The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

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Front Cover Image: The European Parliament in Brussels (© querbeet/iStockPhoto.com) The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

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Acknowledgements The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Executive Summary

In the wake of the Eurozone crisis, the rise of I The Netherlands: anti-immigration Party for ‘outsider’ parties from both ends of the political Freedom (PVV) (16%); anti-austerity Socialist spectrum has increased concerns over the future Party (14%); total (30%); viability of the European project. In some countries, I Sweden: Eurosceptic Left Party (10.8%); populist traditionally fringe parties have been able to force right Sweden Democrats (10.0%); total (20.8%). their way into the political mainstream. Ahead of the elections between 22 and 25 May 2014, which look 14 countries feature only one popular ‘outsider’ party. Of these likely to test this at a European level, this report parties, UKIP is polling the most favourably examines these rising political parties. I These ‘outsider’ parties are: UKIP (24.7%); the Danish People's Party (DF) (24%); France’s The report identifies 25 parties in 19 EU member National Front (21.5%); the Freedom Party Austria states which belong to the fringe left-wing GUE-NGL, (FPO) (21%); Italy’s Five Star Movement (M5S) right-wing EFD and non-aligned NI blocs within the (21%); the Progressive Party of Working People in European Parliament. All have been predicted either Cyprus (AKEL) (20%); Lithuania’s Order and to win 10% (or more) of the national vote or to rank Justice Party (20%); Ireland’s Sinn Féin (19%); the in the top three most successful parties/coalitions in Finns Party (18%); Hungary’s Jobbik (16%); Spain’s the most recent national opinion polls (as of 1 April United Left (14%); the Democratic Unitarian 2014). The report provides comprehensive profiles of Coalition in Portugal (CDU) (12%); Bulgaria these ‘outsider’ parties and analyses key trends found among them. Without Censorship (10%); and, the Croatian Labourists – Labour Party (HL-SR) (10%). KEY FINDINGS Fringe blocs ‘Outsider’ parties and countries Non-aligned parties were most commonly identified, followed Four ‘outsider’ parties are polling a quarter (or more) of the closely by those in the furthest left bloc, while few belong to the national vote furthest right bloc I The pro-Russia Harmony Centre (Latvia, 37%); I 11 out of the 25 parties identified are NI; 10 the radically anti-austerity SYRIZA (Greece, parties belong to the GUE-NGL; and four belong 25.4%); populist ANO 2011 (Czech Republic, to the EFD. 24.8%); and the Eurosceptic United Kingdom National Parliamentary representation Independence Party (UKIP) (24.7%). Almost all parties (23/25) are represented in their respective Greece is the only country where three ‘outsider’ parties are national parliaments; only UKIP and The River have no MPs predicted to secure 10% (or more), polling almost half (49.7%) I Two parties have 30% (or more) of available of the national vote between them seats: AKEL (19 of 56 seats, 33.9%) and the I SYRIZA (25.4%); new anti-establishment party Harmony Centre (31/100, 31%); The River (13.6%); and fascist Golden Dawn I Three parties have between 20 and 29%: (10.7%). SYRIZA (71/300, 23.7%); ANO 2011 (47/200, Four countries feature two popular ‘outsider’ parties. In order of 23.5%); and FPO (40/183, 21.9%); predicted national vo te share (highest–lowest), they are: Latvia; I Seven parties have between 10% and 19%; the the Czech Republic; the Netherlands; and Sweden remaining 11 have fewer than 10%; I Latvia: Harmony Centre (37%); nationalist I Some of the most well-known ‘outsider’ parties agrarian Union of Green and Farmers (ZZS) hold a relatively small proportion of seats: PVV, (17%); total (54%); for example, holds 12/150 (8%); Golden Dawn I Czech Republic: ANO 2011 (24.8%); far-left holds 18/300 (6%); and the National Front has Czech Communist Party (CPBM) (14.8%); total the lowest level of those parties with (39.6%); parliamentary representation at 2/577 (0.3%).

i The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

19 of the 25 parties have competed in at least two recent Controversies parliamentary elections 11 of the 25 parties have been involved in religious I 12 increased their share of the vote: SYRIZA (by hatred-related controversies 23 percentage points) and the Finns Party (15) I The majority of these parties (8/11) have a saw the largest increase; UKIP saw the smallest history of anti-Muslim-related controversies or increase (0.9); policies (FPO; DF; Finns Party; National Front; I Six saw their vote share decrease: ZZS (by 7.5) PVV; Socialist Party; Sweden Democrats; UKIP); and PVV (5.4) saw the largest decrease; a smaller number have been involved in I One party’s (CDU) vote share remained the anti-Semitism-related controversies, with four same. including members censured for Holocaust denial or anti-Semitic conspiracy theory (National European representation Front; Golden Dawn; SYRIZA; Jobbik); Four of the 25 parties failed to secure seats in the European I Of these 11 parties, SYRIZA is the only Parliament in the June 2009 elections, yet have since increased GUE-NGL member. in popularity by between two- and twenty-fold Nine of the 25 parties have been involved in racism-related I They are: Golden Dawn (won 0.5% in 2009; controversies predicted 10.7% in 2014); ZZS (3.8%, 2009; I The majority of these relate to immigrants from predicted 17% in 2014); Sweden Democrats Africa or Asia, with MPs or candidates from eight (3.3% in 2009; predicted 10% in 2014); and Sinn parties (FPO; DF; Finns Party; National Front; Féin (11.2% in 2009; predicted 19% in 2014). Golden Dawn; PVV; Sweden Democrats; UKIP) Policy positions involved; in addition, two parties (National Front; 16 of the 25 parties can be described as ‘Eurosceptic’ Jobbik) have been criticised for anti-Roma I Anti-EU sentiments identified across all three remarks and/or policy suggestions; fringe blocs range from calls to renegotiate I All are members of EFD or NI. current treaty commitments to demands for an Nine of the 25 parties have been involved in controversies immediate exit from the political union. involving far-right/neo-Nazi/Nazi links 11 of the 25 parties can be identified as ‘anti-immigration’ I Of these, two thirds have seen party members or I Anti-immigration sentiments identified in the associates accused of using Neo-Nazi/Nazi non-aligned and furthest right bloc range from imagery including Nazi salutes or songs (Finns parties calling for an end to immigration from all Party; National Front; Golden Dawn; Jobbik; Muslim-majority countries (i.e. PVV; DF) to ZZS; Socialist Party); I European immigration reform returning powers Of these nine, the Socialist Party is the only to national governments (i.e. The River). GUE-NGL member. 11 of the 25 parties prioritise opposition to NATO Eight of the 25 parties have been involved in corruption-related controversies I The majority (8/11) belong to the furthest left I bloc; the remaining three are Sweden Democrats, Half of these parties belong to GUE-NGL; I Golden Dawn and the Finns Party. Two (Bulgaria without Censorship; The River) can be described as anti-corruption. Nine of the 25 parties can be described as anti-corruption Six of the 25 parties have been involved in homophobia-related I Half of these were formed after the 2009 controversies European elections: M5S (2009); ANO 2011; I Bulgaria Without Censorship (2014); and The All are members of EFD or NI; I River (2014). MPs from two of these parties have submitted unsuccessful bills to their country’s national Eight of the 25 parties prioritise criticism of EU anti-austerity parliament: calling for a ban on the “promotion measures of sexual deviations” (Jobbik); or forbidding Gay I Three quarters of these parties belong to the Pride parades, public speeches, or campaign GUE-NGL bloc; the remaining two are Golden materials supporting LGBT rights (Order and Dawn and M5S. Justice Party).

ii The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

Five of the 25 parties have been involved in controversies A right-wing ‘wrecking’ alliance? involving violence/murder (or the threat of) Leaders of populist right-wing parties are I The Left Party is the only GUE-NGL member; attempting to capitalise on rising Euroscepticism by all others are NI; forming a new European political group to, in their I Two have been repeatedly accused of violence own words, “wreck” the parliament from the inside. against minority communities: Golden Dawn While these parties would still collectively remain a MPs and members have been involved in minority and clashes of personalities and policy anti-immigrant violence, or been accused of positions could potentially rupture such an alliance, incitement; Jobbik’s quasi-paramilitary Magyar it could also pull parties in the current EFD bloc Guard was proscribed after anti-Roma rallies even further to the right. throughout Hungary.

KEY THEMES Anti-establishment politics Among the parties profiled, anti-austerity views are more frequently found in the countries most affected by the Eurozone crisis. Parties identified as exploiting anti-immigration rhetoric are concentrated in the more affluent countries of Western and Northern Europe, with a smaller number on the continents’ poorer Southern a nd Eastern borders.

EU integration and NATO Euroscepticism appears to unite the political fringes, with the right focusing on the EU’s so-called democracy deficit and the left opposing its ‘neoliberal’ agenda. Despite this, parties which demand an immediate exit from the political union and/or those which threaten to leave NATO and close foreign military bases are in a minority.

‘Outsider’ impact on domes tic politics ‘Outsider’ parties can also function on the ‘inside’ of, or have an impact on, domestic politics. The PVV and DF supported coalition governments in return for concessions on immigration; while UKIP has become central to British political discourse. Their influence has helped encourage right-wing shifts domestically and/or prompted other political parties to clarify and/or strengthen their positions on issues like Europe and immigration.

Populist leadership While populist parties traditionally centre on a strong personality, there is an apparent evolution from ‘straight-talking’ right-wing politicians towards anti-establishment celebrities. Italy’s M5S relies on founder celebrity satirist Beppe Grillo’s popularity and social media following; and The River and Bulgaria Without Censorship wer e formed in 2014 by popular television journalists.

iii The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

iv The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Contents

Page No. INTRODUCTION ...... 3 METHODOLOGY ...... 4 BACKGROUND ...... 7 PROFILES Freedom Party of Austria...... 9 Bulgaria Without Censorship...... 12 Croatian Labourists – Labour Party ...... 13 Progressive Party of Working People ...... 17 ANO 2011...... 20 Czech Communist Party ...... 22 Danish People’s Party...... 24 Finns Party...... 28 National Front ...... 31 Golden Dawn...... 34 Coalition of the Radical Left ...... 38 The River ...... 40 The Movement for a Better Hungary...... 42 Sinn Féin ...... 46 Five Star Movement...... 49 Harmony Centre...... 53 Union of Greens and Farmers...... 55 Order and Justice Party...... 58 Party for Freedom...... 61 Socialist Party ...... 66 Democratic Unitarian Coalition...... 69 United Left ...... 71 Left Party...... 73 Sweden Democrats...... 75 UK Independence Party ...... 77 ANALYSIS Key Findings...... 81 Key Trends ...... 84 CONCLUSION...... 93

1 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

2 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Introduction

In the wake of the Eurozone crisis the rise across Europe of populist parties from both ends of the political spectrum has increased concerns over the future viability of the European project. Deemed ‘outsider’ parties by many, in some countries the traditional fringe has been able to force its way into the political mainstream over the past decade, while in others those trading on their radical nature are poised to deliver a shock to the established political classes. This briefing seeks to examine these parties, asking who they are and what they stand for. To do this, 25 ‘outsider’ parties from 19 EU member states have been identified as polling favourably in the upcoming European elections and belonging to the fringe left-wing GUE-NGL, right-wing EFD, and non-aligned NI blocs within the European Parliament. Together the profiles highlight a number of shared policy issues including: the prevalence of Euroscepticism; anti-austerity rhetoric; and anti-corruption platforms among the parties predicted success. They also demonstrate why these parties have traditionally been seen as fringe options, and detail numerous controversies ranging from racism and religious hatred to corruption which have plagued their campaigns. However, in many cases the profiles also show that these parties have been able to retain significant support despite these controversies, often utilising popular and charismatic leadership, and promises of a ‘new politics’, combined with skilled social media operations.

3 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Methodology

The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections ‘Outsider’ status investigates the phenomenon of ‘outsider’ politics, Acknowledging that there are no universally accepted through the lens of the forthcoming European definitions for what constitutes an ‘outsider’ party, the elections, profiling popular ‘outsider’ parties across authors have chosen to include parties which Europe and analysing trends among these challengers self-identify with either the furthest left or the furthest to traditional politics. right political groups in the European Parliament: the Confederal Group of the European United Defining ‘outsider’ politics Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE-NGL) and the Europe The term ‘outsider’ politics is most commonly used to of Freedom & Democracy group (EFD), respectively. describe: political parties without parliamentary The authors have also included non-aligned parties 1 representation; those whose ideology, rhetoric, and (Non-Inscrits, or NI).6 Collectively, these three blocs policies place them on the edges of the political are predicted to acquire 22% of the available seats, spectrum but who nevertheless command popular up from 13% in the 2009 elections.7 support;2 those which, despite a high vote share, do Popularity not enter governing coalitions either of their own Additionally, the parties must have polled favourably volition or that of other (often, more established) in the most recent national opinion polls, by being parties;3 or anti-establishment newcomers to the predicted either 10% (or more) of the national vote political system.4 Furthermore, the term has also been or to rank in the top three most successful used in connection with Eurosceptic right-wing parties/coalitions. The authors have used data parties, prompting concerns about the rise of populist collected by PollWatch2014, a project which provides extremism and the far-right in Europe.5 regular predictions on the outcome of the 2014 Criteria for inclusion European Parliament elections, powered by VoteWatch 8 To be included in this report, parties must be a) Europe and Burson-Marsteller/Europe Decides. Given the considered ‘outsider’ and, b) polling favourably. varying frequency with which national opinion polls are conducted, the authors used the most recent polling data (as of 1 April 2014) available for each 1 The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), for example, is described 9 as an “outsider” party because, despite representation at European and local country. level, it does not have any representatives in the national legislature; see: ‘The rise and rise of the outsider election: What will the 2014 European election Structure mean for British politics?’, British Future, 1 April 2014, p. 9, available at: www.britishfuture. org/publication/the-rise-and-rise-of-the-outsider-election/. The report is structured as follows: Last visited: 12 May 2014. 2 McDonnell, D. & James Newell, ‘Outsider Parties’, – Background: overview of the phenomenon of Special issue of Party Politics, 17 April 2011, available at: ‘outsider’ politics and the questions it raises for http://cadmus.eui.eu/handle/1814/20506. Last visited: 12 May 2014. 3 See, for example: McDonnell, D., ‘Outsider parties in government in Western Europe’, Party Politics, July 2011, vol. 17, no. 4, p.443-452. 6 Last visited: 12 May 2014. Included to allow for those parties which have chosen not to align themselves with any political group (or those perceived unfavourably 4 Italy’s Five Star Movement, for example, is an anti-establishment movement by others) as well as new parties. founded in 2009, by a comedian-turned-activist, which went from <5% in 7 national polls to commanding the highest share of the vote in national Bertoncini, Y. & Valentin Kreilinger, ‘The 2014 European Parliament elections in 2013; see: ‘Italy’s political outsiders have their day in the absence elections will see populist parties make gains, but they will remain a battle of Berlusconi’, The Guardian, 7 May 2012, available at: for control between mainstream parties’, European Politics and Policy Blog, www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/may/07/italy-local- London School of Economics, 3 December 2013, available at: elections-beppe-grillo. Last visited: 12 May 2014; see also: ‘Beppe Grillo’s http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2013/12/03/the-2014-european- Five Star Movement becomes Italy’s election success story’, The Guardian, parliament-elections-will-see-populist-parties-make-gains-but-they-will-remain- 25 February 2013, available at: www.theguardian.com/world/2013/feb/ a-battle-for-control-between-mainstream-parties/. Last visited: 12 May 2014. 25/beppe-grillo-italy-election-success. Last visited: 12 May 2014. 8 For more information, see: ‘About PollWatch2014’, available at: 5 See, for example: Dr Goodwin, M., ‘Right Responses: Understanding www.electio2014.eu/pollsandscenarios/pollsabout. Last visited: 12 May 2014; and Countering the Rise of Populist Extremism in Europe’, see also: ‘About us’, VoteWatch Europe, available at: Chatham House, September 2011, available at: www.chathamhouse.org/ http://www.votewatch.eu/en/about-us.html. Last visited: 12 May 2014; publications/ papers/view/178301. Last visited: 12 May 2014; see also: and: ‘About Europe Decides’, Europe Decides, available at: Speedie, D. C. & Jennifer Otterson Mollick, ‘The Rise of Extremism in http://europedecides.eu/about-europe-decides/. Last visited: 12 May 2014. a Disunited Europe’, Carnegie Council, 17 January 2014, available at: 9 Polls used were undertaken in March 2014 in 17 of the 19 countries in www.carnegiecouncil.org/publications/articles_papers_reports/0186.html. which parties met the criteria for inclusion. In Sweden, the latest poll was Last visit ed: 12 May 2014. taken in February 2014, and, in Cyprus, October 2013.

4 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

Country Party Bloc Date polled Vote share Position Austria Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) NI 13-20/03/2014 21.0% 3rd Bulgaria Bulgaria Without Censorship (BBT) NI 09-20/03/2014 10.0% 3rd Croatia Croatian Labourists – Labour Party GUE-NGL 25/03/2014 10.0% 4th (HL-SR) Cyprus Progressive Party of Working People GUE-NGL 12/10/2013 20.0% 2nd (AKEL) Czech Republic ANO 2011 NI 10-24/03/2014 24.8% 1st Czech Republic Czech Communist Party (CPBM) GUE-NGL 10-24/03/2014 14.8% 3rd Denmark Danish People’s Party (DF) EFD 14-16/03/2014 24.0% 2nd Finland Finns Party EFD 20/03/2014 18.0% =2nd France National Front (FN) NI 17-30/03/2014 21.5% 2nd Greece Golden Dawn NI 14-29/03/2014 10.7% 4th Greece Coalition of the Radical Left GUE-NGL 14-29/03/2014 25.4% 1st (SYRIZA) Greece The River NI 14-29/03/2014 13.6% 3rd Hungary The Movement for a Better NI 15/03/2014 16.0% 3rd Hungary (Jobbik) Ireland Sinn Féin GUE-NGL 22/02/- 19.0% 3rd 01/03/2014 Italy Five Star Movement (M5S) NI 25/03/2014 21.0% 3rd Latvia Harmony Centre (SC) GUE-NGL 18/03/2014 37.0% 1st Latvia Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) NI 18/03/2014 17.0% 3rd Lithuania Order and Justice Party (TT) EFD 20/03/2014 20.0% 2nd Netherlands Party for Freedom (PVV) NI 06/03/2014 16.0% =1st Netherlands Socialist Party (SP) GUE-NGL 06/03/2014 14.0% 4th Portugal D emocratic Unitarian Coalition GUE-NGL 21/03/2014 12.0% 3rd (CDU) Spain United Left (IU) GUE-NGL 17-19/03/2014 14.0% 3rd Sweden Left Party GUE-NGL 03-09/02/2014 10.8% 4th Sweden Sweden Democrats (SD) NI 03-09/02/2014 10.0% 5th United United Kingdom Independence EFD 15-30/03/2014 24.7% 2nd Kingdom Party (UKIP)

domestic political discourses and the wider Profiles European landscape; Each political party has an entry which provides – ‘Outsider’ parties: comprehensive profiles of information on the party’s background, political popular ‘outsider’ political parties competing in the representation, ideology, policy positions and forthcoming European elections; controversies (where applicable). The following – Analysis: analysis of trends and patterns found sub-headings are used to standardise the information among the parties. presented: Parties included NAME (English language) The authors identified 25 parties from within 19 – Name: The party name in the relevant national members of the European Union which met both language (acronym); party name in national script criteria for inclusion (see table above). (acronym in nationa l script) (where applicable).

5 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

– Country/headquarters: The country in which IDEOLOGY the party competes/location of the party’s – Mission statement: A short statement by the headquarters or registered office. party, designed to encapsulate what it stands for – – Official website(s): The party’s central website; including, but not limited to, the party’s official English-language website (where applicable). website slogan; its founding statement; or the – Social-media presence: All official social-media strapline for its political programme/manife sto. forums associated with the party, i.e. those directly – Political orientation: Descriptions of the party’s linked from the party’s official website. This ideological and political positions; taken from includes Facebook (including number of ‘likes’), various external sources selected to reflect how the Instagram (number of followers), Twitter (number of party is viewed across international and relevant followers), YouTube (number of subscribers), and national media, as well as within academic and other prominent national platforms. policy circles. – Founded: The date the party was officially – Support base: Descriptions of those found founded or launched and the name(s) of the and/or perceived to support the party; taken from founder(s). various external sources, as above. – Current leader: The name and tenure of the party’s current leader. POLICY POSI TIONS – Previous leaders: The name and tenure of all Details of the party’s policy priorities (with a focus on those previous leaders since 2000; previous leaders prior relevant to the European elections or the party’s outsider status to 2000 will be included if the leader was a and popularity) will be listed under the following sub-headings: significant figure. – Economic: i.e. position towards the Eurozone and austerity measures. NATIONAL REPRESENTATION – Domestic: i.e. position towards national Data on the party’s electoral success at national; regional; and sovereignty, vis-à-vis the EU and immigration. local level, either since the party’s founding or from 2000. Data is presented as follows: – Foreign: i.e. position towards intervention and NATO. – Description of election, i.e. Presidential/ name of national Parliament/regional – Significant other: other notable and Year of election: the party’s percentage share of the distinguishing policies, where applicable, for national vote; number of seats won (L/M); position example: anti-corruption measures, anti-Islam. if the party came in the top five nationally. CONTROVERSIES EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION Details of controversies, involving the party or party Data on the party’s electoral success at European level, either members, which were significant in the national since the party’s founding or from 2000. Data is presented as and/or international media; caused the party follows: reputational damage; or resulted in criminal proceedings. – Bloc: Whether the party belongs to the GUE-NGL bloc, the EFD bloc, or the NI bloc. NOTES – European Parliament, June 2004/09 A short summary of the party, including any Percentage share of the national vote significant information not otherwise contained in the Number of seats won/total av ailable profile. Position Turnout – European Parliament, May 2014 Predicted percentage share of the national vote Predicted seats/total available Predicted position Date polled

6 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Background

The European elections between 22 and 25 May 2014 Ireland who, among other policies, campaign on a look likely to provide a crucial test for the European strict law-and-order policing platform. Such apparent Union. Polling in many member states strongly contradictions might be put down to the fact that suggests that these elections are going to produce a parties which are out of power can often afford the major upheaval of the status quo in the European luxury of looking in two directions at once. But they Parliament’s political composition. Ahead of the also point to a greater complexity in Europe’s political elections, The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU picture than a simple far-left to far-right continuum. Elections looks at the nature and make-up of the rising In certain countries, internal differences between the political parties and lays some of the early groundwork outsider parties themselves could hardly be wider. It is for considering what the long-term effects of the unsurprising that in a country like Greece there should forthcoming election results might be. The report be not only an upsurge of ‘outsider’ parties, but that focuses on the ‘outsider’ parties which are the most their range of opinions should stretch from the far-left likely to make meaningful inroads in their countries, politics of SYRIZA to the far-right politics of Golden and thus a real impact on European politics after the Dawn. Yet, even among less politically polarised elections, i.e. those that currently polling favourably. countries, the differences between these ‘outsider’ One question highlighted by these profiles and analysis parties are striking. They range from parties driven by is what, if anything, unites and divides these ‘outsider’ an interest in expanding personal freedoms to those parties and therefore what trends, if any, can be noted apparently intent on limiting it; from those obsessed by their rise. Such questions are more difficult to with environmental politics to those who oppose answer than they might at first appear. Some of these policies to ameliorate the effects of climate change. parties have been around for decades while some have They also range from those who campaign on a only been in existence for a few years, or even a few platform of closing national borders to those who claim months. Some include political movements which push that such a policy must itself be strongly opposed. at the extremes of Europe’s political spectrum and One trend highlighted in this report is the way in which others display political attitudes which are wholly new each country has shown a tendency to read a to the traditional political compass. Opinions and pan-European upheaval through a specific and ideologies denoted in these ‘outsider’ parties are also narrowly local political focus. For instance, in the UK, diverse, ranging from the extreme-right to the attention remains fixed on what the phenomenon of Communist left. While it is certainly possible to see the UK Independence Party (UKIP)’s lead in the polls how much these parties have in common, it is also might mean. In fact, aside from a few points of important to note just how much separates them. agreement (such as calls for withdrawal from the EU or The ability to perceive common trends is affected by limits on immigration) the party may not have very the extent to which parties respond to their specific much in common with other parties across the continent with which it is often compared. In other country’s varying current political and economic countries, there is a similar obsession with the particular environments. There is a number of parties which policies of the local ‘outsider’ parties and an attempt to would ordinarily be considered right or far-right who extrapolate the local across the entire continent. nevertheless also campaign against policies of economic austerity. Golden Dawn in Greece, for At the same time as it is necessary to stress the instance, would ordinarily and rightly be des cribed as undoubted diversity of opinion in the movements in an extreme-right party, yet campaigns on an question, it is also undeniable that the polling on anti-austerity platform, promising to abolish the which this report is based points to certain confluences European Union and International Monetary Fund of opinion. Among them is the consistent fact that memorandum on Greek debt repayment. Elsewhere overtly Eurosceptic or EU ‘wrecking’ parties are likely there are parties of the far-left, such as Sinn Fein in to come at the top, or near the top, of the polls. This

7 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections change in the political winds does not solely hail from the right or left alone, but appears to be a genuinely pan-political sentiment covering a range of traditional political movements, as well as encompassing a number of genuinely new political phenomena. This growth of anti-EU sentiment may of course be attributed to a large number of things, including, though not limited to, the fall-out of the global financial crisis and government policies of economic austerity; the specifically detrimental effects of the Eurozone crisis; a sharpening of attitudes towards immigration; and a perceived lack of accountability at the top of the EU itself. Several of these sentiments have been brewing for years, while a number have emerged since the last EU elections in 2009. Whatever the specific causes of the dissatisfac tion, it seems that, in 2014, for the first time since the EU’s creation, frustrations with the institution and its policies – as well as those attributed to it – could bring anti-EU parties to a position of conspicuous prominence in the EU itself. Perhaps as a result, one other trend which many of these parties also have in common is a portrayal of themselves as presenting an alternative to the traditional political status quo. Many overtly campaign on the claim that they are ‘anti-politics’. The validity of this claim varies considerably, but the ‘anti-politics’ mood behind it demonstrates a rising demand for change across Europe. In any case, there are undoubted shifts taking place throughout Europe, and after the elections this looks set to be reflected in the institution of the European Parliament. If it is the case that populist, Eurosceptic parties top the polls in a number of particularly significant member states, then this will send a message which cannot be ignored. Whatever one’s views, to retain relevance and validity the EU must respond meaningfully to the lessons this election looks set to send home. It may be hard to address underlying issues of dissatisfaction, the breakdown of trust between voters and EU institutions, let alone an economic situation plausibly beyond the control of a continent, let alone any single Parliament. But such issues will need to be addressed. A protest vote may be a protest vote, but in a democracy even they must be listened to when they are asserted through the legitimate medium of the ballot box.

8 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Freedom Party of Austria

Name: Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ)10 – Position: 5th place – Turnout: 41.8% Country/headquarters: Austria/Vienna11 Europea n Parliament, June 200920 Official website: www.fpoe.at/aktuell – Share of national vote: 12.7% Social-media presence:12 – Seats:21 2/17 – Facebook: www.facebook.com/HCStrache – Position: 4th place (196,059 ‘likes’) – Turnout: 42.4%22 – YouTube:www.youtube.com/user/ European Parliament, May 201423 FPOETVonline/about (4,772 subscribers) – Predicted share of national vote: 21% 24 Founded: March 1956, by Anton Reinthaller13 – Predicted seats: 4/18 – Predicted position: 3rd place Current leader: Heinz-Christian Strache – Dates polled: 13/03/2014 – 20/03/2014 (2005-present)14 IDEOLOGY Previous leaders: Jörg Haider (1986-2005)15 Mission statement: “Austria first. The freedom, security, NATIONAL REPRESENTATION peace and welfare of Austria and its people are the guidelines Nationalrat (National Council, Lower House)16 and the benchmarks for our actions as a social, meritocratic and 2002: 10.0%; 18/183 seats; 3rd place patriotic Austrian political force […] We are committed to our 2006: 11.0%; 21/183 seats ( L 3); 4th place homeland of Austria as part of the German-speaking linguistic 2008: 17.5%; 34/183 seats ( L 13); 3rd place and cultural community, to the groups of people native to our 2013: 20.5%; 40/183 seats ( L 6); 3rd place country and to a Europe of free peoples and fatherlands. We are committed to […] democracy, to liberty and the rule of law, to EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION the principles of the market economy and to social justice.” 25 Bloc: Non-Inscrits (NI)17 (FPÖ official programme, 2011) European Parliament, June 200418 Political orientation: “Far right [sic.]” ([in reference – Share of national vote: 6.3% to Heinz-Christian Strache], The Daily Mail, March – Seats:19 1/18 2009);26 “far-right” (The Telegraph, October 2010);27

10 FPO official website, available at: http://www.fpoe.at/allgemeines/kontakt/. 20 ‘European Parliament Elections: Austria’, European Election Database, Last visited: 30 April 2014. available at: http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/ 11 ‘Contacts’, FPO official website, available at: austria/european_parliament_elections.html. Last visited: 30 April 2014. http://www.fpoe.at/allgemeines/kontakt/. Last visited: 30 April 2014. 21 In this and all subsequent profiles the total seats available is taken 12 Social-media information accurate as of 7 May 2014; screenshots archived. from the EU parliament website, available at: www.europarl.europa.eu/ 13 ‘Die Parteiem im Portrat’, FM4.ORF.at, 20 August 2006, available at: aboutparliament/en/0005bfbc6b/Number-of-Member s-per-Member- http://fm4v2.orf.at/connected/215044/mai n. Last visited: 30 April 2014. State.html. Last visited: 10 May 2014. 14 ‘Are the Austrian FPO party really neo-Nazis?’, New Statesman, 22 ‘European Parliament Elections 2009’, House of Commons, 2009, available available at: http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/10/ at: www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/RP09-53.pdf. Last visited: 9 May 2014. are-austrian-fpo-party-really-nazis. Last visited: 30 April 2014. 23 ‘Austria’, PollWatch2014. 15 ‘Freedom Party of Austria’, The Democratic Society, available at: 24 In this and all subsequent profiles the total seats available is taken http://europe.demsoc.org/2014/02/03/freedom-party-of-austria/. from the EU parliament website, available at: www.europarl.europa.eu/ Last visited: 30 April 2014. us/en/elections_2014.html. Last vi sited: 10 May 2014. 16 ‘Federal Elect ions in Austria’, Election Resources on the Internet, 25 ‘Party Programme of the Freedom party of Austria (FPO)’, FPO official available at: http://www.electionresources.org/at/2013.php?land. website, available at: http://www.fpoe.at/fileadmin/Content/portal/PDFs/ Last visited: 30 April 2014. 2012/2012_parteiprogramm_englisch_web.pdf. Last visited: 30 April 2014. 17 ‘Austria’, PollWatch2014; information accurate as of 2-3 April 2014. 26 Briggs, B., ‘The far right is on the march again: the rise of Fascism 18 ‘European Parliament Elections 2004’, House of Commons, 2004, in Austria’, The Daily Mail, 18 March 2009, available at: available at: http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/lib/ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/mosli ve/article-1160972/ research/rp2004/rp04-050.pdf. Last visited: 9 May 2014. The-far-right-march-rise-Fascism-Austria.html. Last visited: 12 May 2014. 19 In this and all subsequent profiles the total seats available is taken 27 ‘Far-right freedom party set to win quarter of vote in Vienna election’, from the EU parliament website, available at: www.europarl.europa.eu/ The Telegraph, 10 October 2010, available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ aboutparliament/en/0005bfbc6b/Number-of-Members-per-Member- news/worldnews/europe/austria/8054173/Far-right-Freedom-party-set- State.html. Last visited: 10 May 2014. to-win-quarter-of-vote-in-Vienna-election.html. Last visited: 30 April 2014.

9 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

“[the party’s officials are] extremely rightwing [sic.]” (Werner remain in Austria, under certain conditions of Bauer, political scientist, via The Guardian, language and cultural acceptance. February 2014)28 – Significant other: Anti-Islam. Priorities include: Support base: “The party is particularly strong with young campaigning against the perceived “Islamisation” men. Exit polling in 2013 showed the party winning 32% of Austria.38 support with men under 29, making it the largest party with this group” (The Democratic Society, 2014)29 CONTROVERSIES POLICY POSITIONS – Far-Right/Neo-Nazi Links: Former leader Jörg – Economic: Eurozone reform; tax reform; increased Haider has frequently made statements in praise of 39 employment; market regulation. Priorities include: the Nazis and Nazi policies. For example, he has restructuring the Eurozone and European stated that the Nazi SS was “a part of the German monetary policies; minimum corporation tax; army which should be honoured” and described simplifying tax systems; flexible employment Nazi concentration camps as “punishment practices; training and educational schemes for camps”.40 workers; increased market regulation; European- – Nazism: The party’s founder, Anton Reinthaller, wide rating agencies; reducing the size of the was a former SS brigade leader and Nazi Minister informal economy; and stimulus packages for of Agriculture, before becoming leader of the party struggling communities.30 in 1956.41 He was succeeded, in 1958, by Friedrich – Domestic: Welfar e state; socially conservative; Peter – another former SS member.42 anti-immigration; cultural identity.31 Priorities include: equal access to medical care (“People’s right to life, – Racism: MEP Andreas Mölzer stepped down as health and dignity are not subject to utilitarian party candidate for the European elections, after considerations”);32 family values (“The family, as a wide criticism of his calling the European Union a 43 partnership between a man and a woman with “conglomerate of Negroes”. common children, is the natural nucleus that holds – Religious Hatred (Anti-Muslim): The party’s 33 a functioning society together”); supporting lower campaign against the “Islamisation” of Austria was 34 immigration levels and opposing “Islamisation”; widely viewed as Islamophobic. The party’s leader, 35 and domestic-worker priority. Strache, described women in Islamic dress as – Foreign: Reformist; Euroscepticism.36 37 Priorities “female ninjas”;44 and in February 2011, Elisabeth include: repatriation of powers from the EU, back to Sabaditsch-Wolff was found guilty of “denigration Austria; opposition to Turkish accession to the EU; of religious teachings” for statements she made in EU reform to better represent member states over a seminar on Islam for the FPÖ.45 supranational interests; EU exit as a possible ultima ratio; and the possibility for current immigrants to – Religious Hatred (Anti-Semitism): In August 2012, current leader Heinz-Christian Strache posted an anti-Semitic cartoon likened to Nazi 28 ‘Swiss vote on immigration boosts far-right parties through rest of Europe’, The Guardian, 15 February 2014, available at: http://www.theguardian.com/ world/2014/feb/15/austria-jorg-haider. Last visited: 30 April 2014. 29 ‘Freedom Party o f Austria’, The Democratic Society, available at: 38 ‘Racism on the Rise in Europe’ Al Jazeera, 2 September 2011, http://europe.demsoc.org/2014/02/03/freedom-party-of-austria/. available at: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2011/09/ Last visited: 30 April 2014. 201192182426183450.html. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 30 ‘Impulsprogramm Wirtschaft’, FPO official website, available at: 39 ‘Haider in His Own Words’, TIME, 7 February 2000, available at: http://www.fpoe.at/dafuer-stehen-wir/impulsprogramm-wirtschaft/. http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2056294,00.html. Last Visited: May 9 2014. Last visited: 14 May 2014. 31 ‘March of the far-right’, TIME, 29 July 2011, available at: 40 ‘Profile: Controversy and Joerg Haider’, BBC News, 29 February 2000, http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/ar ticle/0,28804, available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/464260.stm. 2085728_2085727_2085702,00.html. Last visited: 30 April 2014. Last visited: 14 May 2014. 32 ‘Party Programme of the Freedom party of Austria (FPO)’, FPO official 41 ‘Die Parteiem im Portrat’, FM4.ORF.at, 20 August 2006, available at: website, available at: http://www.fpoe.at/fileadmin/Content/portal/PDFs/ http://fm4v2.orf.at/connected/215044/main. Last visited: 30 April 2014. 2012/2012_parteiprogramm_englisch_web.pdf. Last visited: 30 April 2014. 42 ‘Die Affäre Peter – Kreisky – Wiesenthal’, National Socializum, available at: 33 ‘Party Programme of the Freedom party of Austria (FPO)’, FPO official website. http://www.nationalsozialismus.at/Themen/Umgang/skandale.htm. 34 ‘Racism on the Rise in Eur ope’ Al Jazeera, 2 September 2011, Last visited: 30 April 2014. available at: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2011/09/ 43 ‘Austrian poll blow for racism row MEP Andreas Moelzer’, 201192182426183450.html. Last visited: 9 May 2014. BBC News, 8 April 2014, available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ 35 ‘Leitantrag der FPÖ’, FPO official website, available at world-europe-26930289. Last visited: 29 March 2014. http://www.fpoe.at/dafuer-stehen-wir/leitantrag/. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 44 ‘Racism on the Rise in Europe’ Al Jazeera, 2 September 2011. 36 ‘March of the far-right’, TIME, 29 July 2011. 45 Austria: Freedom in the World 2012, Freedom House, available at: 37 ‘Leitantrag der FPÖ’, FPO official website. www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2012/austria#.U3nSfPnMSgw.

10 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

propaganda. The cartoon was condemned by Austrian politicians from both conservative and the centre-left.46

NOTES Founded in 1956, the Freedom Party of Austria emerged as a successor to the League of Independents. It is a far-right party, whose ideology is based on pan-German nationalism. Under Strache, the party presents itself as a “Heimat” (‘homeland’, in German), which means that the party acts as a guaran tor of Austrian identity.47 Capitalising on populist anti-immigrant and anti-Islam sentiment, the party opposes the accession of Turkey to the EU; it has declared that, should this happen, Austria must immediately leave the EU. Strache has declared that it would be “the beginning of a Eurasian-African Union that would completely go against our European peace project and must therefore not be allowed”.48 FPÖ is affiliated to the European Alliance for Freedom (EAF), which is comprised of far-right parties from across Europe: the Freedom parties of Austria and the Netherlands, the Italian Northern League, France’s National Front, Belgium’s Vlaams Belang and Sweden’s Democrats.49 Together, these parties and individuals form a generally Eurosceptic bloc, arguing for the reduction of EU powers and the return of perceived losses of national sovereignty.

46 ‘Austrian Freedom Party condemned for Nazi-like cartoon’, BBC News, 20 August 2012, available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ world-europe-19324613. Last visited: 14 May 2014. 47 ‘Are the Austrian FPO party really neo-Nazis?’, New Statesman, 9 October 2013, available at: http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/10/ are-austrian-fpo-party-really-nazis. Last visi ted: 8 May 2014. 48 ‘Far-Right “lite” to push for EU referendum on Turkish accession’, EUobserver, 25 October 2010, available at: http://euobserver.com/political/31122. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 49 ‘Austria’s Freedom aims to enlarge Eurosceptic bloc’, Reuters, 14 December 2014, available at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/ 12/14/us-europe-right-austria-idUSBRE9BD0DD20131214. Last visited: 30 April 2014.

11 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Bulgaria Without Censorship

Name: Bulgaria bez Tsenzura (BBT); EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION 50 56 България Без Цензура (ББЦ) Bloc: Non-Inscrits (NI) Country/headquarters: Bulgaria/Sofia51 European Parliament, May 201457 – Predicted share of national vote: 10% Official websites: www.bulgariabezcenzura.bg – Predicted seats: 2/17 (central); www.barekov.com (personal blog of founder – Predicted position: 3rd place and leader Nikolay Barekov); www.slavchev.org (personal blog of deputy chair Angel Slavchev) – Dates polled: 09/03/2014 – 20/03/2014 Social-media presence: IDEOLOGY – Facebook: Bulgaria bez Tsenzura (30,386 ‘likes’)52 Mission statement: “We want to change the way of doing Founded: 25 January 2014, by former television politics in Bulgaria […] We have ready economic and political journ alist Nikolay Barekov53 decisions of Bulgaria’s main problems today - poverty, poor economy, corruption. We will ensure jobs for all Bulgarian citizens, Current leader: Nikolay Barekov (2014-present) guaranteeing higher incomes […] We will implement all reforms Previous leaders: N/A needed, working for coherent and transparent politics and a rooting out of corruption” (Barekov, inaugural address, 2014)58 NATIONAL REPRESENTATION Political orientation: “highly populist and anti-establishment Narodno sabranie (National Assembly)54 […] neither left, nor right, though [Barekov] does claim to be a Current: 2/240 seats (gained through defections)55 liberal” (The Democratic Society, February 2014);59 “populist” (The Economist, March 2014);60 “Another party 50 ‘Homepage’, Bulgaria Without Censorship official website, available at: claiming the centrist ground” (academic source, April 2014)61 http://bulgariabezcenzura.bg/. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 51 The BBT registered address is the party’s Sofia office, which was opened in March 2014; previous central offices in Stara Zagora were destroyed by a fire in January 2014. See: ‘Contacts’, Bulgaria Without Censorship official website, parliament.html; see also: ‘MP with mandate-holder Coalition for Bulgaria to available at: http://bulgariabezcenzur a.bg/kontakti/; see also: ‘Office of leave group’, FOCUS News Agency, 23 February 2014, available at: Bulgarian Populist Party Burns Down Overnight’, Sofia News Agency, www.focus-fen.net/news/2014/02/23/328065/mp-with-mandate-holder- 5 January 2014, available at: www.novinite.com/articles/156971/ coalition-for-bulgaria-to-leave-group-roundup.html; see also: ‘Second Bulgarian Office+of+ Bulgarian+Populist+Party+Burns+Down+Overnight# MP Declares Affiliation to Newly Formed Party’, Sofia News Agency, 25 February sthash.0U5epnME.dpuf; see also: ‘Bulgaria without Censorship opens 2014, available at: www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=158483#sthash.z office in capital city’, FOCUS News Agency, 29 March 2014, available at: WGqmQXJ.dpuf; see also: ‘Group of opposition MPs to join Bulgaria without http://www.focus-fen.net/news/2014/03/29/331402/bulgaria- Censorship’, FOCUS News Agency,1 April 2014, available at: www.focus-fen.net/ without-censorship-opens-office-in-capital-city.html. Last visited: 8 May 2014. news/2014/04/01/ 331639/group-of-opposition-mps-to-join-bulgaria-without- 52 Facebook information accurate as of 16 April 2014; screenshot archived; censorship-roundup.html; see also: ‘Angel Slavchev: Two MPs from BSP Facebook page, available at: www.facebook.com/pages/%D0%91%D0%AA% were willing to join the group of “Bulgaria without censorship”’, FOCUS D0%9B%D0%93%D0%90%D0%A0%D0%98%D0%AF-%D0%91%D0%9 News Agency, 11 April 2014, available at: www.focus-news.net/news/ 5%D0%97-%D0%A6%D0%95%D0%9D%D0%97%D0%A3%D0%A0%D 2014/04/11/1906333/angel-slavchev-dvama-deputati-ot-bsp-proyavyavat- 0%90/1414721282077102. Last visited: 8 May 2014. zhelanie-da-se-prisaedinyat-kam-grupata-na-balgariya-bez-tsenzura.html; see also: ‘Bulgaria without Censorship leader held briefing’, FOCUS News Agency, 12 53 BBT started as a self-de scribed ‘civil movement’ in 2013 and became a April 2014, available at: www.focus-fen.net/news/2014/04/12/332829/bulgaria- political party in January 2014. See: ‘Ex-journalist establishes Bulgaria without-censorship-leader-held-briefing-roundup.html. Last visited: 8 May 2014. without Censorship party’, FOCUS News Agency, 26 January 2014, available 56 at: www.focus-fen.net/news/2014/01/26/325289/ex-journalist-establishes- ‘Bulgaria’, PollWatch2014; information accurate as of 1 April 2014. bulgaria-without-censorship-party-roundup.html; see also: ‘About Us’, 57 Ibid. Bulgaria Without Censorship official website, available at: 58 ‘Bulgarian Ex-Journalist Nikolay Barekov Founds Party’, Sofia News Agency, http://bulg ariabezcenzura.bg/za-nas/. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 25 January 2014, available at: www.novinite.com/articles/157566/ 54 ‘Bulgaria’, European Election Database, Norwegian Social Science Bulgarian+Ex-Journalist+Nikolay+Barekov+Founds+Party# Data Services, available at: www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/ sthash.KNZIVfc3.dpuf. Last visited: 8 May 2014. country/bulgaria/. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 59 The Democratic Society is an independent organisat ion in association with the 55 On 22 February 2014, Rumen Yonchev, MP and chair of the Agrarian People’s European Commission. See: Bulgaria Without Censorship - party profile, The Union, formally announced his defection to BBT, leaving the ruling coalition Democratic Society, 10 February 2014, available at: http://europe.demsoc.org/ (the Coalition for Bulgaria, led by the left-wing Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), 2014/02/10/bulgaria-without-censorship/. Last visited: 8 May 2014. and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms) one MP short of a majority. On 60 ‘A controversial newcomer could be kingmaker’, The Economist, 25 February 2014, Svetlin Tanchev – an MP formerly with the largest opposition 4 March 2014, available at: www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/ group, the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) – 2014/03/bulgaria. La st visited: 8 May 2014. announced that he would also represent BBT in the National Assembly. Since 61 Drezov, K., ‘The European Parliament elections in Bulgaria are likely to then, BBT representatives have suggested that at least eight unnamed MPs (from reinforce the country’s political stalemate between left and right’, European GERB and BSP) are willing to defect to BBT. See: ‘Bulgaria without Censorship Politics and Policy blog, London School of Economics, 14 April 2014, leader: Rumen Yonchev will be our voice at the parliament’, FOCUS News Agency, available at: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2014/04/14/ 23 February 2014, available at: www.focus-fen.net/news/2014/02/22/328053/ the-european-parliament-elections-in-bulgaria-are-likely-to-reinforce-the- bulgaria-without-censorship-leader-rumen-yonchev-will-be-our-voice-at-the- countrys-political-stalemat e-between-left-and-right/. Last visited: 8 May 2014.

12 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

Support base: Disillusioned, anti-establishment and Bulgarian politicians over the last 20 years and anti-corruption voters; BBT has been involved in prosecutions for anything acquired by fraud or ongoing protests against Prime Minister Plamen “undue influence”.66 The party also advocates Oresharski’s coalition government, widely seen as anti-corruption amendments to public-procurement having failed to reform national politics and legislation. dominated by oligarchic interests (academic source, April 2014; Radio Bulgaria, February 2014).62 CONTROVERSIES – Financial Misconduct: On 25 February 2014, 63 POLICY POSITIONS an activist group informed the Bulgarian – Economic: “Capitalism and market economy with a prosecutor-general, the president, and the human face” (Barekov).64 Priorities include: European Commission of alleged financial ties “progressive income tax”; tax on annual incomes between Barekov; the controversial MP and media over 1 million Bulgarian Lev (£420,000); magnate, Delyan Peevski; and head of the challenging monopolies among electricity- Corporate Commercial Bank (CCB) Tsvetan distribution companies; de-politicisation of the Vassilev. The group, Protest Network, alleges that the National Health Insurance Fund; differentiated CCB has financed TV7, the channel for which VAT on commodities including essential food, Barekov previously worked, via a media company education materials, and medicine; three-year tax owned by Peevski’s mother. All involved refute the deductions for start-up industries; and greater allegations, and the prosecutor-general’s subsequent employment, through incentives for SMEs. tax audit is ongoing.67 – Domestic: Efficient governance; focus on political transparency and accountability. Priorities include: NOTES halving the number of MPs; decentralisation of BBT was created as a civil movement in 2013, by local government; direct elections for district and Nikolay Barekov – former CEO and television host city prosecutors, judges, and police commissioners; for the major TV channel, TV7. The party has education and training for young people; regulation already garnered influential supporters. The former of agricultural sector; greater IT resources for President of Bulgaria, Petar Stoyanov (1997-2002), for children; free medicine for children up to age seven; example, publically supported BBT in a television 68 financial incentives for second children; and the interview in January 2014, and Wesley Kanne allocation of EU funds for rail infrastructure. Clark, Sr., former Supreme Allied Commander for NATO (1997-2000), attended the party’s launch in – Foreign: Pro-EU. Like most political parties in Sofia in January 2014.69 Bulgaria, BBT is generally supportive of European integration and the EU.65 The party particularly As Bulgaria’s newest political party, BBT campaigns welcomes EU standards for education and social primarily on an anti-corruption ticket. Barekov was welfare, pledging a standardised monthly pension, previously an uncritical supporter of the former ruling for example, because it is “time for Bulgaria to party, the Citizens for European Development of become a European country not only in words”. Bulgaria (GERB), which was forced to resign in February 2013, after widespread protests over social – Significant other: Anti-corruption. BBT’s flagship conditions. In the subsequent national elections, anti-corruption policy, ‘Operation Clean Hands’, however, Barekov uncovered evidence of voter prioritises income and property audits for all manipulation by GERB, and, since then, has set his

62 Drezov, K. ‘The European Parliament elections in Bulgaria are likely to reinforce the country’s poli tical stalemate between left and right’, European 66 ‘Operation Clean Hands’, Bulgaria Without Censorship official website, Politics and Policy blog, London School of Economics, 14 April 2014; available at: http://bulgariabezcenzura.bg/prioriteti/1-operatsiya- see also: ‘Bulgaria without Censorship and IMRO parties hold protest chisti-ratse-za-tseliya-politicheski-elit/675. Last visited: 8 May 2014. in Sofia’, Radio Bulgaria, 16 February 2014, available at: 67 A controversial newcomer could be kingmaker’, The Economist, 4 March 2014. http://bnr.bg/en/post/100309700/bulgaria-without-censorship-and- 68 BBT leader Barekov has since nominated Stoyanov as his party’s preferred imro-parties-hold-protest-in-sofia. Last visited: 8 May 2014. choice for Bulgaria’s European Commiss ioner. See: ‘Ex-Right-Wing President 63 Unless otherwise specified, all policy positions are taken from: Backs Party of Bulgarian TV Host’, Sofia News Agency, 28 January 2014, ‘Priorities’, Bulgaria Without Censorship official website, available at: available at: www.novinite.com/articles/157632/Ex-Right-Wing+President+ http://bulgariabezcenzura.bg/prioriteti/. Last visited: 8 May 2014. Backs+Party+of+Bulgarian+TV+Host#sthash.yBEpec74.dpuf. Last visited: 64 ‘A controversial newcomer could be kingmaker’, The Economist, 4 March 2014. at: 12 May 2014; see also: ‘Group of opposition MPs to join Bulgaria without 65 Drezov, K. ‘The European Parliament elections in Bulgaria are likely to Censorship’, FOCUS News Agency, 1 April 2014. reinforce the country’s political stalemate between left and right’, European 69 ‘Ex-Right-Wing President Backs P arty of Bulgarian TV Host’, Sofia News Politics and Policy blog, London School of Economics, 14 April 2014. Agency, 28 January 2014.

