thought about – says Granic.
March in Novi Sad
Radicalism in Serbia has existed for some time now. This was helped by the separation of Montenegro from Serbia and the demands for the independence of Kosovo.
- Serbia has not yet gone through their catharsis – considers Granic, and added:
- It was only a matter of time when somebody with even more unacceptable stances than the radical party, which is objectively the strongest, would appear in Serbia, and Kostunica is flirting with them – he says.
Milardovic considers that the gathering of the neo-Nazis in Novi Sad is a classic strike at democratic institutions.
- That is militant populism. Modernisation and globalization is good for right-populist parties of which some accept parliamentary rules, and others turn to violence. Here we have a case of the misuse of the democratic procedure in order to force totalitarian order – says Milardovic.
European countries in crisis
Croatia is in an interesting position in these surroundings. Doctor Granic says that he can say with pride that in Croatia, the radical right and left wings are marginal.
- If the radical parties tried to demonstrate their stances with violence, they would be judged by the Croatian public – said Granic.
Radical trends in western countries such as Switzerland are also concerning, where the right-populist party won more votes than any single party in the last half century. Radical movements are appearing in Denmark and Germany, and great support from voters was just like Zmago Jelincic, given to Le Pen in the presidential elections in France, 2002 when he entered the second round. Even though Milardovic thinks that the disturbances in European Union countries are to blame for this, he considers that the source of the problem is not the same as in the countries more to the east. Radicalization appears in transitional countries because the democratic institutions are not consolidated, and there is a crisis of rejecting modern things, considers professor Milardovic.
Granic thinks that it is most important how the country treats such appearances, because everybody has the right to show their stance, and say things against, for example, the European Union, but when somebody calls for violence, the nation should sanction them right away.
Published: October 23, 2007 20:51h
Source: www.javno.com/en/world/clanak.php?id=92256