13 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections party in opposition to GERB and the ruling minority coalition: the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS). He promises to clean up politics in a country ranked second-most corrupt in the EU and Western Europe, after Greece.70 BBT is contesting the European elections as the primary member of a coalition with the Bulgarian National Movement (VMRO), the Agrarian People’s Union, and Gergiovden; it accounts for 13 of the 17 coalition candidates.71 The elections will be the first contested by BBT, and the party looks set to follow the pattern of successful newcomer parties commonly witnessed in Bulgarian politics over the last 15 years.72 A national opinion poll held in November 2013, prior to BBT’s official launch, for example, suggested that, had elections been held then, the party would have become the joint-fifth largest in the Bulgarian Parliament, winning 6.1% of the vote – behind the BSP (26.2%), GERB (26.2%), the right-wing Reformist Bloc (8.2%), and the liberal DPS (8.1%).73 BBT is calling for early national elections, given that the present coalition (BSP and DPS) does not have a parliamentary majority and is forced to rely on the ultranationalist Attack party for parliamentary quorum.74 In the event of a successful showing in national elections, therefore, the BBT could become a central figure in Bulgarian politics.75

70 ‘Ex-journalist establishes Bulgaria without Censorship party’, FOCUS News Agency, 26 January 2014. Last visited: 12 May 2014; see also: Bulgaria Without Censorship – party profile, The Democratic Society, 10 February 2014, available at: http://europe. demsoc.org/2014/02/10/bulgaria-without-censorship/. Last visited: 12 May 2014; see also: ‘Corruption Perceptions Index 2013: EU and Western Europe’, Transparency International, available at: www.transparency.org/files/content/pressrelease/CPI2013_EUand WesternEurope_EN.pdf. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 71 ‘Bulgaria without Censorship and coalitional partners announce EU elections ticket’, FOCUS News Age ncy, 16 April 2014, available at: www.focus-fen.net/ news/2014/04/16/333320/bulgaria-without-censorship-and-coalitional- partners-announce-eu-elections-ticket.html. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 72 Drezov, K. ‘The European Parliament elections in Bulgaria are likely to reinforce the country’s political stalemate between left and right’, European Politics and Policy blog, London School of Economics, 14 April 2014. 73 ‘5 Parties to Enter Bulgaria’s Parliament In Case of Early Elections’, Sofia News Agency, 17 November 2013, available at: www.novinite.com/articles/ 155618/5+Parties+to+Enter+Bulgaria’s+Parliament+In+Case+of+Early+ Elections#sthash.unD8sjnT.dpuf. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 74 Drezov, K.’The European Parliament elections in Bulgaria are likely to reinforce the country’s political stalemate between left and right’, European Politics and Policy blog, London School of Economics, 14 April 2014. 75 ‘A controversial newcomer could be kingmaker’, The Economist, 4 March 2014.

14 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Croatian Labourists – Labour Party

Name: Hrvatski Laburisti–Stranka Rada (HL-SR) – Seats: 1/1285 Country/headquarters: Croatia/Zagreb76 – Position: 3rd place – Turnout: 20.7%86 Official website: www.laburisti.com77 European Parliament, May 201487 78 Social-media presence: – Predicted share of national vote: 10% – Facebook: www.facebook.com/laburisti – Predicted seats: 1/11 (7,353 ‘likes’) – Predicted position: 4th place Founded: 2010, by former Croatian People’s Party – Date polled: 25/03/2014 (HNS) MP Dragutin Lesar79 IDEOLOGY Current leader: Dragutin Lesar (2010-present)80 Mission statement: “The aim of the party is the Previous leaders: N/A protection of workers […] The worker is unprotected and work is undervalued” (HL-SR official website, undated)88 NATIONAL REPRESENTATION Political orientation: “Left wing” (Organization for Sabor (Parliament of Croatia) European Interstate Cooperation (OEIC), October 2011: 5.2%; 6/151 seats; 3rd place81 2013);89 “left-populist” (The Democratic Society, County Council/Prefect elections February 2014)90 2013: Unspecified; 0/21 authorities; despite not winning control of any authorities, the Party won 134 Support base: Unspecified councillors, including two Community Head of POLICY POSITIONS91 Department mandates.82 – Economic: Progressive taxation reform; increased taxation EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION of financial/business sectors. Priorities include: Bloc: Confederal Group of the European United introducing a capital-gains tax; taxing financial Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE-NGL)83 transactions/assets and bank profits; and raising the European Parliament, April 201384 tax-free allowance to the level of the minimum wage. – Share of national vote: 5.8% – Domestic: Challenging corruption; welfare expansion; opposing further privatisation. Priorities include: raising

76 ‘Contact the Croatian Labour - Labour Party’, Croatian Labour official the minimum wage; increasing pension levels; website, available at: http://www.laburisti.com/modules/mastop_publish/ ?tac=Kontakt. Last visited: 1 May 2014. banning the further privatisation of the energy 77 Website links correct as of 1 May 2014. 78 Social-media information accurate as of 27 March 2014; screenshots archived. 79 ‘Croatia – Political Parties’, European Election Database, available at: 85 ‘Hrvatski laburisti - Stranka rada’, GUE-NGL website, available at: http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/croatia/ http://www.guengl.eu/group/delegation/hrvatski-laburisti-stranka- parties.html. Last visited: 2 May 2014. rada#meps. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 80 ‘Members of the Presidency Croatian Labour - Labour Party’, Croatian 86 ‘Voter turnout in Croatian euroizborima very low, but still better than Labour official website, available at: http://www.laburisti.com/modules/ the Slovak’, Novilist.hr, 15 April 2013, available at: http://www.novilist.hr/ mastop_publish/?tac=Predsjedni%C5%A1tvo. Last visited: 2 May 2014. Vijesti/Hrvatska/Odaziv-hrvatskih-biraca-na-euroizborima-vrlo-nizak-ali- 81 ‘Croatia’, European Election Database, available at: ipak-bolji-od- slovackog. Last visited: 2 May 2014. http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/croatia/. 87 ‘Croatia’, PollWatch2014; information accurate as of 1 April 2014. Last visited: 12 May 2014; and: ‘Hrvatski Sabor’, Croatian Parliament 88 ‘In summary of the Croatian Labour Party - Labour Party’, Croatian Labour website, available at: http://www.sabor.hr/lgs.axd?t=16&id=26859. official website, available at: http://www.laburisti.com/modules/ Last visited: 2 May 2014. mastop_publish/?tac=Uvod. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 82 See: ‘Councillors’ , Croatian Labour official website, available at: 89 Johansson, J., ‘The Lowest of the Low: The European parliament http://www.laburisti.com/modules/mastop_publish/?tac=Vije%C4%87nici. Election in Croatia 2013’, OIEC, O ctober 2013, available at: Last visited: 12 May 2014; and: ‘Mayors’, Croatian Labour official website, http://www.oeiceurope.com/attachment/oeic_croatia_ep_ available at: http://www.laburisti.com/modules/mastop_publish/ election_2013__.pdf. Last visited: 2 May 2014. ?tac=Na%C4%8Delnici. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 90 ‘Croatian Labourists – Labour Party (HL)’, The Democratic Society, 13 February 83 ‘Croatia’, PollWatch2014, available at: http://www.electio2014.eu/ 2013, available at: http://europe.demsoc.org/2014/02/13/croatian- pollsandscenarios/polls#countr y. Last visited: 1 May 2014. labourists-labour-party-hl/. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 84 Croatia voted to join the European Union on 22 January 2012 and held 91 Unless otherwise specified, all policy positions are taken from ‘Ten poin–ts elections to the European Parliament on 14 April 2013. See: ‘Croatia’, topics’, Croatian Labour official website, available at: http://www.laburisti.com/ European Election Database. modules/mastop_publish/?tac=437. Last visited: 2 May 2014

15 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

sector; supporting green policies; and investing in renewable industry. – Foreign: Pro-Europe;92 other foreign policies unspecified. Priorities include: working with EU institutions, to bring Croatian organisations; businesses; and state institutions up to a comparable standard and seeking investment from emerging markets such as China; India; Turkey; and Russia.93 – Significant other: Focus on workers-rights and trade-union issues. Priorities include: introducing labour courts; ensuring that non-payment for work is criminalised as fraud; and seeking to legislate so that night, holiday, and Sunday work can only be imposed if agreed by workers.94

CONTROVERSIES None specified

NOTES The Croatian Labourists – Labour Party (HL-SR) was formed when leader Dragutin Lesar broke away from the HNS in 2010. HL-SR campaigns on a worker’s-rights and pro-trade-union platform, with many polices aimed at improving the lives of Croatia’s workforce. The party is pro-Europe, though it voted against having the accession referendum take place in January 2012, and sees closer co-operation with the EU as a way to improve standards across Croatia. Yet, it also seeks to boost investment into the country, from emerging economies around the world. As with many parties in the GUE-NGL bloc, the Croatian Labourists prioritise welfare expansion; progressive taxation; and green and renewable policies.

92 Croatian Labourists MPs voted against allowing the accession referendum to take place in January 2012, as they sought to delay for six months in order to sufficiently inform Croatian citizens of the potential costs/benefits. See: ‘A referendum to join the EU on January 22; against HDSSB and Croatian Labour’, Novilist.hr, 23 December 2011, available at: http://www.novilist.hr/Vijesti/Hrvatska/Referendum-za-ulazak-u-EU-22.- sijecnja-protiv-HDSSB-a-i-Hrvatski-laburisti. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 93 ‘The framework for a program of development of the Croatian economy’, Croatian Labour official website, available at: http://www.laburisti.com/modules/ mastop_publish/?tac=Razvoj_gospodarstva. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 94 ‘Labour Party chief slams labour minister, PM over labour act’, Dalje.com, 3 February 2014, available at: http://dalje.com/en-croatia/labour-party-chief- slams-labour-minister-pm-over-labour-act/498605. Last visited: 2 May 2014.

16 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Progressive Party of Working People

Name: Anorthotiko Komma Ergazomenou Laou 2006: 31.1%; 18/56 seats( M 2); 1st place103 L 104 (AKEL); Ανορθωτικό Κόμμα Εργαζόμενου Λαού 2011: 32.7%: 19/56 seats ( 1); 2nd place (ΑΚΕΛ) Municipal elections 2001: Unspecified Alternative name: Emekçi Halkın İlerici Partisi (Turkish) 2006: Unspecified 2011: 29%; 5 mayoralties/9 coalition seats; 2nd place105 Country/headquarters: Cyprus/Nicosia95 EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION Official website: www.akel.org.cy/en/96 Bloc: Confederal Group of the European United Social-media presence:97 Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE-NGL)106 – Facebook: www.facebook.com/AKEL1926 European Parliament, June 2004107 (5,403 ‘likes’) – Share of national vote: 27.9% 108 – Twitter: www.twitter.com/AKEL1926 – Seats: 2/6 (988 followers) – Position: 2nd place – Turnout: 71% – YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/CCAKEL 109 (93 subscribers) European Parliament , June 2009 – Share of national vote: 34.9% Founded: 1941; the Communist Party of Cyprus – Seats: 2/6 (CPC), founded in 1926 and banned in 1931, is widely – Position: 2nd place 98 seen as its previous iteration – Turnout: 59.4%110 99 Current leader: Andros Kyprianou (2009-present) European Parliament, May 2014111 Previous leaders: Demetris Christofias (1988-2009)100 – Predicted share of national vote: 20% – Predicted seats: 1/6 NATIONAL REPRESENTATION – Predicted position: 2nd place Presidential elections101 – Date polled: 12/10/2013 2008: 53.4%; 1st place IDEOLOGY 2013: 42.5%; 2nd place Mission statement: “capitalism is not the final stage in House of Representatives the development of human society […] another, qualitatively 2001: 34.7%; 20/56 seats; 1st place102 103 ‘May 21, 2006 General Election Results - Cyprus Totals’, Election Resources, available at: http://www.electionresources.org/cy/house.php?election=2006. 95 ‘The Central Committee of AKEL’ , AKEL website, available at: Last visited: 2 May 2014. http://www.akel.org.cy/en/?page_id=1526#.U2OxQPldVQg. 104 ‘Cyprus’, European Election Database. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 105 Andreas, K., ‘Europeanisation of Local Election Political Campaigns? 96 Website links correct as of 2 May 2014. Evidence from the 2011 Local Elections in the Republic of Cyprus’, 97 Facebook/Twitter information accurate as of 31 March 2014, YouTube University of Cyprus, May 2012, available at: http://www.idec.gr/iier/new/ information accurate as of 2 May 2014; screenshots archived. Europeanization%20Papers%20PDF/KIRLAPPOS%20Europeanisation 98 ‘The pioneers and first struggles’, AKEL website, available at: %20of%20Local%20Election%20Political%20Campaigns%2004%2007% http://www.akel.org.cy/en/?p=1450. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 202012.pdf. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 106 99 ‘The General Secretary’, AKEL website, available at: ‘Cyprus’, PollWatch2014, available at: http://www.electio2014.eu/ http://www.akel.org.cy/en/?page_id=1507#.U2Oy9_ldVQg. pollsandscenarios/polls#country. Last visited: 1 May 2014. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 107 ‘Cyprus’, European Election Database. 100 ‘Today in Cyprus History’, Famagusta Gazette, 22 January 2012, available at: 108 ‘European Parliament election 2004’, House of Commons, 23 June 2004, http://famagusta-gazette.com/mdetail.asp?hn=famagusta-gazette&cs=&l= available at: http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/ today-in-cyprus-history-nd-january-p14244-69.htm. Last visited: 2 May 2014. lib/research/rp2004/rp04-050.pdf. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 101 ‘Cyprus’, European Election Database, avail able at: 109 ‘Cyprus’, European Election Database. http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/cyprus/. 110 ‘European Parliament Elections 2009’, House of Commons, 17 June 2009, Last visited: 2 May 2014. available at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/ 102 ‘May 27, 2001 General Election Results - Cyprus Totals’, Election Resources, research/briefing-papers/RP09-53/european-parliament-elections-2009. available at: http://www.electionresources.org/cy/house.php? Last visited: 2 May 2014. election=2001&district=CY. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 111 ‘Cyprus’, PollWatch2014; information accurate as of 1 April 2014.

17 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections different world is possible: the world of socialism. This is the terminated;119 and abolishing UK military bases on vision of AKEL: the construction of a democratic and humane Cypriot territory.120 socialist society.” (AKEL official website, undated)112 – Significant other: Rapprochement with North Cyprus. Political orientation: “akin to western social-democratic Priorities include: supporting a solution “within the parties” (European Election Database, undated);113 framework set out by the UN resolutions”,121 and 114 “Marxist-Leninist” (The Guardian, February 2008); negotiation with leaders in Turkish-occupied North 115 “Left-wing” (Famagusta Gazette, March 2014) Cyprus.122 Support base: “range[s] from cocktail-sipping salon CONTROVERSIES socialists to headscarved old women in the island’s mountain villages” (The Guardian, February 2008)116 – Corruption: In March 2013, it was alleged that a number of Cypriot banks had written off loans to 117 POLICY POSITIONS politicians from a number of parties, including – Economic: Anti-austerity; increased financial regulation; AKEL. These accusations were passed to the focus on SMEs/job creation. Priorities include: Parliamentary Ethics Committee.123 This is not the disengaging from Cyprus’ EU/IMF deal, including first time such accusations have been made, with potentially leaving the Euro; enforcing strict claims in 2012 (that a loan of €6.5 million, to a monitoring/governance rules on the banking company closely linked to AKEL, had been written sector ; reorienting the economy to focus on off) denied by the party.124 research/innovation/high-tech SMEs; developing – Corruption: Three AKEL members were existing shipping/legal/financial sectors; and arrested in October 2013, in a bribery and ensuring job creation. embezzlement case relating to land deals in – Domestic: Welfare expansion/poverty alleviation; Larnaca; two of these men (Venizelos Zannetos and green/sustainable development. Priorities include: Antonis Ioakim) are currently on trial facing 28 strengthening the welfare state and challenging charges. Following their arrest, AKEL claimed that poverty, through policies targeting household/SME they were being held due to their political debt; prioritising agricultural/environmental/ allegiances.125 planning reform, to ensure “green growth”; and – Official Negligence: President Demetris increasing investment in natural-gas-reserve Christofias faced calls to resign, in October 2011, development/renewable energy.118 after an enquiry found him responsible for the – Foreign: Euroscepticism; anti-NATO and deaths of 13 in a munitions explosion at the Mari anti-British-military presence. Priorities include: Naval Base on 11 July 2011. AKEL claimed this challenging EU economic policy and returning was a “political coup”.126 sovereign powers, working with other EU leftist parties to do so; ensuring that NATO has no role 119 ‘AKEL on the 65 years since the foundation of NATO’, AKEL official in Cyprus, and that the EU–NATO relationship is website, available at: http://www.akel.org.cy/en/?p=1722#.U2PEjPldVQg. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 120 ‘Preconditions for a solution of the Cyprus Problem’, AKEL official website, available at: http://www.akel.org.cy/en/?p=1603#.U2PDH_ldVQg. 112 ‘The Ideological and Political Identity of AKEL’, AKEL official website, Last visited: 2 May 2014. available at: http://www.akel.org.cy/en/?p=1489#.U2O-Z_ldVQg. 121 Ibid. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 122 ‘Talks bolstered by AKEL support’, Cyprus Mail, 9 February 2014, available 113 ‘Cyprus – Political Parties’, European Election Database, available at: at: http://cyprus-mail.com/2014/02/09/talks-bolstered-by-akel-support/. http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/cyprus/ Last visited: 2 May 2014. parties.html. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 123 ‘Cypriot banks “forgave” loans to firms, MPs’, Ekathimerini, 29 March 2013, 114 ‘Cyprus gets ready for a communist “takeover”’, The Guardian, available at: http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_ 24 February 2008, available at: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/ wsite1_1_29/03/2013_490679. Last visited: 2 May 2014. feb/24/cyprus. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 124 ‘AKEL insists there’s no link to company debt write-off ’, Cyprus Mail, 115 ‘Cyprus set to vote on crunch privatization bill’, Famagusta Gazette, 4 March 23 October 2012, available at: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/ 2014, available at: http://famagusta-gazette.com/cyprus-set-to-vote-on- AKEL+insists+there’s+no+link+to+company+debt+write-off.- crunch-privatization-bill-p22520-69.htm. Last visited: 2 May 2014. a0306143082. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 116 ‘Cyprus gets ready for a communist “takeover”’, The Guardian, 24 February 125 ‘Supreme Court Rejects AKEL Appeal Against Corruption Arrests’, Cyprus 2008. News Report, 10 October 2013, available at: 117 Unless otherwise specified, all policy positions are taken from ‘Exit from http://www.cyprusnewsreport.com/?q=node/7021. Last visited: 12 May the Memorandum and reshaping the Economy’, AKEL official website, 2014; and: ‘Defendants in CyTA land scandal plead not guilty’,Cyprus Mail, available at: http://www.akel.org.cy/en/?page_id=1617#.U2PHzPldVQg. 29 March 2014, avai lable at: http://cyprus-mail.com/2014/03/29/ Last visited: 2 May 2014. defendants-in-cyta-land-scandal-plead-not-guilty/. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 118 ‘Ecology and the Environment’, AKEL official website, available at: 126 ‘AKEL Closes Ranks Around President Over Early Elections’, Cyprus News http://www.akel.org. cy/en/?page_id=1696#.U2PKfPldVQg. Report, 6 October 2011, available at: http://www.cyprusnewsreport.com/ Last visited: 2 May 2014. ?q=node/4731. Last visited: 2 May 2014.

18 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

NOTES One of the oldest parties in this report, AKEL’s dominant position in recent general and Presidential elections highlights that not all of those groups found on the fringes of the European Parliaments can be classed as ‘outsiders’. However, in its Euroscepticism and open antipathy to NATO, AKEL shares policy positions with many of the parties profiled in this report, including several of those in the NI or EFD blocs at the European Parliament. The party’s anti-austerity platform reflects that held by several of the Greek parties profiled, as well as many of the GUE-NGL parties, as does its focus on welfare expansion and green/sustainable development.

19 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections ANO 2011

Name: Akce nespokojených obèanù Country/headquarters: Czech Republic/Prague127 the courage to stand on their own, whether they live in cities or villages. We want a prosperous state to ensure better conditions Official website: www.anobudelip.cz/cs for young families, the socially disadvantaged, long-term sick Social-media presence:128 and [we want] dignified life for seniors. That’s why we’re going 134 – Facebook: www.facebook.com/anobudelip into politics” (ANO 2011 official website, undated) (72,025 ‘likes’) Political orientation: “Although the movement had at the – YouTube: www.youtube.com/use r/anobudelip beginning a leftist profile, during the 2013 election campaign (3,174 subscribers) the movement targeted centre-right middle class [sic] votes. It is very hard to categorize the manifesto on the left-right scale or 129 Founded: November 2011 even on the liberal-conservative one. From the content perspective, Current leader: Andrej Babiš (2011-present)130 the manifesto is mainly focused on economical [sic] and corruption issues” (National Identity in Central-East Previous leaders: N/A Europe, research institute, 2013)135

NATIONAL REPRESENTATION Support base: Electoral gains in northern Bohemia, an area with high unemployment (The Economist, Chamber of Deputies (Lower House of November 2013);136 “disillusion[ed…] political class” Parliament) (The Economist, November 2013)137 2013: 18.7%; 47/200 seats; 2nd place131 POLICY POSITIONS EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION – Economic: Growth; competitiveness; job creation; living 132 Bloc: Non-Inscrits (NI) standards; “pro-business”. Priorities include: European Parliament, May 2014133 “increas[ing] the competitiveness of the economy – Predicted share of national vote: 24.8% and thus also creating jobs and raising living – Predicted seats: 6/21 standards of citizens”; creating “sustainable economic 138 – Predicted position: 1 st place growth”; and, according to The Economist, ANO 139 – Dates polled: 10/03/2014 – 24/03/2014 2011 “purports to be pro-business”. – Domestic: Transport infrastructure; worker conditions; IDEOLOGY domestic energy sour ces. Priorities include: Mission statement: “We want better conditions for Czech “strengthen[ing] the security of citizens in an area businesses and business owners who pay taxes here. We want a better standard of living for those who want to work and have 134 ‘A few words on YES’, ANO 2011 official website, available at: http://www.anobudelip.cz/cs/o-nas/par-slov-o-ano/. Last visited: 23 April 2014. 135 ‘ANO (Akce nespokojených oban; Action of Dissatisfied Citizens)’, National Identity in Central-Eastern Europe, available at: 127 ‘Contacts’, ANO 2011 official website, available at: http://www.anobudelip.cz/ http://www.ceeidentity.eu/database/manifestoescoun/ano-akce. cs/o-nas/nasi-lide/kontakty/. Last visited: 28 April 2014. Last visited: 28 April 2014. 128 Social-media information accurate as of 28-29 April 2014; screenshots 136 archived. ‘Central Europe’s Berlusconi?’, The Economi st, 2 November 2013, available at: http://www.economist.com/news/europe/ 129 ‘History YES’, ANO 2011 official website, available at: http://www.anobudelip.cz/cs/o-nas/historie/. Last visited: 28 April 2014. 21588950-andrej-babiss-new-party-was-elections-surprise-winner- central-europes-berlusconi. Last visited: 29 April 2014. 130 ‘My Story; About Us’, ANO 2011 official website, available at: http://www.anobudelip.cz/cs/o-nas/blogy/12512/muj-podrobny-zivotopis. 137 Ibid. Last visited: 25 April 2014. 138 ‘Our program’, ANO official website, 2013, available at: 131 ‘Election to the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech http://www.anobudelip.cz/cs/o-nas/program-do-eurovoleb/. Republic held on 28 - 29 May 2010’, Czech Statistical Office, 2013, Last visited: 23 April 2014. available at: http://www.volby.cz/pls/ps2010/ps53?xjazyk=EN&xv=1. 139 ‘Central Europe’s Berlusconi?’, The Economist, 2 Nov ember 2013, Last visited: 28 April 2014. available at: http://www.economist.com/news/europe/ 132 ‘Czech Republic’, PollWatch2014; information accurate as of 2-3 April 2014. 21588950-andrej-babiss-new-party-was-elections-surprise-winner- 133 ‘Czech Republic’, PollWatch2014. central-europes-berlusconi. Last visited: 29 April 2014.

20 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

without internal frontiers”;140 opposing Babiš has been compared to Italian leader Silvio marginalisation of the armed forces;141 improving Berlusconi, in part due to his reported demagogue- conditions for workers; improving transport leadership style; quick transition into power; and infrastructure; and making better use of domestic purchase of the largest Czech media group, MAFRA, energy sources.142 which owns two high-circulation newspapers; three TV stations; and two radio channels.152 Babiš reportedly – Foreign: Pro-EU integration; pro-NATO co-operation. responded to this by saying, “Comparisons with Priorities include: calling for the EU to expand and Berlusconi make me smile, because I wouldn’t ruin my increase its role in the world;143 decreasing VAT in investment by influencing those media”.153 Babiš was the EU; opposing de facto policies of tax a member of the Communist Party up until 1989 and harmonisation within the EU; supporting EU is speculated to “have collaborated with the integration; supporting a higher level of Czechoslovak State Security apparatus”, though he still competitiveness in the EU; and working towards disputes this claim.154 greater co-operation with NATO members.144 – Significant other: Anti-corruption. Priorities include: fighting against corruption; and opposing equity returns for politicians.145

CONTROVERSIES None specified

NOTES ANO 2011 (a.k.a. ANO)146 147 was formed in 2011,148 by current Finance Minister and ANO Chairman: Andrej Babiš.149 The party’s electoral breakthrough was in 2013, when it came second in the national elections.150 ANO 2011 promotes largely populist policy positions and is widely considered to belong to the centre-right of the Czech Republic’s political spectrum. During its 2013 election campaign, the party employed the American PR agency, PSB, and targeted well-known, popular Czech celebrities to feature in their party-political broadcasts.151

140 ‘Our program’, ANO official website, 2013. 141 ‘ANO (Akce nespokojených oban; Action of Dissatisfied Citizens)’, Nationa l Identity in Central-Eastern Europe. 142 ‘ANO (Akce nespokojených oban; Action of Dissatisfied Citizens)’, National Identity in Central-Eastern Europe. 143 ‘Our program’, ANO official website, 2013. 144 ‘ANO (Akce nespokojených oban; Action of Dissatisfied Citizens)’, National Identity in Central-Eastern Europe. 145 Ibid. 146 Hornát, J. ‘A reflection on Czech Eurosception before the EU elections’, Open Democra cy, 16 January 2014, available at: http://www.opendemocracy.net/ can-europe-make-it/jan-horn%C3%A1t/reflection-on-czech- euroscepticism-before-eu-elections. Last visited: 29 April 2014. 147 ‘ANO’ was originally an acronym for ‘Action of Dissatisfied Citizens’. See: ‘ANO 2011’, The Democratic Society, available at: http://europe.demsoc.org/ 2014/02/20/ano-2011/. Last visited: 24 April 2014. 148 ‘My Story; About Us’, ANO 2011 official website, available at: http://www.anobudelip.cz/cs/o-nas/blogy/12512/muj-podrobny-zivotopis. Last visited: 25 April 2014. 149 ‘Our people’, ANO 2011 official website. 150 ‘Election to the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic held on 28 - 29 May 2010’, Czech Statistical Office, 2013, 152 ‘ANO 2011’, The Democratic Society. available at: http://www.volby.cz/pls/ps2010/ps53?xjazyk=EN&xv=1. 153 ‘Central Europe’s Berlusconi?’, The Economist, 2 November 2013, Last visited: 28 April 2014. available at: http://www.economist.com/news/europe/ 151 ‘Political earthquake in the Czech Republic: Rejection of established 21588950-andrej-babiss-new-party-was-elections-surprise-winner- parties’, Heinrich Boll Stiftung: The Green Political Foundation, available at: central-europes-berlusconi. Last visited: 29 April 2014. http://www.boell.de/en/2013/10/31/political-earthquake-czech- 154 ‘Political earthquake in the Czech Republic: Rejection of established parties’, republic-rejection-established-parties. Last visited: 24 April 2014. Heinrich Boll Stiftung: The Green Political Fo undation.

21 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Czech Communist Party

L Name: Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy (KSČM) 2008: 1/27 (total 3/81) ( 1) 2010: 0/27 (total 2/81) ( M 1) Alternative name: Communist Party of Bohemia 2012: 0/27 (total 2/81)164 and Moravia (CPBM) Regional elections165 155 Country/headquarters: Czech Republic/Prague 2008: 114 seats Official website: www.kscm.cz 2012: 20.4%; 182 seats ( L 68); 2nd place Social-media presence:156 EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION – Facebook: www.facebook.com/ Bloc: Confederal Group of the European United 166 komunistickastranacechamoravy (3,504 ‘likes’) Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE-NGL) 167 – YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/czkscm/about European Parliament, June 2004 (36 subscribers) – Share of national vote: 20.3% – Seats: 6/24 157 Founded: November 1990 – Position: 2nd place – Turnout: 27.9% Current leader: JUDr. Vojtěch Filip, MP (2005-present)158 159 European Parliament, June 2009168 – Share of national vote: 14.2% Previous leaders: Miroslav Grebení ek č –Seats: 4/22169 (1993-2005);160 Ji í Svoboda (1990-1993)161 ř – Position: 3rd place NATIONAL REPRESENTATION – Turnout: 28.2% 170 Chamber of Deputies (Lower House of European Parliament, May 2014 Parliament)162 – Predicted share of national vote: 14.8% 2002: 18.5%; 41/200 seats; 3rd place – Predicted seats: 4/21 – Predicted position: 3rd place171 2006: 12.8%; 26/200 seats ( M 15); 3rd place – Dates polled: 10/03/2014 – 24/03/2014172 2010: 11.3%; 26/200 seats; 4th place 2013: 14.9%; 33/200 seats ( M 7); 3rd place IDEOLOGY Senat (Upper House of Parliament)163 Mission statement: “Our long-term goal […] is [the] 2002: 1/27 (total 3/81) building of [a] fairer social order - socialism, where people 2004: 0/27 (total 2/81) ( M 1) 2006: 0/27 (total 2/81) 164 ‘Our Party’, CPBM official website, http://www.kscm.cz/our-party. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 165 ‘Czech Republic (regional and Senate) 2012’, World Elections, 2012 available at: http://welections.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/ 155 ‘Quick Contact’, CPBM official website, available at: http://www.kscm.cz/ czech-republic-regional-and-senate-2012/. Last visited: 6 May 2014. obcanska-poradna/informacni-materialy. Last visited: 28 April 2014. 166 ‘Czech Republic’, PollWatch2014; information accurate as of 2-3 April 2014. 156 Social-media information accurate as of 24 April 2014; screenshots archived. 167 ‘European Parliament Elections 20 04’, House of Commons, 2004, 157 ‘Our Party: History’, CPBM official website, available at: available at: http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/lib/ http://www.kscm.cz/our-party/history. Last visited: 16 April 2014. research/rp2004/rp04-050.pdf. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 158 Ibid. 168 ‘Total voting results’, Czech Statistical Office, 2009, available at: 159 Backes, U. & Moreau, P. (2008) Communist and Post-Communist Parties http://www.volby.cz/pls/ep2009/ep11?xjazyk=CZ. in Europe. (Gottingen: Vanden & Ruprecht GmbH & Co.), p.292. Last visited: 16 April 2014. Last visited: 28 April 2014. 169 ‘Elections to the European Parliament are held in the Czech Republic 160 Ibid. on 05.06. – 06.06.2009’, Czech Statistical Office, 2009, available at: 161 Ibid. p.291. http://www.volby.cz/pls/ep2009/ep143?xjazyk=CZ. 162 ‘Election Resources on the Internet’, Parliamentary Elections in the Czech Last visited: 9 May 2014. Republic – Chamber of Deputies, 2013, available at: 170 ‘Czech Republic’, PollWatch2014. http://www.electionresources.org/cz/. Last visited: 28 April 2014. 171 ‘Polls & Scenarios: Czech Republic’, PollWatch2014, available at: 163 Elections are held every two years for one third of the 81-member Senate. http://www.electio2014.eu/pollsandscenarios/polls#country. See ‘Czech Republic Senat’, Inter-Parliamentary Union, available at: Last visited: 16 April 2014. http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2084_arc.htm. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 172 ‘Czech Republic’, PollWatch2014.

22 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections would be paid according to the work […done] by them, [where] making on school children and the discrimination everything […would] occur in favour of the society […where] of children or teachers for ideological, regional, wealth […would] not be the decisive standard for social racial, ethnic or other reasons”; “protect[ing] the ranging.” (CPBM official website, 2012)173 tenants, to construct social housing as well as the Political orientation: “neo-communist”, “far left” housing for young marriages through the assistance (academic source, 2008);174 “Reform communist” of the state, the self-governments and the (International Policy Analysis, 2008);175 “radical left” cooperatives”; and increasing efforts to reach a (International Policy Analysis, 20 08; Centre for “unified progress of civil associations and initiatives Research on Globalisation, 2012)176 177 in defending the rights of non-privileged strata against the system of exploitation and unearned Support base: “The approximate age of Party members is profits”.182 very high, [at] about 70 years of age.” (CPBM official website, 2012);178 the CPBM claims that, in 2005, – Foreign: Co-operation between European left parties; 44% of its members were women (CPBM official pro-military withdrawal; anti-NATO militarism; website, 2012)179 anti-foreign-policy alignment solely with the West; anti-American intervention in Syria; pro-Russian action in POLICY POSITIONS Ukraine. Priorities include: supporting the – Economic: Agricultural self-sufficiency; economic “unification of Left forces’ advancement in the independence; progressive income taxation; investment in European continent to enforce social changes with transport infrastructure; greater public-sector role in economy; socialist characteristics”; withdrawing Czech anti-economic crime. Priorities include: “encourag[ing] Republic forces from “areas without any relation to agriculture […and] strengthen[ing] the country’s our defence”; suspending “participation […] 183 self-sufficiency in food supply”; reaching “energy with[… the] military part of […] NATO”; independence of [the] Czech Republic”; creating opposing foreign-policy focuses on the USA and the 184 a “Czech National Commercial Bank”; EU; opposing European policies under the implementing “progressive taxation according to Lisbon Treaty as attempts to “impose a reactionary the income levels”; developing infrastructure antisocial and military politics against the interests 185 through the “investment into transport with an of the people”; dismissing the United States’ emphasis on the railway public transport”;180 attempt to intervene in the Syrian civil war, on the “halting the outflow of national wealth abroad”; basis that “to use […] force against a sovereign and “clamping down on economic crime”.181 country without an [sic] UN Security Council’s [sic] mandate […] would be [a] rough and utmost – Domestic: Anti-discrimination and anti-prejudice; dangerous violation of […] international law as social-housing rights; pro-civil society. Priorities include: well as an expression of […] contempt for the UN “exclud[ing] both one-sided, biased influence- itself ”;186 and arguing against sanctions and blockades in response to Russian intervention in 173 ‘Main Tasks & Aims of the Party’s Work after KSCM’s VIII Congress’, 187 25 June 2012, CPBM official website, available at: Ukraine. http://www.kscm.cz/our-politics/documents/65189/main-tasks-aims- of-the-partys-work-after-kscms-viii-congress. Last visited: 6 May 2014. – Significant other: Czech nationalism; anti-corruption. 174 Backes, U. & Moreau, P. (2008) Communist and Post-Communist Parties Priorities include: creating “conditions to in Europe. (Gottingen: Vanden & Ruprecht GmbH & Co.), p.292. Last visited: 28 April 2014. 175 March, L. ‘Contemporary Far Left Parties in Europe: From Marxism to the Mainstream?’, International Policy Analysis, November 2008, available at: 182 ‘Main Tasks & Aims of the Party’s Work after KSCM’s VIII Congress’, http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/id/ipa/05818.pdf. Last visited: 7 May 2014. CPBM official website, 25 June 2012, available at: 176 ‘Czech Elections: “No” to Austerity and “Yes” to Strengthening the Left”, http://www.kscm.cz/our-politics/documents/65189/main-tasks-aims- Centre for Research on Globalization, 27 October 2012, available at: of-the-partys-work-after-kscms-viii-congress. Last visited: 6 May 2014. http://www.globalresearch.ca/czech-elections-no-to-austerity-and-yes- 183 ‘Main Tasks & Aims of the Party’s Work after KSCM’s VIII Congress’, to-strengthening-the-left/5309836. Last visited: 7 May 2014. CPBM official website, 25 June 2012. 177 March, L. ‘Contemporary Far Left Parties in Europe: From Marxism to the 184 ‘Our Programmes’, CPBM official website, available at: http://www.kscm.cz/ Mainstream?’, International Policy Analysis, November 2008, available at: our-party/our-programms/39785/. Last visited: 22 April 2014. http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/id/ipa/05818.pdf. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 185 ‘KSCM’, The Democratic Society, available at: 178 ‘Our Party’, CPBM official website, available at: http://europe.demsoc.org/2014/02/20/communist-party- http://www.kscm.cz/our-party. Last visited: 16 April 2014. of-bohemia-and-moravia-kscm/. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 179 ‘Our Party’, CPBM official website. 186 ‘Statement on the situation in Syria’, CPBM official website, available at: 180 ‘Main Tasks & Aims of the Party’s Work after KSCM’s VIII Congress’, http://www.kscm.cz/our-politics/statements/79965/statement-on-the- 25 June 2012, CPBM official website, available at: situation-in-syr ia. Last visited: 22 April 2014. http://www.kscm.cz/our-politics/documents/65189/main-tasks-aims- 187 ‘Statement dealing with the situation in Ukraine’, CPBM official website, of-the-partys-work-after-kscms-viii-congress. Last visited: 6 May 2014. available at: http://www.kscm.cz/our-politics/statements/86533/kscms- 181 ‘Our Party’, CPBM official website. statement-dealing-with-the-situation-in-ukraine. Last visited: 22 April 2014.

23 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

consolidate […] patriotism, to protect and to promote Czech language itself as well as […] Czech culture”;188 and challenging corruption.

CONTROVERSIES – Other: In 2009, the CPBM was criticised for funding the building of a memorial to a female resistance leader murdered by the Communist government in 1950. The party was accused of trying to silence history with money.189

NOTES The Czech Communist Party is one of the only notable communist parties present in a non-Soviet Eastern-bloc country.190 The CPBM has promoted anti-corruption policies, in attempts to gain popularity – given the Czech Republic’s high levels of bribery.191 The CPBM claims to work closely with a number of youth organisations within the Czech Republic, including the Communist Union of Youth (KSM) and the Young Communists of Czechoslovakia’s Union, as well as with civic organisations such as the Trade Union Association of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia.192 The party also claims to maintain contact with more than a hundred communist, leftist, and workers’ parties all over the world.193 The party offered its condolences to North Korea, after the death of the dictator Kim Jong-il in 2011.194

188 ‘Main Tasks & Aims of the Party’s Work after KSCM’s VIII Congress’, CPBM official website, 25 June 2012, available at: http://www.kscm.cz/our-politics/documents/65189/main-tasks-aims- of-the-partys-work-after-kscms-viii-congress. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 189 ‘Donation to Horáková memorial sparks controversy’, The Prague Post, 4 November 2009, available at: http://www.praguepost.cz/news/ 2677-donation-to-hor%C3%A1kov%C3%A1-memorial-sparks- controversy.html. La st visited: 16 April 2014. 190 ‘Czech Republic, European United Left-Nordic Green Left’, The Democratic Society, available at: http://europe.demsoc.org/2014/02/20/ communist-party-of-bohemia-and-moravia-kscm/. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 191 ‘Czech Communists Could Return to Power’, The World Post, 3 January 2013 available at: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-01-03/ czech-communists-could-return-to-powe r. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 192 ‘Our Party’, CPBM official website. 193 ‘Our Politics’, CPBM official website, available at: http://www.kscm.cz/our-politics. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 194 ‘Communist Party as Vampire: Back to the Future in the Czeck Republic?’, The World Post, 3 November 2013 available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ doug-bandow/ czech-republic-elections_b_4209431.html. Last visited: 6 May 2014.

24 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Danish People’s Party

Name: Dansk Folkeparti (DF) Local elections204 2001: 168 municipal seats ( L 49); 24 regional seats Country/headquarters: Denmark/Copenhagen195 ( L 3)205 206 Official website: www.danskfolkeparti.dk/ 2005: 5.9%; 125 municipal seats ( M 43); 14 regional M 207 196 seats ( 10) Social-media presence: 2009: 8.1%; 186 municipal seats ( L 61); 19 regional – Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/ seats ( L 5)208 Dansk-Folkeparti/520449347983427 2013: 10.1%; 255 municipal seats ( L 69); 23 regional (number of ‘likes’ unavailable) seats ( L 4)209 197 Founded: 6 October 1995 EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION210 211 Current leader: Kristian Thulesen Dahl (2012- Bloc: Europe of Freedom & Democracy (EFD) present)198 European Parliament, June 2004212 – Share of national vote: 6.8% Previous leaders: Pia Kjærsgaard (1995-2012)199 – Seats: 1/14 NATIONAL REPRESENTATION – Position: 6th place – Turnout: 47.2% Folketing (Parliament) 2001: 12.0%; 22/179 seats ( L 9); 200 3rd place 204 There are 98 municipal councils and five regional councils in Denmark. Data for municipal seats for 2005, 2009, and 2013 taken from: ‘VALGK3: 2005: 13.3%; 24/179 seats ( L 2); Elections to municipality councils by municipality, party and 201 votes/candidates/sex’, Statistics Denmark, available at: www.statbank.dk/ 3rd place statbank5a/SelectOut/PxSort.asp?file=201442814509137929417VALGK 2007: 13.9%; 25/179 seats ( L 1); 3&PLanguage=1&MainTable=VALGK3&MainTablePrestext=Elections 202 %20to%20municipality%20councils&potsize=18. Last visited: 13 May 2014; 3rd place Data for regional seats for 2005, 2009 and 2013 taken from: ‘AKVA3: Elections to region councils by region, party and votes/candidates/sex’, 2011: 12.3%; 22/179 seats ( M 3); Statistics Denmark, available at: www.statbank.dk/statbank5a/SelectOut/ 203 PxSort.asp?file=2014428145947137929417AKVA3&PLanguage=1& 3rd place MainTable=AKVA3&MainTablePrestext=Elections%20to%20region% 20counci ls&potsize=18. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 205 ‘Municipal Elections, November 18, 1997’, Danish People’s Party official 195 Registered Office: Dansk Folkeparti, Christiansborg, 1240 København K, see: website, available at: www.danskfolkeparti.dk/Kommunalvalg_ Danish People’s Party official website, available at: www.danskfolkeparti.dk. 18._november_1997. Last visited: 9 May 2014. Last visi ted: 9 May 2014. 206 ‘Elections to the City and County Councils, November 20, 2001’, 196 There is also an unofficial Danish People’s Party Twitter account Danish People’s Party official website, available at: (www.twitter.com/DanskDf1995), with 1,624 followers. The account is www.danskfolkeparti.dk/Valg_til_by-_og_amtsr%C3%A5d_20._ neither a verified account nor is it listed on the party’s official website, november_2001. Last visited: 9 May 2014. which only links to Facebook. Social-media information accurate as of 207 28 April 2014; screenshots archived. ‘Det endelige landsresultat’, Jyllands-Posten, 19 November 2009, available at: 197 ‘History’, Danish People’s Party official website, available at: http://jyllands-posten.dk/politik/ECE5053845/det-endelige-landsresultat/. www. danskfolkeparti.dk/Historie. Last visited: 13 May 2014; see also: Last visited: 9 May 2014. Topaloff, L. K., (2012) Political Parties and Euroscepticism, Palgrave Studies in 208 ‘Fakta: Her er det endelige valgresultat på landsplan’, Nyhederne TV2, European Union Politics, (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan), p.177. 20 November 2013, available at: http://nyhederne.tv2.dk/samfund/ Last visited: 9 May 2014. 2013-11-20-fakta-her-er-det-endelige-valgresultat-p %C3%A5-landsplan. 198 ‘Anniversaries’, Danish People’s Party official website, available at: Last visited: 9 May 2014. www.danskfolkeparti.dk/M%C3%A6rkedage. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 209 199 Ibid. Ibid. 210 200 ‘The General Election, November 20, 2001’, Danish People’s Party official The Danish People’s Party won one seat in the 1999 European elections; see: website, available at: www.danskfolkeparti.dk/Folketingsvalget_20._ ‘Elections To The European Parliament, 10 June 1999’, Danish People’s november_2001. Last visited: 9 May 2014. Party official website, available at: www.danskfolkeparti.dk/Valg_til_ 201 ‘General Election, February 8, 2005’, Danish People’s Party official website, Europa-parlamentet_10._juni_1999. Last visited: 9 May 2014. available at: www.danskfolkeparti.dk/Folketingsvalg_8._februar_2005. 211 ‘Denmark’, PollWatch2014; information accurate as of 1 April 2014 Last visited: 9 May 2014. 212 Datase t: Denmark: European Parliament Election 2004, European Election 202 ‘General Election November 13, 2007’, Danish People’s Party official website, available at: www.danskfolkeparti.dk/Folketingsvalg_13._november_2007. Database, Norwegian Social Science Data Services, available at: Last visited: 9 May 2014. http://eed.nsd.uib.no/webview/index.jsp?study=http://129.177.90.166: 203 ‘People’s Parliament Election Thursday 15th September 2011’, 80/obj/fStudy/DKEP2004_Display&node=0&mode=cube&v=2&cube= Statistics Denmark, available at: www.dst.dk/valg/Valg1204271/valgopg/ http://129.177.90.166:80/obj/fCube/DKEP2004_Display_C1&top=yes. valgopgHL.htm. Last visited: 9 May 2014. Last visited: 9 May 2014.

25 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

European Parliament, June 2009213 particularly strong among those affected by welfare cuts such as – Share of national vote: 15.3% large families, public-sector employees, blue-collar workers and – Seats: 2/13 the elderly. The DF is also successful with rural voters who feel – Position: 4th place ‘their’ Denmark has become a dumping-ground for immigrants” – Turnout: 59.5% (The Economist, February 2014)221 European Parliament, May 2014214 POLICY POSITIONS – Predicted share of national vote: 24% – Predicted seats: 3/13 – Economic: Anti-Euro; supports European trade policy. – Predicted position: 2nd place The party was part of the successful campaign – Dates polled: 14/03/2014 -16/03/2014 against Danish adoption of the Euro, ahead of the country’s 2000 referendum on the issue;222 but it IDEOLOGY continues to support European co-operation on 223 Mission statement: “The aim of the Danish People’s trade policy. Priorities include: tax reduction; Party is to assert Denmark’s independence, to guarantee the greater welfar e protection for pensioners; and freedom of the Danish people in their own country, and to financial support for education, health care, research, and security.224 preserve and promote representative government and the monarchy.” (DF official programme, 2002)215 – Domestic: Anti-immigration; focus on sovereignty; supports family/Christian values. The party’s priority is Political orientation: “ultra-right” (The Guardian, restricting immigration: the party’s manifesto states, undated)216; “the most enthusiastic advocate of placing “Denmark is not an immigrant country and has restrictions on immigration, the far-right” (BBC News, never been. We will not accept a multi-ethnic February 2005);217 “populist mix of nationalism, identity transformation of the country”,225 and party politics and xenophobia, notably agitating against Muslims” 218 rhetoric additionally links increased immigration (The Economist, February 2014) levels to “growing transnational crime”.226 Other Support base: “Much of the support for the far right in priorities include: criticising the EU for restricting Denmark comes from the working class, which chafed the most national sovereignty;227 family values (“family is the at ultraliberal immigration policies that allowed thousands of core of Danish society”); and support for the immigrants — from Iran, Iraq and the Balkans — to enter the established church.228 country in the 1970s, ’80 and ’90s” (The New York – Foreign: Euroscepticism; opposes Turkish EU accession; 219 Times, June 2011); Of the DF’s Facebook supporters, supports NATO. While the party has fallen short of “64 per cent are male and 36 per cent are female […] calling for outright withdr awal from the EU,229 its One-quarter were under 20; and 51 per cent were under 30 [… European manifesto states: “We oppose the 48%] reported participating in higher education […and 17% introduction of a European political union. 220 were] unemployed” (DEMOS, 2012); “Its appeal is Denmark should remain a sovereign state. This means that no law or resolution must be set higher

213 Dataset: Denmark: European Parliament Election 2009, European Election Database, Norwegian Social Science Data Services, available at: http://eed.nsd.uib.no/webview/index.jsp?study=http://129.177.90.166: 221 ‘Just a protest party?’, The Economist Intelligence Unit, 4 February 2014. 80/obj/fStudy/DKEP2009_Display&node=0&mode=cube&v=2&cube= 222 Topaloff, L. K., (2012) Political Parties and Euroscepticism, Palgrave Studies in http://129.177.90.166:80/obj/fCube/DKEP2009_Display_C1&top=yes. European Union Politics, (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan), p.176. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 223 ‘EU Policy’, Danish People’s Party official website, available at: 214 ‘Denmark’, PollWatch2014; information accurate as of 1 April 2014. http://www.danskfolkeparti.dk/M%C3%A6rkesag-EU. 215 ‘The Party Programme of the Danish People Party’, Danish People’s Last visited: 9 May 2014. Party official website, October 2002, available at: 224 http://www.danskfolkeparti.dk/The_Party_Program_of_the_ ‘The Danish People’s Party, the Italian Northern League and the Austrian Danish _Peoples_Party. Last visited: 9 May 2014. Freedom Party in a Comparative Perspective: Party Ideology and Electoral Support’, Aalborg University, 2009, available at: http://vbn.aau.dk/files/ 216 ‘Special report: Europe’s far right’, The Guardian, undated, available at: 20049801/spirit_phd_series_25.pdf. Last visited: 9 May 2014. www.theguardian.com/gall/0,,711990,00.html. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 225 ‘Principle Programme’, Danish People’s Party official website, 217 ‘Denmark’s immigration issue’, BBC News, 19 February 2005, October 2002, available at: http://www.danskfolkeparti.dk/Principprogram. available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4276963.stm. Last visited: 9 May 2014. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 226 218 ‘Just a protest party?’, The Economist Intelligence Uni t, 4 February 2014, available ‘Denmark’s borders must be secure’, Danish People’s Party official website, at: http://country.eiu.com/article.aspx?articleid=1491499933& available at: www.danskfolkeparti.dk/Gr%C3%A6nsekontrol. Country=Denmark&topic=Politics. Last visited: 9 May 2014. Last visited: 12 May 2014. 227 219 ‘Denmark leads nationalist challenge to Europe’s open borders’, The New York Topaloff, L. K., (2012) Political Parties and Euroscepticism, Palgrave Studies in Times, 24 June 2011, available at: European Union Politics, (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan), p.177. www.nytimes.com/2011/06/25/world/europe/25denmark.html?pagewante 228 ‘Principle Programme’, Danish People’s Party official website, d=all&_r=0. Last visited: 9 May 2014. October 2002, available at: http://www.danskfolkeparti.dk/Principprogram. 220 Bartlett, J.; Bidwell, J.; Bani, M. & Jack Beni, ‘Populism in Europe: Denmark’, Last visited: 9 May 2014. DEMOS, April 2012, p.15, available at: www.demos.co.uk/files/ 229 Topaloff, L. K., (2012) Political Parties and Euroscepticism, Palgrave Studies in Denmark_-_Web.pdf ?1337010831. Last visited: 9 May 2014. European Union Politics, (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan), pp.176-177.

26 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

than the Danish Constitution. This is the very core this ‘outsider’ party.238 Others believe, however, that of our European policy”.230 Other priorities the coming to power of the country’s first centre-left include: opposition to Turkish accession to the government in a decade, led by Social Democrat Helle EU,231 and support for NATO.232 Thorning-Schmidt, in 2011 (only a few months after – Significant other: Anti-Islam; focus on green policies. the Norway terrorist attacks) signalled a shift in Danish The party’s anti-immigration rhetoric frequently politics and a decline in support for the targets immigrants from Muslim-majority anti-immigration rhetoric of the DF.239 233 countries, and party leader Kjærsgaard has April 2014, however, saw intense public debate over described Islam as “a religion that cherishes child benefits for EU workers in Denmark. Opinion violence” and has compared the Muslim headscarf polls taken during that time put the DF on 27%, 234 to the image of a swastika. The party advocates signalling a 3 percentage point increase and a shift progressive environmental policies, including from second to first place compared to surveys 235 greater international co-operation on the issue. conducted in mid-March 2014.240 Furthermore, there is a tendency for the DF to be underestimated in CONTROVERSIES opinion polls, by approximately 1-1.5%.241 – Racism: In 2005, party leader Pia Kjærsgaard said of Sweden, “If they want to turn Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmoe into a Scandinavian Beirut, with clan wars, honour killings and gang rapes, let them do it. We can always put a barrier on the Oeresund Bridge.”236

NOTES The DF’s electoral breakthrough came six years after its founding, when the party gained 12% of the national vote in the 2001 parliamentary elections. The subsequent Liberal-Conservative coalition government was forced to rely on the party in order to gain a parliamentary majority. In 2002, the party was instrumental in reforms which led to unprecedented tightening of immigration conditions.237 As a result, analysts in Denmark have claimed that the DF has impacted the domestic political discourse as centrist parties increasingly adopt traditionally right-wing rhetoric in order to win voters back from

230 ‘EU Policy’, Danish People’s Party official website. 231 Ibid. 232 Topaloff, L. K., (2012) Political Parties and Euroscepticism, Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics, (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan), p.177. 233 ‘DF says no to more Danish Muslims’, Copenhagen Post, 17 December 2013, available at: http://cphpost.dk/news/df-says-no-to-more-danish- muslims.8128.html. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 234 ‘Deporting the Victim: The Danish People’s Party Radical Solution 238 ‘Denmark’s People Party leads challenge to Europe’s Open Borders’, The New to a Perceived Threat’, Humanity in Action, June 2011, available at: York Times, 24 June 2011, available at: www.nytimes.com/2011/06/25/world/ http://www.humanityinaction.org/knowledgebase/386-deporting-the- europe/25denmark.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0. Last visited: 9 May 2014. victim-the -danish-people-s-party-s-radical-solution-to-a-perceived-threat. 239 ‘In Copenhagen, an Election Turns Denmark to the Left’, Foreign Affairs, Last visited: 9 May 2014. 22 September 2011, available at: www.foreignaffairs.com/features/ 235 ‘Principle Programme’, Danish People’s Party official website, letters-from/in-copenhagen-an-election-turn s-denmark-to-the-left. October 2002. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 236 ‘Denmark’s immigration issues’, BBC News, 19 February 2005, 240 ‘Danish Peoples Party tops poll ahead of EU elections’, EUObserver, available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4276963.stm. 10 April 2014, available at: http://euobserver.com/tickers/123810. Last visited: 9 May 2014. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 237 ‘Denmark’s immigration issue’, BBC News, 19 February 2005, 241 ‘DF is better than polls’, nyhederne tv2, 5 November 2007, available at: available at: http://news. bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4276963.stm. http://nyhederne.tv2.dk/article.php/id-9238412.html?ss. Last visited: 8 May 2014. Last visited: 8 May 2014.

27 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Finns Party

Name: Perussuomalaiset

242 Alternative name: True Finns Municipal elections Country/headquarters: Finland/Helsinki243 2000: Unspecified 2004: Unspecified Official websites: www.perussuomalaiset.fi (central); 2008: 5.4%; 443/9,674 seats252 www.perussuomalaiset.fi/kielisivu/in-english (English)244 2012: 12.3%; 1,195/9,674 seats ( L 752); 4th place253 245 Social-media presence: EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION – Facebook: www.facebook.com/pe russuomalaiset Bloc: Europe of Freedom & Democracy (EFD)254 (18,933 ‘likes’) European Parliament, June 2004255 – Twitter: www.twitter.com/VerkkomediaPS – Share of national vote: 0.5% (656 followers) – Seats: 0/14 – Position: 9th place Founded: 11 May 1995; successor party to the – Turnout: 39.4% 246 Finnish Rural Party European Parliament, June 2009256 Current leader: Timo Soini (1997-present)247 – Share of national vote: 9.8% – Seats: 1/13257 Previous leaders: N/A – Position: 5th place – Turnout: 40.3%258 NATIONAL REPRESENTATION European Parliament, May 2014259 248 Presidential elections – Predicted share of national vote: 18% 2000: 1% – Predicted seats: 3/13 2006: 3.4%; 5th place – Predicted position: joint-2nd place 2012: 9.4%; 4th place – Date polled: 20/03/2014

Eduskunta (Parliament of Finland) IDEOLOGY 249 2003: 1.6%; 3/200 seats Mission statement: “The predominant raison d’être of 250 2007: 4.1%; 5/200 seats ( L 2) the Party is the recognition of Finland as a nation and a culture” 251 2011: 19%; 39/200 seats ( L 34); 3rd place (Finns Party official website, undated)260 Political orientation: “much in common with right-wing 261 242 ‘True Finns leaders drop “True” from party’s English-language name’, populist parties elsewhere” (BBC News, April 2011); Helsingin Sanomat, 22 August 2011, available at: https://www.hs.fi/ english/article/True+Finns+leaders+drop+%E2%80%9CTrue%E2% “mix[es] aspects of both left and right” (The Guardian, 80%9D+from+party%E2%80%99s+English-language+name/ 1135268720226. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 243 ‘‘Finns Party – In English’, Finns Party official website, available at: http://www.perussuomalaiset.fi/kielisivu/in-engl ish/. 252 ‘Finns Party – In English’, Finns Party official website. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 253 ‘Municipal Election Results 2012’, Ministry of Justice Finland, available at: 244 ‘Website links correct as of 2 May 2014. http://archive.today/kIx4K. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 245 ‘Social-media information accurate as of 26 March 2014; screenshots 254 ‘Finland’, PollWatch2014, available at: http://www.electio2014.eu/ archived. pollsandscenarios/polls#country. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 246 ‘See: ‘Finns Party – In English’, Finns Party official website, available at: 255 ‘Finland’, European Election Database. http://www.perussuomalaiset.fi/kielisivu/in-english/. Last visited: 13 May 256 Ibid. 2014; and: ‘Party history at a glance’, Finns Party official website, available 257 Raunio, T., ‘European Parli ament Election Briefing No 26: The European at: http://www. perussuomalaiset.fi/tietoa-meista/sijoita-puolueen- Parliament Election in Finland’, University of Tampere, 7 June 2009, historia-pahkinankuoressa/. Last visited: 2 May 2014. available at: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/webteam/gateway/file.php? 247 ‘‘Party history at a glance’, Finns Party official website. name=epern-no-26-finland-2009.pdf&site=266. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 248 ‘Finland’, European Election Database, available at: 258 Ibid. http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/finland/. 259 ‘Finland’, PollWatch2014; information accurate as of 1 April 2014. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 260 ‘Finns Party – In English’, Finns Party official website. 249 ‘Finland’, European Election Database 261 ‘True Finns’ national ism colours Finland election ‘, BBC News, 15 April 2011, 250 ‘Finns Party – In English’, Finns Part y official website. available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13091920. 251 ‘Finland’, European Election Database. Last visited: 2 May 2014.

28 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

April 2011);262 “representing radical right-wing populism” ensuring Finland only commits military forces as (academic source, 2010);263 “nationalist, Eurosceptic and peacekeepers; and cutting overseas-development aid. anti-establishment party” (European Election Database, 264 – Significant other: Finnish nationalism; focus on undated) rural/agrarian issues; anti-Islam. Priorities include: Support base: “The voter profile of the party closely promoting and preserving Finnish culture/ language resembles the archetypal voter of the radical right [...] low party (through increased funding, cutting back of Swedish commitment, lower than average trust in politicians, language, and setting a maximum number of proletarianism, being male and relatively young” (academic immigrants per school); safeguarding rural source, 2010)265 communities (through tax breaks, infr astructure investment, and product promotions); and greater POLICY POSITIONS266 freedoms in land management/hunting policies.

– Economic: Progressive tax policy; pro-enterprise/industry. CONTROVERSIES Priorities include: focusing taxation on high earners – Authoritarianism: In September 2011, MP Jussi (by increasing income taxes, introducing asset taxes, Halla-aho was criticised after claiming that Greece and increasing capital-income tax); ensuring “a should resolve its problems by returning to a solid future” for SME enterprise/industry; military dictatorship.268 introducing tax cuts for small businesses; and – Far-Right Links: MP James Hirvisaari was raising taxes on alcohol/unhealthy foods, to cover expelled from the party in October 2013, after increase d health-care costs. inviting the far-right activist Seppo Lehto to the – Domestic: Anti-immigration; welfare expansion; focus on Eduskunta and photographing him making a justice; green policies. Priorities include: cutting number of Nazi salutes.269 immigration, through controls on family – Homophobia: In October 2012, James Hirvisaari unification/refugee quotas and by deporting was reported to have referred to homosexuality as immigrants guilty of crimes; reforming benefits for a disability; called the Green League and Left families with young children and reintroducing Alliance “homo parties”; and equated child tax credits; increasing pension-accrual rates; homosexuality with incest and bestiality.270 focusing on care for the elderly/disabled; and – Racism: Local party members in Lieksa were ensuring that petty crime is prosecuted and that criticised after they refused to use a room previously sentences are more severe, as well as providing used by Somali community group and demanded greater funding for law enforcement. a “clean” room instead, in November 2013. No 271 – Foreign: Eurosceptic; anti-NATO; isolationist. Priorities charges were brought after a police investigation. include: reducing the EU role in Finnish issues; – Racism/Homophobia: MP Teuvo Hakkarainen preventing further EU expansion; renegotiating the was reprimanded by leader Timo Soini in April 272 terms of Finland’s EU membership; opposing 2011, for using racial slurs, and was reported, in NATO membership and EU sanctions on Russia;267 November 2011, to have said that homosexuals and Somali refugees should be exiled to islands in the Baltic.273 262 ‘The True Fin ns followed a well-known recipe for success’, The Guardian, 21 April 2011, available at: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/ 2011/apr/21/true-finns-nationalist-populists-european-parties. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 268 ‘Far-right Finnish politician Timo Soini bids for presidency’, The Guardian, 263 Arter, D. ‘The Breakthrough of another West European Populist Radical 13 November 2011, available at: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/ Right Party? The Case of the True Finns’, Government and Opposition, Vol. 45, nov/13/timo-soini-finnish-presidency. Last visited: 5 May 2014. No. 4, October 2010, pp.484-504. 269 ‘Finns Party expelling MP’, YLE, 3 October 2013, available at: 264 ‘Finland – Political Parties’, European Election Database, available at: http://yle.fi/uutiset/finns_party_expelling_mp/6862746. http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/finland/ Last visited: 5 May 2014. parties.html. Last visited: 2 May 2014. 270 ‘MP Hirvisaari sparks new controversy by calling homosexuality a 265 Arter, D. ‘The Breakthrough of another West European Populist Radical “disability”’, Helsingin Sanomat, 1 August 2012, available at: Right Party? The Case of the True Finns’, Government and Opposition, http://www.hs.fi/english/article/MP+Hirvisaari+sparks+new+ Volume 45, Number 4, October 2010, pp.484-504. controversy+by+calling+homosexuality+being+a+%E2%80%9 266 Unless otherwise specified, all policy positions are taken from ‘Fit For Cdisability%E2%80%9D/1329104537588. Last visited: 5 May 2014. The Finns – The Finns Party’s Election Programme for the Parliamentary 271 ‘No charges in Finns party Lieksa racism row’, YLE, 20 February 2014, Election 2011/Summary’, Finns Party official website, available at: available at: http://yle.fi/uutiset/no_charges_in_finns_party_lieksa_ http://www.perussuomalaiset.fi/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/ r acism_row/7098833. Last visited: 5 May 2014. Perussuomalaisten_eduskuntavaaliohjelma_2011-english_summary_2.0.pdf. 272 ‘Timo Soini reprimands new MP’, Helsingin Sanomat, 29 April 2011, Last visited: 2 May 2014. available at: http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Timo+Soini+reprimands+ 267 ‘Finns Party opposed to broad Russia sanctions’, YLE, 19 March 2014, new+MP/1135265750372. Last visited: 5 May 2014. availabl e at: http://yle.fi/uutiset/finns_party_opposed_to_broad_ 273 ‘Far-right Finnish politician Timo Soini bids for presidency’, The Guardian, russia_sanctions/7143580. Last visited: 5 May 2014. 13 November 2011.

29 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

– Religious Hatred (Anti-Muslim): Jussi Halla-aho was found guilty of ‘ethnic agitation’ in 2009, after writing that the Prophet Muhammad was a paedophile and Islam a religion of paedophilia. He was suspended from the True Finns Party for two weeks for these writings.274 – Religious Hatred (Anti-Muslim): James Hirvisaari was fined €1,425 in December 2011, for inciting hatred towards a religious group after writings on his blog were deemed “likely to cause contempt and hatred” towards Muslims.275 – Religious Hatred (Anti-Falun Gong): Chinese- born Deputy Councillor Belle Selene Xia was expelled from the party in February 2014, for stating that members of the Chinese religious sect, Falun Gong, were traitors and deserved to die.276

NOTES The Finns Party has been one of the most successful parties in Europe in the past decade, rising from 1.5% of the vote to 19% in general elections in fewer than ten years. The party’s populist message has seen it claim a significant presence in local government; the Eduskunta; and the European Parliament, and its candidates steadily increase their vote share in Presidential elections. As with many of the parties profiled in the report, the Finns Party has deeply Eurosceptic views and seeks to see Finland’s relationship with the EU renegotiated, returning sovereign powers to Helsinki. It is also keen to avoid commitment to NATO and EU foreign policies. The party also highlights the need for increased social welfare, progressive taxation, and renewable- and environmentally friendly energy policies. In addition, the party is strongly focused on Finnish nationalism and seeks to significantly reduce immigration into Finland, as well as to ensure that the presence of immigrants does not undermine Finnish cultural identity. This places it alongside parties such as UKIP, Jobbik, and even Golden Dawn – despite the fact that the Finns Party’s proposed domestic policies are very different to those espoused by these other organisations.

274 ‘Far-right Finnish politician Timo Soini bids for pres idency’, The Guardian, 13 November 2011. 275 ‘Hirvisaari convicted of hate speech’, YLE, 12 December 2011, available at: http://yle.fi/uutiset/hirvisaari_convicted_of_hate_speech/ 5467002. Last visited: 5 May 2014. 276 ‘Helsinki Finns Party expels Chinese deputy councillor’, YLE, 24 February 2014, available at: http://yle.fi/uutiset/helsinki_finns_party_expels_ chinese_deputy_councillor/7104311. Last visit ed: 5 May 2014.

30 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections National Front

Name: Front National (FN)

Alternative name: Front national pour l’unité 2012: 1st round: 13.6%; 2nd round: 3.7%; 2/577 française (FNUF) seats ( L 2) 285 Country/headquarters: France/Nanterre277 Regional Council elections 2004: 12.4%; 156/1880 seats Official website: www.frontnational.com 2010: 9.2%; 118/1880 seats ( M 38) 286 Social-media presence:278 Municipal elections 2014: 1st round: 13.6%; 2nd round: 6.8% – Facebook: www.facebook.com/FN.officiel (150,777 ‘likes’) EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION – Twitter: www.twitter.com/FN_officiel Bloc: Non-Inscrits (NI) (45.8k followers) European Parliament, June 2004287 – YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/fnofficiel – Share of national vote: 9.8% (7,879 subscribers) – Seats: 7/78 – Position: 4th place Founded: 1972279 – Turnout: 42.8% Current leader: Marine Le Pen (2011-present)280 European Parliament, June 2009288 – Share of national vote: 6.3% 281 Previous leaders: Jean-Marie Le Pen (1972-2011) – Se ats: 3/72 – Position: 6th place NATIONAL REPRESENTATION – Turnout: 40.6% 282 Presidential elections European Parliament, May 2014 2002: 1st round: 16.9%; 2nd round: 17.8% – Predicted share of national vote: 21.5%289 2007: 1st round: 10.4%; 2nd round: N/A – Predicted seats: 18/74290 2012: 1st round: 17.9%; 2nd round: N/A283 – Predicted position: 2nd place291 292 National Assembly elections284 – Dates polled: 17/03/2014 – 30/03/2014 2002: 1st round: 11.1%; 2nd round: 1.9%; 0/577 seats IDEOLOGY 2007: 1st round: 4.3%; 2nd round: 0.1%; 0/577 seats Mission statement: “Pour la France et les Français” (FN official publication, 2012)293 277 ‘Contact Us’, National Front official website, available at: http://www.frontnational.com /contacter-le-front-national/. Last visited: 1 April 2014. 278 Social-media information accurate as of 7 May 2014; screenshots archived. 285 ‘Results of Regional Elections’, Ministry of Interior, available at: 279 ‘Marine Le Pen: ‘Detoxifying’ France’s National Front’, BBC News, http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Regionales. 22 October 2011, available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine- Last visited: 1 April 2014. 15405326. Last visited: 24 April 2014. 286 ‘Results of Municipal Elections’, Ministry of Interior, available at: 280 ‘Profile: Marine Le Pen’, BBC News, 24 April 2012, available at: http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Municipales. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/worl d-europe-12202197. Last visited: 1 April 2014. Last visited: 24 April 2014. 287 France: European Parliament Elections’, European Election Database, 281 ‘Marine Le Pen: ‘Detoxifying’ France’s National Front’, BBC News, avai lable at: www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/france/. 22 October 2011, available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine- Last visited: 17 April 2014 15405326. Last visited: 24 April 2014. 288 ‘France: European Parliament Elections’, European Election Database, 282 ‘Results of Presidentiel Elections’, Ministry of Interior, available at: available at: http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/ http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Presidentielles. france/european_parliament_elections.html. Last visited: 1 April 2014. Last visited: 9 April 2014. 289 ‘Polls and Scenarios’, PollWatch2014, available at: http://www.electio2014.eu/ 283 ‘Final results of the first round of the presidential election 2012 prepared pollsandscenar ios/polls#country. Last visited: 17 April 2014. by the Constitutional Council’, Constitutional Council, available at: 290 Ibid. http://www.gouvernement.fr/gouvernement/resultats-definitifs-du- 291 premier-tour-de-l-election-presidentielle-2012-etablis-par-le-c. Ibid. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 292 Ibid. 284 ‘Results of Legislative Elections’, Ministry of Interior, available at: 293 ‘Mon Projet’, National Front official website, 2012, available at: http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/ Les-resultats/Legislatives. http://www.frontnational.com/pdf/projet_mlp2012.pdf.\ Last visited: 1 April 2014. Last visited: 9 April 2014.

31 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

Political orientation: “Right-wing populist” (Der relations and military power; imposing sovereign Spiegel, February 2014);294 “far-right” (The Guardian, control over borders and territories; establishing closer March 2014);295 “right-wing” (The New Yorker, March ties to Russia; increasing overseas influence in the 2014)296 developing world; and distancing from the United 301 302 Support base: “While half of FN voters in northern States. France are working class, the social mix in the south is more – Significant other: Anti-Islam. The party’s varied, with many self-employed and retired people supporting anti-immigration rhetoric frequently targets Le Pen” (France24, July 2013);297 the majority of immigrants from Muslim-majority countries.303 party’s support base is geographically concentrated in the south of the country (France24, August CONTROVERSIES 298 2013) – Allegations of Murder: In April 2014, the local French press revealed that the National Front’s Eric POLICY POSITIONS Assad, elected in the city of Clermont-Ferrand the – Economic: Lower taxes; agricultural independence; previous month, had murdered a student and reindustrialisation; withdrawal from the Euro. Priorities injured two other people in Brittany in 1979. He include: overhauling and simplifying the tax had spent seven years in a psychiatric institution – system; shifting of the tax burden, from the middle at one point, escaping for a year – before being to the upper class; creating a single progressive tax released. This was seen as a “deep embarrassment” on income; replacing France’s EU Common for Le Pen, who “claims to have professionalised Agricultural policy with a French agricultural plan; and cleaned up” the party.304 reindustrialisation; and withdrawal from the Euro currency.299 – Far-Right/Neo-Nazi Links: In 2014, the party removed Bastien Durocher from its local elections – Domestic: Focus on family values and society; candidate list as a result of his neo-Nazi tattoos. strong-state; anti-immigration. Priorities include: the Photographs posted online of the tattoos showed re-centralisation of power in the government; the what was described as a “faithful reproduction” of repatriation of powers from the EU; introducing an SS Division of French volunteers during the justice-system reforms; increasing the power of Second World War. It has been suggested that the police forces; strengthening France’s penal system, decision to dismiss Durocher was part of a wider including the death penalty for serious crimes; and effort by Marine Le Pen to rid the party of its introducing significant cuts to immigration levels.300 “anti-Semitic, neo-Nazi label”. 305 – Foreign: Reformist Eurosceptic; nationalism. Priorities include: working towards a reformed EU, with the – Racism: Both the party and the Le Pens have inclusion of new states and reduced supranational attracted accusations of racism over the years. powers; increasing defence spending; pursuing Jean-Marie Le Pen drew attention in 2006 for world-power status for France, in international commenting on what he considered to be the overabundance of black players in the French football team, saying that “maybe the coach 294 Von Rohr, M., ‘Right-Wing Makeover: The Spindoctor Behind the New Front National’, Der Spiegel, 14 February 2014, available at: exaggerated the proportion of players of colour http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/success-of-front-national-in- france-partly-thanks-to-florian-philippot-a-952945.html. Last visited: 12 May 2014. 301 295 ‘French far-right Front National party on brink of power in Avignon’, ‘Europe’, National Front official website, available at: The Guardian, 28 March 2014, available at: http://www.theguardian.com/ http://www.frontnational.com/le-projet-de-marine-le-pen/politique- world/2014/mar/28/french-far-right-front-national-may-win-power-avignon. etrangere/europe/. Last visited: 1 April 2014. Last visited: 2 April 2014. 302 ‘Foreign Policy’, National Front official website, available at: 296 Stille, A. ‘The French Right Scores a Historic Victory’, The New Yorker, http://www.frontnational.com/le-projet-de-marine-le-pen/politique- 31 March 2014, available at: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/ etrangere/notre-politique-etrangere/. Last visited: 1 April 2014. newsdesk/2014/03/the-french-right-scores-a-historic-victory.html. 303 ‘Marine Le Pen: The threat o f radical Islam’, Al Jazeera, 17 December 2012, Last visited: 12 May 2014. available at: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/talktojazeera/ 297 ‘Where are France’s National Front Voters?’, France24, 8 July 2013, 2012/12/20121214124621303193.html. Last visited: 12 May 2014. available at: http://www. france24.com/en/20130807-national-front-fn- 304 ‘Embarrassment for Marine Le Pen as National Front councillor Eric voters-elections-france-politics-le-pen-far-right-immigration-tax/. Assad is revealed as killer’, The Independent, 11 April 2014, available at: Last visited: 7 May 2014. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/embarrassment-for- 298 ‘Where are France’s National Front voters?’, France24, 8 July 2013. marine-le-pen-as-national -front-councillor-eric-assad-is-revealed-as-killer- 299 ‘Project of the National Front’, National Front official website, 9255121.html. Last visited: 17 April 2014. available at: http://www.frontnational.com/le-projet-de-marine-le-pen/. 305 ‘France: Ultra-right candidate removed over neo-Nazi tattoos’, romea.cz, Last visited: 2 April 2014. available at: http://www.romea.cz/en/news/france-ultra-right- 300 ‘Project of the National Front’, National Front official website. candidate-removed-over-neo-nazi-tattoos. Last visited: 14 May 2014.

32 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

and should have been a bit more careful”306 and, Marine Le Pen is Vice President of the European in 2007, stated that “the races are not equal”.307 Alliance for Freedom (EAF) party in the European More recently, he received another fine (€5,000) Parliament. The EAF is a pan-European alliance of for suggesting that the Roma are inclined to be individual MEPs, together with national and regional thieves.308 In 2013, a National Front candidate, parliamentarians and parties, united under a single Anne-Sophie Leclere, compared Christine Taubira political platform.313 The ultimate aim of the bloc, 309 (the French Justice Minister) to a monkey. according to Le Pen herself, is to gain enough support – Religious Hatred (Anti-Muslim): Marine Le to be able to “prevent all further construction of 314 Pen has, since her takeover of the party leadership, Europe”. attempted to distance herself from her father’s In recent municipal elections, the National Front (FN) anti-Semitism, putting a greater focus on Islamic secured control of 11 towns, each with a population rather than Jewish hatred. She has been accused of over 9,000 residents.315 The last time that the FN of playing Jewish communities off against Muslim reached the second round of the Fr ench Presidential communities, claiming to defend women; gays; and election was in 2002, narrowly beating Lionel Jospin’s Jews against the “threat” of Islam. She made Socialist Party by less than 1%; it subsequently lost the headlines in December 2010, when she compared second round vote, 17.79% to 82.21%, against listening to Muslims pray in the streets to living Jacques Chirac’s Rally for the Republic party.316 under Nazi occupation of France during the Second World War.310 Marine Le Pen’s activity as a Member in the European Parliament is seen as highly limited: in – Religious Hatred (Anti-Semitism/Holocaust terms of being present in plenary sessions; voting; Denial): Jean-Marie Le Pen has been accused of question submission; and debate intervention, she anti-Semitism on numerous occasions and was fined consistently ranks among the lowest MEPs. However, more than once, under French and German laws, her position as an MEP does appear to give her a concerning incidents of Holocaust denial – such as semblance of legitimacy in the eyes of some voters.317 his remark that Nazi gas chambers were merely “a The National Front also recently lost a Paris court case small detail in history”, which resulted in a where it had attempted to take legal action against an €183,200 fine.311 312 opponent labelling the party leader as “fascist”.318 NOTES The National Front was founded in 1972, by Jean-Marie Le Pen, who remained leader of the party until 2011. His daughter, Marine Le Pen, then replaced her father as leader of the party.

306 ‘We are Frenchmen says Thuram, as Le Pen bemoans number of black players’, The Guardian, 30 June 2006, available at: http://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jun/30/worldcup2006.sport3. Last visited: 2 April 2014. 307 ‘France’s Le Pen says all races are not equal’, Reuters, 4 April 2007, available at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/04/04/us-france- election-lepen-idUSL0463739920070404. Last visited: 12 May 2014. 308 ‘French far-right politician Jean Marie Le Pen fined fo r racist Roma remarks’, The Independent, 19 December 2013, available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/french-farright- 313 ‘About EAF’, European Alliance for Freedom, available at: politician-jean-marie-le-pen-fined-for-racist-roma-remarks-9016617.html. http://eurallfree.org/?q=node/65. Last visited: 7 May 2014. Last visited: 2 April 2014. 314 ‘French far right seeks Ukip support in Europe but is snubbed by 309 ‘Christine Taubira, French Justice Minister, Compared To Monkey By Far Nigel Farage’, The Independent, 4 May 2014, available at: Right Politician Anne Leclere’, The Huffington Post, 18 October 2013, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/french-far-right- available at: http://www.huffi ngtonpost.com/2013/10/18/christiane- seeks-ukip-support-in-europe-but-is-snubbed-by-nigel-farage-9322706.html. taubira-france-monkey_n_4122380.html. Last visited: 23 April 2014. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 310 ‘Marine Le Pen, France’s (Kinder, Gentler) Extremist’, The New York Times, 315 ‘France local elections: Socialists lose heavily’, BBC News, 31 March 2014, 29 April 2011, available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/01/ available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26807739. magazine/mag-01LePen-t.html?pagewanted=all. Last visited: 2 April 2014. Last visited: 1 April 2014. 311 ‘Jean-Marie Le Pen repeats Holocaust comments in European Parliament’, 316 ‘Results at a glance’, BBC News, available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/ The Guardian, 25 March 2009, available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ hi/world/europe/1946937.stm. Last visited: 9 May 2014. news/worldnews/europe/france/5050338/Jean-Marie-Le-Pen-repeats- 317 ‘Marine Le Pen: What she means for Europe’, Euractiv.com, 21 February 2012, Holocaust-comments-in-European-Parliament.html. Last visited: 2 April 2014. available at: http://www .euractiv.com/future-eu/marine-le-pen-means- 312 ‘Jean-Marie Le Pen returned to court for his remarks on the Occupation’, europe-news-510969. Last visited: 7 May 2014. Le Monde, 13 July 2006, available at: http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/ 318 ‘Front National’s Le Pen can be called fascist, court rules’, RFI, 2006/07/13/jean-marie-le-pen-renvoye-devant-la-justice-po ur-ses- 10 April 2014, available at: http://www.english.rfi.fr/france/20140410-front- propos-sur-l-occupation_794895_3224.html. Last visited: 2 April 2014. nationals-le-pen-can-be-called-fascist-court-rules. Last visited: 7 May 2014.

33 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Golden Dawn

Name: Chrysí Avgí (Χρυσή Αυγή) Country/headquarters: Greece/Athens319 Local elections November 2010: 5.3%; the party won one City Official website: www.xryshaygh.com Council seat in Athens, polling up to 20% in some Social-media presence:320 neighbourhoods.327 – Facebook: Official pages removed, for breaching EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION terms on racism and promoting violence321 Bloc: Non-Inscrits (NI)328 – Twitter: www.twitter.com/xryshaygh 329 (6,271 followers) European Parliament, 2009 – Share of national vote: 0.5% – YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/xryshayghcom/ – Seats: 0/22 about (6,730 subscribers) – Position: Unplaced Founded: 1993; leader Nikolaos Michaloliakos had – Turnout: 52.6% been operating a far-right movement similar to European Parliament, May 2014330 Golden Dawn since 1980, but the group did not – Predicted share of national vote: 10.7% 322 register as a political party until 1993. –Predicted seats: 2/21331 Current leader: Nikolaos Michaloliakos – Predicted position: 4th place (1993-present)323 – Dates polled: 14/03/2014 – 29/03/2014 Previous leaders: N/A IDEOLOGY Mission statement: “Struggling for a Greece that belongs NATIONAL REPRESENTATION to the Greeks.” (Golden Dawn official website, undated)332 Hellenic Parliament Political orientation: “nationalist and anti-immigrant” 324 4 October 2009: 0.3%; 0/300 seats (Pew Research Center, October 2013);333 “far-right” 325 6 May 2012: 7%; 21/300 seats ( L 21) (BBC News, October 2013);334 “neo-Nazi” (The 326 17 July 2012: 6.9%; 18/300 seats ( M 3); 5th place Guardian, June 2012)335

319 ‘Local Organisations’, Golden Dawn official website, available at: 327 http://www.xryshaygh.com/index.php/epikoinonia/topikes. ‘Golden Dawn: the rise and fall of Greece’s neo-Nazi party’, The Week. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 328 ‘Greece’, PollWatch2014; available at: http://www.electio2014.eu/ 320 Twitter information accurate as of 14 April 2014, YouTube information pollsandscenarios/polls#country. Last visited: 6 May 2014. accurate as of 7 May 2014; screenshots archived. 329 ‘Greece’, European Election Database; Golden Dawn is listed under ‘other’ 321 ‘Greece’s neo-fascists are on the rise... and now they’re going into schools: in the results. How Golden Dawn is nurturing the next generation’, Th e Independent, 330 ‘Greece’, PollWatch2014; information accurate as of 1 April 2014. 2 February 2013, available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/ 331 To enable the European Parliament to absorb the 12 Croatian seats europe/greeces-neofascists-are-on-the-rise-and-now-theyre-going-into- apportioned in 2013 and still comply with the 751 limit set by the Lisbon schools-how-golden-dawn-is-nurturing-the-next-generation-8477997.html. Treaty, Greece is one of 13 member states to lose at least one seat at the Last visited: 6 May 2014 2014 election. See: ‘EP seats after 2014 elections: no member state to lose 322 ‘Golden Dawn: the rise and fall of Greece’s neo-Nazi party’, The Week, more than one MEP’, EuroParl, 13 March 2013, available at: 2 October 2013, available at: http://www.theweek.co.uk/europe/55407/ http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/ golden-dawn -rise-and-fall-greeces-neo-nazi-party. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 20130308IPR06302/html/EP-seats-after-2014-elections- no- 323 Nikos Michaloliakos is currently in custody awaiting trial on charges of member-state-to-lose-more-than-one-MEP. Last visited: 6 May 2014. running and organising a criminal group. See: ‘Greek government in turmoil 332 ‘Identity’, Golden Dawn official website, available at: after Golden Dawn video release’, The Financial Times, 2 April 2014, http://www.xryshaygh.com/index.php/kinima. Last visited: 6 May 2014. available at: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cf56649c-ba84-11e3-8b15- 333 ‘Rise of Greek nationalist ‘Golden Dawn’ party coincides with Greece’s 00144feabdc0.html#axzz30BJ56Kh7. Last visited: 6 May 2014. economic crisis’, Pew Research Centre, 2 October 2013, available at: 324 ‘Greece’, European Election Database, available at: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/10/02/rise- of-greek- http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/greece/. nationalist-golden-dawn-party-coincides-with-greeces-economic-crisis/. Last visited: 6 May 2014; Golden Dawn is listed under ‘other’ in the results. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 325 ‘May 6, 2012 General Election Results - Greece Totals’, Election Resources, 334 ‘Greece cuts state funds for far-right Golden Dawn party’, BBC News, available at: http://www.electionresources.org/gr/vouli.php?election=2012. 23 October 2013, available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ Last visited: 6 May 2014. world-europe-24633611. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 326 ‘June 17, 2012 General Election Results - Greece Totals’, Election Resources, 335 ‘MPs from Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn arrested over racist attack’, available at: http://www.electionresources.org/gr/vouli.php?election=2012. The Guardian, 2 June 2012, available at: http ://www.theguardian.com/world/ Last visited: 6 May 2014. 2012/jun/02/greek-neo-nazi-golden-dawn. Last visited: 6 May 2014.

34 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

Support base: “disaffected urban men, but the party is – Significant other: Anti-corruption. Priorities gaining ground among women and the elderly, particularly the include: removing MPs’ legal immunity, cutting unemployed” (International Business Times, February MPs’ salaries, and legislating no public funding for 2013);336 “mainly young and middle-aged males (67 percent) political parties; imprisonment/confiscation of aged 25 to 54, with 63 percent self-described as low income property for MPs responsible for heavy spending and 33 percent as medium income” (The Huffington Post, prior to the financial crisis. February 2014)337 CONTROVERSIES 338 POLICY POSITIONS – Criminality: Following the death of anti-fascist – Economic: Anti-austerity; pro-nationalisation; tax relief rapper, Pavlos Fysass, in September 2013, after he for ethnic Greeks. Priorities include: abolishing austerity was stabbed by an alleged member of Golden memoranda signed with the European Central Dawn,340 a number of the party’s MPs were Bank, European Commission, and IMF; calling for arrested. In October 2013, Nikolaos Michaloliakos erasure of Greek debt, including all loan agreements was remanded in custody, on charges of murder; since 1974; leaving the Eurozone; nationalising all assault; money laundering; and running and “energy exploitation operations” and banks; and organising a criminal group.341 providing state subsidies for Greek newborns/tax – Far-Right/Neo-Nazi Links: There has been relief for Greek couples having children. substantial evidence of Nazi-style salutes at party – Domestic: Reorient economy to primary sector; meetings, with MPs Nikolaos Michaloliakos and anti-immigrant; job creation; social conservatism. Priorities Michalis Arvanitis both using the gesture.342 343 In include: strengthening the agriculture sector to addition, MP Panayiotis Iliopoulos shouted “Heil ensure self-sufficiency in food production, through Hitler” a number of times in Parliament, after subsidies/debt clearance; ensuring a focus on the being suspended in May 2013,344 while Ilias primary sector and Greek mineral wealth, creating Panagiotaros described Hitler as a “great jobs through oil drilling and ore/gem mining; personality”, in April 2014.345 deporting illegal immigrants to work camps; – Far-Right/Neo-Nazi Links: In January 2014, it segregating Greek and foreign students in schools; was reported that a substantial cache of photographs ensuring no health-care provisions for illegal featuring Golden Dawn members posing with guns immigrants; banning abortion, restoring Church and giving Nazi salutes had been passed to the Greek prestige; and marginalising artists offending police.346 “ethnic, religious and historical symbols”. – Homophobia: MP Ilias Panagiotaros was filmed, – Foreign: Eurosceptic; Greek nationalist/reclaim Greek at a protest in October 2012, shouting homophobic territory; anti-NATO/US/Israel. Priorities include: declaring a “Hellenic EEZ [Exclusive Economic Zone…] from the mouth of the Evros river to rise-as-first.html. Last visited: 12 May 2014; and: ‘Greek ‘Führer’ vows to Kastelorizo”; turning to Russia for investment/ ‘take back zmir’ after Istanbul’, Hurriyet Daily News, 15 June 2012, available at: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/greek-fuhrer-vows-to-take-back-izmir- energy/defensive agreements; unifying Greece and after-istanbul.aspx?pageID=238&nid=23248. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 340 ‘Greek anti-fascist rapper murdered by ‘neo-Nazi’ Golden Dawn supporter’, Cyprus; and liberating Northern Epirus (Albanian The Independent, available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/ territory with large Greek-speaking population).339 world/europe/greek-antifascist-rapper-murdered-by-neonazi-golden- dawn-supporter-8824664.html. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 341 ‘Golden Dawn leader Nikos Mihaloliakos remanded in custody’, BBC News, 3 October 2013, available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ 336 ‘30,000 Golden Dawn Supporters March in Athens Under iNeo-Naz world-europe-24359282. Last visited: 6 May 2014. Banners [VIDEO]’, International Business Times, 3 February 2013, available at: 342 ‘Nikos Michaloliakos Nazi Salute at Municipal Council’, YouTube, 4 February http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/greece-golden-dawn-ilias-kassidiaris-430907. 2013, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPY5R45aBxg. Last visited: 6 May 2014. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 337 ‘Nostalgia for the Past Won’t Cure Greece’s Ills’, The Huffington Post, 21 343 ‘Golden Dawn MP uses Nazi salute to greet party supporters in Crete’, February 2014, available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel- Ekathimerini, 24 February 2014, available at: http://www.ekathimerini.com/ wagner/nostalgia-for-the-past-wo_b_4832232.html. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_24/02/2014_537638. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 338 Unless otherwise specified, all policy positions are taken from ‘The Program 344 ‘Golden Dawn MP Shouts ‘Heil Hitler!’ in Greek Parliament of Golden Dawn’, Golden Dawn International Newsroom, available at: [VIDEO]’, International Business Times, 17 May 2013, available at: http://golden-dawn-international-newsroom.blogspot.co.uk/p/the- http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/golden-dawn-mp-shouts-heil-hitler- program-of-golden-dawn.html. Last visited: 6 May 2014. greek-468487. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 339 Part of Nikos Michaloliakos’ speech following election success in 2012. 345 ‘Greece’s Golden Dawn party describes Hitler as ‘great personality’’, The Guardian, 16 April 2014. The party leader has also called for his party to “take back Istan bul, İzmir and the Black Sea”. See: ‘Neo-Nazi party plots rise as first effort to form new Greek 346 ‘Golden Dawn photos shock Greece’, The Guardian, 17 January 2014, government fails’, McClatchyDC, 7 May 2012, available at: available at: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/17/greece- http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/07/148044/neo-nazi-party-plots- golden-dawn-mock-execution-naz i-salute-claims. Last visited: 6 May 2014.

35 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

abuse at the director of a play which portrayed been credibly accused of Holocaust denial, with Jesus as a gay man. Panagiotaros later referred to Michaloliakos stating in May 2012 that “there were the director as “an Albanian faggot”. He has also no ovens, this is a lie ... there were no gas chambers described homosexuality as an “illness”.347 either.”353 Kasidiaris self-identified as a Holocaust 354 – Incitement: MP Ioannis Lagos was accused of denier in June 2013. inciting violence in June 2012, after he stated that – Religious Hatred (Anti-Semitism): Following “Egyptian fishermen will be held accountable by Artemios Mathaiopoulos’ election as an MP in July the Golden Dawn” just hours before men wearing 2012, the Greek Board of Jewish Communities Golden Dawn t-shirts attacked four fishermen in protested at his past in a far-right punk band called Crete.348 Pogrom, whose song, Auschwitz, included lyrics like – Police Collusion: There have been repeated “f**k Anne Frank”; “f**k the tribe of Abr aham”; “piss on the Wailing Wall”; and “Auschwitz, how accusations of police collusion with Golden 355 Dawn, including repeated reports of police much I love it”. officers directing victims of crime to vigilante – Religious Hatred (Anti-Semitism): In October groups,349 while a number of high-ranking officers 2012, Kasidiaris quoted passages from the have been suspended or have resigned over ties anti-Semitic Protocols of the Elders of Zion, in the with the group.350 Greek Parliament.356 – Political Controversy: A video secretly recorded – Violence: Ilias Kasidiaris avoided arrest in June in April 2014, by MP Ilias Kasidiaris, of a 2012, after having assaulted KKE MP Liana conversation with Greek Cabinet Secretary Takis Kanelli live on television.357 He has also been Baltakos, showed Baltakos claiming that Justice accused of involvement in a 2007 armed robbery Minister Charalambos Athanassiou and Public during which a student was murdered, and Order Minister Nikos Dendias had ordered the currently faces charges of accessory to robbery; arrest of Golden Dawn members despite a lack of bodily harm; and illegal gun possession.358 351 evidence. Mr Baltakos has since resigned. – Violence: In August 2012, Golden Dawn MP – Racism: Candidate Alekos Plomaritis was Dimitris Koukoutsis was sanctioned by Greece’s recorded, in August 2013, saying of immigrants, Parliamentary ethics committee, after attacking “These parasites drink our water, eat our food and SYRIZA MP Vasiliki Katrivanou; ANTARSYA breathe our Greek air […] They are primitive, municipal councillor Petros Constantinou; and miasmas and subhuman. We don’t care about their Pakistani Community in Greece Presiden t Javet existence. We are ready to open the ovens. We will Aslam.359 352 turn them into soap, but we may get a rash.” – Violence: After Pavlos Fysass was stabbed, two – Religious Hatred (Anti-Semitism): Both members of Golden Dawn were shot dead in Nikolaos Michaloliakos and Ilias Kasidiaris have

353 ‘Golden Dawn leader denies gas chambers of Holocaust’, Jewish Chronicle, 15 May 2012, available at: http://www.thejc.com/news/ 347 ‘Greece’s Golden Dawn party describes Hitler as “great personality’’’, world-news/67644/golden-dawn-leader-denies-gas-chambers-holocaust. The Guardian, 16 April 2014, available at: http://www.theguardian.com/ Last visited: 6 May 2014. world/2014/apr/16/greece-golden-dawn-hitler. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 354 ‘Greek neo-Nazi lawmaker indicates he is a Holocaust denier’, Haaretz, 348 Baboulias, Y., ‘Greece’s Golden Dawn isn’t a political party – it’s more like 7 June 2012, available at: http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/ a cri minal gang’, The Guardian, 4 September 2012, available at: jewish-world-news/1.528483. Last visited: 6 M ay 2014. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/sep/04/greece- 355 golden-dawn-not-political-party. Last visited: 12 May 2014; and: ‘Violence ‘Announcement for the new Golden Dawn Member in Parliament’, against migrants in Greece intensifies’, Ekathimerini, 21 June 2012, available Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece, 26 July 2012, available at: at: http://www.ekathimerini.com/4Dcgi/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite6_ http://www.kis.gr/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id= 1_21/06/2012_448355. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 445:announcement-for-the-new-golden-dawn-member-in-parliament. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 349 ‘Greek police send crime victims to neo-Nazi “protectors”’, The Guardian, 28 September 2012, available at: 356 ‘“Protocols of the Elders of Zion” read aloud in Greek Parliament’, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/28/ The Times of Israel, 26 October 2012, available at: greek-police-victims-neo-nazi?CMP=twt_gu. Last visited: 6 May 2014. http://www.timesofisrael.com/protocols-of-the-elders-of-zion- 350 ‘Greece’s Golden Dawn: “Don’t say a word or I’ll burn you alive”’, read-aloud-in-greek-parliament/. Last visited: 6 May 2014. BBC News, 2 October 2013, available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ 357 ‘Golden Dawn MP’s live TV assault shocks Greece’, The Guardian, world-europe-24363776. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 7 June 2012, available at: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/ 351 ‘Greek government in turmoil after Golden Dawn video release’, jun/07/golden-dawn-tv-assault-greece. Last visited: 6 May 2014 The Financial Times, 2 April 2014. 358 Baboulias, Y., ‘Greece’s Golden Dawn isn’t a political party – it’s more like 352 ‘Filmmaker Captures Unguarded Racist Hatred of Greece’s Hostile Golden a criminal gang’, The Guardian, 4 September 2012. Dawn Party’, ABC, 13 August 2013, available at: http://ABCnews.go.com/ 359 ‘Panel to probe Parliament attack by Golden Dawn MP’, Ekathimerini, International/greeces-hostile-golden-dawn-party-filmmaker-captures- 29 August 2012, available at: http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/ unguarded/story?id=19948097. Last visited: 6 May 2014. _w_articles_wsite1_1_29/08/2012_458853. Last visited: 6 May 2014.

36 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

November 2013, in a drive-by shooting in Athens’ Neo Iraklio neighbourhood,360 while, in December 2012, a bomb exploded at the party’s office.361 – Violence (racism-related): Two men linked to Golden Dawn, Christos Stergiopoulos and Dionysis Liakopoulos, were convicted, in April 2014, of murdering a Pakistani immigrant in January 2013.362 Figures from the Racist Violence Reporting Network have attributed nearly all of the 154 racist attacks in Greece during 2012 to Golden Dawn members, and the same is true of the 104 recorded up to October 2013.363

NOTES Golden Dawn’s political rise since its breakthrough in the 2010 local elections has been one of the most meteoric of any party profiled in this report, with the group jumping from less than 0.5% of the vote in 2009 to 7% in 2012. This looks set to continue, with the party predicted one in ten votes in the European election. Of all the parties profiled, Golden Dawn is the most openly racist and violent, with only Jobbik a possible comparison. The number of party figures who have a history of violence is unparalleled, and several serving members of Parliament are currently imprisoned or awaiting trial on serious charges. However, in its radical anti-austerity agenda, the group’s policies are surprisingly similar to those of its far-left Greek rival, SYRIZA, as well as to a number of other profiled parties (such as Sinn Féin or AKEL). Its anti-immigrant and Eurosceptic message also has similarities to many parties in this report, highlighting that even the most extreme parties have something in common with the more moderate members of the GUE-NGL, EFD and NI blocs.

360 ‘Two members of Greece’s Golden Dawn shot dead’, BBC News, 1 November 2013, available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ world-europe-24780379. Last visited: 6 May 2014 361 ‘Anti-fascist group claims Greek far-right party bombing’, Reuters, 8 December 2012, available at: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/12/08/ uk-greece-bomb-idUKBRE8B707Z20121208. Last visited: 6 May 2014 362 ‘Greece jails two “neo-Nazis” for killing Pakistani’, BBC News, 15 April 2014, available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ world-europe-27039350. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 363 ‘Greece’s Golden Dawn: “Don’t say a word or I’ll burn you alive”’, BBC News, 2 October 2013.

37 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Coalition of the Radical Left

Name: Synaspismós Rizospastikís Aristerás 17 June 2012: 26.9%; 71/300 seats ( M 19); 2nd place373 (Συνασπισμός Ριζοσπαστικής Αριστεράς) (SYRIZA) Local elections Country/headquarters: Greece/Athens364 2006: Unspecified November 2010: Unspecified; 15/713 seats; 4th place374 Official websites: www.syriza.gr (central); www.syriza-uk.org (English)365 EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION Social-media presence:366 Bloc: Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE-NGL)375 – Facebook: www.facebook.com/syrizaofficial 376 (21,155 ‘likes’) European Parliament, June 2009 – Share of national vote: 4.7% – Twitter: www.twi tter.com/syriza_gr –Seats: 1/22377 (15,740 followers) – Position: 5th place Founded: 2004; formed as an electoral alliance – Turnout: 52.6% between several groups, the largest of which was European Parliament, May 2014378 Synaspismós – itself a coalition of leftist movements, – Predicted share of national vote: 25.4% formed in 1991.367 – Predicted seats: 5/21379 – Predicted position: 1st place Current leader: Alexis Tsipras (2009-present)368 – Dates polled: 14/03/2014 – 29/03/2014 Previous leaders: Alekos Alavanos (2004-2009)369 IDEOLOGY NATIONAL REPRESENTATION Mission statement: “SYRIZA […] will inspire, Hellenic Parliament mobilize and contribute decisively to the unity and organization 16 September 2007: 5%; 14/300 seats; 4th place370 of popular forces, aiming at economic, social, political and 4 October 2009: 4.6%; 13/300 seats ( M 1); 5th place371 cultural reconstruction of the country” (SYRIZA official 6 May 2012: 16.8%; 52/300 seats ( L 39); 2nd place372 website, undated)380

373 ‘June 17, 2012 General Election Results - Greece Totals’, Election Resources, 364 ‘Communication’, SYRIZA official website, available at: available at: http://www.electionresources.org/gr/vouli.php?election=2012. http://www.syriza.gr/page/epikoinwnia.html#.U2kmPfldVQg. Last visited: 6 May 2014. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 374 Gemenis, K., ‘The 2010 Regional Elections in Greece: Voting for Regional 365 Website information accurate as of 6 May 2014. Governance or Protesting the IMF?’, Regional and Federal Studies, 366 Facebook information accurate as of 14 April 2014; Twitter information No. 2 2, Vol. 1, 2012, 16 March 2012, available at: accurate as of 24 April 2014; screenshots archived. http://www.utwente.nl/mb/csd/research/Gemenis%202012.pdf. 367 ‘“Syriza is the expression of a new radicalism on the left”: excerpt of an Last visited: 6 May 2014. interview wit h Stathis Kouvélakis in late May’, Open Democracy, 19 June 2012, 375 ‘Greece’, PollWatch2014, available at: http://www.electio2014.eu/ available at: http://www.opendemocracy.net/philippe-marli%C3%A8re/ pollsandscenarios/polls#country. Last visited: 6 May 2014. %E2%80%9Csyriza-is-expression-of-new-radicalism-on-left%E2%80%9D- 376 excerpt-of-interview-with-stathis. Last visited: 6 May 2014. ‘Greece’, European Election Database, available at: http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/greece/ 368 ‘Alexis Tsipras to head SYRIZA Parliamentary group’, Athina 98.4, european_parliament_elections .html. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 8 October 2009, available at: http://www.athina984.gr/node/69377. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 377 ‘Our MEPs – SYRIZA’, GUE-NGL official website, available at: 369 ‘Meeting of the Political Secretariat of SYN’, Synaspismós official http://www.guengl.eu/group/delegation/syriza#meps. website, 27 November 2007, available at: http://www.syn.gr/gr/ Last visited: 6 May 2014 keimeno.php?id=8163. Last visited: 6 May 2014. Alavanos stood down 378 ‘Greece’, PollWatch2014; Information accurate as of 1 April 2014. in 2007, but was not replaced as SYRIZA leader by Tsipras until 2009, 378 To enable the European Parliament to absorb the 12 Croatian seats as Tsipras was not a Member of Parliament until then. apportioned in 2013 and still comply with the 751 limit set by the Lisbon 370 ‘September 16, 2007 General Election Results - Greece Totals’, Treaty, Greece is one of 13 member states to lose at least one seat at the El ection Resources, available at: http://www.electionresources.org/gr/ 2014 election. See: ‘EP seats after 2014 elections: no member state to lose vouli.php?election=2007. Last visited: 6 May 2014. more than one MEP’, 13 March 2013, available at: 371 ‘October 4, 2009 General Election Results - Greece Totals’, Election Resources, http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/ available at: http://www.electionresources.org/gr/vouli.php?election=2009. 20130308IPR06302/html/EP-seats-after-2014-elections-no-member- Last visited: 6 May 2014. state-to-lose-more-than-one-MEP. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 372 ‘May 6, 2012 General Election Results - Greece Totals’, Election Resources, 380 ‘Founding Declaration’, SYRIZA official website, available at: available at: http://www. electionresources.org/gr/vouli.php?election=2012. http://www.syriza.gr/page/idrytikh-diakhryksh.html#.U1kTsPldVQh. Last visited: 6 May 2014. Last visited: 6 May 2014.

38 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

Political orientation: “a pro-euro yet anti-austerity “extreme neoliberal and euro-atlantic [sic] policies” party” (The New York Times, May 2012);381 “social of the EU; withdrawing all Greek troops from democrats, radical ecologists, radical socialists, Trotskyists, and overseas conflicts; cutting defence spending even anarchists” (Al Jazeera, May 2012);382 “an electoral significantly; withdrawing from NATO and closing alliance of left political parties” (European Election all foreign bases;388 scrapping any military Database, undated)383 co-operation with Israel; and supporting Balkan Support base: “Public sector workers […] are particularly and Mediterranean security and foreign-policy attracted to Syriza after recent cuts” (CNBC, June 2012);384 co-operation. “socialists, including leaders of public sector trade unions”, – Significant other: Greek–Turkish relations; Cyprus “Young voters from the Greek communist party” (The dispute. P riorities include: focusing on a diplomatic 385 Financial Times, June 2012); “leftist, progressive, process and dialogue, based on international law, in 386 socially liberal young people” (BBC News, May 2012) Greek–Turkish relations; and supporting the use of UN Resolutions to resolve the dispute over Cyprus. POLICY POSITIONS387 – Economic: Anti-austerity; increased taxation of CONTROVERSIES high-earners/businesses/financial services. Priorities – Religious Hatred (Anti-Semitism): include: abolishing austerity memoranda signed Local-election candidate for Western Macedonia with the European Central Bank, European Regional Governor, Theodoros Karypidis, was Commission, and IMF; raising income tax for high dropped by SYRIZA in February 2014, after he earners (75% for all incomes over €500,000); used Facebook posts to accuse Prime Minister increasing taxation of large companies; creating Antonis Samaras of being part of a Jewish plot new taxes on financial transactions/luxury goods; against Greeks.389 and removing financial privileges for the church and the ship-building industry. NOTES – Domestic: Welfare expansion and poverty reduction; SYRIZA has seen significant electoral success since workers’ rights; pro-nationalisation. Priorities include: the financial crisis in Greece and has grown its increasing benefits available for unemployed, representation at national and local level since a homeless, and low-earners; raising the minimum disappointing performance in the 2007 local and wage (to €750/month); limiting indeterminate general elections. contracts and ensuring workers rights; nationalising private banks, ex-public utilities, and private The party’s radical anti-austerity message is echoed hospitals; and facilitating migrant-family reunion. by a number of parties across Europe, not least by Golden Dawn, SYRIZA’s far-right opponents in – Foreign: Eurosceptic; anti-NATO and anti-Israel; Greece. In addition, its Euroscepticism and opposition anti-interventionist. Priorities include: denouncing the to NATO and US policy is also shared by a number of its neighbours in the GUE-NGL bloc, as well as by

381 ‘Leftist Party’s Rise Upends Greek Political Order’, The New York Times, a number of parties on the far-right of the spectrum. 11 May 2012, available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/ 12/world/europe /in-greece-leftist-party-syriza-upends-politics.html?_r=0. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 382 ‘A guide to Greece’s political parties’, Al Jazeera, 1 May 2012, available at: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/05/20125120322955327. html. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 383 ‘Greece – Political parties’, European Election Database, available at: http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/greece/ parties.html. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 384 ‘Why Greek People Are Voting for Leftist SYRIZA’, CNBC, 15 June 2012, available at: http://www.cnbc.com/id/47826054. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 385 ‘SYRIZA aims to double number of supporters, The Financial Times, 14 June 2012, available at: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/def90e90-b63a- 388 While these threats to leave NATO and close foreign bases have been 11e1-a14a-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2zoMABpov. Last visited: 6 May 2014. made on more than one occasion, political commentators have suggested 386 ‘Greece: Trying to understand SYRIZA’, BBC News, 14 May 2012, that they are unlikely to be carried out should SYRIZA win power in Greece. available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18056677. See: Galbraith, J., & Varoufakis, Y., ‘Only Syriza Can Save Greece’, Last visited: 6 May 2014. The New York Times, 23 June 2013, available at: http://www.nytimes.com/ 387 Unless otherwise specified, all policy positions are taken from: ‘Greece: 2013/06/24/opinion/only-syriza-can-save-greece.html. SYRIZA’s 40-point program’, SYRIZA official website, 27 May 2012, Last visited: 6 May 2014. available at: http://links.org.au/node/2888. Last visited: 12 May 2014; 389 ‘Greek party drops candidate following Jewish plot rant’, JTA, and: ‘About SYRIZA’, SYRIZA official website, availabl e at: 10 February 2014, available at: http://www.jta.org/2014/02/10/news- http://www.syriza.gr/page/who-we-are.html#.U1keJvldVQg. opinion/world/greek-opposition-party-drops-candidate-after-anti-semitic-rant. Last visited: 6 May 2014. Last visited: 6 May 2014.

39 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections The River

Name: To Potami (Το Ποτάμι) 390 Country/headquarters: Greece/Athens – Predicted position: 3rd place Official website: www.topotami.gr – Dates polled: 14/03/2014 – 29/03/2014 Social-media presence:391 IDEOLOGY – Facebook: www.facebook.com/topotami Mission statement: “Our priorities: Restoring Greece’s (30,450 ‘likes’) standing and fighting for a just Europe” (The River European Election manifesto, March 2014)395 – Instagram: www.instagram.com/topotamiofficial (409 followers) Political orientation: “populist, unideological party based around a single personality” (The Democratic Society, – Tw itter: www.twitter.com/ToPotami February 2014);396 “a movement that steals ideas from the (7,918 followers) left and from liberal forces because what is utmost today is to – YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/topotami provide solutions” (Theodorakis, official launch, March (1,113 subscribers) 2014);397 “anti-establishment” (Reuters, March 2014);398 “Potami doesn’t have a coherent and sound ideological basis [...] Founded: 4 March 2014, by prominent TV presenter While it is clear that [Theodorakis’] sensibilities are centre-left, and journalist Stavros Theodorakis392 he considers rigid ideology a hindrance” (The Guardian, Current leader: Stavros Theodorakis (2014-present) March 2014);399 “right-wing populist appeal for national unity” (World Socialist Web Site, March 2014).400 Previous leaders: N/A Support base: Opinion polls suggest that supporters NATIONAL REPRESENTATION are from the “left and center-left”, particularly those who N/A previously voted for the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) and Greece’s social-democratic parties: the EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION Democratic Left (DIMAR) and the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) (Ekathimerini, March Bloc: Non-Inscrits (NI)393 2014);401 “much of Theodorakis’s appeal comes from being 394 European Parliament, May 2014 outside the old crony culture blamed for bringing Greece to the brink – Predicted share of national vote: 13.6% –Predicted seats: 3/21

395 ‘A Strong Greece for a Just Europe’, To Potami, March 2014, manifesto obtained by email correspondence with The River representatives, 29 April 2014. 390 Email correspondence with The River representatives confirmed the party’s 396 The Democratic Society is an independent organisation in association with the official headquarters is in Athens, 29 April 2014. European Commission. See: ‘To Potami (lit. ‘The River’)’ – party profile, 391 Social-media information accurate as of 29 April 2014; screenshots archived. The Democratic Society, 8 April 2014, available at: 392 Theodorakis created The River in February 2014 and the party was officially http://europe.demsoc.org/2014/04/08/to-potami-lit-the-river/. launched on 4 March 2014. See: ‘A river runs through it (the political Last visited: 7 May 2014. system)’, The TOC, 26 February 2014, available: at 397 ‘Journalist launches To Potami but remains vague on ideology, candidates’, www.thetoc.gr/eng/politics/article/a-river-runs-through-it-the-political- Ekathimerini, 4 March 2014, available at: www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/ system. Last visited: 12 May 2014; see also: ‘Journalist launches To Potami _w_articles_wsite1_1_04/03/2014_537879. Last visited: 7 May 2014. but remains vague on ideology, candidates’, Ekathimerini, 4 March 2014, 398 ‘Greek journalist-turned-politician rides anti-establishment wave’, Reuters, available at: www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_04/ 13 March 2014, available at: www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/13/ 03/2014_537879. Last visited: 12 May 2014; see also: ‘Stavros Theodorakis’s us-greece-vote-idUSBREA2C0W820140313. Last visited: 7 May 2014. ‘river’ party aims to get Greek polit ics flowing in the right direction’, 399 The Guardian, 13 March 2014, available at: www.theguardian.com/ ‘Stavros Theodorakis’s ‘river’ party aims to get Greek politics flowing in the commentisfree/2014/mar/13/stavros-theodorakis-river-greek-potami- right direction’ , The Guardian, 13 March 2014. european-elections. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 400 ‘Greece’s “The River” party: A populist fraud’, World Socialist Web Site, 393 In April 2014, Theodorakis met with the centre-left, liberal, and green 24 March 2014, available at: www.wsws.org/en/articles/2014/03/24/ political blocs and will announce the party’s alignment after the European rive-m23.html. Last visited: 7 May 2014. elections. See: Greece, PollWatch2014, Last visited: 01/04/2014; see also: 401 In a March poll almost 13% percent of those who said they would vote for ‘Stavros Theodorakis of To Potami party in Brussels’, Ekathimerini, 9 April The River previously supported DIMAR, 8.1% PASOK and 7.7% SYRIZA. 2014, available at: www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_09/ See: ‘PASOK alarm over slide in opinion polls as new party makes strong 04/2014_538868. Last visited: 7 May 2014. debut’, Ekathimerini, 6 March 2014, available at: www.ekathimerini.com/ 394 ‘Greece’, PollWatch2014. 4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_06/03/2014_537960. Last visited: 7 May 2014.

40 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections of bankruptcy” (Reuters, March 2014);402 “Support for his salvation program”.409 He argues that a rigid political party cuts across occupational and age boundaries, according to system and competing ideological blocs disadvantage pollsters” (The Financial Times, April 2014)403 ordinary people and has expressed a readiness to collaborate with other parties for national benefit.410 404 POLICY POSITIONS The party's manifesto also criticises Greece’s – Economic: Supports a pan-European institutionalised “party-dominated and plundered institutions”. approach to debt reduction. Priorities include greater EU CONTROVERSIES transparency; increased investment in infrastructure and technology; completion of the banking union; – Financial Misconduct: The River’s quick success a greater lending role for the Central Bank of in national opinion polls has prompted allegations Europe; and effective social-welfare protection that the party is funded by Theodorakis’ former against unemployment. Theodorakis also prioritises employer (the private Greek TV channel, Mega) in efficient public administration; tackling tax evasion order to draw support away from the far-left and youth employment; and cutting funding for SYRIZA, thereby damaging the latter’s anti-austerity mandate. Theodorakis denies the political parties by 50%.405 claims, arguing that his party runs on a small budget – Domestic: Efficient technocratic governance; generated from donations and his private funds.411 anti-immigration; socially progressive. Priorities include reducing the number of MPs to 200, fro m 300;406 NOTES reforming EU immigration policy, to give greater The River has very quickly made a significant impact autonomy to member states; and supporting on Greek politics, polling ahead of established parties progressive social policies such as same-sex unions within a month of its launch. Founder Theodorakis and the separation of church and state.407 has leveraged the popularity of his investigative television programmes on social issues into support for – Foreign: Supports European integration; focus on a political movement designed to challenge “what he Greece-specific foreign-policy issues. The party’s European sees as the stagnant pool of established party manifesto praises the EU as “the only successful politics”.412 example of interstate cooperation”, but criticises the “late” reaction to the Ukraine crisis. It calls for At the party’s launch, Theodorakis issued a list of 30 prominent supporters – ranging from writers and strong international negotiation in reference to journalists, to musicians; sportspeople; and long-standing issues, including the name dispute academics.413 More recently, former MP and minister with the Republic of Macedonia;408 the Cyprus for the social-democratic PASOK, Theodoros dispute; and German World War Two reparations. Pangalos, publicly stated his intention to vote for The – Significant other: Anti-establishment; anti-corruption. River in the forthcoming elections.414 The party’s slogan, “politics for everyone”, echoes The party has been criticised, however, for lacking Theodorakis’ view that Greek political parties should clear policy positions. Furthermore, there is speculation “tear up their manifestos and sit down with the people over party funding, and some have questioned voters will choose in the elections to create a national Theodorakis’ anti-establishment credentials, given his former employer’s links to powerful publishing houses and state contractors.415 402 ‘Greek journalist-turned-politician rides anti-establishment wave’, Reuters, 13 March 2014. 403 ‘New Greece political face sees support flow to ‘River’ party’, The Financial Times, 20 April 2014, available at: www.ft.com/cms/s/0/99de746a-c56c- 409 ‘Theodorakis gets To Potami campaign underway with strong showing in 11e3-89a9-00144feabdc0.html#axzz30C2MTcgi. Last visited: 7 May 2014. polls’, Ekathimerini, 17 March 2014, available at: www.ekathimerini.com/ 404 Unless otherwise specified, all policy positions are taken from the party’s 4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_17/03/2014_538216. Last visited: 7 May 2014. European manifesto, ‘A Strong Greece for a Just Europe’, To Potami, 410 ‘Stavros Theodorakis’s ‘river’ party aims to get Greek politics flowing in the March 2014. right direction’, The Guardian, 13 March 2014; see also: ‘Greece’s “The River” 405 ‘New Greece political face sees support flow to ‘River’ party’, The Financial party: A populist fraud’, W orld Socialist Web Site, 24 March 2014. Times, 20 April 2014; see also: ‘Stavros Theodorakis discusses his aims and 411 ‘Ex-TV journalist steals Greek political limelight’, AFP, 27 April 2014, goals with The River’, To Vima, 16 April 2014, available at: www.tovima.gr/ available at: http://news.yahoo.com/ex-tv-journalist-steals-greek-political- en/article/?aid=587329; see also: ‘“The River” runs wild as newest political limelight-173157431.html. Last visited: 7 May 2014. party churns up Greek politics’, The Press Project, 14 March 2014, available at: 412 ‘Stavros Theodorakis’s ‘river’ party aims to get Greek politics flowing in www.thepressproject.net/article/58216/The-River-runs-wild-as-newest- the right direction’, The Guardian, 13 March 2014; see also: ‘Will the River political-party-churns-up-Greek-politics. Last visi ted: 7 May 2014. sweep Greek politics?’, Hurriyet Daily News, 17 March 2014, available at: 406 ‘Stavros Theodorakis discusses his aims and goals with The River’, To Vima, www.hurriyetdailynews.com/will-the-river-sweep-greek-politics.aspx? 16 April 2014; see also: ‘“The River” runs wild as newest political party pageID=449&nID=63664&NewsCatID=422. Last visited: 7 May 2014. churns up Greek politics’, The Press Project, 14 March 2014 413 ‘Theodorakis reveals “River” supporters’, New Greek Radio, 4 March 2014, 407 ‘Greek TV journalist makes waves with new political party’, EUbusiness, 17 available at: www.newgreektv.com/index.php/greece/item/ March 2014, available at: www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/greece-politics.ufb. 4067-theodorakis-reveals-river-supporters. Last visited: 7 May 2014. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 414 ‘Stavro s Theodorakis discusses his aims and goals with The River’, To Vima, 408 Greece objects to the use of the name “Macedonia” by the Republic of 16 April 2014. Macedonia without a geographical qualifier, citing territorial and cultural 415 ‘“The River” runs wild as newest political party churns up Greek politics’, concerns due to the existence of the Greek region of Macedonia. The Press Project, 14 March 2014.

41 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections The Movement for a Better Hungary

Name: Jobbik Magyarországért Mozgalom (Jobbik)416 April 2010: 16.7%; 47/386 seats ( L 47); 3rd place April 2014: 20.5%; 23/199 seats; 3rd place424 Country/headquarters: Hungary/Budape st417 Local elections Official websites: www.jobbik.hu/fooldal (central); 2010: 57/424 county seats; Jobbik re presentatives www.jobbik.com (English) elected in all 20 counties425 Social-media presence:418 EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION – Facebook: www.facebook.com/Jobbik 426 MagyarorszagertMozgalom (275,723 ‘likes’) Bloc: Non-Inscrits (NI) – Twitter: www.twitter.com/JobbikMM European Parliament, June 2009427 (5,253 followers) – Share of national vote: 14.8% – YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/jobbikmedia – Seats: 3/22 (4,705 subscribers) – Position: 3rd place – Turnout: 36.3% – iWiW (Hungarian social network): 428 www.iwiw.hu/JobbikMagyarorszagertMozgalom European Parliament, May 2014 (22,507 members) – Predicted share of national vote: 16% – Predicted seats: 4/21 Founded: October 2003, by Dávid Kovács and – Predicted position: 3rd place Gergely Pongrátz (a veteran of the 1956 revolution)419 – Dates polled: 15/03/2014 Current leader: Gábor Vona (2006-present)420 IDEOLOGY Previous leaders: Dávid Kovács (2003-2006)421 Mission statement: “Jobbik [...] is a principled, NATIONAL REPRESENTATION conservative and radically patriotic Christian party. Its fundamental purpose is protecting Hungarian values and Országház (Parliament)422 interests.” (Jobbik official website, May 2010)429 April 2006: 2.2%, 0/386 seats; 5th place 423 Political orientation: “anti-Roma, anti-EU, anti-U.S., anti-government, and anti-Semitic” (US embassy, Hungary, 416 ‘Homepage’, Jobbik official English-language website, available at: 430 www.jobbik.com. Last visited: 8 May 2014. February 2009); “neo-Nazi” (The Independent, 417 ‘Two Jobbik offices vandalized in Budapest’, Politics.hu, 21 May 2009, available at: www.politics.hu/20090521/two-jobbik-offices-vandalized- in-budapest/. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 424 The 2014 election saw the number of MPs reduced from 386 to 199, as new 418 Social-media information accurate as of 29 April 2014; screenshots archived. electoral and constitutional rules came in to force. See: ‘Hungary Elections 419 ‘A short summary ab out Jobbik’, Jobbik official English-language website, 2014’, Euronews, available at: www.euronews.com/tag/hungary-elections- 3 May 2010, available at: www.jobbik.com/short_summary_about_jobbik. 2014/. Last visited: 8 May 2014. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 425 General local governmental elections, 2010, National Election Office, 420 ‘Party leadership’, Jobbik official English-language website, 6 May 2010, 20 December 2010, available at: www.valasztas.hu/en/onkval2010/ available at: www.jobbik.com/party_leadership_-_g%C3%A1bor_ 382/382_0_index.html. Last visited: 8 May 2014. vona_party_chairman. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 426 ‘Hungary’, PollWatch2014. 421 The Extreme Right in Europe: Current Trends and Perspectives, ed. by Backes, U. 427 Dataset: Hungary: European Parliament Election 2009, European Election & Patrick Moreau, (Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht; 2011), p. 129. Database, Norwegian Social Science Data Services, available at: Last visited: 8 May 2014. http://eed.nsd.uib.no/webview/index.jsp?study=http://129.177.90.166:80/ 422 Information on national elections taken from: ‘Hungary - European Election obj/fStudy/HUEP2004_Display&mode=cube&v=2&cube=http://129.177. Database’, Norwegian Social Science Data Services, European Election 90.166:80/obj/fCube/HUEP2004_Display_C1&top=yes; see also: ‘Results Database, available at: www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/ by country (2009)’, About Parliament, European Parliament, undated, country/hungary/; see also: Elections to the Hungarian National Assembly, available at: www.europarl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/en/00082fcd21/ ava ilable at: www.electionresources.org/hu/; see also: ‘Hungary Elections : Results-by-country-%282009%29.html?tab=16. Last visited: 8 May 2014. Triumphant PM Orban scorns critics’, BBC News, April 7, 2014, available at: 428 ‘Hungary’, PollWatch2014; information accurate as of 1 April 2014. www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26927133. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 429 ‘A short summary about Jobbik’, Jobbik official English-language website, 3 423 During this election, Jobbik stood as part of an alliance alongside the May 2010. Hungarian Justice and Life Party (MIEP) called the MIEP-Jobbik 430 ‘Gabor Vona And The Making Of A Hungarian Political Party’, United Third Way Alliance of Parties. See: ‘“Third way” platform’, hvg.hu, 17 States Embassy, Hungary, 2 February 2009, cable ID 9BUDAPEST86_, October 2005, available at: http://hvg.hu/english/20051017nationalistright. available at: www.wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09BUDAPEST86_a.html. Last visited: 8 May 2014. Last visited: 8 May 2014.

42 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

April 2014);431 “a far-right party” (The Economist, April “territorial autonomy” for Hungarian minorities 2014)432 outside Hungary,439 stating that this is “its most 440 Support base: “media-savvy Vona continues to attract important task”. Jobbik emphasises the support for Jobbik, in particular among voters in the more rural promotion of family life; reducing abortion rates; regions of Hungary” (US embassy, Hungary, February and challenging perceived deviant lifestyles. Other 2009);433 “Jobbik supporters are predominantly young men, and priorities include opposing health-care a significant proportion of them (22 percent) have a university privatisation; nationalising the energy sector; and or college education […and] are less likely to be unemployed than investing in public transport and small roads. the national average” (Open Society Foundation, February – Foreign: Eurosceptic; reform of Hungary’s EU-accession 434 2012); “Jobbik’s electorate is characterized by even lower treaty; anti-Western; anti-Israel. Jobbik has continually levels of institutional trust and stronger antiestablishment [sic] criticised the effect that EU membership and attitudes than the general public” (Freedom House, October perceived associated globalisation has had on the 435 2012); “The party enjoys a degree of popularity well above Hungarian economy and culture. In January 2014, average among people under the age of thirty, especially first-time Vona called for a referendum on amending voters, 30 percent of whom voted for Jobbik […] the party is Hungary’s EU-accession treaty.441 The party also most popular in small and medium-sized cities” seeks to reorient foreign policy to develop relations (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, December 2012);436 “several with Russia; Iran; and Arab states, and is strongly recent surveys showed that Jobbik was the most popular party anti-Israel. among voters aged under 35” (MTI, November 2013)437 – Significant other: Anti-Roma; anti-corruption; focus 438 POLICY POSITIONS on green policies. Jobbik advocates segregation of – Economic: Protectionist; nationalist. Prioritises Roma communities; a review of current “Eco-social National Economics” – advocating privatisation contracts and public-procurement protectionist policies to promote j ob creation, reform, in order to limit corruption; and criticises decrease national debt, and defend Hungarian the political establishment for failing to develop economic interests/national resources. Other renewable-/green-energy alternatives. priorities include tax reform; increasing tourism; strengthening trade unions; and house-building, CONTROVERSIES with Hungarian SMEs prioritised and Hungarian – Far-Right/Neo-Nazi Links: In November 2013, families given preferential mortgage credit. Jobbik’s unveiling of a statue of wartime leader – Domestic: Nationalist; socially conservative; Admiral Miklós Horthy caused controversy over family/Christian values; anti-privatisation. Prioritises Horthy’s alliance with Nazi Germany and his alleged complicity in the Holocaust.442

431 ‘Hungary Elections: Concerns as Neo Nazi Jobbik Party Wins 20% of Votes’, – Homophobia: In April 2012, MP Ádám Mirkóczki The Independent, 7 April 2014, available at: www.independent.co.uk/news/ world/europe/concerns-as-neonazi-jobbik-party-wins-20-of-hungary-vote- submitted a bill to Parliament which proposed to ban 9244541.html. Last visited: 8 May 2014. the “promotion of sexual deviations” including 432 ‘To Viktor the spoils’, The Economist, 7 April 2014, available at: www.ec onomist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2014/04/hungarys-election. “homosexuality, trans-sexuality, transvestitism, Last visited: 8 May 2014. 443 433 ‘Gabor Vona And The Making Of A Hungarian Political Party’, United bisexuality”. States Embassy, Hungary, 2 February 2009, cable ID 9BUDAPEST86_. Last visited: 12 May 2014. – Paramilitary Links: Party leader Vona founded 434 Bartlett, J. & Kreko, P., ‘What Facebook Tells us About Far Right Populism in Hungary’, Open Society Foundation, 9 February 2012, available at: the quasi-paramilitary Magyar Gárda (Hungarian www.ope nsocietyfoundations.org/voices/what-facebook-tells-us-about-far- right-populism-in-hungary. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 435 ‘Hungary: Jobbik and the Enemy within’, Freedom House, 9 October 2012, 439 ‘Jobbik MEPs to fight for pre-Trianon borders’, Politics.hu, 15 June 2009, available at: http://www.freedomhouse.org/blog/hungary-jobbik- available at: www.politics.hu/20090615/jobbik-meps-to-fight-for- and-%E2%80%98enemy-within%E2%80%99#.U2DdLvldVQg. pretrianon-borders/. Last visited: 8 May 2014. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 440 ‘Foreign Affairs Policy’, Jobbik official English-language website, available at: 436 Nagy, A. B., Boros T. & Áron Varga, ‘Right wing extremism in Hun gary’, www.jobbik.com/foreign_affairs_policy. Last visited: 12 May 2014. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, April 2012, available at: 441 ‘Jobbik to overthrow past 24 years, says Vona’, Politics.hu, 18 January 2014, http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/id-moe/09566.pdf. Last visited: 8 May 2014. available at: www.politics.hu/20140118/jobbik-to-overthrow- 437 ‘Vona says Jobbik plans 2014 election victory’, Politics.hu, 19 November 2013, past-24-years-says-vona/. Last visited: 8 May 2014. available at: www.politics.hu/20131119/vona-says-jobbik- 442 ‘Hungarian far right sparks protests as it commemorates wartime leader’, plans-2014-election-victory/. Last visited: 8 May 2014. Reuters, 3 November 2013, available at: 438 Unless otherwise specified, all policy positions are taken from ‘ Policies’, http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/11/03/uk-hungary-farright- Jobbik official English-language website, available at: ‘Policies’, Jobbik official horthy-protest-idUKBRE9A20BF20131103. Last visited: 8 May 2014. English-language website, available at: www.jobbik.com/policies. Last visited: 443 ‘Jobbik submits amendment aimed at banning ‘gay propaganda’, Politics.hu, 12 May 2014; and: Nagy, A. B., Boros T. & Áron Varga, ‘Right wing 12 April 2012, available at: www.politics.hu/20120412/jobbik-submits- extremism in Hungary’, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, April 2012. amendment-aimed-at-banning-gay-propaganda/. Last visited: 8 May 2014.

43 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

Guard) in 2007 and held rallies throughout this is now OVER. We have raised our head up Hungary, including one in Tatárszentgyörgy which high and we shall no longer tolerate your kind of allegedly culminated in violence. Three senior party terror. We shall take back our country”.448 members, including founder Kovács, left Jobbik in – Religious Hatred (Anti-Semitism): In August protest. In December 2008, Magyar Gárda was 2012, it was reported that Szegedi had been forced proscribed by the Hungarian government – a ban to resign from the party due to his Jewish heritage, subsequently upheld by both the Hungarian something denied by Jobbik. Prior to this Szegedi Supreme Court, in December 2009, and the 449 European Court of Human Rights, in July 2013.444 had attack ed Jews for “buying up” Hungary. – Racism (Anti-Roma)/Religious Hatred – Religious Hatred (Anti-Semitism): In (Anti-Semitism): In 2008, Jobbik party chair November 2012, MP Márton Gyöngyösi said that József Bíber stated, “What is gypsy crime? Let’s not it would be “timely to tally up people of Jewish deceive ourselves: it’s a biological weapon in the ancestry who live here […] who, indeed, pose a hands of Zionists.”445 national security risk to Hungary”. This followed an interview in February 2012, in which he had – Racism (Anti-Roma): In 2010, a number of attacked Holocaust survivors seeking compensation Jobbik figures advocated the segregation of and had stated that this was “playing with fire”.450 Hungary’s Roma communities, with MEP Csanád Szegedi suggesting implementing Roma camps and – Religious Hatred (Anti-Semitism): In May enforced curfe ws. Prior to this, Szegedi had stated: 2013, Jobbik staged a rally over Budapest hosting the “Our money is being used to fund gypsy breeding World Jewish Congress and the perceived “Jewish under state supervision”.446 attempt to buy up Hungary”. During the rally, Vona – Religious Hatred (Anti-Semitism): In June stated that the “Israeli conquerors, these investors, 2009, Jobbik MEP candidate Judit Szima was should look for another country in the world for 451 revealed as the editor of an online newsletter which themselves because Hungary is not for sale”. had stated: “Given our current situation, – Religious Hatred (Anti-Semitism): In May anti-Semitism is not just our right, but it is the duty 2013, Jobbik membe r Tamás Gaudi-Nagy claimed of every Hungarian homeland lover, and we must that the Auschwitz site “may not reflect the real 447 prepare fo r armed battle against the Jews”. facts of history”.452 – Religious Hatred (Anti-Semitism): In June 2009, MEP Krisztina Morvai provoked national NOTES outrage after writing online: “I would be greatly Since Jobbik’s electoral breakthrough in 2010, the pleased if those who call themselves proud party has maintained approximately 8% of seats in Hungarian Jews played in their leisure with their the Hungarian Parliament, with one in five voters tiny circumcised dicks, instead of besmirching me. choosing the party in the April 2014 national Your kind of people are used to seeing all of our elections. This represents a tenfold increase in national kind of people stand to attention and ad just to you every time you fart. Would you kindly acknowledge 448 ‘Outrage over obscene Anti Semitic Internet Post by Morvai’, Politics.hu, June 5, 2009, available at: http://www.politics.hu/20090605/outrage-over- obscene-antisemitic-internet-post-by-morvai/. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 444 ‘ECHR upholds ban on Hungarian far right group’ , Euronews, 7 July 2013, 449 ‘Csanad Szegdi, poster boy of Hungary’s fascist right, quits after Jewish available at: www.euronews.com/2013/07/09/banning-hungarian- roots revealed’, The Independent, 17 August 2012, available at: far-right-group-was-legal-says-echr/; see also: ‘Founders quit far right party www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe /csanad-szegedi-poster-boy- Jobbik for Hungarian guard, Politics.hu, 11 March 2008, available at: of-hungarys-fascist-right-quits-after-jewish-roots-revealed-8054031.html. http://www.politics.hu/20080311/founders-quit-farright-party-jobbik- Last visited: 8 May 2014. over-hungarian-guard/. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 450 ‘Hungary: far right leader demands list of Jews’, Reuters, 27 November 2012, 445 ‘Jobbik needs Jews to rule the world’, The Budapest Times, 15 May 2011, available at: www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4312434,00.html; see available at: http://budapesttimes.hu/2011/05/15/jobbik-needs-jews- also: Kirchick, J., ‘Meet Europe’s new fascists’, Tablet, 12 April 2012, available to-run-the-world/. Last visited: 8 May 2014. at: www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/ 96716/meet-europes- 446 ‘Hungary’s Far Right Jobbik Party Wants to Close Gypsies in Ghetto’, new-fascists. Last visited: 8 May 2014. The Wall Street Journal, 2 September 2010, available at: http://blogs.wsj.com/ 451 ‘Jobbik rally against World Jewish Congress in Budapest’, BBC News, emergingeurope/2010/09/02/hungary%E2%80%99s-far-right-jobbik- 4 May 2013, available at: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22413301. party-wants-to-close-gypsies-in-ghetto/; see also : ‘Jobbik needs Jews to rule Last visited: 8 May 2014. the world’, The Budapest Times, 15 May 2011. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 452 ‘Auschwitz does not reflect facts, claims Hungarian MP’, The Telegraph, 447 ‘Proud Hungarians must prepare for war against the Jews’, Haaretz, 1 June 28 May 2013, available at: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/ 2009, available at: www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/2.209/proud-hungarians- europe/hungary/10084251/Aus chwitz-does-not-reflect-facts-claims- must-prepare-for-war-against-the-jews-1.277076. Last visited: 8 May 2014. Hungarian-MP.html. Last visited: 8 May 2014.

44 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections vote share from the 2006 national elections, the first that the party contested. In a radio interview after the elections, Jobbik leader Vona said that his party’s recent success made it the strongest Eurosceptic and nationalist party in Europe.453 Of all the parties profiled, Jobbik is among the most overtly racist, with party members and official representatives continually involved in racism and religi ous-hatred controversies, most frequently of an anti-Roma and anti-Semitic nature. Current party leader Vona, who took over in 2006, has arguably taken the party in a more militant direction, establishing the paramilitary Hungarian Guard in 2007 and telling Jobbik supporters in 2012: “We are not communists, fascists or National Socialists. […] But – and this is important for everyone to understand very cl early – we are also not democrats”.454

453 ‘Vona: Jobbik now strongest Euro-skeptic national party’, Politics.hu, 8 April 2014, available at: www.politics.hu/20140408/vona-jobbik-now- strongest-euro-skeptic-national-party/. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 454 Verseck, K., ‘Young, wired and angry: a revised portrait of Hungary’s right wing extremists’, Der Spiegel, 12 April 2012, available at: www.spiegel.de /intern ational/europe/young-wired-and-angry-a-revised-portrait-of- hungary-s-right-wing-extremists-a-813243.html. Last visited: 8 May 2014.

45 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Sinn Féin455

Name: Sinn Féin

Alter native name: We Ourselves 2011: 9.9%; 14/166 seats ( L 10); 4th place464 456 Country/headquarters: Ireland/Dublin Local Council elections 465 Official websites: www.sinnfein.ie (Ireland); 2004: Unspecified; 125/1,627 seats; 4th place 466 www.sinnfein.org (UK)457 2009: Unspecified; 126/1,627 seats ( L 1); 4th place Social-media presence:458 EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION – Facebook: www.facebook.com/sinnfein Bloc: Confederal Group of the European United (24,844 ‘likes’) Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE-NGL)467 – Twitter: www.twitter.com/sinnfeinireland European Parliament, June 2004468 (22,073 followers) – Share of national vote: 11.1% – YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/sinnfeinireland/ – Seats: 1/13469 about (‘4,414 subscribers) – Position: 3rd place – Turnout: 58.6% Founded: 1905; the current iteration dates from 470 1970, when a split in the original party led to Eu ropean Parliament, June 2009 dissenting members pledging allegiance to the – Share of national vote: 11.2% 471 Provisional Army Council of the Irish Republican – Seats: 0/12 ( M 1) Army (IRA) and forming Provisional Sinn Féin.459 – Position: 4th place – Turnout: 57.6% Current leader: Gerry Adams (1983-present)460 European Parliament, May 2014472 Previous leaders: N/A – Predicted share of national vote: 19% – Predicted seats: 3/11 NATIONAL REPRESENTATION – Predicted position: 3rd place Presidential elections – Dates polled: 22/02/2014 – 01/03/2014 2011: 13.7%; 3rd place461 IDEOLOGY Dáil Éireann (Irish Parliament) 2002: 6.5%; 5/166 seats462 Mission statement: “Sinn Féin seeks the establishment 2007: 6.9%; 4/166 seats ( M 1); 4th place463 of a new Ireland based on sustainable social and economic

464 Ibid. 455 While Sinn Féin also contests elections in Northern Ireland, including those 465 for the European Parliament, this profile focuses on its activities in the ‘Local Elections, 2004’, Irish Government, available at: Republic of Ireland. http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/LocalGovernment/Voting/ FileDownLoad,1883,en.pdf and http://www.environ.ie/en/ 456 ‘Contact Us’, Sinn Féin official website, available at: LocalGovernment/Voting/LocalElections/PublicationsDocuments/ http://www.sinnfein.ie/contact-us. Last visited: 6 May 2014. FileDownLoad,1882,en.pdf. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 457 Website links correct as of 6 May 2014. 466 ‘Local Elections 2009 Results, Transfer of Votes and Statistics’, Irish 458 Social-media information accurate as of 11 April 2014; screenshots archived. Government, available at: http://www.environ.ie/en/LocalGovernment/ 459 ‘The Split – Republican Lecture Series No.1’ (1979) Sinn Féin, Education Voting/LocalElections/PublicationsDocuments/FileDownLoad,23415,en.pdf Department Cain Web Service, available at: http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/ and: http://www.environ.ie/en/LocalGovernment/Voting/LocalElections/ politics/docs/sf/lecture/sf-lecture1.htm, and: ‘Sinn Fein’, BBC News, PublicationsDocuments/FileDownLoad,23416,en.pdf. Last visited: 6 May 2014. undated, available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/recent/troubles/ 467 ‘Ireland’, PollWatch2014, available at: http://www.electio2014.eu/ fact_files.shtml?ff=pp05. Last visited: 6 May 2014. pollsandscenarios/polls#country. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 460 ‘Gerry Adams TD’, Sinn Féin official website, availabl e at: 468 http://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/20204. Last visited: 6 May 2014. ‘Ireland’, European Election Database. 469 461 ‘Michael D. Higgins wins Irish Presidential election’, The Telegraph, ‘European Parliament Elections 2004’, House of Commons, 23 June 2004, 28 October 2011, available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ available at: http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/lib/ worldnews/europe/ireland/8856598/Michael-D.-Higgins-wins-Irish- research/rp2 004/rp04-050.pdf. Last visited: 6 May 2014 presidential-election.html. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 470 ‘Ireland’, European Election Database. 462 ‘May 17, 2002 General Election Results - Ireland Totals’, Election Resources, 471 ‘European Parliament Elections 2009’, House of Commons, 17 June 2009, available at: http://electionresources.org/ie/house.php?election=2002. available at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/research/ Last visited: 6 May 2014. briefing-papers/RP09-53/european-parliament-elections-2009. 463 ‘Ireland’, European Election Database, available at: http://www.nsd.uib.no/ Last visited: 6 May 2014. european_election_database/country/ireland/.Last visited: 6 May 2014. 472 ‘Ireland’, PollWatch2014; Information accurate as of 1 April 2014.

46 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections development; genuine democracy, participation, equality and – Foreign: Eurosceptic; anti-NATO. Priorities include: justice at all levels of the economy and society; and a lasting and campaigning for greater power for regional meaningful peace” (Sinn Féin official website, undated)473 parliaments and local authorities within the EU; returning powers from Brussels to Dublin;480 and Political orientation: “a nationalist party […which opposing the EU Common Foreign and Security seeks] a democratic-socialist Irish republic” (European Policies and any integration of EU and NATO Election Database, undated);474 “left wing and anti-big foreign and defence policies. business” (The Wall Street Journal, November 2010);475 “a radical left-wing, even anti-system party” (academic – Significant other: Irish Republicanism; focus on source, March 2012)476 rural/agrarian issues. Priorities include: seeking an end to British rule over Northern Ireland and Support base: “Roman Catholics who want to achieve a returning to a united Ireland; developing Ireland’s united Ireland through whatever means are necessary” farming and fishing industries, focusing on 477 (European Election Database, undated); “Traditional agri-food and green tourism industry; and opposing anti-British republicans mainly in rural areas and people living genetically-modified food and nuclear power.481 in deprived urban working class areas disenchanted with the 482 ‘Celtic Tiger’ economy and the established part ies” (academic CONTROVERSIES source, March 2012)478 – Corruption: In 2012, two Sinn Féin TDs were found to have used travel- and accommodation- POLICY POSITIONS479 expenses money to pay party activists, in breach of – Economic: Anti-austerity; progressive taxation targeting Dáil rules. This followed revelations that Chief high earners/business sector. Priorities include: reversing Whip Aengus Ó Snodaigh had spent €50,600 on printer cartridges in two years.483 cuts made by the Irish government, following the 2008 financial crisis, and introducing a stimulus – Paramilitary Links: The current iteration of package; abolishing property tax and levying a 48% Sinn Féin is closely linked to the Provisional IRA, rate of income tax on earnings over €100,000; and with a number of prominent members known to 484 increasing Capital Gains and Capita l Acquisitions be former paramilitaries. Irish politicians have repeatedly ref erenced this, and, in February 2005, taxes and creating a tax of 1% on net wealth over Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell openly €1 million. named party members Gerry Adams; Martin – Domestic: Opposing welfare cuts; increased public-service McGuinness; and Martin Ferris as senior members provision; law and order. Priorities include: challenging of the IRA Army Council, while Foreign Minister cuts to social welfare, including child benefit; Dermot Ahern said: “We’re absolutely satisfied that providing universal public health care free at the the leadership of Sinn Fein and the IRA are point of delivery; increasing education funding and interlinked”.485 enhancing Irish-language teaching in schools; and – Paramilitary Links: In December 2010, it was increasing police funding and focusing on reported that then-Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern challenging drug crime and anti-social behaviour. believed that Sinn Féin’s leadership had known of IRA plans to rob the Northern Bank in Belfast during 2004 while negotiations over disarmament 473 ‘Provisional Sinn Fein’, Sinn Féin official website, available at: http://www.sinnfein.org/. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 474 ‘Ireland – Political parties’, European Election Database, available at: http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_databas e/country/ireland/ 480 ‘Sinn Fein European Election Manifesto 2009’, Sinn Féin official parties.html. Last visited: 6 May 2014. website, 2009, available at: http://www.sinnfein.ie/files/2009/EU09_ 475 ‘A Guide to Ireland’s Political Parties’, The Wall Street Journal, 23 November ManifestoWeb1.pdf. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 2010, available at: http://blogs.wsj.com/dispatch/2010/11/23/ 481 Ibid. a-guide-to-irelands-political-parties/. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 482 As with all other information in this profile, these controversies refer 476 Walsh, D. & O’Malley, E., ‘The Slow Growth of Sinn Féin: from minor specifically to those which have affected the party’s activity in the Republic of player to centre stage?’, University of Dublin, March 2012, availa ble at: Ireland, and do not include numerous incidents relating t o Northern Ireland. http://doras.dcu.ie/16860/1/1202.pdf. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 483 ‘Sinn Fein faces two inquiries over abuse of TDs’ expenses’, Irish Independent, 477 ‘Ireland – Political parties’, European Election Database. 2 December 2012, available at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ 478 Walsh, D. & O’Malley, E., ‘The Slow Growth of Sinn Féin: from minor sinn-fein-faces-two-inquiries-over-abuse-of-tds-expenses-26867196.html. player to centre stage?’, University of Dublin, March 2012. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 479 Unless otherwise specified, all policy positions are taken from ‘Sinn Fein 484 ‘Sinn Fein members with IRA links’, Newsletter, 3 June 2011, available at: General Election Manifesto 2011’, Sinn Féin official website, 2011, available http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/regional/sinn-fein-member s-with-ira- at: http://www.sinnfein.ie/files/2011/SF_GeneralElectionManifesto2011.pdf; links-1-2738798. Last visited: 6 May 2014. and: ‘Sinn Fein Alternative Budget 2014’, Sinn Féin official website, 2014, 485 ‘Dublin: Sinn Fein chiefs in IRA’, CNN, 21 February 2005, available at: available at: http://www.sinnfein.ie/files/2013/ http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/02/20/nireland.sinn.fein/. Pre-Budget2014Submission.pdf. Last visited: 6 May 2014. Last visited: 6 May 2014.

47 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

were ongoing.486 These revelations were published has enabled it to increase its vote share and to win just months before the 2011 Dáil elections in which more than a handful of seats in the Dáil, though it is Adams sought to stand for the first time; yet, they still an ‘outsider’ party in terms of both the small did not stop the party from trebling its seat tally. number of seats won and the attitude of the – Paramilitary Links: Comments made by Gerry established parties towards it. Adams and Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Pádraig The party’s Euroscepticism also reflects that of several Mac Lochlainn, in December 2013, suggested that anti-austerity parties across Europe, and likely reflects two RUC officers murdered by the IRA in 1989 the extent to which Ireland was impacted by the had been to blam e for their own deaths, and that financial crash. However, it is also a nationalist party the men who had shot them had had a “duty” and and focuses heavily on cultural; rural; and agrarian 487 “right” to do so. This led to significant criticism issues, which is unusual in comparison to many of its from Fianna Fáil; Labour; and Fine Gael, and the partners in the GUE-NGL bloc. suggestion that the party would be ostracised in any Finally, the party’s paramilitary links continue to Dáil coalition negotiations in future.488 alienate a significant portion of the electorate in – Paramilitary Links: Gerry Adams has been Ireland – unlike in Northern Ireland, where the party accused by both the IRA’s former Belfast retains significant support in areas previously seen as commander, Brendan Hughes, and convicted IRA strongholds of the Provisional IRA. Gerry Adams’ bomber, Dolours Price, of ordering the kidnap and recent arrest has brought this issue back to the fore,492 489 murder of Jean McConville in May 1972. In though the polls do not suggest that it is likely to affect March 2014, Adams announced that he would be May’s election.493 available for police questioning,490 and was then arrested on 1 May 2014 after presenting himself at a police station. Since his release, he has also been forced to deny accusations by Jean McConville’s son, Michael, that he had threatened a “backlash” if Mr McConville named his mother’s killers,491 and has attacked the timing of his arrest – given Sinn Féin’s campaign in the European elections.

NOTES Sinn Féin has been increasingly successful, electorally, in the Republic of Ireland since the financial crisis of 2008, and offers a radical anti-austerity message similar to that of SYRIZA in Greece. This message

486 ‘WikiLeaks cables: Sinn Féin leaders “were aware of ” Northern Bank heist plans’, The Guardian, 12 December 2010, available at: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/dec/12/wikileaks-sinn-fein- northern-bank. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 487 ‘“Insulting, offensive, quite outrageous”: Sinn Féin criticised over Smithwick response’, The Journal, 5 December 2013, available at: http://www.thejournal.ie/sinn-fein-smithwick-tribunal-response-1207298-De c2013/. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 488 ‘Fionnan Sheahan: “Cult-like” Sinn Fein not suitable for coalition’, The Independent, 8 December 2013, available at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/fionnan-sheahan-cultlike-sinn- fein-not-suitable-for-coalition-29819235.html. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 489 ‘Jean McConville murder: Police want to quiz writer and former IRA man Anthony McIntyre over his interviews about killing’, Belfast Telegraph, 24 March 2014, available at: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/ local-national/northern-ireland/jean-mcconville-murder-police-want-to- quiz-writer-and-former-ira-man-anthony-mcintyre-over-his-interviews- abou t-killing-30119213.html. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 492 ‘Out with the old, in with the new at Ireland’s Sinn Fein - but not yet’, 490 ‘Gerry Adams offers to answer questions about 1972 murder of Jean Reuters, 6 May 2014, available at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/ McConville’, The Guardian, 24 March 2014, available at: 05/06/us-northernireland-adams-leadership-idUSBREA450OP20140506. http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/mar/24/gerry-adama- Last visited: 6 May 2014. questions-murder-jean-mcconville. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 493 ‘Sinn Fein poised for Irish poll success amid Adams murder probe’, 491 ‘Gerry Adams denies McConville son “backlash threat”’, BBC News, Reuters, 3 May 2014, available at: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/ 6 May 2014, available at: http://www.bbc.co. uk/news/uk-northern- 05/03/uk-ireland-sinnfein -idUKKBN0DJ0H820140503. ireland-27280446. Last visited: 6 May 2014. Last visited: 6 May 2014.

48 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Five Star Movement

Name: MoVimento Cinque Stelle (M5S) Senato della Repubblica (Senate) 2013: 23.8%; 54/315 seats; 3rd place (among Country/headquarters: Italy/not applicable494 alliances: largest single party)499 Official websites: www.movimentocinquestelle.it Local and regional elections (selected) (central); www.beppegrillo.it (personal blog of founder March 2010: M5S candidates ran for regional and leader Beppe Grillo) presidency in 5 of 13 participating regions, winning: Social-media presence:495 7.0% of the vote in Emilia-Romagna; 4.1% in – Facebook: Piedmont; 3.2% in Veneto; 3.0% in Lombardy; and 500 www.facebook.com/movimentocinquestelle 1.3% in Campania. (397,126 ‘likes’); www.facebook.com/beppegrillo.it May 2012: M5S won 10% or more of the vote in local (Beppe Grillo, 1,597,001 ‘likes’) elections in a number of northern cities, including – Twitter: www.twitter.com/Mov5Stelle (290,397 Parma; Genoa; Monza; Piacenza; and Verona. In the followers); www.twitter.com/beppe_grillo run-offs, M5S candidates won three mayoral contests: (Beppe Grillo, 1,446,615 followers) most notably in the city of Parma (60%) and in the north-eastern coastal towns of Comacchio (69.2%) and – YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/StaffGrillo Mira (52.5%). M5S’s candidate was also elected mayor (289,178 subscribers) in the small Venetian town of Sarego (35.2%).501 Founded: 4 October 2009, by anti-establishment May 2013: M5S won between 8% and 9% of the comedian; activist and blogger Beppe Grillo and vote in local elections in northern Italy, and 12.8% in internet-marketing and communications executive Rome.502 Gianroberto Casaleggio496 EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION Current leader: Beppe Grillo (2009-present)497 Bloc: Non-Inscrits (NI)503 Previous leaders: N/A European Parliament, May 2014504 NATIONAL REPRESENTATION – Predicted share of national vote: 21% – Predicted seats: 19/73 Camer a dei Deputati (Chamber of Deputies) 2013: 25.6%; 109/630 seats; 3rd place (among alliances: largest single party)498 available at: http://welections.wordpress.com/2013/03/03/italy-2013/. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 499 ‘Italy elections: results breakdown of lower and upper chambers’, The Telegraph, 26 February 2013; see also: ‘La mappa elettorale di YouTrend’, 494 The Five Star Movement does not have a registered office (it is not a hosted by The Guardian, 25 February 2013. regist ered political party) and relies primarily on its online campaigns and 500 Regional data available at: Archivio Storico Delle Elezioni, presence. See: ‘Is It Time Italy Took Beppe Grillo’s Five Star Movement Regionali 28/03/2010, Ministero dell’Interno, available at: More Seriously?’, International Business Times, 6 April 2014, available at: http://elezionistorico.interno.it/index.php?tpel=R&dtel=28/03/2010. www.ibtimes.co.uk/it-time-italy-took-beppe-grillos-five-star-movement- Last visited: 7 May 2014. more-seriously-1443630. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 501 A full breakdown of local election results is available at: 495 Social-media information accurate as of 6 May 2014; screenshots archived. Elezioni 2012 Ammimistrative, Corriere Della Sera, available at: 496 ‘Notizie in due minuti’, Corriere della Sera, 5 October 2009, available at: www.corriere.it/Speciali/Politica/2012/elezioni12/SEAS/amministrative/ http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/ottobre/05/NOTIZIE_DUE_ comunali/20120506000000_2_ZONA_1.shtml; see also: ‘Parma elects MINUTI_co_9_091005092.shtml; see also: ‘A waning star’, The Economist, anti-austerity ‘comedy’ candidate as mayor’, Th e Guardian, 21 May 2012, 29 September 2012, available at: www.economist.com/node/21563762. available at: www.theguardian.com/world/2012/may/21/ Last visited: 7 May 2014. parma-mayor-pizzarotti-beppe-grillol see also: ‘Italy comic Beppe 497 ‘A waning star’, The Economist, 29 September 2012. Grillo’s party wins local polls’, BBC News, 22 May 2013, available at: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18157493. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 498 ‘Italy elections: results breakd own of lower and upper chambers’, The 502 Telegraph, 26 February 2013, available at: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/ McDonnell, D., ‘On Italy’s streets, Beppe Grillo’s Five Star Movement still europe/italy/9894625/Italy-elections-results-breakdown-of-lower-and- twinkles’, European Politics and Policy blog, London School of Economics, upper-chambers.html; see also: ‘La mappa elettorale di YouTrend’, 31 May 2013, available at: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2013/05/31 hosted by The Guardian, 25 February 2013, available at: /beppe-grillo-m5s/; Peter Schwarz, ‘Grillo’s Five Star Movement loses Italian www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/interactive/2013/feb/25/italian- local elections’, World Socialist Web Site, 1 June 2013, available at: www.wsws.org/ elections-results-interactive-g uide; The Five Star Movement is listed as en/articles/2013/06/01/ital-j01.html. Last visited: 7 May 2014. receiving 108 seats as of 26 February 2013; it subsequently gained one seat 503 ‘Italy’, PollWatch2014; information accurate as of 1 April 2014. after votes from abroad were processed, see: ‘Italy 2013’, World Elections, 504 Ibid.

49 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

– Predicted position: 3rd place POLICY POSITIONS – Date polled: 25/03/2014 – Economic: Anti-Euro; anti-austerity; supports restrictions on the free market. M5S argues that the Euro favours IDEOLOGY large banks to the detriment of small and Mission statement: “On 4 October 2009, a new medium-sized enterprises and damages the Italian National Five Star Movement will be born. It will be born on economy. Priorities at a European level include: the Internet. Italian citizens without a criminal record and who holding a referendum on Italian membership of the are not members of any political party can join… the parties Eurozone and allowing Italy to default on its are dead. I do not want to found ‘a party’, an apparatus, a debt.513 At a domestic level, priorities include: structure of intermediation. Rather I want to create a Movement capping the salaries of the senior management in with a programme.” (Grillo, announcing the formation corporations listed on the Stock Exchange; banning of M5S, September 2009)505 monopolies (particularly among transport and Political orientation: “a mix of strong ideals, rage and utility companies); and abolishing stock options. question marks” (International Business Times, February – Domestic: Focus on utilities and infrastructure; supports 2013);506 “Mussolini’s fascism was black, Grillo’s is green, restrictions on immigration. Domestic concerns but they both have a red heart” (Die Weltwoche, October dominate M5S’s agenda, with the five ‘stars’ 2013);507 “an anti-corruption, anti-establishment, green, representing its priorities: public water, populist, and Eurosceptic ‘party’ centered around a single transportation, development, internet connection personality” (academic source, January 2014);508 and availability, and the environment.514 While the “anti-establishment” (Reuters, February 2014;509 The Guardian, April 2014)510 party does not campaign on an overtly anti-immigration platform, Grillo has supported Support base: Supporters, known as the Grillini, restrictions on immigrants from Romania, stating “are the latest example of an uprising of the lost generation, that “a country cannot throw onto the shoulders of that mass of people on Europe’s periphery who are under the age its own people the problems caused by tens of of 40, desperate, unemployed and who have very little left to 511 thousands of Roma people from Romania who are lose.” (Der Sp iegel, March 2013); a 2013 study of arriving in Italy”, and describing the issue as “a M5S and Beppe Grillo supporters on Facebook found volcano, a time bomb”.515 that they tended to be male (63%), more likely than the average Italian citizen to be educated and – Foreign: Eurosceptic; focus on national sovereignty and unemployed, politically left-of-centre, concerned EU reform. While Grillo has expressed Eurosceptic about Italy’s economic situation and unemployment economic policies, M5S has not called for Italian levels, and highly dissatisfied with democracy and the withdrawal from the European Union. Grillo has, political system (DEMOS, 2013)512 however, accused the Italian political establishment of ceding national sovereignty to Brussels and pledges to reform the EU, stating in January 2014: 505 Beppe Grillo blogpost dated 9 September 2009, cited in Bartlett,; J. Froio, C.; Littler, M. and Duncan McDonnell, ‘New Political Actors in “We don’t like Europe as it is, we will review the Europe: Beppe Grillo and the M5S’, DEMOS, 2013, p. 15, available at: 516 www.demos.co.uk/files/Beppe_Grillo_and_the_M5S_-_Demos_web_ rules, we’ll see what must be changed”. version.pdf ?1360766725 Last visited: 7 May 2014. 506 ‘Italy at the Polls: Is Beppe Grillo’s Five Star Movement Undemocratic or – Significant other: Anti-establishment; anti-corruption; Revolutionary?’, International Business Times, 22 February 2013, available at: www.ibtimes.co.uk/beppe-grillo-italy-five-star-elections-438431. focus on green policies. Grillo is proudly Last visited: 7 May 2014. anti-establishment: he criticises traditional party 507 Farrell, N. ‘Beware Grillo’, Die Weltwoche, October 2013, available at: www.weltwoche.ch/ausgaben/2013-10/huetet-euch-vor-grillo-die- politics, which he sees as corrupt, and insists that weltwoche-ausgabe-102013.html. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 508 Scurtu, B. ‘Funny Corruption Fighter: Italy’s Five Star Movement’, M5S is a movement rather than a party (stating of Globality Studies Journal, Stony Brook Institute fo r Global Studies, his supporters, “We have no structure, heirarchy 17 January 2014, available at: http://globality.cc.stonybrook.edu/?p=1202. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 509 ‘Italy’s 5-Star Movement in bitter row over parliament speaker’, Reuters, 3 February 2014, available at: www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/03/ 513 ‘Italy’s Beppe Grillo vows to shake up Europe in May elections’, The Financial us-italy-politics-idUSBREA120UZ20140203. Last visited: 7 May 2014. Times, 1 January 2014, available at: www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a8fd2cae-72d1- 510 ‘Anti-EU vote could rise above 30% in European elections, says thinktank’, 11e3-b05b-00144feabdc0.html#axzz30C2MTcgi; see also: Bogdan Scurtu, The Guardian, 28 April 2014, available at: www.theguardian.com/politics/ ‘Funny Corruption Fighter: Italy’s Five Star Movement’, Globality Studies 2014/apr/28/anti-eu-vote-european-elections-thinktank. Journal, Stony Brook Institute for Global Studies, 17 January 2014. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 514 Bartlett, J.; Froio, C.; Littler, M. an d Duncan McDonnell, ‘New Political 511 ‘Italian Elections: Europe’s Lost Generation Finds Its Voice’, Der Spiegel, 4 Actors in Europe: Beppe Grillo and the M5S’, DEMOS, 2013, p. 27. March 2014, available at: www.spiegel.de/international/europe/beppe- 515 Grillo, B. ‘Desecrated Borders’, Beppe Grillo’s blog, October 2007, available grillo-taps-into-frustrations-of-european-lost-generation-a-886715.html. at: www.beppegrillo.it/eng/2007/10/desecrated_borders.html#comment- Last visited: 7 May 2014. 13679. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 512 Bartlett, J.; Froio, C.; Littler, M. and Duncan McDonnell, ‘New Political 516 ‘Italy’s Beppe Grillo vows to shake up Europe in May elections’, Actors in Europe: Beppe Grillo and the M5S’, DEMOS, 2013, pp. 17-20. The Financial Times, 1 January 2014

50 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

[sic], leaders or secretaries. We take orders from no – Criminality: Grillo was convicted of one”).517 Among the manifesto provisions designed manslaughter, for his role in a car accident in 1980 to reduce corruption are a two-term limit for all in which three people were killed. As a result of his publicly-elected representatives; the prohibition of own policy prohibiting those with criminal citizens with a criminal record holding office; and convictions to stand in the name of the movement, the reduction of MPs’ salaries, to the average he does not hold any position in public office.526 national wage.518 The movement also promotes More recently, in March 2014, Grillo was sentenced green policies, with many of the manifesto to four months in prison for breaking a police seal provisions centring on environmental protection on a building during a 2010 protest against the 519 and sustainable development. Turin–Lyon high-speed railway, along with nine other activists who were given up to nine months CONTROVERSIES each. He is currently appealing the conviction.527 – Authoritarianism: Grillo has continually been accused of authoritarianism, and has been NOTES compared to former Italian dictator Mussolini.520 Although formally only five years old, the M5S Grillo dominates party output through his movement benefits from founder Grillo’s widespread enormous personal social-media presence and by celebrity status and popularity built up over a prohibiting media appearances of movement 30-year-long career spanning television; comedy; and representatives.521 In April 2013, recently elected blogging. A long-standing political satirist, TIME M5S senator Marino Mastrangeli was expelled magazine included Grillo as a “European Hero” in from the movement after breaking the code of 2005, for his public fight against financial scandal and conduct (by appearing on a political chat show), political corruption, saying he used “over-the-top and subsequently alleged publicly that the humour to probe the serious social issues that leaders restrictions breached his constitutional right to free don’t want to touch”.528 522 speech. After M5S’s success in 2013, the Italian Grillo’s blog is the primary vehicle behind his media have concentrated on this issue, commonly movement, both in terms of control and mass referring to Grillo’s TV “fatwa”; Grillo’s response audience reach. The movement’s governing document, is to accuse the media of having corrupt ties to the for example, states that the party ‘headquarters’ is the 523 political establishment. Criticism of Grillo’s blog’s web address and that only Grillo has the right authoritarian leadership, as well as his to use the name ‘MoVimento 5 Stelle’;529 in 2008, The parliamentary policy of hard-line opposition, Observer ranked the site 9th out of 50 “most powerful 524 continued, however, as dissent among elected blogs” worldwide; and, in 2012, The Economist reported senators increased. In March 2014, for example, a it to be the most widely read blog in Italian.530 Grillo further five senators were expelled, bringing the also uses his blog to direct his supporters, with the total number to 13 – nearly a quarter of those earliest manifestation of activism being ‘V-Day’, a 525 elected in February 2013. protest festival against the Italian political establishment (‘V’ is a reference to ‘vaffanculo’, an 531 517 Fleischhauer, J., ‘Green Fascism: Beppe Grillo Is the Most Dangerous Italian obscenity), in 2007 in Bologna. Man in Europe’, Der Spiegel, 15 March 2013, available at: www.spiegel.de/international/e urope/beppe-grillo-of-italy-is-the-most- Grillo’s avowedly anti-corruption, anti-establishment dangerous-man-in-europe-a-889104.html. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 518 Bartlett, J.; Froio, C.; Littler, M. and Duncan McDonnell, ‘New Political agenda gained traction as Italy suffered the effects of Actors in Europe: Beppe Grillo and the M5S’, DEMOS, 2013, p. 27. 519 Bartlett, J.; Froio, C.; Littler, M. and Duncan McDonnell, ‘New Political Actors in Europe: Beppe Grillo and the M5S’, DEMOS, 2013, p. 27. 526 ‘Profile: Beppe Grillo’, BBC News, 26 February 2013, available at: 520 Farrell, N., ‘Beware Grillo’, Die Weltwoche, October 2013. www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21576869. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 521 Foot, J., ‘Beppe Grillo: a comedian to be taken seriously’, The Guardian, 30 527 ‘Beppe Grillo sentenced to four months’ jail for rail protest’, The Guardian, October 2012, available at: www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/ 3 March 2014, available at: www.theguardian.com/world/2014/ oct/30/beppe-grillo-comedian-italy-five-star. Last visited: 7 May 2014. mar/03/beppe-grillo-jail-rail-protest. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 522 ‘Expelled senator attacks Italy’s Five Star Movement’, BBC News, 528 Israely, J., ‘Seriously Funny’, TIME, 2 October 2005, avai lable at: 3 May 2013, available at: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22396608. http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1112803,00.html; Last visited: 7 May 2014. see also: ‘Profile: Beppe Grillo’, BBC News, 26 February 2013. 523 Ibid. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 524 ‘Italy’s 5-Star expels four senators as internal dissent grows’, Reuters, 26 529 Bartlett, J.; Froio, C.; Littler, M. and Duncan McDonnell, ‘New Political February 2014, available at: www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/26/us-italy- Actors in Europe: Beppe Grillo and the M5S’, DEMOS, 2013, p. 24. politics-idUSBREA1P1WF20140226. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 530 ‘The world’s 50 most powerful blogs’, The Guardian, 9 March 2008, available 525 ‘Italy’s Five Star party in disarray’, The Financial Times, 6 March 2014, at: www.theguardi an.com/technology/2008/mar/09/blogs; see also: ‘A available at: www.ft.com/cms/s/0/11ce73e8-a54d-11e3-8070- waning star’, The Economist, 29 September 2012. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 00144feab7de.html#axzz310skdjzh. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 531 ‘Profile: Beppe Grillo’, BBC News, 26 February 2013.

51 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections the Eurozone crisis and citizens lost trust in public institutions in a country wracked by political and financial scandals.532 Despite winning a quarter of the national vote in the national elections in 2013, Grillo refuses to work in concert with other political parties, which he views as corrupt, pledging instead to stay in opposition “for ever” [sic], or until his party gains a parliamentary majority.533 He continues to present M5S as an ‘outsider’, recently stating that “everyone [is] against it” – including the European Central Bank, Germany, the media, as well as the banking and financial sectors. Despite assessments that the movement lacks constructive criticism of viable solutions to Italy’s problem, and despite recurring allegations of authoritarianism and internal dissent, M5S continues to poll w ell. Unlike other Eurosceptic populist parties profiled, however, M5S does not commonly campaign on anti-immigration, anti-minority, or nationalistic platforms.534 Channelling public disillusion with politics (and discontent at austerity measures from Europe), M5S’s anti-establishment agenda is predicted to secure one in five votes.535

532 ‘Italy 2013’, World Elections, available at: http://welections.wordp ress.com/2013/03/03/italy-2013/. Last visited: 13 May 2014. 533 Amenduni, D., ‘Why so many Italians love Beppe Grillo’s Five Star Movement’, The Guardian, 6 March 2013, available at: www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/06/italians-beppe-grillo- five-star-movement; see also ‘Italy’s Beppe Grillo vows to shake up Europe in May elections’, The Financial Times, 1 January 2014. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 534 Scurtu, B., ‘Funny Corruption Fighter: Italy’s Five Star Movement’, Globality Studies Journal, Stony Brook Institute for Global Studies, 17 January 2014. 535 ‘Italy’s Five Star Movement loses shine’, The Financial Times, 12 June 2013, available at: www.ft.com/cms/s/0/66a6b07c-d377-11e2-95d4- 00144feab7de.html#axzz2yBoeZOms. Last visited: 7 May 2014.

52 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Harmony Centre

545 Name: Saskaņas Centrs (SC); Центр Cогласия (ЦC) European Parliament, June 2009 (Russian) – Share of national vote: 19.6% 536 – Seats: 2/8 Country/headquarters: Latvia/Riga – Position: 2nd place 546 Official website: www.saskanascentrs.lv – Turnout: 53.7% European Parliament, May 2014547 Social-media presence:537 – Predicted share of national vote: 37% – Facebook: www.facebook.com/saskanascentrs – Predicted seats: 2/8 (893 ‘likes’) – Predicted position: 1st place – Twitter: www.twitter.com/@saskanascentrs – Date polled: 18/03/2014 (863 followers) IDEOLOGY – YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/saskanascentrss Mission statement: “SC’s goal - socially responsible (79 subscribers) public policies and socially responsible economic establishment Founded: July 2005538 in any foreign policy, external economic conditions and circumstances, consistently following our values, to provide 539 Current leader: Nils Ušakovs (2005-present) long-term sustainable development of society and the well-being of all inhabitants” (SC official website, undated)548 Previous leaders: N/A Political orientation: “centre-left” (The Telegraph, NATIONAL REPRESENTATION October 2010);549 “Pro-Russia” (The Guardian, 550 Saeima (Parliament of Latvia) September 2011); “left-wing” (Links International 551 2006: 14.4%; 17/100 seats; 4th place 540 Journal of Socialist Renewal, June 2013) 2010: 26.0%; 29/100 seats ( L 12); 2nd place 541 Support base: The party “collected the votes of many 2011: 28.4%; 31/100 seats ( L 2); 1st place 542 Russian speakers who represent around 30% of the population” (Robert Schuman Foundation, 2011)552 Municipal elections, 2013 (selected)543 Riga: 58.5%; 39/60 seats; 1st place POLICY POSITIONS – Economic: Anti-austerity; pro-economic development and EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION growth; bolstering private sector; state ownership of Bloc: Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE-NGL)544 545 ‘2009 European Election Results’, Central Election Commission of Latvia, available at: http://www.cvk.lv/cgi-bin/wdbcgiw/base/ eiro9.veles9_rezultati.sak. Last visited: 27 March 2014. 546 ‘Voter Turnout: Elections to the European Parliament 2009’, Central Election 536 ‘Contacts; Latvia’, Harmony Centre official website, available at: Commission of Latvia, available at: http://cvk.lv/pub/public/30461.html. http://www.saskanascentrs.lv/lv/contacts/. Last visited: 26 March 2014. Last visited: 27 March 2014. 537 Social-media information accurate as of 10 May 2014; screenshots archived. 547 ‘Latvia’, PollWatch2014. 538 Tre, I., (2012) Labour Law in Latvia - 2nd Edition (The Netherlands: Kluwer 548 ‘About us’, Harmony Centre official website, available at: Law International). Last visited: 26 March 2014. http://www.saskanascentrs.lv/lv/par-mums/. Last visited: 31 March 2014. 539 ‘Who are we?’, Harmony Centre official website, available at: 549 ‘Pro-Russia party set to top the polls for first time in Latvian general election’, http://www.saskanascentrs.lv/lv/musu_cilveki/?l=3#r3. The Telegraph, 2 October 2011, available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ Last visited: 26 March 2014. news/worldnews/europe/latvia/8038637/Pro-Russia-party-set-to-top-the- 540 ‘9th Saeima Elections’, Central Election Commission of Latvia, avai lable at: polls-for-first-time-in-Latvian-general-election.ht ml. Last visited: 8 May 2014. http://cvk.lv/pub/public/28555.html Last visited: 27 March 2014. 550 ‘Pro-Russia party may take power in Latvia if it can form coalition’, 541 ‘10th Saeima Elections’, Central Election Commission of Latvia, available at: The Guardian, 19 September 2011, available at: http://cvk.lv/pub/public/29776.html. Last visited: 27 March 2014. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/sep/19/latvia-pro-russia- 542 ‘11th Saeima Elections’, Central Election Commission of Latvia, available at: party-tops-poll. Last visited: 8 May 2014. http://cvk.lv/pub/public/30177.html. Last visited: 27 March 2014. 551 ‘Latvia: Left bloc gets 59% in municipal elections’, Links International 543 ‘Local Election Results’, Central Election Commission of Latvia, available Journal of Socialist Renewal, 9 June 2013, available at: at: http://www.pv2013.cvk.lv/ResNovPart-0100.html. http://links.org.au/ node/3383. Last visited: 8 May 2014. Last visited: 31 March 2014. 552 Robert Schuman Foundation, Schuman Report on Europe: State of the Union 2011 544 ‘Latvia’, PollWatch2014; information accurate as of 2-3 April 2014. (Paris: Springer-Verlag, France). Last visited: 26 March 2014.

53 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

companies; market regulation; pro-EU financial regulation. Party, and the social-democratic National Harmony Priorities include: opposition to austerity measures; Party.561 encouraging and managing economic growth; In the snap parliamentary election of 2011, the increasing state share of major Latvian companies; Harmony Centre won the highest number of votes in introducing further regulations of financial markets Latvia (28.4%)562 since the country became and systems;553 and favouring “tighter independent from the Soviet Union in 1991.563 financial-market regulation at EU level”554 However, due to its inability to secure a place in the – Domestic: Integration of non-citizens; strengthening Latvian coalition government, the Harmony Centre municipal powers; agricultural reforms. Priorities include: remains in opposition.564 integrating non-citizens into Latvian society more The party is open in its pro-Russia stance and has quickly, with naturalisation being made easier;555 appealed to a large proportion of ethnic-Russians strengthening of municipal powers556 and living in Latvia (who make up 30% of the addressing “low productivity and efficiency, low population).565 566 In 2009, it signed a co-operation agricultural income” and “outdated equipment and agreement with then-Russian Prime Minister technology”, through revising agricultural policy;557 Vladimir Putin’s party, United Russia.567 However, in – Foreign: Supports ties with Russia, China, India, and March 2014, SC described the territorial integrity of Central Asia. Forging closer economic and diplomatic Ukraine as “unconditional” and claimed to reject any ties with Russia; expanding ties with China, India, use of force as a solution.568 and Central Asia;558 “maintain[ing] and develop[ing] the basic idea of the EU”; and pushing for “deeper European integration”.559 – Significant other: Promotion of minority languages; anti-corruption.Priorities include: giving greater attention to the promotion of minority languages (i.e. Russian), particularly in schools; “fight[ing] against corruption”; and “strengthening the independence” of institutions.560

CONTROVERSIES None specified

NOTES The Harmony Centre (SC) was formed in 2005, as an electoral alliance of left-wing parties: the Latvian Socialist Party (LSP), New Centre, Daugavpils City

553 ‘Economic Policy Tools’, Harmony Centre official website, available at: http://www.saskanascentrs.lv/lv/musu_programma/socialdemokratiskas- partijas-saskana-programma/ekonomiskas-politikas-lidzekli. Last visited: 31 March 2014. 554 ‘European Union Development’, Harmony Centre official website, available at: http://www.saskanascentrs.lv/lv/musu_programma/ 561 ‘About us’, Harmony Centre official website, available at: socialdemokratiskas-partijas-saskana-programma/eiropas-savienibas-attistiba. http://www.saskanascentrs.lv/lv/par-mums/. Last visited: 31 March 2014. Last visited: 31 March 2014. 562 ‘11th Saeima Elections’, Central Election Commission of Latvia, available at: 555 ‘Integration and an inclusive society’, Harmony Centre official website, http://cvk.lv/pub/public/30177.html. Last visited: 27 March 2014. ava ilable at: http://www.saskanascentrs.lv/lv/musu_programma/ 563 ‘Pro-Russia party may take power in Latvia if it can form coalition’, socialdemokratiskas-partijas-saskana-programma/integracija-un- The Guardian, 19 September 2011, available at: ieklaujosas-sabiedribas-veidosana. Last visited: 31 March 2014. http:/ /www.theguardian.com/world/2011/sep/19/ 556 ‘Democracy and the rule of law’, Harmony Centre official website, available latvia-pro-russia-party-tops-poll. Last visited: 8 May 2014. at: http://www.saskanascentrs.lv/lv/musu_programma/ 564 ‘Cables show U.S. embassy expressed concern about Harmony Centre’, socialdemokratiskas-partijas-saskana-programma/demokratija- Latvians Online, 3 September 2011, available at: un-tiesiska-valsts. Last visited: 31 March 2014. http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7725/. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 557 ‘Agricultural policy’, Harmony Centre official website, available at: 565 Robert Schuman Foundation, Schuman Report on Europe: State of the Union 2011 http://www.saskanascentrs.lv/lv/musu_programma/socialdemokratiskas-par (Paris: Springer-Verlag, France). Last visited: 26 March 2014. tijas-saskana-programma/lauksaimniecibas-politika. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 566 ‘Cables show U.S. embassy expressed concern about Harmony Centre’, 558 ‘Relations with third countries’, Harmony Centre official website, Latvians Online, 3 September 2011. available at: http://www.saskanascentrs.lv/lv/musu_programma/ 567 Ibid. socialdemokratiskas-partijas-saskan a-programma/attiecibas-ar- 568 ‘The party’s position “Consent” on the situation in Ukraine’, tresajam-valstim. Last visited: 31 March 2014. Harmony Centre official website, 5 March 2014, available at: 559 ‘European Union Development’, Harmony Centre official website. http://www.saskanascentrs.lv/ru/novosti/pozicija-partii-soglasie- 560 ‘Democracy and the rule of law’, Harmony Centre official website. po-situacii-v-ukraine/. Last visited: 8 May 2014.

54 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Union of Greens and Farmers

580 Name: Zaļo un Zemnieku Savienība (ZZS) European Parliament, June 2004 – Share of national vote: 4.3% Country/headquarters: Latvia/Riga569 – Seats: 0/9 Official website: www.zzs.lv/570 – Position: 8th place Social-media presence:571 – Turnout: 41.3% 581 – Twitter: www.twitter.com/ZZS_ (643 followers) European Parliament June 2009 – Share of national vote: 3.8% Founded: 2002; formed through a union of two – Seats: 0/8582 parties; comprised of the Latvian Farmers Union – Position: 10th place 572 (LZS) and the Green Party of Latvia (LZP) – Turnout: 53.7% Current leader: Augusts Brigmanis (2000-present)573 European Parliament, May 2014583 Previous leaders: N/A – Predicted share of national vote: 17% – Predicted seats: 2/8 NATIONAL REPRESENTATI ON – Predicted position: 3rd place Saeima (Parliament of Latvia) – Date polled: 18/03/2014 574 2002: 9.4%; 12/100 seats; 5th place IDEOLOGY 2006: 16.7%; 18/100 seats ( L 6); 2nd place575 Mission statement: “to restore and maintain national 2010: 19.7%; 22/100 seats ( L 4); 3rd place576 control over natural resources in Latvia”, (ZZS official M 577 2011: 12.2%; 13/100 seats ( 9); 5th place website, undated)584 Municipal/Local elections Political orientation: “nationalist-agrarian” (academic 2001: Unspecified source, 2010);585 “green and agrarian” (Danske Bank, 2005: Unspecified April 2007);586 “conservative” (Latvians Online, October 2009: Unspecified 2011);587 “centrist” (The Economist, January 2014)588 2013: Unspecified; 145 seats; 2nd place578 Support base: “protest vote [sic] party” (academic 589 EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION source, 2010); rural voters – 57.7% of ZZS votes Bloc: Non-Inscrits (NI)579 580 ‘Latvia’, European Election Database, available at: http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/latvia. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 569 ‘Contacts’, ZZS official website, available at: 581 Ibid. See also ‘Voter Turnout: Elections to the European Parliament 2009’, http://www.zzs.lv/index.php?p=6505&lang=1281. Central Election Commission of Latvia. Last visited: 5 May 2014. 582 Latvia lost one seat in reforms following the Treaty of Nice in 2007. See: 570 Website links correct as of 5 May 2014. ‘Composition of the European Parliament after European elections ine Jun 571 Twitter information accurate as of 17 April 2014; screenshots archived. 2009’, European Parliament, 12 October 2007, available at: 572 ‘Latvia – Political Parties’, European Election Database, available at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?language=EN&type= http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/latvia/parties. IM-PRESS&reference=20071008IPR11353 Last visited: 6 May 2014. html. Last visited: 5 May 2014. 583 ‘Latvia’, PollWatch2014; information accurate as of 1 April 2014. 573 ‘Augustus Brigmanis’, Latvian Farmers Union official website, available at: 584 ‘Union of Greens and Farmers’, ZZS official website, available at: http://www.lzs.lv/partija. Last visited: 6 May 2014. http://www.zzs.lv/zzs. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 574 ‘October 5, 2002 General Election Results - Latvia Totals’, Election Resources, 585 Galbreath, D., & Auers, D., ‘Green, Black, and Brown: Uncovering Latvia’s available at: http://www.electionresources.org/lv/saeima.php?election=2002. Environmental Politics’, in Contemporary Environmentalism in the Baltic States, Last visited: 6 May 2014. edited by Galbreath, D., (Routledge, 2010). 575 ‘October 7, 2006 General Election Results - Latvia Totals’, Election Resources, 586 ‘Latvia Country Profile’, Danske Bank, April 2007, available at: availabl e at: http://www.electionresources.org/lv/ http://www.danskebank.com/en-uk/ProdServ/corporate/cash- saeima.php?election=2006&constituency. Last visited: 6 May 2014. management/Documents/ProfileLatvia.pdf. Last visited: 6 May 2014 576 ‘October 2, 2010 General Election Results - Latvia Totals’, Election Resources, 587 ‘President invites Dombrovskis to form Latvia’s next government’, available at: http://www.electionresources.org/lv/ Latvians Online, 19 October 2011, available at: saeima.php?election=2010&constituency. Last visited: 6 May 2014. http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7794/. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 577 ‘ September 17, 2011 General Election Results - Latvia Totals’, Election 588 ‘New currency, new leader’, The Economist, 9 January 2014, available at: Resources, available at: http://www.electionresources.org/lv/ http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21593502-latvias-president- saeima.php?election=2011&constituency. Last visited: 6 May 2014. nominates-laimdota-straujuma-prime-minister-new-currency-new-leader. 578 ‘Local Elections 2013’, CVK, available at: Last visited: 6 May 2014. http://cvk.lv/pub/public/30491.html. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 589 Zake, I., ‘Nationalism and Statism in Latvia: The Past and Current Trends’, 579 ‘Latvia’, PollWatch2014, available at: http://www.electio2014.eu/ Multiplicity of Nationalism in Contemporary Europe, edited by Karolewski, I., pollsandscenarios/polls#country. Last visited: 6 May 2014. & Suszycki, A., (Lexington, 2010).

55 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections in 2002 were received from rural areas (academic Latvian candidate to José Manuel Barroso’s source, 2005)590 European Commission team in November 2004,

591 after she was unable to account for a number of POLICY POSITIONS financial irregularities surrounding donations – Economic: Pro-business policies; tax breaks for green/ during the 2002 elections.595 rural initiatives/products. Priorities include: ensuring – Corruption: The prominent businessman and public policy favours business and private Ventspils mayor, Aivars Lembergs, was the ZZS enterprise; increasing spending on business-friendly candidate for Prime Minister in 2006,596 despite infrastructure and creating a business-friendly tax being accused of bribery; money laundering; and system; and reducing taxes for green initiatives and misuse of mayoral power, in 2005.597 In 2007, he freezing tax increases on “essential goods and was arrested and charged with these offences and, products” such as food production. in October 2012, was suspended as mayor by – Domestic: Welfare expansion; increased public-service Environmental Protection and Regional provision; green policies. Priorities include: improving Development Minister Edmunds Sprudzs, but and developing the state social-support system, to continued in his role. Legal proceedings are cater for families with children; increasing ongoing against him, and he denies all charges.598 education funding; modernising infrastructure; – Corruption: The former Prime Minister and opposing genetically-modified food and nuclear co-chair of the LZP, Indulis Emsis, resigned as power; and supporting renewable energy. Saeima speaker in 2007, after he was fined for – Foreign: 592 Euroscepticism; co-operative Baltic-security telling police $10,000 in cash had been stolenm fro policy. Priorities include: working alongside other his office before changing his story when only countries and international institutions on defence $6,500 was recovered from the thief.599 issues, including seeking increased Baltic-security co-operation.593 – Far-Right/Neo-Nazi Links: One of the coalition’s six seats in the 2006 elections was taken – Significant other: Focus on rural/agrarian issues; by Green Party member Visvaldis L cis, a former Latvian nationalism. Priorities include: increasing ā SS officer. In April 2007, L cis sang an SS Latvian rural production while maintaining small-scale ā Legion marching song in the Saeima,600 and has farming; providing greater powe r for new “county been involved in the controversial annual memorial governments”, including devolving EU-funding marches held by Latvian SS veterans.601 He left the allocation; and strengthening Latvian culture, Green Party in October 2007.602 through ensuring its increased role in public activities and promoting the celebration of the – Homophobia: In a statement released in response “Latvian lifestyle”. to a proposed Gay Pride march in 2005, ZZS MP

CONTROVERSIES 595 ‘European Parliament approves new commission’, CPME, 17 November – Corruption: Former MP Ingrida Udre faced 2004, available at: http://www.cpme.eu/european_parliament_approves_ new_commission/. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 594 significant criticism, and was replaced as the 596 Galbreath, D., & Auers, D., ‘Green, Black, and Brown: Uncovering Latvia’s Environmental Politics’, in Contemporary Environmentalism in the Baltic States, edited by Galbreath, D., (Routledge, 2010). 590 ‘The Impact of Historical Conflicts and Cleavages on the Formation of 597 ‘Outfoxing the Oligarchs in Latvia’, Foreign Policy, 6 May 2013, available at: New Political Oppositions in Latvia’, Skuland, B, University of Oslo, 2005, http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/05/06/outfoxing_the_ available at: https://www.duo.uio.no/bitstream/handle/10852/ oligarchs_in_latvia. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 14054/37583.pdf ?sequence=3. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 598 ‘Latvia 2013’, Freedom House, undated, available at: 591 Unless otherwise specified, all policy positions are taken from ‘Greens and http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2013/ Farmers Union, the pre-4000 program marks’, ZZS official website, available latvia#.U2kBFfldVQh. Last visited: 6 May 2014. at: http://www.zzs.lv/11saeimas-velesanas. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 599 ‘Emsis about “missing money case”: I don’t know how much there was 592 ‘Cameron Rouses Latvia Euro Foes Ignored in Currency Push’, Bloomberg, because I don’t care’, Baltic News Network, 5 November 2013, available at: 1 February 2013, available at: http://bnn-news.com/emsis-missing-money-case-dont-dont-care-105480. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-31/cameron-rouses-latvia- Last visited: 6 May 2014. euro- foes-ignored-in-currency-push.html. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 600 Galbreath, D., & Auers, D., ‘Green, Black, and Brown: Uncovering Latvia’s 593 Recent comments by Aivars Lembergs attacking NATO’s role in Latvia have Environmental Politics’, in Contemporary Environmentalism in the Baltic States, been criticised by other parties, though the anti-NATO sentiment has since edited by Galbreath, D., (Routledge, 2010). been diminished by Defence Minister and ZZS MP Raimonds Vejonis 601 ‘Thousands pay tribute to Latvia’s fallen Na zi troops’, The Independent, praising NATO and stressing its importance. See: ‘Vejonis and Lembergs 17 March 2010, available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/ have different opinions about NATO’, Baltic News Network, 4 April 2014, europe/thousands-pay-tribute-to-latvias-fallen-nazi-troops-1922388.html. available at: http://bnn-news.com/vejonis-lembergs-opinions-nato-112120. Last visited: 6 May 2014. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 602 ‘Saeima deputy Visvaldis Lacis becomes non-fraction deputy’, Baltic Business 594 ‘Barroso warned of Udre’s vulnerability’, Baltic Times, 20 October 2004, News, 22 October 2007, available at: http://www.balticbusinessnews.com/ available at: http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/11132/ default.aspx?PublicationId=0995859a-b2dc-41b1-afd8-c3da5a5 cb65f. #.U2trvvldVQh. Last visited: 8 May 2014. Last visited: 6 May 2014

56 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

Leopolds Ozoliņš said that the organisation of such an event in Latvia showed that “we are too tolerant, and [are] taking an inactive role against the rapid spread of this perverse cult”.603

– Homophobia: ZZS MP Arvīds Ulme was questioned by police in 2005, after he helped organise a protest against a Gay Pride march in Riga which saw Nationalist protestors clash with police and pelt marchers with eggs.604

NOTES The ZZS has been successful in domestic politics since its formation in 2002: leading a short-lived coalition government in 2004, and seeing one of its MPs elected President in 2011. Since early 2014, the party has been a significant presence in the Latvian government, with three ministers. As such, it does not fit the pattern of ‘outsider’ politics that many of the parties profiled in this report do. However, in its Latvian nationalism; soft Euroscepticism; rural/agrarian focus; and the social conservatism shown by several of its controversies, it is similar to many of those parties – as is the claim that it is a “protest vote [sic] party”.605 The same is true of ZZS welfare and public-service-expansion policies, as well as its support for green initiatives and renewable energy. Prominent members and supporters include the ZZS member Andris Bērziņš, who was elected Latvian President by the Saeima, in June 2011.606 Agriculture Minister Jānis Dūklavs, Welfare Minister Uldis Augulis and Defence Minister Raimonds Vējonis are ZZS MPs.607 Other prominent members include Aivars 608 609 Lembergs and Viktors Ščerbatihs.

603 ‘Gay pride parade evokes right-wing fire’, Baltic Times, 20 July 2005, available at: http://ww w.baltictimes.com/news/articles/13091/ #.U1aOj_ldVQg. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 604 ‘Gay March amid huge police contingent’, Baltic Times, 27 July 2005, available at: http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/13120/ #.U1fEQvldVQg. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 605 Zake, I., ‘Nationalism and Statism in Latvia: The Past and Current Trends’, Multiplicity of Nationalism in Contemporary Europe, edited by Karolewski, I., & Suszycki, A., (Lexington, 2010). 606 ‘Andris Berzins elected new president in Latvia’, BBC News, 2 June 2011, available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13628945. Last visited: 12 May 2014. 607 ‘Latvia votes in new government headed by first ever female PM’, Baltic Times, 22 January 2014, available at: http://www.baltictimes.com/ news/articles/34263/#.U2jsBPldVQg. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 608 A well-known and influential Latvian businessman and mayor of Ventspils, Lembergs has had significant influence on nationalist politics in Latvia; was the ZZS candidate for Prime Minister in 2006; and has faced significant corruption charges. See: controversies section. 609 A silver medal-winning Olympic weightlifter, Scerbatihs’ election demonstrates the populist nature of the ZZS. See: ‘Scerbatih s mixes politics and weightlifting’, Reuters, 24 June 2008, available at: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2008/06/24/businessproco-olympics- weightlifting-lat-idUKL0463317720080624. Last visited: 5 May 2014.

57 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Order and Justice Party

Name: Partija Tvarka ir teisingumas (TT)610 Seimas (Parliament) 2004: 11.4%; 10/141 seats; 4th place (campaigned Country/headquarters: Lithuania/Vilnius611 as the ‘For the Order and Justice’ coalition, with the Official websites: www.tvarka.lt (central); Lithuanian People’s Union)619 www.tvarka.lt/en (English) 2008: 12.7%; 15/141 seats ( L 5); 3rd place620 2012: 7.3%; 11/141 seats ( M 4) 621 Social-media presence: N/A612 Municipal elections Founded: 13 May 2006; successor to the Liberal February 2007: 13%; 181/1,550 seats; 4th place Democratic Party (LDP), which was founded on 9 (including mayor of the capital, Vilnius)622 March 2002 (by former Liberal Union MP Rolandas February 2011: 10%; 155/1526 seats; 4th place623 Paksas)613

Current leader: Rolandas Paksas (2002-2003; EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION 2004-present)614 Bloc: Europe of Freedom & Democracy (EFD)624 Previous leaders: Valentinas Mazuronis (2003-2004)615 619 2004 elections, Lithuania Seimas, Inter-Parliamentary Union, available at: www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2189_04.htm; see also: Dataset: NATIONAL REPRESENTATION Lithiuania: Parliamentary Election 2004, European Election Database, Norwegian Social Science Data Services, available at: http://eed.nsd.uib.no/webview/index .jsp?study=http://129.177.90.166: Presidential elections 80/obj/fStudy/LTPA2008_Display&mode=cube&v=2&cube= 2002/2003: 1st round: 19.7%; 2nd place;616 http://129.177.90.166:80/obj/fCube/LTPA2008_Display_C1&top=yes. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 617 2nd round: 54.7%; 1st place 620 2008 elections, Lithuania Seimas, Inter-Parliamentary Union, available at: 618 www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2189_08.htm; see also: Dataset: 2009: 1st round: 6.2%; 3rd place Lithiuania: Parliamentary Election 2008, European Election Database, Norwegian Social Science Data Services, available at: http://eed.nsd.uib.no/ webview/index.jsp?study=http://129.177.90.166:80/obj/fStudy/LTPA2008 _Display&mode=cube&v=2&cube=http://129.177.90.166:80/obj/fCube/ 610 Homepage, Order and Justice official website, available at: www.tvarka.lt. LTPA2008_Display_C1&top=yes. Last visited: 8 May 2014. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 621 2012 elections, Lithuania Seimas, Inter-Parliamentary Union, available at: 611 Registered Office: Gedimino av.10/ Totori st.1, Vilnius, LT 01103, see: www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2189_E.htm; see also: Dataset: Lithiuania: ‘Contacts’, Order and Justice official website, available at: www.tvarka.lt/en/kontaktai. Last visited: 8 May 2014. P arliamentary Election 2012, European Election Database, Norwegian Social Science Data Services, available at: http://eed.nsd.uib.no/webview/ 612 Party leader Roland Paksas’ Facebook page, which is not linked to by the TT official website, has 5,951 ‘likes’ , available at: index.jsp?study=http://129.177.90.166:80/obj/fStudy/LTPA2008_ https://lt-lt.facebook.com/rolandas.paksas. Information accurate Display&mode=cube&v=2&cube=http://129.177.90.166:80/obj/fCube/ as of 17 April 2014; screenshot archived. LTPA2008_Display_C1&top=yes. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 613 At the party’s fifth annual congress, on 13 May 2006, the LDP authorised 622 ‘Lithuania, Nations in Transit 2008’, Freedom House, available at: a name change to Order and Justice (Liberal Democrats). www.freedomhous e.org/report/nations-transit/2008/lithuania#. See: ‘History’, Order and Justice official website, available at: Uz6JIvldXLd; see also: ‘Municipal elections in Lithuania: the “Order www.tvarka.lt/en/istorija_apie. Last visited: 8 May 2014. and Justice Party” wins the poll in Vilnius’, Council of European 614 ‘Biography, Chairman Rolan das Paksas’, Order and Justice Party official Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), European section of United website, available at: www.tvarka.lt/en/biografija; see also: ‘Biography’, Cities and Local Governments, 26 February 2007, available at: Valentinas Mazuronis official website, available at: www.ccre.org/en/actualites/view/1005. Last visited: 8 May 2014. www.mazuronis.lt/biografija.html. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 623 ‘Lithuania, Nations in Transit 2012’, Freedom House; see also: ‘Latest results of 615 Mazuronis, the current TT group leader in Parliament, led the party 2011 Municipal elections’, Lithuanian Tribune, 28 February 2011, available at: for the duration of Paksas’ presidency of Lithuania between 26 February www.lithuaniatribune.com/5639/latest-results-of-2011-municipality-elections 2003 and 6 April 2004. See: ‘Biography, Chairman Rolandas Paksas’, Order and Justice Party official website; see also: ‘Biography’, Valentinas -20115639/; see also: ‘Results of the local government elections in Lithuania Mazuronis official website. as a test of the mood before parliamentary elections’, European Dialogue, 616 Dataset: Lithuania: Presidential Election 2002 - round 1, European Election 9 March 2011, available at: http://eurodialogue.or g/Results-of-the-local- Database, Norwegian Social Science Data Services, available at: government-elections-in-Lithuania-as-a-test-of-the-mood-before- http://eed.nsd.uib.no/webview/index.jsp?study=http://129.177.90.166: parliamentary-election. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 80/obj/fStudy/LTPR20021_Display&mode=cube&v=2&cube= 624 Juozas, IMBRASAS, European Parliament / MEPs official website, available http://129.177.90.166:80/obj/fCube/LTPR20021_Display_C1&top=yes. at: /www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/96693/JUOZAS_IMBRASAS_ Last visited: 8 May 2014. home.html; see also: Rolandas, PAKSAS, European Parliament / MEPs 617 Ibid. official website, available at: www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/96694/ 618 Ibid. Rolandas%20PAKSAS_home.html. Last visited: 8 May 2014.

58 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

European Parliament, June 2004625 values of this party during discussions regarding language, – Share of national vote: 6.8% ethnical minorities, or spiritual values.” (Lithuania Tribune, – Seats: 1/13 February 2012);633 “conservative (allegedly populist)” – Position: 6th place (academic source, November 2012);634 “right-wing – Turnout: 48.4% populist” (Voice of Russia, April 2014)635 European Parliament, June 2009626 Support base: The party programme specifically – Share of national vote: 12.2% pledges to support “National minorities”, “small and – Seats: 2/12 medium business companies”, “disabled people”, as well as – Position: 3rd place pensioners and rural communities (Order and Justice 636 – Turnout: 21% Party official programme, 2002); the party’s strongest support is in the north-w estern region of European Parliament, May 2014627 Žemaitija, or Lower Lithuania (Electoral Geography – Predicted share of national vote: 20% 2.0, undated)637 – Predicted seats: 3/11 – Predicted position: 2nd place POLICY POSITIONS638 – Date polled: 20/03/2014 – Economic: Pro-free market; sceptical of Lithuania joining the Eurozone. The party’s foremost economic priority IDEOLOGY is “to create conditions for free market [sic] Mission statement: “[TT] is b ased on the principles of functioning”. Other priorities include: support for the free individual, open society, human freedom and SMEs; investment in “higher and information responsibility, the ideas of open and democratic liberalism.” (TT technologies”; and tax reduction. The party has manifesto, 2002)628 called for a parliamentary referendum on Eurozone Political orientation: “Conservative […] initially based accession, with Paksas stating: “We do not say we’re on strong criticism of existing parties rather than on a fixed categorically against the euro adoption but the ideological basis” (European Election Database, decision has to be made by the people of 629 undated); “centre-right” (Encyclopaedia Britannica, Lithuania.”639 2009);630 “Populist, nationalist” (academic source, 2009);631 “national liberal conservative party” (Foreign – Domestic: Conservative; focus on family values and Policy Research Institute, 2012);632 “slowly moving from national identity. Priorities include: “preserving the centre to the right. […Indeed,] more and more often cultural values” and promoting family values, nationalistic values and orientations are presented as the main personal liberty, strong law and order, accessible health care and education, and efficient and transparent decentralised governance. 625 Information is listed under LDP. See: Dataset: Lithuania: European Parliament Election 2004, European Election Database, Norwegian Social Science Data Services, available at: http://eed.nsd.uib.no/webview/ index.jsp?study=http://129.177.90.166:80/obj/fStudy/LTEP2004_Display 633 ‘The new dangers and opportunities for the Order and Justice Party’, &mode=cube&v=2&cube=http://129.177.90.166:8 0/obj/fCube/LTEP200 Lithuania Tribune, 23 February 2012, available at: 4_Display_C1&top=yes. Last visited: 8 May 2014. www.lithuaniatribune.com/10847/the-new-dangers-and-opportunities-for- 626 Dataset: Lithuania: European Parliament Election 2009, European the-order-and-justice-party-201210847/. Last visited: 8 May 2014. Election Database, Norwegian Social Science Data Services, available at: 634 ‘Populism in the Baltic States’, Tallinn University Institute of Political http://eed.nsd.uib.no/webview/index.jsp?study=http://129.177.90.166: Science and Governance / Open Estonia Foundation, November 2012, p. 22, 80/obj/fStudy/LTEP2004_Display&mode=cube&v=2&cube= available at: http://oef.org.ee/fileadmin/media/valjaanded/ http://129.177.90.166:80/obj/fCube/LTEP2004_Display_C1&top=yes. uuringud/Populism_research_report.pdf. Last visited: 8 May 2014. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 635 ‘Lithuania violated rights of impeached ex-president – UN’, Voice of Russia, 627 ‘Lithuania’, PollWatch2014; information accurate as of 1 April 2014. 9 April 2014, available at: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_09/ 628 ‘Programme’, Order and Justice official website, available at: Lithuania-violated-rights-of-impeached-ex-president-UN-6384/. www.tvarka.lt/en/programa. Last visited: 8 May 2014. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 629 ‘Lithuania - Political parties’, European Election Database, Norwegian 636 ‘Programme’, Order and Justice offic ial website. Social Science Data Services, available at: http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_ 637 Map of support levels for the Order and Justice party by region is available at: election_database/country/lithuania/parties.html. Las t visited: 8 May 2014. Lithuania. European Parliament Election 2009, Electoral Geography, 630 ‘Rolandas Paksas’, Encyclopaedia Britannica, undated, available at: available at: www.electoralgeography.com/new/en/countries/l/lithuania/ www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/914607/Rolandas-Paksas. lithuania-european-parliament-election-2009.html. Last visited: 8 May 2014. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 638 Unless otherwise specified, all policy positions are taken from the party’s 631 Tõnis Saarts, ‘Political parties and party systems in the Baltic States, Part II’ manifesto, ‘Progr amme’, Order and Justice official website. (lecture), Institute of Political Science and Public Administration, Tallin 639 ‘Order and Justice party set to start collecting signatures for euro referendum’, University, p. 12, available at: www.tlu.ee/opmat/ri/rit6006/ Lithuania Tribune, 20 November 2013, available at: www.lithuaniatribune.com/ partysyst em/4_2slaid.pdf. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 57309/order-and-justice-party-set-to-start-collecting-signatures-for-euro- 632 Hannah Lidicker, ‘Lithuania. Parliamentary Elections. October 14 and 28, referendum-201357309/; see also: ‘The Order and Justice Party wants euro 2012’, Foreign Policy Research Institute, undated, available at: referendum by Seimas resolution’, Lithuania Tribun e, 12 August 2013, available http://www.fpri.org/research/transitions/democracy-watch/lithuania#. at: www.lithuaniatribune.com/47302/the-order-and-justice-party-wants-euro- Last visited: 8 May 2014. referendum-by-seimas-resolution-201347302/. Last visited: 8 May 2014.

59 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

– Foreign: Pro-EU; supportive of NATO. Priorities NOTES include: membership of NATO and the EU as Former Liberal Union MP Paksas founded the Liberal a means to guarantee statehood and national Democratic Party (LDP) in 2002, taking with him 13 security; unconditional defence of Lithuanians MPs. As a result, the party became the fourth-largest abroad; and the protection of national identity. in the Lithuanian Parliament, without ever having CONTROVERSIES contested elections.645 A former aerobatic-flying – Corruption: The presidency of Rolandas Paksas champion and businessperson, party leader and was marred by allegations that he had supported current MEP Paksas is the most “flamboyant” controversial businessman Yuri Borisov (who had personality associated with the party.646 Prior to alleged links to Russian organised crime), after unexpectedly winning the presidency in 2003, he Borisov had contributed $400,000 to Paksas’ served twice as both Mayor of Vilnius (1997 and 2000) election campaign. After Lithuania’s highest court and Prime Minister of Lithuania (May 1999-October ruled that he had “violated” the country’s 1999 and November 2000-June 2001).647 constitution, Paksas was removed from office in April 2004 and subsequently prohibited from Paksas challenged the incumbent President, Valdas running in general or presidential elections.640 Adamkus, from the right, proposing (for example) Alleging that his impeachment was punishment for market-oriented economic reform and suggesting the his attempts to reform a “corrupt system”,641 Paksas death penalty for drug traffickers. Despite being has unsuccessfully attempted to have the verdict continually supportive of membership of NATO and overruled but has won support from the European the EU, Lithuania enjoyed better relations with Russia Court of Human Rights (which, in 2011, ruled that under his presidency than it had since regaining the existing lifelong ban was disproportionate).642 independence in 1991.648 Following the prohibition – Far-Right Links: Anders Behring Breivik, on his standing for national public office, Paksas perpetrator of the 2011 Norway attacks, listed TT became an MEP. among noteworthy nationalist Eastern European Currently, the party is a junior partner in a coalition political parties in his manifesto. A TT representative cabinet also comprising the Lithuanian Social responded to Breivik’s inclusion, stating: “Our party Democratic Party (LSDP), the Labour Party (DP), and does not have and has never had any relations (with the Lithuanian Poles’ Electoral Action (AWPL).649 In the nationalists […])”; the representative also condemned extreme nationalist movements.643 February 2013, it was announced that TT would merge with the Labour Party, becoming Lithuania’s largest – Homophobia: TT MP Petras Gražulis introduced political party in parliament.650 In May 2013, however, an unsuccessful parliamentary bill making Gay the TT board cancelled the merger, stating: “Board Pride parades, as well as public speeches and members expressed dissatisfaction over not only the campaign materials in support of LGBT rights, an 651 administrative offence. Gražulis, who has allegedly progress of the talks but also over achieved results”. compared homosexuality to paedophilia and bestiality, defended his bill ahead of the March 2014 lithuanian-lawmakers-will-vote-%E2%80%98homosexual-propaganda vote, stating that the “current weaknesses of [the] %E2%80%99-bill-today130314#sthash.xKxnJ9ZX.dpuf. Last visited: 8 May 2014. Lithuanian legal system [equate the] promotion of 645 Algis Krupavicius, ‘Lithuania’, European Journal of Political Research, […] harmonious, traditional family values [with… December 2003, vol. 42, no. 7-8, pp. 1010-1020, available at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/enhanced/doi/10.1111/ ] unfounded and illegal discrimination against j.0304-4130.2003.00128.x/ sexual minorities for their sexual orientation.”644 646 Profile, Rolandas Paksas, BBC News, 6 April 2004, avai lable at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2631745.stm. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 647 ‘Biography, Chairman Rolandas Paksas’, Order and Justice Party official 640 ‘Rolandas Paksas’, Encyclopaedia Britannica. website; see also: Rolandas Paksas, European Parliament, available at: 641 ‘Lithuanian Lawmakers Vote to Impeach President’, LA Times, 7 April 2004, www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/96694/ROLANDAS_PAKSAS_cv.html. available at: http://articles.latimes.com/2004/apr/07/world/fg-paksas7. Last visited: 8 May 2014. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 648 ‘Rolandas Paksas’, Encyclopaedia Britannica. 642 ‘Lithuania’s Constitutional Court rejects parlt’s Paksas request’, Lithuania 649 2012 elections, Lithuania Seimas, Inter-Parliamentary Union, available at: Tribune, 20 March 2014, available at: www.lithuaniatribune.com/65479/ www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2189_E.htm. Last visited: 8 May 2014. lithuanias-constitutional-court-rejects-parlts-paksas-request-201465479/. 650 ‘Uspaskich, Paksas to Form Lithuania’s Biggest Political Party’, Bloomberg, Last visited: 8 May 2014. 24 February 2013, available at: www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-24/ 643 ‘Breivik in his manifesto; “Order and Justice“ is a model nationalist party’, uspaskich-paksas-to-form-lithuania-s-biggest-political-party.html. Lithuania Tribune, 28 July 2011, available at: www.lithuaniatribune.com/ Last visited: 8 May 2014. 7616/breivik-in-his-manifesto-order-and-justice-is-a-model-nationalist- 651 ‘Order and Justice party considers cancelling merger with Labour Party’, party-20117616/. Last visited: 8 May 2014. Lithuania Tribune, 9 May 2013, available at: www.lithuaniatribune.com/ 644 ‘Lithuanian lawmakers will vote on ‘homosexual propaganda’ bill today’, 36738/order-and-justice-party-considers-cancelling-merger-with-labour- Gay Star News, 13 March 2014, available at: www.gaystarnews.com/article/ party-201336738/. Last visited: 8 May 2014.

60 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Party for Freedom

Name: Partij voor de Vrijheid (PVV) 2012: 10.1%; 15/150 seats ( M 9); 3rd place658 M 659 Country/headquarters: The Netherlands/The Current: 12/150 seats ( 3); 5th place 652 Hague Local elections660 Official websites: www.pvv.nl (central); 2010: Almere: 21.5%; 10/39 city council seats; www.geertwilders.nl (personal blog of founder and 1st place (59% turnout). The Hague: 16.7%; leader Geert Wilders) 8/45 seats; 2nd place M Social-media presence:653 2014: Almere: 20.6%; 9/39 seats ( 1); 1st place (48.1% turnout). The Hague: 14.1%; 7/45 seats – Facebook: www.facebook.com/partijvoordevrijheid M (18,674 ‘likes’) ( 1); 2nd place – Twitter: www.twitter.com/geertwilderspvv EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION (Geert Wilders, 323,196 followers)654 Bloc: Non-Inscrits (NI)661 Founded: 22 February 2006; successor to Groep 662 Wilders655 European Parliament, June 2009 – Share of national vote: 17% Current leader: Geert Wilders (2006-present) – Seats: 4/25 Previous leaders: N/A – Position: 2nd place – Turnout: 36.8% NATIONAL REPRESENTATION 663 Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal (House of European Parliament, May 2014 Representatives) – Predicted share of national vote: 16% 2006: 5.9%; 9/150 seats; 5th place656 – Predicted seats: 5/26 2010: 15.5%; 24/150 seats ( L 15); 3rd place657 658 Dataset: Netherlands: Parliamentary Election 2012, European Election Database, Norwegian Social Science Data Services, available at: 652 ‘Contact’, Party for Freedom official website, available at: http://eed.nsd.uib.no/webview/velocity?study=http%3A%2F%2 www.pvv.nl/index.php/contact.html. Last visited: 9 May 2014. F129.177.90.166%3A80%2Fobj%2FfStudy%2Fnedpa2012&mode= 653 Social-media information accurate as of 6 May 2014; screenshots archived. cube&v=2&cube=http%3A%2F%2F129.177.90.166%3A80%2Fobj%2FfCu 654 Unlike any other party leader profiled in this report Wilders follows nobody be%2Fnedpa2012_C1&view=studyScope; see also: ‘Election Briefing No. 71 on Twitter. Europe And The Dutch Parliam entary Election’, European Parties Elections and Referendums Network, Sussex European Institute, December 2012, p. 9. 655 Groep Wilders represented Wilders while he sat as an independent MP 659 between 2004 and 2006. Wilders had previously left the Volkspartij voor PVV member of the national parliament Louis Bontes was asked to leave Vrijheid en Democratie (People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy) (VVD) the party in 2013, after criticising Wilders; two other PVV members of the in protest over the conservative-liberal party’s support for Turkey’s accession national parliament left the party in March 2014, following anti-Moroccan to the EU. See: Netherlands - Political parties, European Election Database, comments by Geert Wilders. See: ‘Wilders’ party in crisis after Moroccan Norwegian Social Science Data Services, available at: www.nsd.uib.no/ comments’, European Voice, 22 March 2014, available at: european_election_database/country/netherlands/parties.html; see also: www.europeanvoice.com/article/2014/march/wilders-party-in-crisis- The Extreme Right in Europe: Current Trends and Perspectives, ed. by Uwe Backes after-moroccan-comments/80183.aspx. Last visited: 9 May 2014. & Patrick Moreau, (Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht; 2011), p. 106. 660 The PVV has only run in two municipalities: Almere, with the slogan Last visited: 9 May 2014. “Almere, city of freedom”, and The Hague, with “straightforward language”. 656 Dataset: Netherlands: Parliamentary Election 2006, European Election Data on 400+ municipalities was collated by Nederlandse Omroep Stichting Database, Norwegian Social Science Data Services, available at: (Netherlands Broadcasting Foundation), a Dutch public service broadcaster. http://eed.nsd.uib.no/webview/index.jsp?study=http%3A%2F% See: Live country-seat state councils, Nederlandse Omroep Stichting, 20 2F129.177.90.166%3A80%2Fobj%2Ff Study%2Fnedpa2012&mode March 2014, available at: http://app.nos.nl/datavisualisatie/gemeenteraad =cube&v=2&cube=http%3A%2F%2F129.177.90.166%3A80%2 sverkiezingen-2014/index.html#live; see also: ‘PVV profile, Local elections Fobj%2FfCube%2Fnedpa2012_C1&top=yes; see also: ‘Surge for Dutch 2014’, Dutch News.nl, undated, available at: www.dutchnews.nl/elections/ anti-Islam Freedom Party’, BBC News, 10 June 2010, available at: dutch_local_elections/pvv.php#st hash.vR9KISvu.dpuf; see also: ‘Elections: www.bbc.co.uk/news/10271153. Last visited: 9 May 2014. Wilders’ Almere win below forecast’, Dutch News.nl, 4 March 2010, available at: www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2010/03/elections_wilders_ 657 Dataset: Netherlands: Parliamentary Election 2010, European Election almere_win_b.php; see also: ‘Dutch politician Wilders accused of Database, Norwegian Social Science Data Services, available at: discrimination’, BBC News, 20 March 2014, available at: http://eed.nsd. uib.no/webview/index.jsp?study=http%3A%2F%2 www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26667788. Last visited: 9 May 2014. F129.177.90.166%3A80%2Fobj%2FfStudy%2Fnedpa2012&mode 661 =cube&v=2&cube=http%3A%2F%2F129.177.90.166%3A80%2 ‘The Netherlands’, PollWatch2014. Fobj%2FfCube%2Fnedpa2012_C1&top=yes; see also: ‘Election Briefing No. 662 Netherlands: European Parliament Elections, European Election Database, 71 Europe And The Dutch Parliamentary Election’, European Parties Norwegian Social Science Data Services, , available at: Elections and Referendums Network, Sussex European Institute, December www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/netherlands/europea 2012, p. 3, available at: www.sussex.ac.uk/webteam/gat eway/file.php?name n_parliament_elections.html. Last visited: 9 May 2014. =epernnetherlands2012.pdf&site=266. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 663 ‘The Netherlands’, PollWatch2014.

61 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

– Predicted position: joint-1st place (academic source, November 2011)674 “the immigrant- – Date polled: 06/03/2014 wary Dutch mainstream” (BBC News, June 2011)675

676 IDEOLOGY POLICY POSITIONS Mission statement: “The Party for Freedom believes in – Economic: Withdrawal from the EU and the Euro; focus the power of the Netherlands. We believe in a strong and on free trade. Priorities include: Dutch withdrawal from independent nation with its own identity. A vote for the PVV the Euro and a return to the Dutch Guilder; Dutch means a vote for less European Union and the preservation of control over free-trade agreements and tax and our sovereignty.” (Geert Wilders, European Election excise duties; and a “full and immediate” refund, manifesto launch, March 2014)664 from the EU, for Dutch contributions to “bankrupt countries and banks”. Wilders argues that “Brussels Political orientation: “Conservative political party which has been unable to solve the economic crisis”, stating: combines economic liberalism with a conservative programme “We want the Netherlands to leave the EU, join towards immigration and culture” (European Election EFTA [European Free Trade Association] and […] 665 Database, undated); “new extreme right” (academic negotiate bilateral trade agreements with the EU and 666 source, 2010); “anti-Islam” (BBC News, June the rest of the world”.677 2010);667 “far-right” (BBC News, April 2012);668 – Domestic: Anti-immigration; focus on Judeo-Christian “anti-immigrant” (The New York Times, September and humanist cultural identity. The PVV priority is to 2012);669 “right-wing populist […] resilient” (academic “close borders to labour immigration from Poland, source, February 2014);670 “anti-immigration” Romania, Bulgaria, etc., and [to] all immigration (DutchNews.nl, March 2014)671 from Islamic countries”. Wilders argues that EU Support base: “depressed rural areas with a shrinking immigration policies are decided by “cultural population” (Social Europe Journal, March 2014);672 relativists” who refuse to acknowledge the effect of “frustrated voters [who] feel the traditional parties are not dealing mass immigration of “so many people rooted in a with the issues they’re concerned about, such as immigration” culture entirely different from Europe’s own (academic source, August 2012);673 “less educated males” Judeo-Christian and humanist tradition”.678 The PVV supports the unification of the Netherlands and Flanders based on shared cultural history.679 664 ‘The Party for Freedom announced its manifesto for the election of the European Parliament’, PVV official website, 28 March 2014, available at: www.pvv.nl/index.php/36-fj-related/geert-wilders/7492-pvv-presenteert-verk – Foreign: Euroscepticism; focus on national sovereignty; iezingsprogramma-europees-parlement-2014.html. Last visited: 9 May 2014. supports NATO; supports Israel. Priorities include: 665 Netherlands - Political parties, European Election Database, Norwegian Social Science Data Services, European Election Database, available at: Dutch withdrawal from the EU, which, as a www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/netherlands/ parties.html. Last visited: 9 May 2014. supranational institution (Wilders argues) subverts 666 Peter R. Rodrigues and Willem Wagenaar, ‘The right-wing extremist and democracy and freedom;680 support for NATO;681 discriminatory quality of the PVV’, in Racism and Extremism Monitor Ninth Report, ed. by Peter R. Rodrigues and Jaap van Donselaar and trans. by Nancy Forest-Flier, Anne Frank Foundation and Leiden University, 2010 pp. 36 - 48, p. 45, available at: www.annefrank.org/ImageVaultFiles/id_12537/ 674 Sarah L. De Lange and David Art, ‘Fortuyn versus Wilders: An cf_21/Monitor9UK.PDF. Last visited: 9 May 2014. Agency-Based Approach to Radical Right Party Building’, West European 667 ‘Surge for Dutch anti-Islam Freedom Party’, BBC News, 10 June 2010. Politics, Vol. 34, No. 6, pp. 1229–1249, November 2011, p. 1235, 668 ‘Dutch crisis: Parties agree deal on budget cuts’, BBC News, available at: http://users.dickinson.edu/~mitchelk/courses/ 26 April 2012, available at: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17859968. POSC290/PVV%20readings/Fortuyn%20versus%20Wilders.pdf Last visited: 9 May 2014. 675 ‘Netherlands Islam: Wilders verdict stirs up debate’, BBC News, 23 June 2011, 669 ‘Support for the Euro Is Seen in Dutch Election Results’, The New York Times, available at : www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13891130 13 September 2012, available at: www.nytimes.com/2012/09/14/world/ 676 Unless otherwise specified, all policy positions are taken from the PVV europe/suppor t-for-the-euro-is-seen-in-dutch-election-results.html?_r=0. European Election programme 2014, PVV official website, 28 March 2014, Last visited: 9 May 2014. available at: www.pvv.nl/images/PVV-verkiezingsprogramma_EP_2014.pdf. 670 Stijn van Kessel, ‘A victory for Geert Wilders in the Netherlands’ European Last visited: 9 May 2014. Parliament elections would not put Dutch EU membership at risk’, European 677 Wilders, G. ‘The Resurgence of European Patriotism’, Politics and Policy blog, London School of Economics, 11 February 2014, The Wall Street Journal, 21 November 2013, available at: available at: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2014/02/11/ http://online. wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303653004 a-victory-for-geert-wilders-in-the-netherl ands-european-parliament- 579209853897998922. Last visited: 9 May 2014. elections-would-not-necessarily-call-dutch-eu-membership-into-question/ 678 ‘Speech Geert Wilders, Los Angeles’, Geert Wilders Weblog, 9 June 2013, 671 ‘Are you suitable to represent the PVV? Take the party’s own quiz’, Dutch available at: www.geertwilders.nl/index.php/in-de-media-mainmenu-74/ News.nl, 27 March 2014, available at: www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/ nieuws-mainmenu-114/1829-speech-geert-wilders-los-angeles-june-9- 2014/03/are_you_suitable_to_represent.php#sthash.V1s5cpvV.dpuf. 2013#sthash.AigAb3BP.dpuf. Last visited: 9 May 2014. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 679 Peter R. Rodrigues and Willem Wagenaar, ‘T he right-wing extremist and 672 Rene Cuperus, Electoral Bloodbath For Dutch Labour, discriminatory quality of the PVV’, in Racism and Extremism Monitor Social Euro pe Journal, 31 March 2014, available at: Ninth Report, ed. by Rodrigues, P. R. & Jaap van Donselaar, Anne Frank www.social-europe.eu/2014/03/dutch-labour/ Foundation and Leiden University, 2010, pp.36 - 48, p.36. 673 Chris Aalberts, Behind the PVV: why citizens vote for Geert Wilders, (Delft: 680 Wilders, G. ‘The Resurgence of European Patriotism’, The Wall Street Journal, Uitgeverij Eburon; 2012), online PDF available at: http://achterdepvv.files. 21 November 2013. wordpress.com/2013/07/chris-aalberts-achter-de-pvv.pdf 681 Ibid.

62 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

and unconditional support for Israel, which Wilders CONTROVERSIES describes as the “central front in the defence of the – Authoritarianism: As the only legal member of 682 West […] against Islam”. The PVV manifesto his party,690 and both party leader and chair, Wilders focuses on EU withdrawal as a means to restore has repeatedly been accused of authoritarianism, 683 national sovereignty, and Wilders publicly particularly in the latter half of his party’s history.691 supports other Eurosceptic parties, calling for a On 3 July 2012, after the PVV announced its reassertion of “national pride and identity” as a election manifesto for the general election in bulwark against greater European integration.684 September 2012, two MPs announced their 692 – Significant other: Anti-Islam. Wilders singles out withdrawal, citing Wilders’ authoritarianism. Islam as a negative influence on Dutch society, Wilders, however, defends his internal leadership referring to the religion as a “totalitarian style as a learned response to the collapse of the right-wing Lij st Pim Fortuyn (LPF) (2002-2008), ideology”;685 likening it to communism and which lacked party institutionalisation and suffered Nazism; claiming that “the more Islamic a society from recurring infighting and splits.693 becomes […] the less free and tolerant it will be”;686 and associating Islam and Muslim immigrants with – Racism: During a local-election rally in March criminality and terrorism.687 The PVV campaigns 2014, Wilders asked whether his audience wanted against the perceived “Islamisation of the “more or fewer Moroccans” in the Netherlands. Netherlands”, by calling, for example, for a ban on After they chanted, “Fewer”, Wilders said, “We are the Qur’an and a tax on the Muslim headscarf.688 going to take care of that”. Video footage prompted Wilders regularly links his criticism of Islam with huge controversy: the police received over 5,000 complaints within a week, and Dutch politicians – the defence of freedom of expression – most both within and outside the PVV – publically notably, in the wake of his acquittal, in June 2011, rejected Wilders’ comments.694 To date, the PVV for inciting hatred and discrimination.689 has lost at least one MEP, two MPs, and one local councillor in the wake of the controversy;695 682 Rodrigues, P. R. & Willem Wagenaar, ‘The right-wing extremist and discriminatory quality of the PVV’, in Racism and Extremism Monitor Ninth Report, ed. b y Peter R. Rodrigues and Jaap van Donselaar and 690 Uniquely among Dutch political parties, none of the party’s representatives trans. by Nancy Forest-Flier, Anne Frank Foundation and Leiden at a European, national or municipal level are members of the PVV. See: University, 2010 pp. 36 - 48, p.38. ‘Spiegel interview with Geert Wilders’, PVV official website, 10 November 2010, available at: http://www.pvv.nl/index.php/in-de-media/ 683 The manifesto states: “We want to be free and sovereign. Political decisions interviews/3672-spiegel-interview-with-geert-wilders.html; see also: we make in The Hague, not in Brussels”. ‘Netherlands: Geert Wilders, the Dutch “Cricket”’, Istitituto per 684 Wilders, G. ‘The Resurgence of European Patriotism’, The Wall Street Journal, gli studi di politica internazionale, 22 March 2013, available at: 21 November 2013. http://www.ispionline.it/sites/default/files/pubblicazioni/ 685 ‘Speech Geert Wilders, Los Angeles’, Ge ert Wilders Weblog, 9 June 2013; commentary_spoerri_22.03.2013.pdf. Last visited: 9 May 2014. see also: ‘Let us raise the flag of truth and liberation’, Geert Wilders Weblog, 691 The first public suggestion of intra-party conflict came in May 2010, when 24 November 2013, available at: http://www.geertwilders.nl/index.php/ then-PVV Member of Parliament Hero Brinkman publically called for more in-de-media-mainmenu-74/nieuws-mainmenu-114/1839-let-us-raise-a- internal party democracy. See: ‘A democratic PVV needs time, says Wilders after MP breaks ranks’, Dutch News.nl, 11 May 2010, available at: flag-of-truth-and-liberation. Last visited: 9 May 2014. www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2010/05/a_democratic_pvv_needs_ 686 ‘Speech Geert Wilders, Los Angeles’, Geert Wilders Weblog, 9 June 2013. time_sa.php#sthash.ZzvrI5KZ.dpuf; See also: Sarah L. De Lange and 687 For example, the Dutch District Court Office of the Public Prosecutor David Art, ‘Fortuyn versus Wilders: An Agency-Based Approach to Radical charged Wilders with inciting hatred against Muslims in part due to the Right Party Building’, West European Politics, Vol. 34, No. 6, pp. 1229–1249, following statement: “One out of five Moroccan youngsters is registered with November 2011, p. 1240, available at: the police as a suspect. Their behaviour derives from their religion and htt p://users.dickinson.edu/~mitchelk/courses/POSC290/PVV%20 readings/Fortuyn%20versus%20Wilders.pdf. Last visited: 9 May 2014. culture. You cannot consider these two facts separately”. In 2013, Wilders 692 told an American audience that, “Europe is in a terrible state […] Islamic Election Briefing No. 71 Europe And The Dutch Parliamentary Election, European Parties Elections and Referendums Network, Sussex European immigrants riot and terrorize the many locals”. See: Summons of the Institute, December 2012, p. 3. Accused, District Court Office of the Public Prosecutor, No. 13/435046-09, 693 See: ‘A democratic PVV needs time, says Wilders after MP breaks ranks’, English language copy provided by Human Rights Service, available at: Dutch News.nl, 11 May 2010; See al so: Sarah L. De Lange and David Art, www.rights.no/filer2/wilders_summons.pdf; see also: ‘Speech Geert Wilders, ‘Fortuyn versus Wilders: An Agency-Based Approach to Radical Right Party Los Angeles’, Geert Wilders Weblog, 9 June 2013. Last visited: 9 May 2014. Building’, West European Politics, Vol. 34, No. 6, pp. 1229–1249, November 688 ‘Spiegel interview with G eert Wilders’, PVV official website, 10 November 2011, p. 1237. 2010, available at: http://www.pvv.nl/index.php/in-de-media/ 694 ‘Wilders’ party in crisis after Moroccan comments’, European Voice, 22 March interviews/3672-spiegel-interview-with-geert-wilders.html; see also: 2014, available at: http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/2014/march/ ‘Surge for Dutch anti-Islam Freedom Party’, BBC News, 10 June 2010; see wilders-party-in-crisis-after-moroccan-comments/80183.asp x; see also: ‘More also: Douglas Murray, ‘A film-maker who lives in the shadow of a fatwa’, than 5,000 complaints about Wilders’ anti-Moroccan chant’, Dutch News.nl, The Spectator, 12 March 2008, available at: www.spectator.co.uk/ 3 April 2014, available at: www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2014/ features/553681/a -filmmaker-who-lives-in-the-shadow-of-a-fatwa/; see also: 04/more_than_5000_make_police_com.php#sthash.S0RfhfHN.dpuf. Last visited: 9 May 2014. ‘Wilders wants headscarf tax’, Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 16 September 695 2009, available at: www.rnw.nl/english/article/wilders-wants-headscarf-tax. Laurence Stassen, MEP; Joram van Klaveren, MP and Roland van Vliet, MP; and PVV Councillor Chris van der Helm in The Hague. See: ‘Wilders’ Last visited: 9 May 2014. party in crisis after Moroccan comments’, European Voice, 22 March 2014; see 689 See, for example: ‘Geert Wilders cleared of hate charges by Dutch court’, also: ‘Ook Haagse raadslid Van der Helm vertrekt’, De Telegraaf, 21 March BBC News, 23 June 2011, available at: 2014, available at: http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/22415154/ www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13883331. Last visited: 9 May 2014. __PVV__ook_Van_der_Helm_vertrekt__.html. Last visited: 9 May 2014.

63 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

however, there are also allegations that some may PVV, however, has maintained its popularity after its have had other reasons for withdrawing support.696 parliamentary breakthrough in 2006. Opinion polls – Racism/Religious Hatred (Anti-Muslim): In conducted in March 2014 suggested that, if national January 2009, Wilders was charged with offending elections were held immediately, the PVV would 702 Muslims; inciting hatred and discrimination towards become the largest party in Parliament. A poll Muslims; and inciting discrimination towards conducted two weeks after Wilders’ anti-Moroccan chant, however, found that the party would win four Moroccans. The charges were based on the content 703 of speeches; written articles in Dutch newspapers; fewer seats than before the controversy. As an 697 example of a political party built around a strong and his 17-minute film, Fitna, released in March 704 2008, which interspersed images of personality and pragmatic internal leadership, it is likely that the PVV will withstand this current dip Islamism-inspired terrorist atrocities with selected in popularity. excerpts from Qur’anic verses, in order to show, he claimed, that Islam is “the enemy of freedom”.698 Among the most well-known leaders of the parties Examples of statements listed on the charge sheet profiled, Wilders is an internationally controversial include: “a moderate Islam does not exist”; “we fi gure. He has received recurring death threats since must stop the tsunami of the Islamisation”; and “no requesting that the government investigate an alleged more Muslim immigrants”. His trial was widely seen radical mosque, in 2003,705 and has lived under as setting the parameters of acceptable public 24-hour police protection in a safe house since the debate and free speech in the Netherlands.699 In murder of film-maker and personal friend Theo Van June 2011, Wilders was acquitted of all charges, Gogh, by a radical Islamist, in 2004.706 In July 2010, declaring that the verdict was “a victory for freedom Wilders announced the launch of the International of expression in the Netherlands”.700 While Freedom Alliance, an umbrella organisation for reactions to his acquittal were varied, many groups and individuals whom he described as 707 sympathised with the judges’ statement that “fighting for freedom against Islam”. although some of Wilders’ comments were “crude The PVV has, at times, played a deciding and 701 and denigrating” they were not illegal. influential role in domestic Dutch politics. After coming third in the June 2010 national elections, the NOTES party pledged external support the minority The PVV is the ideological heir to the Netherlands’ government coalition of the liberal People’s Party for first successful ‘radical right’ party, the LPF. The Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the Christian Democrats (CDA). In April 2012, however, the party

696 While the mainstream press ascribes the departures to Wilders’ withdrew its support, over proposed budget cuts and anti-Moroccan comments, other commentators have speculated that some had other reasons for leaving (such as not being included on forthcoming party candidate lists, or disagreements over economic policy). See, for example: Peter-Paul Koch, ‘More bad news for Wilders’, Political quirks blog, 702 Data is an average of the four regular Dutch political opinion polls: TNS 23 March 2014, available at: http://www.quirksmode.org/politics/ NIPO; Peil.nl (Maurice de Hond); de Politieke Barometer (Ipsos Synovate); blog/archives/2014/03/more_bad_news_f.html. Last visited: 9 May 2014. and De Stemming (EenVandaag), collated by Nederlandse Omroep Stichting, 697 Prior to the film’s release, there were violent protests in many available at: http://nos.nl/dossier/606102-peilingwijzer/tab/ Muslim-majority countries; al-Qaeda issued a fatwa calling on Muslims to kill 867/infographic/; see also: Stijn van Kessel, ‘A victory for Geert Wilders in Wilders; and the then-Dutch Prime Minister, Jan Peter Balkenende called for the Netherlands’ European Parliament elect ions would not put Dutch EU the release to be halted amid claims that it would jeopardise Dutch soldiers in membership at risk’, European Politics and Policy blog, London School of Afghanistan. Following the release, however, commentators widely agreed Economics, 11 February 2014. Last visited: 9 May 2014. that the content was less inflammatory than had been expected. ‘Dutch Islam 703 ‘D66 are biggest party in new poll, anti-Moroccan chant hurts Wilders’, Dutch film website “shut”‘, BBC News, 23 March 2008, available at: News.nl, 30 March 2014, available at: www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7310439.stm; see also: ‘Al Qaeda Issues Fatwa 2014/03/d66_are_biggest_party_in_new_p.php#sthash.1FIOeDeF.dpuf. Against Wilders’, NIS News, 27 February 2008, available at: Last visited: 9 May 2014. http://w eb.archive.org/web/20080302014937/http://www.nisnews.nl/ 704 Sarah L. De Lange and David Art, ‘Fortuyn versus Wilders: An public/280208_5.htm; see also: ‘Relief over Dutch MP’s anti-Islam film’, Agency-Based Approach to Radical Right Party Building’, West European BBC News, 28 March 2008, available at: Politics, Vol. 34, No. 6, pp. 1229–1249, November 2011, p. 1235. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7318363.stm. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 705 For a personal account of these threats, see: Geert Wilders, Marked for Death: 698 See Summons of the Accused, District Court Office of the Public Prosecutor, Islam’s War Against the West and Me, (Regnery Publishing; 2012). No. 13/435046-09, English language copy provided by Human Rights 706 Geert Wilders, ‘Resisting threat of fanatical Islam’, The Washingtons, Time Service; ‘Dutch Islam film we bsite “shut”‘, BBC News, 23 March 2008, 4 May 2012, available at: www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/ available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7310439.stm; see also: ‘Relief may/4/resisting-threat-of-fanatical-islam/?page=all. over Dutch MP’s anti-Islam film’, BBC News, 28 March 2008. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 699 ‘Netherlands Islam: Wilders verdict stirs up debate’, BBC News, 707 ‘Wilders sets up international alliance against Islam’, Radio Netherlands 23 June 2011, available at: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13891130. Worldwide, 16 July 2010, available at: www.rnw.nl/english/article/ Last visited: 9 May 2014. wilders-sets-international-alliance-against-islam; see also: ‘Wilders werkt 700 ‘Geert Wilders cleared of hate charges by Dutch court’, BBC News, 2e3 Jun aan internationaal netwerk’, De Tel egraaf, 15 July 2010, available at: 2011. http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/article20326468.ece. 701 ‘Netherlands Islam: Wilders verdict stirs up debate’, BBC News, 23 June 2011. Last visited: 9 May 2014.

64 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections economic reforms aimed at meeting the EU deficit the European Alliance for Freedom (EAF, a European limit of 3% of GDP. As a result, the coalition lost its political party opposed to the EU) as a means to majority and new elections were called for September co-ordinate their campaign.716 2012.708 During the campaign, the PVV called for a Dutch withdrawal from the EU for the first time, arguably both forcing other political parties to clarify their positions on the issue and pushing Europe to forefront of national politics in an unprecedented way.709 The PVV lost nine seats, however, at the ensuing elections, prompting claims that the party was being punished for triggering the collapse of the coalition.710 The PVV’s focus in the forthcoming European election mirrors that of its 2012 parliamentary campaign: Dutch withdrawal from the EU. In February 2014, for example, Wilders argued the economic benefits of withdrawal, which he called ‘NExit’,711 stating it would “not only restore our national sovereignty but it will also boost the Dutch economy now and in the future”.712 Moreover, Wilders combines criticism of further European integration with denigration of Eurozone bailouts for “weak southern European countries”.713 He rejects the label ‘populist’, arguing instead that a victory for the PVV would have “nothing to do with populism; it is all about democracy”.714 The PVV has supported like-minded right-wing Eurosceptic parties ahead of the European elections. In November 2013, Wilders and leader of the French National Front Marine Le Pen announced a Eurosceptic partnership, prompting concerns over a populist “wrecking” alliance.715 They are expected to be joined by Austria’s Freedom Party of Austria; Belgium’s Vlaams Belang; Italy’s Northern League; and Sweden’s Sweden Democrats, and will likely join

708 Election Briefing No. 71 Europe And The Dutch Parliamentary Election, European Parties Elections and Referendums Network, Sussex European Institute, December 2012, p. 2. 709 Ibid, pp. 3-4. 710 ‘Support for the Euro Is Seen in Dutch Election Results’, The New York Times, 13 September 2012. 711 The PVV promoted the findings of an independent study that it had commissioned, from Capital Economics consultancy, which argued the economic benefits of a Dutch withdrawal. See: Justin Chaloner, Andrew Evans & Mark Pragnell, ‘NExit: Assessing the economic impact of the Netherlands leaving the European Union’, Capital Economics, 6 February 2014, available at: 716 ‘Dutch Eurosceptic Wilders and France’s Le Pen unite’, BBC News, 13 www.capitaleconomics.com/data/pdf/NExit.pdf. Last visited: 9 May 2014. November 2013, available at: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24924372; 712 ‘Geert Wilders outlines case for a Dutch “Nexit” from the EU’, The Financial see also: ‘The “Le Pen-Wilders” alliance will change European politics’, Times, 6 February 2014, available at: www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0030c5f4-8f19- Policy Network, 4 February 2014, available at: http://policy-network.net/pno_ 11e3-be85-00144feab7de.html#axzz2sphdsgrm. Last visited: 9 May 2014. detail.aspx?ID=4572&title=The-%E2%80%98Le-Pen-Wilders-alliance- 713 will-change-European-politics; see also: the Eur opean Alliance for Freedom Ibid. official website, available at: www.eurallfree.org/; see also: ‘The Le 714 Wilders, G., ‘The Resurgence of European Patriotism’, The Wall Street Jo urnal, Pen-Wilders alliance and the European Parliament: Plus ça change, plus la 21 November 2013. meme chose’, The Washington Post, 11 February 2014, available at: 715 ‘Le Pen and Wilders forge plan to ‘wreck’ EU from within’, The Guardian, www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2014/02/11/the-le- 13 November 2013, available at: www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/ pen-wilders-alliance-and-the-european-parliament-plus-ca-change-plus- 13/le-pen-wilders-alliance-plan-wreck-eu. Last visited: 9 May 2014. cest-la-meme/. Last visited: 9 May 2014.

65 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Socialist Party

Name: Socialistische Partij (SP)

Country/headquarters: The Netherlands/The 2006: 16.6%; 25/150 seat s ( L 16); 3rd place724 Hague717 2010: 9.8%; 15/150 ( M 10); 5th place725 2012: 9.7%; 15/150 (-0); 4th place726 Official websites: www.sp.nl (central); http://international.sp.nl (English) Local elections 2002: 2.8%727 Social-media presence:718 2006: 5.7%; 332 seats728 729 – Facebook: www.facebook.com/Social istischePartij 2010: 4.1%; 249 seats 730 (17,032 ‘likes’) 2014: 5.2%; 443/8,429 seats – Twitter: www.twitter.com/SPnl (16,652 followers) EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION Bloc: Confederal Group of the European United Founded: October 1972719 Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE-NGL)731 720 Current leader: Emile Roemer (2010-present) European Parliament, June 2004732 – Share of national vote: 7% Previous leaders: Agnes Kant (2008-2010); Jan – Seats: 2/27 Marijnissen (1994-2008)721 – Position: 6th place – Turnout: 39.3% NATIONAL REPRESENTATION

Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal (House of 724 Dataset: Netherlands: Parliamentary Election 2006, European Election Representatives) Database, Norwegian Social Science Data Services, available at: http://eed.nsd.uib.no/webview/index.jsp?study=http%3A%2F%2F129.177. 2002: 5.9%; 9/150 ( L 4) seats722 90.166%3A80%2Fobj%2FfStudy%2Fnedpa2012&mode=cube&v=2&cube= http%3A%2F%2F129.177.90.166%3A80%2Fobj%2FfCube%2Fnedpa2012 723 2003: 6.3%; 9/150 seats (-0); 4th place _C1&top=yes; see also: Bernard Owen & Maria Rodriquez-McKey, Proportional Western Europe: The Failure of Governance, (New York, US: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013), p. 110. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 725 Dataset: Netherlands: Parliamentary Election 2010, European Election 717 ‘Contact’, The Socialist Party official website, available at: Database, Norwegian Soci al Science Data Services, available at: www.sp.nl/interact/contact/. Last visited: 6 May 2014. http://eed.nsd.uib.no/webview/velocity?v=2&mode=cube&cube=http%3A 718 Social-media information accurate as of 23 April 2014; screenshots archived. %2F%2F129.177.90.166%3A80%2Fobj%2FfCube%2FNLPA2010_Display_ C1&study=http%3A%2F%2F129.177.90.166%3A80%2Fobj%2FfStudy%2F 719 The Socialist Party was initially founded in 1972, as the Communist Party of NLPA2010_Display; see also: Netherlands (1946-2010), Parties & Elections in the Netherlands/Marxist-Leninist (KPN/ML), but changed its name in Europe database. Last visited: 6 May 2014. October of that year. See: Bernard Owen & Maria Rodriquez-McKey, 726 Proportional Western Europe: The Failure of Governance, (New York, US: Palgrave ‘Dataset: Netherlands: Parliamentary Election 2012, European Election Macmillan, 2013), pp.110-111; see also: ‘Brief History of the SP’, The Database’, Norwegian Social Science Data Services, available at: Socialist Party official website, available at: http://eed.nsd.uib.no/webview/velocity?v=2&mode=cube&cube= http://international.sp.nl/history.stm. Last visited: 6 May 2014. http%3A%2F%2F129.177.90.166%3A80%2Fobj%2FfCube%2Fned pa2012_C1&study=http%3A%2F%2F129.177.90.166%3A80%2Fobj 720 Hans van Heijningen, ‘The Dutch Socialist Party in the Current Crisis’, %2FfStudy%2Fnedpa2012; see also: Netherlands (2010-2012), Parties & transform!, issue 07/2010, available at: http://transform- network.net/ Elections in Europe database. Last visited: 6 May 2014. journal/issue-072010/news/detail/Journal/the-dutch-socialist-party- 727 in-the-current-crisis.html. Last visited: 6 May 2014. City Council in 2002 compared with 2006. See: ‘Netherlands’, Election 721 Results Database, available at: www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/Na1918/ ‘Dutch Socialist Party leader steps down’, Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 4 March Verkiezingsuitslagen.aspx?VerkiezingsTypeId=3. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 2010, available at: 728 www.rnw.nl/english/article/dutch-socialist-party-leader-steps-down; see also: Ibid. ‘Socialist Party MP Jan Marijnissen’, SP International official website, 729 City Council in 2006 compared with 2010. See: ‘Netherlands’, Election available at: http://intern ational.sp.nl/representatives/jan_m.stm. Last Results Database, available at: www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/Na1918/ visited: 6 May 2014. Verkiezingsuitslagen.aspx?VerkiezingsTypeId=3. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 722 Dataset: Netherlands: Parliamentary Election 2002, European Election 730 Data on 400+ municipalities was collated by Nederlandse Omroep Stichting Database, Norwegian Social Science Data Services, available at: (Netherlands Broadcasting Foundation), a Dutch public-service broadcaster. http://eed.nsd.uib.no/webview/index.jsp?study=http%3A%2F%2F129.177. See: ‘Live country-seat state councils’, Nederlandse Omroep Stichting, 20 90.166%3A80%2Fobj%2FfStudy%2Fnedpa2012&mode=cube&v=2&cube= March 2014, available at: http://app.nos.nl/datavisualisatie/ http%3A%2F%2F129.177.90.166%3A80%2Fobj%2FfCube%2Fnedpa2012 gemeenteraadsverkiezingen-2014/index.html#live; see also: ‘From local to _C1&top=yes; see also: Netherlands (1946-2010), Parties & Elections in European elections: more or less Wilders?’, Europe Dec ides, 26 March 2014, Europe database, available at: available at: http://europedecides.eu/2014/03/from-local- www.parties-and-elections.eu/netherlands2.html. Last visited: 6 May 2014. to-european-elections-more-or-less-wilders/. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 723 Dataset: Netherlands: Parliamentary Election 2003, European Election 731 ‘Socialistische Partij’, Europe United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) Database, Norwegian Social Science Data Services, available at: official website, available at: http://www.guengl.eu/group/delegation/ http://eed.nsd.uib.no/webview/velocity?v=2&mode=cube&cube=http%3A socialistische-partij. Last visited: 6 May 2014. %2F%2F129.177.90.166%3A80%2Fobj%2FfCube %2FNLPA2003_Display_ 732 ‘Netherlands - European Parliament Elections’, European Election C1&study=http%3A%2F%2F129.177.90.166%3A80%2Fobj%2FfStudy%2F Database, Norwegian Social Science Data Services, available at: NLPA2003_Display; see also: Netherlands (1946-2010), Parties & Elections in www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/netherlands/ Europe database. Last visited: 6 May 2014. european_parliament_elections.html. Last visited: 6 May 2014.

66 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

European Parliament, 2009733 POLICY POSITIONS – Share of national vote: 7.1% – Economic: Reform of the Eurozone; anti-austerity; – Seats: 2/25 pro-nationalisation. While the SP objected to Dutch – Position: 7th place membership of the Eurozone, the party currently – Turnout: 36.8% advocates reform rather than unconditional European Parliament, May 2014734 withdrawal. The party opposes: associated – Predicted share of national vote: 14% deficit-reduction measures, such as domestic – Predicted seats: 4/26 health-care or welfare cuts; Dutch financial support – Predicted position: 4th place for debt-ridden Eurozone member;741 a Eurozone – Date polled: 06/03/2014 banking union; penalties for countries which do not IDEOLOGY meet budget targets; and argues that the European Central Bank should be placed under the control Mission statement: “The SP’s programme of principles of the European parliament and the parliaments of is called ‘The Whole of Humanity’ (‘Heel de Mens’). […] In Eurozone member states.742 The party also our thoughts and deeds we are gu ided by three concepts: human advocates the re-nationalisation of essential dignity, equality and solidarity. It is these values that in the course services, public transport, health-care facilities, and of many centuries have emerged as essential and indispensable social-security offices.743 aspects of human civilisation and progress.” (SP official website, undated)735 – Domestic: Pro-immigration. Priorities include: a Political orientation: “Tracing its roots to the split between lenient immigra tion policy and better treatment of 744 Soviet and Chinese communism, the SP was once proudly Maoist. asylum seekers. But it shed its Marxist-Leninist ideology at the time of the fall of – Foreign: Eurosceptic; anti-war; pro-Palestinian. the Berlin Wall, replacing it with messages of solidarity and Priorities include: further limiting the powers of the human dignity” (The Economist, August 2012);736 “a European Commission and the European Council, favourite SP slogan reads: ‘There’s enough to go round for in order to give more control to member-state everyone.’ But that inclusive message is intended to carry menacing national Parliaments, and referenda on the possible implications for bankers, business and the EU powerbrokers of future introduction of a European constitution in 737 Brussels” (The Guardian, September 2012) all of the countries involved.745 The party strongly Support base: “depressed rural areas with a shrinking opposes further Western military interventions population” (Social Europe Journal, March 2014);738 abroad,746 arguing that the Netherlands should “Polls suggest that a considerable number of Mr Wilders’s voters significantly diminish its military capacity and are defecting to Mr Roemer’s camp” (The Economist, reduce its involvement in NATO;747 it also supports August 2012);739 “The left-wing Socialists are capturing voters’ imagination in the same way the right-wing Freedom 741 Roemer: “For cooperation but against the United States of Europe’, SP Party (PVV) did just before the country’s last few elections” official website, 16 January 2014, available at: 740 http://international.sp.nl/bericht/118610/; see also: ‘Activities’, (BBC News, August 2012) SP official website, available at: http://international.sp.nl/activities/; see also: Roel Janssen, ‘How anti-euro sentiment is fuelling the rise of Dutch socialists’, The Guardian, 15 May 2012, available at: www.theg uardian.com/commentisfree/2012/may/15/anti-euro- 733 ‘Netherlands - European Parliament Elections’, European Election sentiment-rise-dutch-socialist-party. Last visited: 6 May 2014. Database, Norwegian Social Science Data Services, available at: 742 Goals’, ‘Better Europe’, SP official website, available at: www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/netherlands/ http://international.sp.nl/goals/better_europe/summary.shtml. european_parliament_ele ctions.html. Last visited: 6 May 2014. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 734 ‘The Netherlands’, PollWatch2014; information accurate as of 1 April 2014. 743 ‘Activities’, SP official website 735 ‘What we stand for’, SP official website, undated, available at: 744 MEP Dennis de Jong, for example, signed the March 2014 Amnesty International http://international.sp.nl/goals/. Last visited: 6 May 2014. manifesto demanding better treatment for asylum seekers. See: ‘Jong supports 736 ‘Leftward Tilt’, The Economist, August 25, 2012, available at: manifesto for decent asylum policy’, SP official website, available at: www.economist.com/node/21560915. Last visited: 6 May 2014. http://international.sp.nl/bericht/118942/140324de_jong_supports_ 737 manifesto_for_decent_asylum_policy.html; see also: ‘Frontex must halt ‘Dutch embrace radical left as Euro pean dream sours’, The Guardian, 2 degrading treatment of asylum seeker’, SP official website, 2 September 2011, September 2012, available at: www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/ available at: ‘http://international.sp.nl/bericht/70357/ 02/netherlands-elections-socialist-party. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 110922fronte x_must_halt_degrading_treatment_of_asylum_seekers.html. 738 ‘Rene Cuperus, ‘Electoral Bloodbath For Dutch Labour’, Last visited: 6 May 2014. Social Europe Journal, 31 March 2014, available at: 745 ‘Goals’, ‘Better Europe’, SP official website www.social-europe.eu/2014/03/dutch-labour/ 746 SP also took part in the international campaigns against the wars in Iraq and 739 ‘Leftward Tilt’, The Economist, August 25, 2012. Afghanistan. See: ‘Activities’, SP official website 740 ‘Dutch election: Emile Roemer seduces with Socialist charms’, BBC News, 747 ‘At ease: the SPs views on the army’, SP official website, available at: 30 August 2012, available at: www.bbc.co.uk/news/19408907. http://international.sp.nl/bericht/45528/100607-at_ease_the_sps_ Last visited: 6 May 2014. vi ews_on_the_army.html. Last visited: 6 May 2014.

67 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections greater EU involvement in resolving the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, advocating formal Dutch recognition of a Palestinian state.748

CONTROVERSIES – Far-Right Links/Religious Hatred (Anti-Muslim): In February 2010, the Socialist Party candidate in council elections in the town of Landgraaf, Joey Hirsch, was filmed making the Nazi salute and discussing attacks on Muslims and police officers. In response, Hirsch announced that he would leave politics.749

NOTES Originally formed in the 1970s, by Maoist and Marxist-Leninist elements among the Dutch left, the SP has attempted to distance itself from its past and project a more pragmatic and social-democratic image. The SP has previously achieved success in national elections, winning 10% or more of the vote share in parliamentary elections since 2006, and is lookin g to replicate that success at a European level. Despite a poor showing in 2009, it is predicted to be the third-largest Dutch party in the European Parliament after the 2014 elections (arguably, in part, a result of widespread Dutch disillusion with traditional, big-tent parties). The SP views the EU primarily as an agent of capitalist globalisation, privatisation and austerity measures. As such, while the party supports European “cooperation” in spirit,750 its campaign is Eurosceptic in practice, proposing strict limitations over the power of EU institutions. This position mirrors that of its counterpart on the far-right of Dutch politics, Geert Wilder’s Party for Freedom (PVV), and, in the run up to the European elections, opinion polls suggest that both parties are feeding on a strong anti-EU sentiment and are supported by a fairly similar demographic.751

748 ‘Recognition of Palestinian state urgently needed’, SP official website, available at: http://international.sp.nl/bericht/70441/110925-recognition_ of_palestinian_state_urgently_needed.html. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 749 ‘Dutch candidate in ‘Nazi salute’ scandal’, Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 22 February 2010, available at: www.rnw.nl/english/article/dut ch-candidate- nazi-salute-scandal. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 750 ‘Roemer: “For cooperation but against the United States of Europe’, SP official website, 16 January 2014. 751 Cuperus, R. ‘Electoral Bloodbath For Dutch Labour’, Social Europe Journal, 31 March 2014, available at: www.social-europe.eu/2014/03/dutch-labour/. Last visited: 6 May 2014.

68 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Democratic Unitarian Coalition

Name: Coligação Democrática Unitária (CDU) Municipal Chambers 2005: 10.9%; 203/2,046 councillors ( L 13), 32/308 Country/headquarters: Portugal/Lisbon752 mayors ( L 4)764 Official website: www.cdu.pt 2009: 9.8%; 174/2,078 councillors ( M 29), 28/308 M Social-media presence:753 mayors ( 4) 2013: 12.0%; 213/2,086 councillors ( L 39), 34/308 – Facebook: www.facebook.com/CDUPCPPEV mayors ( L 6) (2,318 ‘likes’) – YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/CDUPCPPEV EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION (166 subscribers) Bloc: Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE-NGL)765 Founded: 1987754 766 755 756 European Parliament, June 2004 Current leader: Jerónimo de Sousa (2004-present) – Share of national vote: 9.1% Previous leaders: N/A – Seats: 2/24 – Position: 3rd place NATIONAL REPRESENTATION – Turnout: 38.7% Assembleia da República (Parliament) European Parliament, June 2009767 757 2002: 6.9%; 12/230 seats ( M 5); 4th place – Share of national vote: 11.2% 758 2005: 7.5%; 14/230 seats ( L 2); 3rd place – Seats: 2/22 759 2009: 7.9%; 15/230 seats ( L 1); 5th place – Positio n: 4th place 2011: 7.9%; 16/230 seats ( L 1); 4th place760 – Turnout: 36.8% Municipal Assembly European Parliament, May 2014768 2005: 12.2%; 722/6,885 seats ( L 13)761 – Predicted share of national vote: 12% 2009: 11.0%; 651/6,946 seats ( M 71)762 – Predicted seats: 3/21 2013: 12.0%; 747/6,487 seats ( L 96)763 – Predicted position: 3rd place – Date polled: 21/03/2014 752 ‘Con tact’, ‘Portuguese Communist Party-CDU’, official website, available at: http://www.pcp.pt/en/contact. Last visited: 28 April 2014. IDEOLOGY 753 Social-media information accurate as of 30 April 2014 (Facebook) and 24 April 2014 (YouTube); screenshots archived. Mission statement: “A program committed to the rupture 754 ‘CDU - Unitarian Democratic Coalition’, National Commission for Elections, available at: http://www.cne.pt/partido/cdu-coligacao-democratica-unitaria. of old conditions and the construction of new politics” (CDU 769 Last visited: 9 April 2014. official website, 2013) 755 ‘General Secretary’, Portuguese Communist Party, available at: http://www.pcp.pt/general_secretary. Last visited: 9 April 2014. Political orientation: “left wing […] communist” 756 ‘Jerónimo de Sousa’, Online24, 13 November 2012, available at: 770 http://www.online24.pt/jeronimo-de-sousa/. Last visited: 14 May 2014. (academic source, 2009) 757 ‘2002 Assembly Elections’, National Commission for Elections, available at: http://eleicoes.cne.pt/cne2005/ra ster/index.cfm?dia=17&mes=03&ano=20 02&eleicao=ar. Last visited: 10 April 2014. 764 ‘2005 Municipal Chamber Elections’, National Commission for Elections, 758 ‘2005 Assembly Elections’, National Commission for Elections, available at: available at: http://eleicoes.cne.pt/cne2005/raster/index.cfm? http://eleicoes.cne.pt/cne2005/raster/index.cfm?dia=20&mes=02&ano=20 dia=09&mes=10&ano=2005&eleicao=cm. Last visited: 10 April 2014. 05&eleicao=ar. Last visited: 10 April 2014. 765 ‘Portugal’, PollWatch2014; information accurate as of 2-3 April 2014. 759 ‘2009 Assembly Elections’, National Commission for Elections, available at: 766 ‘European Parliament Elections 2004’, House of Commons, 2004, http://eleicoes.cne.pt/cne2005/raster/index.cfm?dia=27& mes=09&ano=20 available at: http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/lib/ 09&eleicao=ar. Last visited: 10 April 2014. resea rch/rp2004/rp04-050.pdf. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 760 ‘2011 Assembly Elections’, National Commission for Elections, available at: 767 ‘European Parliament Elections 2009’, House of Commons, 2009, http://eleicoes.cne.pt/cne2005/raster/index.cfm?dia=05&mes=06&ano=20 available at: www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/RP09-53.pdf. 11&eleicao=ar. Last visited: 10 April 2014. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 761 ‘2005 Municipal Assembly Elections’, National Commission for Elections. 768 ‘Portugal’, PollWatch2014. 762 ‘2009 Municipal Assembly Elections’, National Commission for Elections, 769 ‘Homepage’, Democratic Unitarian Coalition, available at: available at: http://eleicoes.cne.pt/cne2005/raster/index.cfm? http://www.cdu.pt/2011/noticias. Last visited: 10 April 2014. dia=11&mes=10&ano=2009&eleicao=am. Last visited: 10 April 2014. 770 Camoes, P. J. & Mendes, S. M. (2009) ‘Party pol itics and local government 763 ‘2013 Local Elections’, Ministry of Justice, available at: coalition formation in Portugal’ in: Intra-Party Politics and Coalition Governments http://autarquicas2013.mj.pt/index.html. Last visited: 10 April 2014. (Oxon: Routledge). Last visited: 28 April 2014.

69 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

Support base: Unspecified Ecologist Party (PEV, a.k.a ‘The Greens’).776 777 The party has a support base of over 60,000.778 The POLICY POSITIONS General Secretary of the PCP is Jerónimo de Sousa,779 – Economic: Anti-privatisation; national economic who has been leader of the party since 2004.780 sovereignty; anti-economic crime; job creation; adjusting In the 2009 Portuguese elections for mayors; income-tax rates. Priorities include: ending the municipal chambers; and municipal assemblies, the privatisation of public services; national economic CDU gained the “biggest proportional advance”. The sovereignty from international financial institutions; party had 213 municipal-chamber members elected combating tax fraud and tax evasion; sustained and (up 39 since the last election) and won 34 mayoralties balanced regional development, in order to create (up 6), putting it in third place nationally. This appears jobs; and adjusting the rates of income-based to have been a reaction against the austerity imposed taxation.771 under the right-wing government in power.781 – Domestic: Welfare; social justice; workers’ rights; national health service. Priorities include: defence of employment; protecting domestic production, especially in agriculture and fisheries; fighting in defence of national sovereignty and independence; using existing resources, for economic development and social progress;772 improving welfare; upholding and expanding equal social rights; improving workers’ rights; and maintaining Portugal’s national health service.773 – Foreign: Anti-NATO; pro-international co-operation; pro-national sovereignty; anti-militarisation. Priorities include: complying with international law and the UN charter; promoting the improvement of international co-operation but refusing to participate in supranational action that viol ates the principle of national sovereignty; supporting the EU; and opposing militarisation.774 – Significant other: Focus on green policies. Priorities include: defending and preserving the environment; taking environmental concerns into account when formulating policies; promoting environmental education; and developing national forests.775

CONTROVERSIES None specified

NOTES The CDU was founded in 1987, as a coalition between the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) and the 776 ‘CDU - Unitarian Democratic Coalition’, National Commission for Elections. 777 ‘Portugal; Political Parties’, European Election Database, available at: http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/ portugal/parties.html. Last visited: 28 April 2014. 771 CDU – 2005 Manifesto, available at: https://manifesto-project.wzb.eu/ 778 ‘Parties pass three hundred thousand members’, Ion Online, available at: uploads/attach/file/4272/35229_2005.txt. Last visited: 28 April 2014. http://www.ionline.pt/artigos/portugal/partidos-tem-300-mil- 772 ‘Balance the intervention of members of the PCP in the European milit antes-ps-dobro-das-novas-adesoes-psd-passos/pag/-1. Parliament (mandate 2009-2014)’, CDU official website, available at: Last visited: 10 April 2014. http://www.cdu.pt/parlamentoeuropeu2014/interven-ac-luta. Last visited: 779 ‘General Secretary’, Portuguese Communist Party. May 9 2014. 780 ‘Jerónimo de Sousa’, Online24, 13 November 2012. 773 CDU – 2005 Manifesto. 781 ‘Conservatives lose, communists advance in Portugal elections’, People’s World, 774 Ibid. available at: http://peoplesworld.org/conservatives-lose- 775 Ibid. communists-advance-in-portugal-elections/. Last visited: May 9 2014.

70 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections United Left

Name: Izquierda Unida (IU)

Country/headquarters: Spain/Madrid782 EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION Official website: www.izquierda-unida.es Bloc: Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE-NGL)792 Social-media presence:783 European Parliament, June 2004793 – Facebook: www.facebook.com/izquierda.unida – Share of national vote: 4.2% (67,698 ‘likes’) – Seats: 2/54 – Twitter: www.twitter.com/iunida (56,900 followers) – Position: 4th place – Turnout: 45.9% Founded: 1986784 European Parliament, June 2009794 Current leader: Cayo Lara Moya (2008-present)785 – Share of national vote: 3.7%

786 – Seats: 2/50 Previous leaders: Gaspar Llamazares (2000-2007) – Position: 4th place – Turnout: 44.9% NATIONAL REPRESENTATION European Parliament, May 2014795 Congress of Deputies – Predicted share of national vote: 14% 2000: 5.5%; 8/350 seats; 3rd place 787 – Predicted seats: 7/54 M 788 2004: 5.0%; 5/350 seats ( 3) – Predicted position: 3rd place 789 2008: 3.8%; 2/350 seats ( M 3); 4th place – Dates polled: 17/03/2014 – 19/03/14 2011: 6.9%; 11/350 seats ( L 9); 3rd place 790 IDEOLOGY Municipal elections791 Mission statement: “Izquierda Unid a is a political and 2003: 6.1%; 2,198/65,510 seats social movement, which has formed into a legally and politically 2007: 5.5%; 2,034/66,131 seats ( M 164) sovereign organization, whose aim is to gradually transform the 2011: 6.4%; 2,249/68,230 seats ( L 215) capitalist system into a democratic socialist system based on the principles of justice, equality, solidarity and respect for nature” 796 782 ‘Locations’, United Left official website, available at: (IU official website, undated) http://www.izquierda-unida.es/sedes. Last visited: 2 April 2014 783 Social-media information accurate as of 1 May 2014; screenshots archived. Political orientation: “Left-of-center” (The New York 784 ‘Foundational Documents’, United Left official website, available at: 797 http://www.izquierda-unida.es/doc_fundacionales. Last visited: 9 May 2014. Times, March 2012); “leftwing [sic]” (MercoPress, 785 ‘General Coordinator’ , United Left official website, available at: October 2012)798 http://izquierda-unida.es/taxonomy/term/264. Last visited: 2 April 2014. 786 ‘Brief biographies of IU coordinators’, United Left official website, available at: http://izquierda-unida.es/sites/default/files/1176187851209.pdf. Last visited: 2 April 2014. 792 787 ‘Congress 2000’, Ministry of Interior, available at: ‘Delegations’, European United Left-Nordic Green Left, available at: http://www.infoelectoral.mir.es/min/busquedaAvanzadaA ction.html? http://www.guengl.eu/group/delegations. Last visited: 2 April 2014. codTipoEleccion=2&vuelta=1&isHome=1&codPeriodo=200403. 793 ‘European Parliament Elections 2004’, House of Commons, 2004, Last visited: 2 April 2014. available at: http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/lib/ 788 ‘Congress 2004’, Ministry of Interior, available at: research/rp2004/rp04-050.pdf. Last visited: 9 May 2014. http://www.infoelectoral.mir.es/min/busquedaAvanzadaAction.html? 794 ‘European Parliament 2009’, Ministry of Interior, available at: codTipoEleccion=2&vuelta=1&isHome=1&codPeriodo=200403. http://www.infoe lectoral.mir.es/min/busquedaAvanzadaAction.html? Last visited: 2 April 2014. codTipoEleccion=7&vuelta=1&isHome=1&codPeriodo=200906. 789 ‘Congress 2008’, Ministry of Interior, available at: Last visited: 2 April 2014. http://www.infoelectoral.mir.es/min/busquedaAvanzadaA ction.html? 795 ‘Spain’, PollWatch2014; information accurate as of 2-3 April 2014. codTipoEleccion=2&vuelta=1&isHome=1&codPeriodo=200803. 796 ‘The Organisation’, United Left official website, available at: Last visited: 2 April 2014. http://www.izquierda-unida.es/laorganizacion. Last visited: 2 April 2014. 790 ‘Congress 2011’, Ministry of Interior, available at: 797 ‘Spain’s Ruling Party Disappointed in Regional Ballot’, The New York Times, 26 http://www.infoelectoral.mir.es/min/busquedaAvanzadaAction.html? March 2012, available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/ codTipoEleccion=2&vuelta=1&isHome=1&codPeriodo=201111. 27/world/europe/popular-party-in-spain-fails-to-win-majority-in- Last visited: 2 April 2014. andalusia.html?_r=0. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 791 ‘Municipal 2003’, Ministry of Interior, available at: 798 ‘Gibraltar, a ‘smokescreen’ to distract Spain’s austerity cuts claims http://www.infoelectoral.mir.es/min/busquedaAvanzadaA ction.html? political party’, Merco Press, 23 October 2012, available at: codTipoEleccion=4&vuelta=1&isHome=1&codPeriodo=200305. http://en.mercopress.com/2012/10/23/gibraltar-a-smokescreen-to- Last visited: 2 April 2014. distract-spain-s-aus terity-cuts-claims-political-party. Last visited: 9 May 2014.

71 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

Support base: Unspecified ecologist parties, IU is thought to be starting to model itself loosely on SYRIZA, in Greece.804 Joined by the POLICY POSITIONS Communist Party of Spain (PCE), United Left has – Economic: Anti-austerity; equality of wealth; state become one of the strongest voices against austerity intervention. Priorities include: withdrawing support measures in Spain.805 from the Troika and wider “neoliberal” capitalism A lack of cohesion amongst the party led IU to hold, in Europe; equalisation of the spread of wealth in 2010, a “refoundation” conference, advocatingr fo across Europe; nationalisation of strong institutions; “another way of doing politics”.806 The basis for this restructuring Spain’s sovereign-debt levels; was the idea of a “post-communist” political force: an investment in the economy, instead of austerity, to amalgamation of leftists, greens, and various others to create jo bs; strengthening trade unions; reforming forge a new way in Spanish politics.807 tax policy and closing loopholes; and reindustrialising Spain.799 – Domestic: Human rights; state reforms towards a federal state; self-determination. Priorities include: promoting fundamental human rights for all; legislating to further combat discrimination against any groups; promoting education and access to state services; combating social exclusion; fighting poverty and inequality; and promoting access to justice and courts, for all.800 – Foreign: Global development; anti-NATO; pro-EU social and democratic integration. Priorities include: international development and furthering the aims of the Millennium Development Goals; opposition to international free-trade agreements with the EU; self-determination of global societies and peoples; denouncing the actions of the US’ blockade of Cuba; and denouncing Israeli actions in Palestine.801

CONTROVERSIES – Corruption: United Left has been investigated for at least 20 cases of corruption, as part of a wider investigation into corruption in Spanish politics.802 In one particular case, an unnamed IU politician was accused of accepting €70,000 in cash.803

NOTES Founded in 1986, United Left (IU) emerged in opposition to Spain’s accession to NATO. As a socio-political movement regrouping left-wing and 804 ‘Spain’s United Left Coalition against Neoliberalism and Economic Austerity’, Global Research, available at: http://www.globalresearch.ca/ spains-united-left-coalition-against-neoliberalism-and-economic-austerity/ 5318129. Last visited: 22 April 2014. 799 ‘IU program for the European elections 2014’, United Left official website, 805 ‘Spain’s Opportunity, United Left Forms “broad front”’, 29 August 2011, available at: http://www.izquierda-unida.es/programa_europeas2014. World Socialist Website, available at: http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/ Last Visited: 9 May 2014. 2011 /08/ulef-a29.html. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 800 ‘IU program for the Eu ropean elections 2014’, United Left official website. 806 ‘Development and Challenges of The Spanish United Left (IU)’, 801 Ibid. Transform Network, February 2008, available at: http://transform-network.net/ 802 ‘Justice has 730 open investigations against political corruption’, El País, journal/issue-022008/news/detail/Journal/the-development-and- 18 November 2009, available at: http://elpais.com/elpais/2009/ challenges-of-the-spanish-united-left-iu.html. Last visited: 8 May 2014. 11/18/actualidad/1258535851_850215.html. Last visited: 3 April 2014. 807 ‘Development and Challenges of The Spanish United Left (IU)’, 803 ‘I gave Izquierda Unida €70,000 cash in a shoe box’, David Jackson, available Transform Network, February 2008, available at: http://transform-network.net/ at: http://www.davidjackson.info/blog/2014/04/15/i-gave- journal/issue-022008/news/detail/Journal/the-development-and- izquierda-unida-e70000-cash-in-a-shoe-box/. Last visited: 9 May 2014. challenges-of-the-spanish-united-left-iu.html. Last visited: 8 May 2014.

72 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Left Party

Name: Vänsterpartiet

Country/headquarters: Sweden/Stockholm808 2006: 6%; 773/12,978 seats ( M 272); 5th place 2010: 5.6%; 703/12,978 seats ( M 70) Official website: www.vansterpartiet.se809 County Council elections820 810 Social-media presence: 2002: 8.4%; 145/1,656 seats; 5th place – Facebook: www.facebook.com/vansterpartiet 2006: 6.1%; 107/1,656 seats ( M 38) (20,895 ‘likes’) 2010: 5.7%; 98/1,662 seats ( M 9) – Twitter: www.twitter.com/vansterpartiet EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION (25,891 followers) Bloc: Confederal Group of the European United – YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/vansterpartiet Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE-NGL)821 (677 subscribers) European Parliament, June 2004822 – Share of national vote: 12.8% Founded: 1917 (as the Swedish Left Social – Seats: 2/19823 Democratic Party) – Position: 4th place Current leader: Jonas Sjöstedt (2012-pre sent)811 – Turnout: 37.9% 824 Previous leaders: Lars Ohly (2004-2012);812 Ulla European Parliament, June 2009 Hoffmann (2003-2004); Gudrun Schyman – Share of national vote: 5.7% –Seats: 1/18825 ( M 1) (1993-2003)813 – Position: 6th place NATIONAL REPRESENTATION – Turnout: 45.5% European Parliament, May 2014826 Riksdag (Parliament) – Predicted share of national vote: 10.8% 2002: 8.4%;814 30/349 seats; 5th place 815 – Predicted seats: 2/20 2006: 5.9%;816 22/349 seats817 ( M 8) – Predicted position: 4th place 818 M 2010: 5.6%; 19/349 seats ( 3) – Dates polled: 03/02/2014 – 09/02/2014 Municipal elections819 IDEOLOGY 2002: 8.2%; 1,045/12,978 seats; 5th place Mission statement: “Everything we do has the same goal: to transform society, to make men and women equal, removing 808 ‘Contact Us’, Left Party official website, available at: https://www.vansterpartiet.se/kontakt/. Last visited: 5 May 2014. class differences and other injustices, to create sustainable 809 Website links correct as of 5 May 2014. solutions.” (Left Party official website, undated)827 810 Social-media information accurate as of 11 April 2014; screenshots archived. 811 ‘Jonas Sjostedt’, Left Party official website, available at: http://www.vansterpartiet.se/j onas-sjostedt/. Last visited: 5 May 2014. 812 ‘Ohly quits as Left leader’, The Local, 9 August 2011, available at: http://www.thelocal.se/20110809/35440. Last visited: 5 May 2014 820 All information collated from ‘Statistical Database – Elections to the County 813 ‘Media glee as Schyman quits Left Party’, The Local, 8 December 2004, Councils’, Statistics Sweden. available at: http://www.thelocal.se/20041208/712. Last visited: 5 May 2014. 821 ‘Sweden’, PollWatch2014, available at: http://www.electio2014.eu/ 814 ‘Sweden’, European Election Database, available at: pollsandscenarios/polls#country. Last visited: 5 May 2014. http://www.thelocal.se/20110809/35440. Last visited: 5 May 2014 822 ‘Sweden’, European Election Database. 815 ‘The composition of the Riksdag 1929-2006’, Statistics Sweden, available at: 823 ‘European Parliament elections, nominated and elected candidates’, Statistics http://www.scb.se/en_/Finding-statistics/Statistics-by-subject-area/ Sweden, available at: http://www.scb.se/en_/F inding-statistics/Statistics- Democracy/General-elections/General-elections-results/Aktuell-Pong/ by-subject-area/Democracy/General-elections/European-Parliament- 2014A01/Historical-statistics-of-election-results/The-composition-of- elections-nominated-and-elected-candidates/Aktuell-pong/2009A01/ the-Riksdag-1929-2006-by-party-and-sex/. Last visited: 5 May 2014. Elected-candidates-in-the-European-Parliament-elections-in-Sweden- 816 ‘Sweden’ , European Election Database. by-sex-and-party-Year-1995-2009-In-numbers/. Last visited: 5 May 2014 817 ‘The composition of the Riksdag 1929-2006’, Statistics Sweden. 824 ‘Sweden’, European Election Database. 818 ‘Sweden’, European Election Database. 825 ‘European Parliament elections, nominated and elected candidates’ , Statistics 819 All information collated from ‘Statistical Database – Elections to the Sweden. Municipal Councils’, Statistics Sweden, available at: http://www.scb.se/en_/ 826 ‘Sweden’, PollWatch2014; information accurate as of 1 April 2014. Finding-statistics/Statistical-Database/?ExpandNode=ME/ME0104. 827 ‘Our policies’, Left Party official website, available at: Last visited: 5 May 2014. https://www.vansterpartiet.se/politik/. Last visited: 5 May 2014.

73 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

Political orientation: “far-left” (EUobserver, March – Significant other: Focus on green policies; women’s 2014);828 “formerly communist” (Bloomberg, April rights. Priorities include: tightening carbon-emission 2014);829 “socialist and feminist” (The Huffington Post, targets; sustainable industry development; 830 June 2012) abolishing nuclear-power use and increasing Support base: Analysis of data from the Swedish funding for green initiatives; increasing funding for Election Studies Program shows that Left Party voters women’s shelters; and legislating increased child tend to be young and to self-position the furthest to support, right to childcare, and equal wages.836 the left of all Swedish voters (Swedish Election Studies Program, June 2010)831 CONTROVERSIES – Corruption: The former leader of the Left Party, 832 POLI CY POSITIONS Gudrun Schyman, was forced to resign in April – Economic: Progressive taxation; job creation; economic 2003, after she was accused of tax evasion over localism. Priorities include: increasing taxation on deductions claimed totalling $14,250. Schyman financial-service providers and high earners; claimed that this had been an accident and has reinstating inheritance tax; taxing foreign-currency since re-entered politics.837 transactions; ensuring that Riksbank policies are – Sexism: Council member Göran Eurenius was focused on job creation, increasing employment expelled from the party in 2000, after it was and expanding labour-market training;833 and providing local authorities with greater economic reported that he had acted in pornographic films, powers. due to the Left Party’s position that the adult-film industry exploits women. He was re-admitted in – Domestic: Welfare expansion; increased public-service 2003, after quitting the industry.838 provision. Priorities include: increasing welfare spending; ensuring progressive pension/child- – Violent threat: Chairman of the Left Party’s benefit reform; increasing spending on education Luleå Youth League, Christoffer Hurtig, resigned and school construction; providing free public in March 2013, after tweeting: “I want to shoot transport and greater backing for state-funded [Migration Minister] Tobias Billström. I will be housing construction; and opposing the truly happy when he dies”.839 privatisation of public services/utilities. NOTES – Foreign: Eurosceptic ; anti-NATO. Priorities include: The Swedish Left Party has seen its electoral fortunes opposing Sweden joining the Eurozone; returning decline during the past decade in general, local, and powers from Brussels to Stockholm;834 challenging municipal elections, as well as in European elections. Sweden’s ties with NATO and the US; working to As such, the fact that it is predicted to receive up to two strengthen Swedish military non-alignment; and seats highlights the appeal of its progressive policies 835 opposing intervention in conflicts like Syria. within Sweden and mirrors the success predicted for other socialist parties profiled in this report. 828 ‘Hard left and right set for gains in Sweden’s EU vote’, EU Observer, 6 March 2014, available at: http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/123149. Last What is more significant is the fact that the left-wing visited: 5 May 2014. parties profiled elsewhere in this report, such as 829 ‘Sweden’s Left Party Calls for New Riksbank Employment Target’, Bloomberg Businessweek, 7 April 2014, available at: http://www.businessweek.com/ SYRIZA in Greece and AKEL in Cyprus, are from news/2014-04-07/sweden-s-left-party-calls- for-new-riksbank-employment- target. Last visited: 5 May 2014. countries which have seen a far more detrimental 830 ‘Swedish Left Party Chapter Wants To Make Urinating While Standing impact on living standards since the 2008 financial Illegal For Men’, The Huffington Post, 13 June 2012, available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/13/sweden-left-party- crisis than Sweden has, making the Left Party unusual. toilet-stand_n_1590572.html. Last visited: 5 May 2014. 831 ‘Swedish Voting Behaviour’, Oscarsson, H & Holmberg, S, University of Gothenburg, June 2010, available at: http://www.valforskning.pol.gu.se/ digitalAssets/1309/1309446_swedish-voting-behavior-juni-2010.pdf. 836 ‘Feminism’, Left Party official website, available at: Last visited: 5 May 2014. http://www.vansterpartiet.se/politik/feminism/. Last visited: 5 May 2014. 832 Unless otherwise specified, all policy positions are taken from ‘Party platform’, 837 ‘Swedish Politicians Can Cheat on Spouses, but Not on Taxes’, The Los Angeles Left Party official website, available at: http://www.vansterpartiet.se/ Times, 4 May 2003, available at: http://articles.latimes.com/2003/ material/partiprogram/. Last visited: 5 May 2014. may/04/news/adfg-taxes4. Last visited: 5 May 2014 833 ‘Unemployment’, Left Party official website, a vailable at: 838 See: ‘Swedish politician moonlights as a porn star’, Salon, 22 March 2000, http://www.vansterpartiet.se/politik/arbetslosheten/. Last visited: 5 May 2014. available at: http://www.salon.com/2000/03/22/sweden/ and ‘Swedish 834 ‘The Euro’, Left Party official website, available at: Politicians Can Cheat on Spouses, but Not on Taxes’, The Los Angeles Times, http://www.vansterpartiet.se/politik/euron/. Last visited: 5 May 2014. 4 May 2003. 835 ‘Syria’, Left Party official website, available at: 839 ‘Youth leader quits after Billström death threat’, The Local, 24 March 2013, http://www.vansterpartiet.se/politik/syrien/. Last visited: 5 May 2014. available at: http://www.thelocal.se/20130324/46900. Last visited: 5 May 2014.

74 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Sweden Democrats

Name: Sverigedemokraterna (SD)840 Country/headquarters: Sweden/Stockholm841 842 EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION Bloc: Non-Inscrits (NI)852 Official website: www.sverigedemokraterna.se European Parliament, June 2009853 Social-media presence:843 – Share of national vote: 3.3% – Facebook: www.facebook.com/SDjatack – Seats: 0/18 854 (75,542 ‘likes’) – Position: 10th place – Twitter: www.twitter.com/sdriks (10.5k followers) – Turnout: 45.5%855 844 Founded: February 1988 European Parliament, May 2014856 Current leader: Jimmie Åkesson (2005-present)845 – Predicted share of national vote: 10% – Predicted seats: 2/20 Previous leaders: Mikael Jansson (1995-2005);846 – Predicted position: 5th place Anders Klarström (1992-1995) – Dates polled: 03/02/2014 – 09/02/2014 NATIONA L REPRESENTATION IDEOLOGY Riksdag (Parliament)847 2002: 1.4%; 0/349 seats Mission statement: “We are a party with broad policies 2006: 2.9%; 0/349 seats aimed at improving everyday life […] for men as for women and for both native Swedes and Swedes with immigrant backgrounds. 2010: 5.7%; 20/349 seats ( L 20) In our Sweden no one is left out.” (SD official website, Regional elections848 undated)857 2006: 16/1,662 seats849 2010: 4.6%; 68/1,662 seats ( L 52)850 Political orientation: “far-right” (TIME, September 2010; EUobserver, May 2014);858 859 “anti-EU” (The Municipal elections851 Local, January 2014);860 “rooted in neo-Nazism” (New 2002: 0.9%; 49/12,978 ( L 41) Statesman, January 2014)861 2006: 2.9%; 281/12,978 ( L 232) 2010: 4.9%; 612/12,978 ( L 331)

852 ‘Sweden’, PollWatch2014. 853 ‘Sweden: European Parliament Elections’, European Election Database, 840 ‘Sweden’, PollWatch2014; information accurate as of 2-3 April 2014. available at: http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_ 841 ‘Support us’, Sweden Democrats official website, available at: database/country/sweden/european_parliament_elections.html. http://sverigedemokraterna.se/vart-parti/stod-oss/. Last visited: 7 May 2014. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 842 ‘Work for the Sweden Democrats’, Sweden Democrats official website, 854 ‘Distribution of seats’, Election Authority of Sweden, available at: available at: http://sverigedemokraterna.se/lediga-tjanster/. http://www.val.se/in_english/general_information/8_distribution_ Last visited: 9 May 2014. of_seats/index.html. Last vis ited: 7 May 2014. 843 Social-media information accurate as of 27 April 2014; screenshots archived. 855 ‘Turnout at the European Elections (1979-2009)’, European Parliament, 844 ‘Our History’, Sweden Democrats official website, available at: available at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/ http://sverigedemokraterna.se /historik/. Last visited: 7 May 2014. en/000cdcd9d4/Turnout-(1979-2009).html. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 845 ‘Our Leader’, Sweden Democrats official website, available at: 856 ‘Sweden’, PollWatch2014. http://sverigedemokraterna.se/jimmie/. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 857 ‘Our Policies’, Sweden Democrats official website, available at: 846 ‘Our Leader’, Sweden Democrats official website. http://sverigedemokraterna.se/var-politik/. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 847 ‘General elections, results’, Statistics Sweden, available at: www.scb.se/en_/ 858 Kianzad, B. ‘Liberal No More: The Far Right Gains in Sweden’s Election’, Finding-statistics/Statistics-by-subject-area/Democracy/General-elections/ TIME, September 2010, available at: http://content.time.com/time/world/ General-elections-results/Akt uell-Pong/2014A01/#; see also: ‘Elections article/0,8599,2020349,00.html. Last visited: 7 May 2014. for parliament 2010-09-19’, Election Authority of Sweden, available at: 859 ‘Immigration not a topic for Swedish mainstream parties’, EUobserver, May http://www.val.se/val/val2010/slutresultat/ protokoll/protokoll_00R.pdf. 2014, available at: http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/124013. Last visited: Last visited: 7 May 2014. 7 May 2014. 848 ‘Statistics’, Election Authority of Sweden, available at: 860 ‘Why anti-EU Sweden Democrats care about European elec,tions’ http://www.val.se/val/val2010/statistik/index.html. Last visited: 7 May 2014. The Local, 30 January 2014, available at: http://www.thelocal.se/20140130/ 849 ‘Our election results’, Sweden Democrats official website, available at: why-anti-eu-sweden-democrats-care-about-european-elections. http://sverigedemokraterna.se/vart-parti/val/. Last visited: 7 May 2014. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 850 ‘Elections to the City Council’, Election Authority of Sweden, available at: 861 Goodwin, M. ‘How Europe’s far-right will - and won’t - flourish in 2014’, http://www.val.se/val/val2010/slutresultat/L/rike/valda.html. New Statesman, 2 January 2014, available at: http://www.newstatesman.com/ Last visited: 7 May 2014. politics/2014/01/how-europes-far-right-will-and-wont-flourish-2014. 851 ‘Elections to the City Council’, Election Authority of Sweden. Last visited: 7 May 2014.

75 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

Support base: Southern Sweden is traditionally the – Racism/Sexual Harassment: In June of 2010, “strongest stronghold” for the Sweden Democrats, shortly before the parliamentary elections, three particularly in the region of Scania (The Local, April high-ranking members were filmed harassing and 2013)862 verbally abusing a Kurdish comedian, telling him that Sweden is “not your country, it is my country”. POLICY POSITIONS863 The group also hurled racial and sexual insults at – Economic: Economic liberalism; protectionist measures several women and armed themselves with pieces when national interests are at stake. Priorities include: of scaffolding when confronted, giving the affair the increasing rural investment; reducing taxes; name of ‘Iron Pipe Scandal’. The three men (who promoting free trade, to increase national were MPs by the time the video surfaced in competitiveness; favouring nationals, in November of 2012) resigned their positions in employment policy; proposing a major job-market parliamentary committees and were forced out of overhaul, including a fifth round of work-based tax the party.867 credits and funding apprenticeships; eliminating subsidised jobs; and emphasising the need to be – Religious hatred (Anti-Muslim): In 2011 mindful of Swedish culture and norms when Jimmie Åkesson was reported to have designing economic policy. said, “Muslims are Sweden’s greatest foreign threat 868 – Domestic: Pro-assimilation; anti-immigration. since the Second World War”. Priorities include: withdrawal from the Eurozone; NOTES pursuing “an active policy of assimilation”, over multiculturalism; lowering immigration levels; and The Sweden Democrats (SD) was founded in 1988, as taking a hard line on crime, the re-nationalisation a successor to the Sweden Party. The party describes itself as “social conservative with a nationalist of national education, and the promotion of 869 nuclear power. foundation”. Jimmie Åkesson became chairman of the party in 2005. In the 2010 general election, SD, – Foreign: Supports a Nordic-centric approach to foreign for the first time, crossed the 4 % threshold necessary relations; pro-renegotiation of EU relationship. Priorities for parliamentary representation.870 include: greater co-operation between Nordic states/a Nordic defence alliance in lieu of NATO; There has been much speculation, in recent months, re-negotiation of relationship with EU, with a over the SD’s possible international connections and possible referendum; withdrawal from the Schengen affiliations to other national parties across Europe. Of Agreement; opposing Turkey’s bid for EU particular note is Le Pen’s National Front in France, membership; and strengthening the armed forces. another far-right party with whom SD has been speculatively linked by various sources.871 872 873 The – Significant other: Swedish Nationalism. Priorities party has also frequently become embroiled in include: promoting traditional Swedish and controversy over the actions of its members, and has conservative family values. instituted an expulsion policy.874 CONTROVERSIES – Nazism: Founded in February 1988,864 the SD 865 was originally linked to neo-Nazism in Sweden. 867 ‘Almqvist [out] from Parliament to media job’, Svenska Dagbladet, 30 December 2012, available at: http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/almqvist-fran- Over the years, the party gradually toned down its riksdag-till-mediejobb_7788940.svd. Last visited: 6 May 2014. image and attempted to remove the “the most 868 Eliassi, B. ‘Sweden Democrat’s anti-Muslim hysteria’, Open Democracy, 866 available at: http://www.opendemocracy.net/barzoo-eliassi/sweden- blatantly anti-democratic elements”, including democrat%E2%80%99s-anti-muslim-hysteria. Last visited: 12 May 2014. banning uniforms and swastikas at party meetings. 869 ‘Principle Application’, Sweden Democrats official website, available at: http://sverigedemokraterna.se/var-politik/principprogram/. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 870 ‘Elections to the Swedish Riksdag - Results Lookup’, Election Resources on 862 ‘Sweden Democrats rake in southern support’, The Local, 22 April 2013, the Internet, available at: http://www.electionresources.org/se/ available at: http://www.thelocal.se/20130422/47476. Last visited: 7 May 2014. riksdag.php?election=2010. Last visited: May 9 2014. 863 Unless stated otherwise, policy positions were taken from the following 871 Bjurwald, L. ‘From boots to suits: Sweden Democrats’ extreme roots’, source: ‘Our policy- an overview’, Sweden Democrats official website, EUObserver, 11 March 2014. availabl e at: http://sverigedemokraterna.se/var-politik/var-politik-a-till-o/. 872 ‘Åkesson must tell Swedes if he plans to join the National Front’, The Local, Last visited: 7 May 2014. 14 March 2014, available at: http://www.thelocal.se/20140314/kesson- 864 ‘Our History,’ Sweden Democrats official website. must-tell-swedes-if-he-plans-to-work-with-front-national-in-europe. 865 ‘Why Sweden’s far-right, anti-immigrant party made powerful gains’, Last visited: 7 May 2014. Christian Science Monitor, 7 October 2010, available at: 873 ‘SD in likely collaboration with Le Pen’, Sveriges Television AB, http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2010/1007/Why-Sweden-s-far- 12 March 2014, available at: h ttp://www.svt.se/nyheter/val2014/ right-anti-immigrant-party-made-powerful-gains. Last visited: 7 May 2014. sd-vill-samarbeta-med-le-pen. Last visited: 7 May 2014. 866 Bjurwald, L. ‘From boots to suits: Sweden Democrats’ extreme roots’, 874 ‘Expelled Sweden Democrats stand for Nazi party’, Sverige Radio, EUObserver, 11 March 2014, available at: 23 March 2014, available at: http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx? http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/123316. Last visited: 7 May 2014. programid=2054&artikel=5817247. Last visited: 6 May 2014.

76 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections UK Independence Party

Name: UK Independence Party (UKIP) Local elections 2006: Unspecified ( L 1 councillor)884 Country/headquarters: United Kingdom/Newton 2007: Unspecified ( L 5 councillors)885 Abbot875 2008: 1.4%; 4/3,421 wards and 4/4,104 seats ( L 8 Official website: www.ukip.org/876 councillors)886 2009: Unspecified ( L 7 councillors)887 Social-media presence:877 2010: Unspecified ( L 9 councillors)888 – Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheUKIP 2011: Unspecified ( L 7 councillors);889 UKIP also (69,327 ‘likes’) won control of its first council in May 2011, with Lisa – Instagram: www.instagram.com/ukipofficial Duffy becoming Mayor of Ramsey in 890 (15 followers) Cambridgeshire 2012: Unspecified ( L 7 councillors)891 – Twitter: www.twitter.com/ukip (40,105 followers) 2013: 22%;892 ( L 147 councillors); 5th place893 Founded: 1993; founded by Alan Sked, who lead the party until1997878 EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION Bloc: Europe of Freedom & Democracy (EFD)894 Current leader: Nigel Farage (2006-2009; 895 2010-present)879 Europea n Parliament, June 2004 – Share of national vote: 15.6% Previous leaders: Malcolm Pearson (2009-2010); – Seats: 12/78 Roger Knapman (2002-2006); Jeffrey Titford – Position: 3rd place 880 (2000-2002) – Turnout: 39.2% NATIONAL REPRESENTATION 884 ‘Councils A-Z’, BBC News, 22 May 2006, available at: House of Commons http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/vote2006/locals/html/region_999 881 99.stm. Last visited: 1 May 2014. 2001: 1.5%; 0/659 seats 885 ‘English Councils A-Z’, BBC News, 15 May 2007, available at: 882 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2007/local_councils/html/region_999 2005: 2.2%; 0/646 seats; 4th place 99.stm. Last visited: 1 May 2014. 883 2010: 3.1%; 0/650 seats; 4th place 886 ‘Local Elections 2008’, LGC Elections Centre, University of Plymouth, avail able at: http://www.research.plymouth.ac.uk/elections/ elections/2008%20results.htm. Last visited: 1 May 2014. 887 ‘Elections 2009: Council Map’, BBC News, undated, available at: 875 ‘Contact’, UKIP official website, available at: http://www.ukip.org/contact. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/elections/local_council/09/map/h Last visited: 1 May 2014. tml/map.stm. Last visited: 1 May 2014. 876 Website links correct as of 1 May 2014. 888 ‘Elections 2010: Local Councils A-Z’, BBC News, 24 May 2010, available at: 877 Social-media information accurate as of 31 March 2014; screenshots http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/election2010/council/html/region_9999 archived. 9.stm. Last visited: 1 May 2014. 878 ‘Lunch with the FT: Lord Pearson of Rannoch’, The Financial Times, 19 889 ‘2011 English Council results’, BBC News, 11 June 2011, available at: March 2010, available at: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/3eb73970-32de- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/election2011/council/html/england.st 11df-bf5f-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2xYEgDWcs. Last visited: 1 May 2014. m. Last visited: 1 May 2014. 879 Farage resigned as leader, to contest the 2010 General Election, before being 890 ‘UKIP takes control of first council’, BBC News, 13 May 2011, available at: re-elected in November 2010. See: ‘Nigel Farage re-elected to lead UK http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-13393302. Last Independence Party’, BBC News, 5 November 2010, available at: visited: 1 May 2014. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11700220. Last visited: 1 May 2014. 891 ‘ English Council Results’, BBC News, 4 May 2012, available at: 880 ‘Lord Pearson stands down as UKIP leader because he is ‘not much good’, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/vote2012/council/england.stm. Last The Guardian, 17 August 2010, available at: http://www.theguardian.com/ visited: 1 May 2014. politics/2010/aug/17/lord-pearson-stands-down-as-ukip-leader and ‘Lunch 892 ‘Local Elections 2013 – Commons Library Research Paper’, House of with the FT: Lord Pearson of Rannoch’, The Financial Times, 19 March 2010. Commons, 22 May 2013, available at: 881 ‘How UKIP became a British political force’, BBC News, 3 May 2013, http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/RP13-30/local-elections-2013. available at: http://www. bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22396689. Last visited: Last visited: 1 May 2014. 1 May 2014. 893 ‘English Council Results’, BBC News, undated, avai lable at: 882 ‘Full national scoreboard’, BBC News, 24 June 2005, available at: http://ww’w.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21240025. Last visited: 1 May 2014. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/scoreboard.stm. Last 894 ‘United Kingdom’, PollWatch2014, available at: visited: 1 May 2014. http://www.electio2014.eu/pollsandscenarios/polls#country. Last visited: 1 883 ‘United Kingdom’, European Election Database, available at: May 2014. http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/uk/. Last 895 ‘United Kingdom’, European Election Database; and: ‘How UKIP became a visited: 1 May 2014. British political force’, BBC News, 3 May 2013.

77 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

European Parliament, June 2009896 insurance with a flat-rate tax; replacing VAT with – Share of national vote: 16.5% local sales taxes; abolishing inheritance tax; cutting – Seats: 13/72897 council-tax levels; reducing costs in local – Position: 2nd place government, through job cuts and shrinking the – Turnout: 34.7% public sector to 1997 levels; and reorienting the European Parliament, May 2014898 economy towards manufacturing. – Predicted share of national vote: 24.7% – Domestic: Anti-immigration; increased defence and justice – Predicted seats: 20/73 spending; welfare cuts. Priorities include: cutting – Predicted position: 2nd place immigration levels, with an annual cap of 50,000; – Dates polled: 15/03/2014 – 30/03/2014 deporting all illegal immigrants; ensuring no cuts IDEOLOGY in front-line policing; harsher sentences and incre ased prison building; cutting welfare levels, to Mission statement: “We believe in the right of the people make it “a safety net for the needy, not a bed for the of the UK to govern ourselves, rather than be governed by lazy”, and limiting benefits to five-year residents; u nelected bureaucrats in Brussels” (UKIP official website, undated)899 significantly increasing defence spending and procurement; and privatising key NHS services and Political orientation: “populist right wing” (The providing NHS opt-out. Economist, January 2014);900 “conservative, Eurosceptic party” (European Election Database, undated);901 “a – Foreign: Anti-EU; isolationist. Priorities include: nationalist anti-immigrant party” (New Statesman, April leaving the EU as soon as possible but maintaining 2014)902 free-trade agreements with Europe; removing the UK from European Court of Human Rights Support base: “old, working class, poorly educated, male” (The Guardian, March 2014);903 “older, working class jurisdiction; making significant cuts to the former To ries […] who left school at 15 or 16 and earn less overseas-aid budget; and opposing both UK than £20,000 a year” (YouGov, February 2014)904 military intervention overseas and EU and UK support for pro-democracy protests in Ukraine and POLICY POSITIONS905 elsewhere.906 – Economic: Focus on tax and on public-sector cuts; boost – Significant other: Enviroscepticism. Priorities manufacturing sector. Priorities include: an increased include: repealing climate-change legislation; tax-free allowance; replacing income tax/national scrapping green subsidies; increasing shale-gas developme nt and nuclear-power capability, with a 896 ‘United Kingdom’, European Election Database. 897 The party currently has nine MEPs, after four defections/resignations. See: £3.5 billion investment; and scrapping capital ‘UKIP-MEPs’, UK Independence Party in the European Parliament, infrastructure projects, including high-speed rail available at: http://www.ukipmeps.org/mypage_5_UKIP-MEPs.html. Last 907 visited: 1 May 2014. and wind-turbine plants. 898 ‘United Kingdom’, PollWatch2014; information accurate as of 1 April 2014. 899 ‘About’, UKIP official website, available at: http://www.ukip.org/about. Last visited: 1 May 2014. CONTROVERSIES 900 ‘UKIP gets serious’, The Economist, 16 January 2014, available at: http://www.economist.com/news/britain/21594261-populist-right-wing-` – Ableism: Candidate Geoffrey Clarke was party-has-learned-trick-liberal-democrats-could-propel-it. Last visited: 1 May 2014. suspended in December 2012, after suggesting that 901 ‘United Kingdom – Political Parties’, European Election Database, “compulsory abortion should be considered for avail able at: http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/ country/uk/parties.html. Last visited: 1 May 2014. foetuses with Down’s syndrome or spina bifida”.908 902 Gapes, M., ‘Why I say UKIP posters are racist’, New Statesman, 22 April 2014, available at: http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/04/ why-i-say-ukip-posters-are-racist. Last visited: 2 May 2014. – Far-Right Links: Several prospective councillors 903 ‘UKIP faces significant challenges in runup to general election’, The Guardian, were investigated in April 2013, after their names 8 March 2014, available at: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/ 2014/mar/08/ukip-challenges-run-up-general-election-nigel-farage. Last visited: 1 May 2014. 904 ‘Where UKIP gets its support’, YouGov, 24 February 2014, available at: 906 ‘Nigel Farage steps up his criticism of reckless EU foreign policy’, UKIP http://yougov.co.uk/news/2014/02/24/where-ukip-gets-its-support/. official website, available at: http://www.ukip.org/nigel_farage_steps_up_ Last visited: 1 May 2014. his_criticism_of_reckless_eu_foreign_policy. Last visited: 1 May 2014. 905 Unless otherwise specified, all policy positions are taken from ‘Issues’, UKIP 907 Many policies in UKIP’s 2010 manifesto have since been rejected by official we bsite, available at: http://www.ukip.org/issues. Last visited: 12 May Nigel Farage, with a new manifesto due to be launched following the 2014; ‘What would a UKIP Britain look like’, The Guardian, 7 March 2013, European elections. See: ‘Nigel Farage: 2010 UKIP manifesto was available at: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/ “drivel”’, BBC News, 24 January 2014, available at: mar/07/ukip-policies-manifesto-commitments. Last visited: 12 May 2014; http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25879302. Last visited: 1 May 2014. and: ‘At-a-glance: UKIP general election manifesto’, BBC News, 13 April 908 ‘UKIP’s biggest gaffes of the year’, The Guardian, 20 September 2013, 2013, available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/ available at: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/sep/20/ election_2010/8617187.stm. Last visited: 1 May 2014. ukip-biggest-gaffes. Last visited: 1 May 2014.

78 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

were found on a British National Party (BNP) – Racism/Sexism/Ableism: MEP Godfrey Bloom members list before the local elections.909 In April was filmed, in August 2013, stating that the UK 2014, it was announced that a further two members should stop foreign aid to ‘Bongo Bongo Land’. Mr were being expelled over links to the BNP and the Bloom later lost the party whip after calling a group English Defence League (EDL).910 of UKIP women “sluts”, in September 2013, and was also criticised for mocking a student’s disability, – Far-Right Links/Racism: Councillor Victoria at the University of Oxford in January 2014.916 Ayling was accused, in December 2013, of being a former member of the National Front, and has – Racism: Councillor Peter Lagoda resigned in been filmed stating of immigrants: “I just want to April 2014, after being found to have made “racist, send the lot back, but I can’t say that”.911 derogatory and discriminatory” comments, including using the word “w*g” and claiming that – Homophobia: In January 2013, two UKIP he had “Mongol” relatives with “slanty eyes”.917 members were found to have made homophobic – Racism/Religious Hatred (Anti-Muslim): comments on an official forum (with Dr Julia Candidate William Henwood resigned in April Gasper claiming that LGBT people prefer sex with 2014, after stating that black comedian Lenny animals, and Jan Zolyniak linking homosexuality Henry should “emigrate to a black country”, as well and paedophilia).912 as making a number of anti-Muslim comments.918 – Homophobia: Candidate Douglas Denny – Racism: Andre Lampitt, who featured described gay sex as “disgusting”, in January 2013, prominently in a UKIP political broadcast, was and, in April 2014, claimed that LGBT people were suspended in April 2014, after stating online that 913 “abnormal”. Labour leader Ed Miliband was “not British”; – Homophobia: Councillor David Silvester was describing Islam as “an evil organisation”; and suspended from the party in January 2014, after he saying “leave Africa for the Africans. Let them kill 919 blamed gay marriage for winter flooding and themselves off ”. 914 claimed that LGBT people could be “healed”. – Racism: Candidate David Wycherley was accused – Racism: East Midlands Chair Chris Pain of racism in April 2014, after he posted online described illegal immigrants as “sandal-wearing, asking how “Mo Farah, an African … has won a 920 bomb-making, camel-riding, goat-f******, Gold medal for Great Britain”. ragheads”, on social-media in May 2013. In the – Religious Hatred (Anti-Semitism): Candidate same month, County Councillor Eric Kitson Anna-Marie Crampton was suspended in April resigned after sharing offensive anti-Muslim 2013, after sharing anti-Semitic online posts on material on Facebook.915

916 ‘Godfrey Bloom quits as UKIP MEP after “sluts” joke row’, BBC News, 24 September 2013, available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics- 909 24222992. Last visited: 12 May 2014; and: ‘Ukip’s Godfrey Bloom mocks ‘Investigation exposes UKIP candidates’ links to the BNP’, The Times, 27 disability at Oxford Union, asks student David Browne: “Are you Richard April 2013, available at: http: //www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/ III?”’, The Independent, 27 January 2014, available at: politics/article3750447.ece. Last visited: 2 May 2014. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukips-godfrey-bloom- 910 ‘UKIP to attempt to expel two “far-right” members’, ITV News, 29 April mocks-disability-at-oxford-union-asks-student-david-browne-are-you- 2014, available at: http://www.itv.com/news/update/2014-04-29/ richard-iii-9087751.html. Last visited: 1 May 2014. ukip-to-attempt-to-expel-two-far-right-members/. Last visited: 1 May 2014. 917 ‘UKIP Councillor Peter Lagoda Quits After “Racist” Remarks Outrage’, 911 ‘National Front past of UKIP star at centre of race row...and police probe The Huffington Post, 11 April 2014, available at: into her “abuse” of transvestite husband’, The Daily Mail, 15 December 2013, http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/04/11/ukip-cllr-peter-lagoda- available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2523883/ quits-racist_n_5130962.html. Last visited: 1 May 2014. National-Front-past-UKIP-star-centre-race-row—police-probe-abuse- 918 ‘UKIP candidates add to Nigel Farage’s woes with a barrage of racism’, transvestite-husband.html. Last visited: 1 May 2014. The Guardian, 26 April 2014, available at: http://www.theguardian.com/ 912 ‘Ugly face of UKIP: Sunday Mirror exposes racist and homophobic views of politics/2014/apr/27/ukip-farage-racism-lenny-henry-politics-europe; and: party members’, The Sunday Mirror, 12 January 2013, available at: ‘UKIP council candidate William Henwood resigns as party member over http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ ugly-face-ukip-sunday- Lenny Henry racism row’, The Independent, 29 April 2014, available at: mirror-1531879. Last visited: 1 May 2014. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ukip-council- 913 ‘UKIP candidate: Gay sex is “disgusting” and gays are “abnormal”’, Pink candidate-william-henwood-resi gns-as-party-member-after-lenny-henry- News, 9 April 2014, available at: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/04/09/ racism-row-9303738.html. Last visited: 1 May 2014. ukip-candidate-gay-sex-is-disgusting-and-gays-are-abnormal/?utm_source 919 ‘UKIP posterboy suspended after claiming “Miliband not British”’, =feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ The Telegraph, 25 April 2014, available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ Pinknews+%28Pink+News%29. Last visited: 1 May 2014. news/politics/ukip/10785963/Ukip-posterboy-suspended-after-claiming- 914 ‘UKIP suspends co uncillor who claimed floods were caused by gay marriage’, Miliband-not-British.html. Last visited: 2 May 2014. The Guardian, 19 January 2014, available at: 920 ‘Ukip in racism row after candidate describes Mo Farah as “African”’, http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jan/19/ukip-councillor-gay-peo The Guardian, 29 April 2014, available at: http://www.theguardian.com/ ple-spiritual-disease-pray-healed-david-silvester. Last visited: 1 May 2014. politics/2014/apr/29/ukip-wycherley-mo-farah-racism-row-facebook. 915 ‘UKIP’s biggest gaffes of the year’, The Guardian, 20 September 2013. Last visited: 2 May 2014.

79 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

Facebook, including one which claimed that the failed to make a significant political impression “Second World Wide War was engineered by the domestically prior to its success in the 2013 local Zionist Jews”.921 elections, with the majority of its votes coming in – Religious Hatred (Anti-Muslim): Candidate elections to the European Parliament. There, it has Magnus Nielsen was reported, in April 2014, to been remarkably successful, beating traditional parties have claimed on Facebook that “Islam is organised with far greater support and campaigning networks. crime under religious camouflage. Any Muslim The party’s anti-EU, anti-immigration, and isolationist who is not involved in organised crime is not a ‘true rhetoric is similar to many of the right-wing populist believer’, practising Islam as Muhammad parties profiled in this report, as is its popular and commanded”.922 charismatic leader and its portrayal of itself as outside – Religious Hatred (Anti-Muslim): In April of the traditional political elite. As with many other 2014, it was reported that UKIP candidate Jackie parties included, UKIP has faced numerous Garnett had posted a message on Facebook calling accusations of racism and religious hatred, while Nigel for the UK to “ban Islam and knock down all the Farage has seen accusations of authoritarian 927 mosques”.923 leadership, a common feature of populist parties. – Religious Hatred (Anti-Muslim)/ Despite these similarities, UKIP’s right-wing Homophobia: Candidate Harry Perry was economic and socio-economic policies, combined with suspended in May 2013, after online posts in which its opposition to climate-change regulation, he called Islam “evil” and Muslims “devil’s kids” differentiate it from many of these other populist were revealed. He also called for Pakistan to be groups. “nuked” and said that homosexuality was an “abomination”.924 – Sexism/Homophobia: UKIP donor Demetri Marchessini stated that he would make no more donations, in May 2013, after sexist views (including that unmarried mothers “should be given a good smack”) were revealed.925 In April 2014, it was alleged that he had made further donations in December 2013; had claimed that marital rape did not exist; and had made a number of homophobic comments.926

NOTES Founded as a single-issue party which sought to remove the United Kingdom from the EU, UKIP

921 ‘UKIP rocked by Holocaust row and BNP members, as leader Nigel Farage admits the party cannot vet all of its candidates’, The Daily Mail, 25 April 2013, available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2314830/ UKIP-rocked-Holocaust-row-BNP-members-leader-Nigel-Farage-admits- party-vet-candidates.html. Last visited: 1 May 2014. 922 ‘UKIP candidates add to Nigel Farage’s woes with a barrage of racism’, The Guardian, 16 April 2014. 923 ‘”Mo Farah isn’t British” and “mosques should be knocked down”: The outspoken views of yet more Ukip candidates’, The Daily Mail, 30 April 2014, available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2616698/ Mo-Farah-isnt-British-mosques-knocked-The-outspoken-views-Ukip- candidates.html. Last visited: 1 May 2014. 924 ‘UKIP suspends ‘Islam is evil’ tweet candidate’, BBC News, 3 May 2014, available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27268747. Last visited: 6 May 2014. 925 ‘UKIP donor Demetri Marchessini quits after controversy over views on women’, BBC News, 22 May 2013, available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22631003. Last visited: 1 May 2014. 926 ‘UKIP donor says women cannot be raped by their husbands’, The Guardian, 30 April 2014, available at: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/ 927 ‘Nigel Farage a Stalinist dictator, says UKIP MEP’, BBC News, 6 February apr/30/ukip-donor-says-women-cannot-be-raped-by-husbands?CM P= 2013, available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21355197. twt_gu. Last visited: 1 May 2014. Last visited: 1 May 2014.

80 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Analysis

KEY FINDINGS (24.8%); and the far-left Czech Communist Party (CPBM) is predicted third, with 14.8%; Overview I In the Netherlands, two Eurosceptic parties from 928 25 parties in 19 EU member states met the criteria for both ends of the political spectrum are predicted inclusion of a) being ‘outsider’ and b) polling favourably 30%: on the right, the anti-immigration Party for I These parties belong to the furthest left Freedom (PVV) is predicted joint first, with 16%; GUE-NGL bloc, the furthest right EFD bloc or and on the left, the anti-auste rity Socialist Party are non-aligned (NI); and have been predicted is predicted fourth, with 14%; either to win 10% (or more) of the national vote I Similarly, in Sweden, the Eurosceptic Left Party or to rank in the top three most successful is predicted fourth, with 10.8%; and populist parties/coalitions in the most recent national right Sweden Democrats is predicted fifth, with opinion polls.929 10%. Four parties are polling a quarter (or more) of the national vote 14 countries feature only one ‘outsider’ party predicted either I The pro-Russia Harmony Centre is predicted to 10% (or more) of the national vote or to rank in the top three. come first in Latvia, with 37%; the radically anti-austerity SYRIZA is predicted first in Of these, UKIP is polling the most favourably Greece, with 25.4%; populist ANO 2011 is I In order of predicted national votee shar predicted first in the Czech Republic, with (highest–lowest) the ‘outsider’ parties are: UKIP 24.8%; and the Eurosceptic United Kingdom (24.7%); the Danish People’s Party (DF) (24%); Independence Party (UKIP) is predicted second, France’s National Front (21.5%); the Freedom with 24.7%. Party Austria (FPO) (21%); Italy’s Five Star Movement (M5S) (21%); the Progressive Party of Greece is the only country where three ‘outsider’ parties are Working People in Cyprus (AKEL) (20%); predicted to secure 10% (or more), polling almost half (49.7%) Lithuania’s Order and Justice Party (20%); of the national vote between them Ireland’s Sinn Féin (19%); the Finns Party (18%); I SYRIZA is the most popular (25.4%); new Hungary’s Jobbik (16%); Spain’s United Left anti-establishment party The River, founded in (14%); the Democratic Unitarian Coalition in March 2014 is predicted to come third, with Portugal (CDU) (12%); Bulgaria Without 13.6%; and the fascist Golden Dawn is predicted Censorship (10%); and, the Croatian Labourists fourth with 10.7%. – Labour Party (HL-SR) (10%). Four countries feature two ‘outsider’ parties predicted to secure 10% (or more) of the national vote. In order of predicted Non-aligned parties were most commonly identified, followed national vote share (highest–lowest) they are: Latvia; the Czech closely by those in the furthest left bloc, while few belong to the Republic; the Netherlands; and Sweden furthest right bloc I In Latvia, the two parties are polling over half I 11 out of the 25 parties identified are non-aligned (54%) of the vote between them: the Harmony (NI); ten parties belong to the GUE-NGL; and Centre is the most popular (37%); and the four belong to the EFD. nationalist agrarian Union of Green and Farmers (ZZS) is predicted to come third, with 17%; 14 parties were formed in the twentieth century; six between I In the Czech Republic, the two parties are polling 2000 and the last EU elections (June 2009); and five parties almost 40%: ANO 2011 is the most popular since the last EU elections I The five parties which post-date the last EU

928 Austria; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Finland; elections are M5S (2009); HL-SR (2010); ANO France; Greece; Hungary; Ireland; Italy; Latvia; Lithuania; Netherlands; 2011 (2011); Bulgaria Without Censorship (2014); Portugal; Spain; Sweden; and the United Kingdom. 929 Polling accurate as of 1 April 2014. and The River (2014).

81 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

National parliamentary representation vote share decreasing by 7.5 and 5.4 percentage Almost all parties (23/25) are represented in their respective points, respectively. national parliaments; only UKIP and The River have no MPs European representation I The two parties without representation in national parliament are: UKIP, which has won Four of the 25 parties failed to secure representation at the between 1.5% and 3.1% of the national vote in European Parliament in the June 2009 elections; 17 currently 934 parliamentary elections since 2000 but failed to hold seats; and four did not stand win any seats; and, The River which, having I The four unsuccessful parties in the 2009 formed in March 2014, has not contested European elections have since increased in parliamentary elections. popularity by between two- and twenty-fold. In order of predicted vote share increase Of the 23 parties with parliamentary representation, two have (highest–lowest), these are: Golden Dawn (won 30% (or more) of available seats; three parties have between 0.5% in 2009; predicted 10.7% and two seats in 20 and 29%; seven parties have between 10% and 19%; the 2014); ZZS (won 3.8%, 2009; predicted 17% and remaining 11 have fewer than 10% two seats in 2014); Sweden Democrats (won 3.3% I The most represented parties in national in 2009; predicted 10% and two seats in 2014); parliaments are: AKEL (19 of 56 seats, 33.9%); and Sinn Féin (won 11.2% in 2009; predicted Harmony Centre (31/100, 31%); SYRIZA 19% and three se ats in 2014). (71/300, 23.7%); ANO 2011 (47/200, 23.5%); and FPO (40/183, 21.9%); Policy positions I By comparison, some of the most well-known 16 of the 25 parties can be described as ‘Eurosceptic’ ‘outsider’ parties hold a relatively small I They are: FPO; AKEL; DF; Finns Party; proportion of seats: PVV, for example, holds National Front; SYRIZA and Golden Dawn in 12/150 (8%); Golden Dawn holds 18/300 (6%); Greece; Jobbik; Sinn Féin; M5S; ZZS; PVV and and the National Front has the lowest level of Socialist Party in the Netherlands; Left Party and those parties with parliamentary representation Sweden Democrats in Sweden; and UKIP; at 2/577 (0.3%). I Anti-EU sentiments range from calls to 19 of the 25 parties have competed in at least two recent renegotiate current treaty commitments to parliamentary elections. Of these, 12 increased their share of demands for an immediate exit from the political the vote; 930 six saw their vote share decrease; 931 and one party’s union; vote share remained the same 932 I Half (8/16) of these parties are non-aligned; five I Between their recent parliamentary elections, belong to GUE-NGL; and three to EFD. SYRIZA 933 and the Finns Party demonstrated 11 of the 25 parties can be identified as ‘anti-immigration’ the most momentum, increasing their vote share I by 22.3 and 15 percentage points, respectively. They are: FPO; DF; Finns Party; National Front; UKIP demonstrated the least momentum, Golden Dawn; The River; Jobbik; M5S; PVV; increasing their vote share by 0.9 percentage Sweden Democrats; and UKIP; poin ts; I Anti-immigration sentiments range from parties I ZZS and PVV saw the largest decline between calling for an end to immigration from all their recent parliamentary elections, with their Muslim-majority countries (i.e. PVV; DF) to European immigration reform returning powers

930 In order of vote share increase, the parties are: SYRIZA (22.3 percentage to national governments (i.e. The River); points increase); Finns Party (15); Golden Dawn (6.6); Jobbik (3.8); CPBM I Almost three-quarters of these parties (8/11) are (3.6); National Front (3.6) ; United Left (3.1); FPO (3); Sinn Féin (3); Harmony Centre (2.4); AKEL (1.5); UKIP (0.9). non-aligned; and three (DF; Finns Party; UKIP) 931 In order of vote share decrease, the parties are: ZZS (7.5 percentage points belong to the EFD. decrease); PVV (5.5); Order and Justice Party (5.4); DF (1.6); Left Party (0.2); and Socialist Party (0.1). 932 Portugal’s CDU retained 7.9%. 933 The difference in vote share in Greece is measured between the 4 October 934 All won seats in June 2009 with the exception of the HL–SR (formed in 2009 elections and the 17 June 2012 elections. Elections were also held on 6 2010). Croatia voted to join the European Union on 22 January 2012 and May 2012 elections, but all attempts to form a government failed, prompting held elections to the European Parliament on 14 April 2013 in which the the June 2012 elections. party won 5.7% and one seat.

82 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

11 of the 25 parties prioritise opposition to NATO I The majority of these relate to immigrants from I They are: AKEL; CPBM; Finns Party; SYRIZA; Africa or Asia, with MPs or candidates from eight Golden Dawn; Sinn Féin; Socialist Party; CDU; parties (FPO; DF; Finns Party; National Front; United Left; Left Party; and Sweden Democrats; Golden Dawn; PVV; Sweden Democrats; UKIP) I Almost three-quarters of these parties (8/11) involved; belong to the GUE-NGL; two are non-aligned I In addition, MPs from two parties (National (Sweden Democrats; Golden Dawn); and the Front; Jobbik) have been criticised for anti-Roma Finns Party belong to the EFD. remarks and, in the case of Jobbik, anti-Roma policy suggestions. Nine of the 25 parties can be described as anti-corruption I They are: Bulgaria Without Censorship; HL–SR; Nine of the 25 parties have been involved in controversies ANO 2011; CPBM; Golden Dawn; The River; involving far-right/neo-Nazi/Nazi links Jobbik; M5S; and Harmony Centre; I These are: FPO; Finns Party; National Front; I Two thirds of these parties (6/9) are non-aligned; Golden Dawn; Jobbik; ZZS; Socialist Party; and one third (HL–SR; CPBM; Harmony Sweden Democrats; and UKIP. Of these, the Centre) belong to the GUE-NGL bloc. Socialist Party is the only GUE-NGL member. I Two parties included senior members or MPs Eight of the 25 parties prioritise criticism of EU anti-austerity who were Nazi officers/soldiers during the measures Second World War. FPO founder Anton I They are: AKEL; SYRIZA; Golden Dawn; Sinn Reinthaller and his successor Friedrich Peter were Féin; M5S; Harmony Centre; Socialist Party; and members of the SS; ZZS MP Visvaldis Lācis United Left; fought in an SS Latvian Legion; I Three quarters of these parties (6/8) belong to I Six parties have seen members or associates the GUE-NGL bloc; and two (Golden Dawn; accused of using Neo-Nazi/Nazi imagery M5S) are non-aligned. including Nazi salutes or songs (Finns Party; National Front; Golden Dawn; Jobbik; ZZS; Controversies Socialist Party). 11 of the 25 parties have been involved in religious Eight of the 25 parties have been involved in corruption-related hatred-related controversies controversies I These are: FPO; DF; Finns Party; National Front; I These are: Bulgaria Without Censorship; AKEL; SYRIZA; Golden Dawn; Jobbik; PVV; Socialist The River; Sinn Féin; ZZS; Order and Justice Party; Sweden Democrats; and UKIP. Of these, Party; United Left; and Left Party. Half belong SYRIZA is the only GUE-NGL member; to GUE-NGL. I The majority of these parties (8/11) have a I Half (4/8) belong to the GUE-NGL (AKEL; history of anti-Muslim-related controversies or Sinn Fein; United Left; Left Party); policies (FPO; DF; Finns Party; National Front; I Two of these parties (Bulgaria without PVV; Socialist Party; Sweden Democrats; UKIP); Censorship; The River) can be described as I A smaller number have been involved in anti-corruption. anti-Semitism-related controversies, with four including members censured for Holocaust denial Six of the 25 parties have been involved in homophobia-related or anti-Semitic conspiracy theory (National controversies Front; Golden Dawn; SYRIZA; Jobbik). I These are: Finns Party; Golden Dawn; Jobbik; ZZS; Order and Justice Party; and UKIP. All are Nine of the 25 parties have been involved in racism-related members of EFD or NI. controversies 935 I MPs from two of these parties have submitted I These are: FPO; DF; Finns Party; National Front; unsuccessful bills to their country’s national Golden Dawn; Jobbik; PVV; Sweden Democrats; parliament: calling for a ban on the “promotion and UKIP. All are members of EFD or NI. of sexual deviations” (Jobbik); or forbidding Gay Pride parades, public speeches, or campaign materials supporting LGBT rights (Order and 935 A racism controversy does not include instances of religious hatred or Holocaust Denial, which are categorised separately. Justice Party).

83 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

Five of the 25 parties have been involved in controversies positions on opposite ends of the political spectrum. involving violence/murder (or the threat of) Between them, the two parties stand to receive 36.1% I These are: National Front; Golden Dawn; Jobbik; of the vote in the upcoming elections, an almost Left Party; and Sweden Democrats. Of these, the sevenfold increase from the 5.2% gained in 2009.942 Left Party is the only GUE-NGL member; all Meanwhile, in countries which have exited EU others are NI. bailout programmes such as Ireland and Spain, I Two of these parties have been repeatedly anti-establishment, anti-austerity parties are also accused of violence against minority predicted to see their vote-share increase. Sinn Fein communities. Golden Dawn MPs and members is predicted to receive 19% of the vote despite recent have been involved in anti-immigrant violence, or scandals over its paramilitary past,943 a 7.8 been accused of incitement, while Jobbik’s percentage point increase on 2009, 944 while United quasi-paramilitary Magyar Guard was proscribed Left is set to gain 10.3% on its 2009 showing and win in December 2008 after anti-Roma rallies up to seven seats 945 after promising to “break with throughout Hungary. the troika and the European architecture of the Two of the 25 parties have been involved in controversies neoliberal project”.946 involving sexism and/or misogyny However, it is not just in countries struggling with I These are: Left Party (GUE-NGL); and UKIP austerity imposed on them that these policies have (EFD). aided ‘outsider’ parties. In Italy, which narrowly avoided needing such help, 947 Beppe Grillo’s M5S KEY THEMES attacks EU economic policy and calls for the right to Highlighting populist policies across the default on debt.948 Only formed in 2009, the party political spectrum took 25.6% in elections in 2013, 949 and is predicted to win 21% and 19 seats in Europe.950 Further west, Many of the parties profiled address reductions in 951 domestic living standards by presenting populist the Dutch Socialist Party is predicted 14%, double scapegoats which appeal to discontented voters. Of what it achieved in the 2009 European elections. the 25 parties included, 17 936 can be identified as Openly Eurosceptic, the party frames this position either prioritising anti-austerity rhetoric, targeting the through opposition to deficit reduction measures 952 financial institutions and strategies of the EU (8 of imposed by Eurozone membership. 937 25); or exhibiting anti-immigration/racist rhetoric, This suggests that these policies are appealing to voters identifying immigrants or ‘other’ communities as the across Europe, yet in Cyprus the former Communist 938 939 reason behind difficult times (11 of 25). party AKEL is set to see its share of the vote fall The anti-austerity rhetoric is most apparent of parties substantially from 34.9% in 2009 to 20%, despite its campaigning in countries forced to request EU/IMF bailout packages following the Eurozone crisis in 942 ‘Greece’, Pollwatch2014. 2009. In Greece, both SYRIZA and Golden Dawn 943 ‘Gerry Adams denies McConville son ‘backlash threat’’, BBC News, 6 May attack the austerity memorandum, with Golden 2014. 944 ‘Ireland’, European Election Database and ‘Ireland’, Pollwatch2014; Dawn’s promise “to completely denounce the Information accurate as of 1 April 2014 940 Memorandum” and SYRIZA’s to “abolish the 945 See ‘European Parliament 2009’, Spanish Ministry of Interior and ‘Spain’, memoranda” 941 indistinguishable despite their Pollwatch2014; Information accurate as of 1 April 2014. 946 ‘EU 2014 elections’, Izquierda Unida. 947 ‘European De bt Crisis Fast Facts’, CNN, 19 December 2013, available at: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/27/world/europe/european-debt-crisis-fas 936 These 17 parties are: the FPO, A KEL, DF, Finns Party, National Front, t-facts/. Last visited: 12 May 2014. Golden Dawn, SYRIZA, The River, Jobbik, Sinn Fein, M5S, Harmony 948 ‘Italy’s Beppe Grillo vows to shake up Europe in May elections’, Centre, PVV, Socialist Party, United Left, Sweden Democrats, and UKIP. The Financial Times, 1 January 2014. 937 The eight parties identified as anti-austerity are: AKEL, Golden Dawn, 949 ‘Italy elections: results breakdown of lower and upper chambers’, SYRIZA, Sinn Fein, M5S, Harmony Centre, Socialist Party, and United Left. The Telegraph, 26 February 2013; see also ‘La mappa elettorale d i YouTrend’, 938 The 11 parties identified as anti-immigration are: the FPO, DF, Finns Party, hosted by The Guardian, 25 February 2013. National Front, Golden Dawn, The River, Jobbik, M5S, PVV, Sweden 950 ‘Italy’, PollWatch2014, information accurate as of 1 April 2014. Democrats, and UKIP. 951 ‘The Netherlands’, PollWatch2014, information accurate as of 1 April 2014. 939 Two parties can be identified as doing both, with Golden Dawn in Greece 952 and M5S in Italy fitting into both categories. ‘Dutch Socialists push back at austerity’, The Wall Street Journal, 4 September 2012, available at: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/ 940 ‘The Program of Golden Dawn’, Golden Dawn International Newsroom. SB10000872396390443571904577629640764948920 941 ‘About SYRIZA’, SYRIZA website. Last visited: 9 May 2014.

84 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections anti-austerity rhetoric.953 AKEL, however, is likely still The only anti-immigration Western European party paying the price for being in power during the not predicted to increase its vote-share from 2009 is financial crisis, something shown in losses in the 2011 the PVV.965 It has been suggested, however, that voters general election and 2013 Presidential election.954 who support the party’s Euroscepticism but not its anti-immigrant views may be defecting to the Socialist Alongside this opposition to the financial institutions Party,966 which may in part explain the two parties’ and policies of the EU, anti-immigration/racist respective fortunes. rhetoric is even more prevalent, and on occasion is expounded in conjunction with anti-austerity views by Away from North-western Europe, Beppe Grillo has supported restrictions on immigration, particularly parties like Golden Dawn and M5S. The majority of 967 the 11 parties profiled which can be identified as doing from Romania, though unlike other parties profiled this is not a policy priority. The same is true of The so are concentrated in the more affluent countries of River, which seeks to reform European immigration Western and Northern Europe (7 of 11),955 while a policy, returning more power over the issue to national smaller number can be found on Europe’s poorer government.968 This cannot be said of Greece’s Southern and Eastern borders (4 of 11).956 Golden Dawn, which has been implicated in In North-western Europe, the majority of these significant violence against immigrants across the parties are predicted to significantly increase their country969 and calls for deporting illegal immigrants vote-share, with the FPO currently polling at 21.1%, to work camps.970 Meanwhile in Hungary, the up from 12.7% in 2009.957 In France, Marine Le Pen’s anti-Roma and anti-Semitic Jobbik is expected to 971 National Front is polling up to 21.5% of the vote, increase its share of the vote from 14.7% to 16%. compared to just 6.3% in 2009,958 while UKIP is Challenging European integration and predicted to continue its strong showing in European NATO’s EU role elections and poll 24.7% of the vote,959 with some recent polls suggesting that figure could even increase The Euroscepticism which inspires populist rhetoric to 29%.960 also drives hostility to EU integration, and to other supranational institutions like NATO. Together 19 of Meanwhile, the Nordic nationalist parties profiled are the 25 parties profiled can be identified as opposing also expected to improve on previous elections. Stating one of these groupings,972 with most of these parties it “will not accept a multi-ethnic transformation of the criticising the role of both. Despite the predominance 961 country” the DF is predicted to increase its level of of Euroscepticism, however, differing levels of 962 the vote from 12.7% to 21%. The Sweden opposition to the EU/NATO exist on both the left and Democrats has polled as high as 10%, an increase of the right; and a minority of the profiled parties are 7 percentage points from 2009,963 while the Finns supportive of these bodies, highlighting the differences Party is expected to double its share of the vote, in policy that exist. 964 polling 18%. The predominance of this opposition to governance by Brussels from the parties profiled highlights the

953 See ‘Cyprus’, European Election Database and ‘Cyprus’, Pollwatch2014; extent to which such views are increasingly gaining Information accurate as of 1 April 2014. traction among voters. Representing 13 countries 954 ‘Cyprus’, European Election Database. from the UK to Greece973 these anti-EU views range 955 The seven Western/Northern European parties identified are: the FPO, DF, Finns Party, National Front, PVV, SD, and UKIP. from so-called ‘soft’ Euroscepticism; which seeks to 956 The four Southern/Eastern parties identified are: Golden Dawn, The River, Jobbik and M5S. 965 ‘The Netherlands’, PollWatch2014; Information accurate as of 1 April 2014. 957 ‘Austria’, European Election Database and ‘Austria’, PollWatch2014; 966 ‘Leftward Tilt’, The Economist, August 25, 2012. Information accurate as of 2-3 April 2014. 967 ‘Desecrated Borders’, Beppe Grillo’s blog, October 2007. 958 ‘France’, European Election Database and ‘France’, PollWatch2014; 968 ‘A Strong Greece for a Just Europe’, To Potami, March 2014. Information accurate as of 2-3 April 2014. 969 ‘Greece’s Golden Dawn: ‘Don’t say a word or I’ll burn you alive’’, 959 ‘United Kingdom’, Pollwatch 2014; Information accurate as of 1 April 2014. BBC News, 2 October 2013. 960 ‘UKIP to top Europe vote despite perceived racism’, Reuters, 4 May 2014, 970 ‘The Program of Golden Dawn’, Golden Dawn Internationa l Newsroom. available at: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/05/04/uk-eu- election-britain-idUKKBN0DK0E920140504. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 971 ‘Hungary’, European Election Database. 972 961 Topaloff, L. K., (2012) Political Parties and Euroscepticism, Palgrave Studies in 16 parties can be identified as Eurosceptic (See FPO, DF, AKEL, Finns Party, European Union Politics, (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan), p.177. National Front, Golden Dawn, SYRIZA, Jobbik, Sinn Fein, M5S, ZZS, PVV, Socialist Party, Left Party, Sweden Democrats and UKIP) and 11 parties can 962 ‘Denmark’, European Election Database and ‘Denmark’, PollWatch2014; be identified as anti-NATO (See AKEL, CPBM, Finns Party, Golden Dawn, Information accurate as of 1 April 2014. SYRIZA, Sinn Fein, Socialist Party, CDU, United Left, L eft Party, and 963 ‘Sweden’, European Election Database and ‘Sweden’, Pollwatch 2014; Sweden Democrats). Infor mation accurate as of 1 April 2014. 973 These countries are: Austria, Denmark, Cyprus, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, 964 ‘Finland’, Pollwatch 2014; Information accurate as of 1 April 2014. Ireland, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

85 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections renegotiate current treaty commitments and return Party988 seek greater powers for national governments, selected national powers, to the uncompromising while others oppose the EU’s ability to impose policy positions of those parties which demand an on sovereign states.989 Echoing the nationalist rhetoric immediate exit from the political union. of the right, these parties see the EU as furthering Immediately apparent from the profiles, however, is “neoliberal” policy at the expense of individual that these ‘exit’ parties are a minority within the governments. This opposition to the direction of EU Eurosceptic parties featured. Three parties openly and policy is also reflected in many of these parties’ regularly call for their country to leave the EU; positions on NATO membership or activity.990 At its UKIP;974 PVV;975 and Jobbik.976 These parties are most extreme, this includes SYRIZA threatening to joined by Golden Dawn, which threatens leaving the close all foreign military bases991 and AKEL calling EU should its economic plans be challenged;977 and for the closure of British military bases on Cyprus; the FPO, which advocates leaving the union were both key NATO assets in the Eastern 978 Turkey to become a member. Mediterranean.992 Additionally, while not calling for EU withdrawal, four While former Communist parties and more of the parties profiled advocate a return to their anti-establishment groups might be expected to previous currencies and/or reserve judgment on criticise a US-led alliance, NATO also faces opposition future membership. In France, the National Front from several of the right-wing parties profiled. This i seeks to leave the euro and renegotiate France’s most apparent in the Baltic, where the Finns Party treaties with the EU;979 while in Italy the M5S has explicitly opposes any suggestion of Finland joining called for a referendum on leaving the Euro. In 993 addition, AKEL suggests leaving the single currency NATO, and Sweden Democrats states that Sweden in order to disengage from Cyprus’ austerity plan;980 must remain outside of the alliance, focusing on 994 and Sweden Democrats sees renegotiation as a first non-alignment and Nordic defence cooperation. step before a potential referendum on membership.981 Meanwhile, in Latvia, the influential ZZS member Aivars Lembergs has loudly denounced NATO’s Other Eurosceptic parties profiled argue for a return presence in the country, referring to it as a “foreign of powers or treaty renegotiation, focusing on the 995 importance of local government. These include the occupation”. 982 FPO, which demands local laws have “priority”; the However, opposition to the EU and NATO is not a 983 984 Finns Party; ZZS in Latvia; and DF, which states defining characteristic of the ‘outsider’ parties that “no law or resolution must be set higher than the 985 profiled, with a small number of parties on the EU’s Danish Constitution”. periphery remaining staunchly Europhile. Within the leftist GUE-NGL bloc, parties such as Sinn Recently-formed parties such as Bulgaria without Fein,986 the Swedish Left Party,987 and the Socialist Censorship,996 the Croatian Labourists,997 and ANO11998 all welcome the increased standards of

974 ‘Issues’, UKIP official website. governance associated with EU membership. The 975 ‘PVV European Election programme 2014’, PVV official website. same is true in the Baltic, where Latvia’s Harmony 976 ‘Jobbik leaders urge Hungary to quit EU, burn union flag at demonstration in Budapest (report + video)’, Politics.Hu, 15 January 2012, available at: http://www.politics.hu/20120115/jobbik-leaders-urge-hungary-to-quit-eu-b urn-union-flag-at-demonstration-in-budapest/. Last visited: 11 May 2014. 988 ‘Goals’, ‘Better Europe’, Socialist Party official website. 977 ‘The Program of Golden Dawn’, Golden Dawn International Newsroom. 989 See CPBM, SYRIZA, Sinn Fein, Socialist Party, United Left, and Left Party 978 Far-Right ‘lite’ to push for EU referendum on Turkish accession’, profiles. EUobserver, 25 October 2010. 990 This also includes opposition on more pacifistic basis, with Portugal’s CDU 979 ‘Europe’, National Front official website. a good example here. See ‘CDU – 2005 Manifesto’, CDU. 980 ‘Exit from the Memorandum and reshaping the Economy’, AKEL official 991 ‘Greece: SYRIZA’s 40-point program’, SYRIZA. website. 992 ‘Preconditions for a solution of the Cyprus Problem’, AKEL official website. 981 ‘Our policy- an overview’, Sweden Democrats official website. 993 ‘Fit For The Finns – The Finns Party’s Election Programme for the 982 ‘Party Programme of th e Freedom party of Austria (FPO)’, FPO official Parliamentary Election 2011/Summary’, Finns Party official website. website. 994 ‘Our policy- an overview’, Sweden Democrats official website. 983 ‘Fit For The Finns – The Finns Party’s Election Programme for the 995 ‘Latvia’s Lembergs lets it rip’, Business New Europe, 23 April 2014, available Parliamentary Election 2011/Summary’, Finns Party official website. at: http://www.bne.eu/content/baltic-blog-latvias-lembergs-lets-it-rip. 984 ‘Cameron Rouses Latvia Euro Foes Ignored in Currency Push’, Bloomberg, Last visited: 11 May 2014. 1 February 201.3 996 ‘Priorities’, Bulgar ia Without Censorship official website. 985 ‘EU Policy’, Danish People’s Party official website. 997 ‘The framework for a program of development of the Croatian economy’, 986 ‘Sinn Fein European Election Manifesto 2009’, Sinn Fein. Croatian Labour official website 987 ‘The Euro’, Left Party official website. 998 ‘Our program’, ANO official website.

86 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

Centre calls for “deeper European integration”999 and reforms severely restricting the grounds for asylum Lithuania’s Order and Justice declare EU and strengthening the conditions for citizenship and membership to be “the most important guarantee of family reunification. Known as “Europe’s strictest statehood”.1000 Even in Greece, where two of the immigration laws,” these had immediate effect, with parties profiled demonstrate great antipathy to the EU, the number of family reunification permits granted The River supports greater EU integration,1001 as during the following year showing a 60% decrease on 1009 does Portugal’s CDU.1002 the year before. Meanwhile, a number of the overtly Eurosceptic parties The DF continued to play a decisive role in remain supportive of NATO’s role in Europe, with the policy-making – particularly in helping to tighten PVV claiming NATO has kept Europe at peace since immigration further1010 – until elections in 2011 World War Two;1003 and DF arguing for Denmark to produced a new centre-left coalition government.1011 continue contributions to the alliance.1004 In the Baltic, The party’s impact can still be seen not only in a 1012 despite some of the Nordic ‘outsider’ parties’ opposition general shift in Danish politics towards the right, to the alliance, the ZZS Defence Minister has refuted but also in the way its presence prompted other Lembergs criticisms of NATO,1005 suggesting that once political parties to “take a more exclusionary tone” on 1013 in power parties may change their more strident immigration. During the 2011 campaign, for lines;1006 while in neighbouring Lithuania the Order example, the centre-left Social Democrat Party and Justice Party prioritises membership of the treaty promised not to reverse immigration reform and, in its policy programme.1007 since coming to power, has been criticised for engaging in right-wing rhetoric in order to maintain Outsider/insider: the impact of populist popular support – reflecting what some see as the DF’s parties on domestic politics impact on domestic politics and attitudes more 1014 A number of the parties profiled have maintained generally. ‘outsider’ party status while functioning on the ‘inside’ DF success arguably inspired other populist parties; of domestic politics or impacting political discourse. and during the 2010 parliamentary elections in the This is most apparent with some populist right-wing Netherlands leader of the similarly-oriented PVV, parties , which have won sizable representation in Geert Wilders, announced he would consider parliamentary elections and leveraged this to offer supporting a Liberal–Christian Democrat coalition, support for coalition governments in return for sizable prompting observers to state he was “consciously concessions on key policy priorities. courting a position like that of the Danish People’s 1015 Perhaps the earliest example of this was the success Party”. After winning 16% of the vote, the PVV of the DF and its influence on Denmark’s liberal immigration policies. After winning 12% in the 2001 1009 ‘Denmark’s immigration issue’, BBC News, 19 February 2005. parliamentary elections, the party provided the 1010 Controversial legislation passed in 2011, for example, ruled deportation the standard punishment for any foreigner convicted of a crime warranting a Liberal-Conservative coalition government with a prison sentence. See ‘Automatic deportation for foreign criminals in majority.1008 In return, the government passed Denmark’, Euronews, 11 June 2011, available at: www.euronews.com/ 2011/06/24/automatic-deportation-for-foreign-criminals-in-de nmark/; see also ‘Deporting the Victim: The Danish People’s Party Radical Solution to a Perceived Threat’, Humanity in Action, June 2011, available at: 999 http://www.humanityinaction.org/knowledgebase/386-deporting- ‘European Union Development’, Harmony Centre official website. the-victim-the-danish-people-s-party-s-radical-solution-to-a- 1000 ‘Programme’, Order and Justice official website. perceived-threat. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 1001 ‘A Strong Greece for a Just Europe’, To Potami, March 2014, manifesto obtained 1011 ‘Danish government weakened as socialist party leaves coalition’, Reuters, 30 by email correspondence with The River representatives, 29 April 2014. January 2014, available at: 1002 ‘CDU – 2005 Manifesto’, CDU official website. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/01/30/uk-denmark-socialists-idUKBR EA0T13L20140130. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 1003 Geert Wilders, ‘The Resurgence of European Patriotism’, 1012 Wall Street Journal, 21 November 2013. ‘Ritt Bjerregaard: Drop race against Kjaersgaard’, DR, 20 November 2010, available at: www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Politik/2010/11/20/084304.htm. Last 1004 ‘Principle Programme’, Danish People’s Party official website. visited 9 May 2014. 1005 ‘Vejonis and Lembergs have different opinions about NATO’, 1013 Thorfinn Stainforth, ‘The Danish Paradox: Intolerance in the Land of Baltic News Network, 4 April 2014. Perpetual Compromise’, Revie w of European and Russian Affairs vol. 5 1006 The same has also been suggested of SYRIZA’s anti-NATO rhetoric. issue 1/2009, p. 16, available at: http://carleton.ca/rera/wp-content/ See ‘Only Syriza Can Save Greece’, Galbraith, J, & Varoufakis, Y, uploads/vol5-1-Stainforth.pdf. Last visited: 9 May 2014. The New York Times, 23 June 2013. 1014 Rune Engelbreth Larsen, ‘Dahl has been untouchable - thanks to Helle 1007 ‘Programme’, Order and Justice official website. Thorning’, Politiken, 17 April 2014, available at: http://politiken.dk/debat/ 1008 Christer Gerdes and Eskil Wadensjö, ‘The impact of immigration on profiler/engelbreth/ECE2265769/thulesen-dahl-er-blevet-uroerlig—- election outcomes in Danish municipalities’, The Stockholm University takket-vaere-helle-t horning/. Last visited: 9 May 2014. Linnaeus Center for Integration Studies (SULCIS), Working Paper 2010:3, 1015 ‘Anti-immigration Wilders runs a muted campaign’, NRC Handelsblad, p. 10, available at: http://www.su.se/polopoly_fs/1.55492.132151 31 May 2010, available at: http://vorige.nrc.nl/international/ 4491!/SULCISWP2010_3.pdf. Last visited: 9 May 2014. article2554622.ece. Last visited: 9 May 2014.

87 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections agreed to provide external support for the minority Elsewhere in Europe, ‘outsider’ parties have become government, and like the DF, demanded concessions central to political discourse despite lacking significant on immigration policies. Over the following eighteen representation. UKIP, for example, does not have a months Prime Minister Mark Rutte agreed to tighten single MP in the British Parliament, but, in the run-up both asylum and family reunification procedures and to the European elections, has become the country’s announced plans to introduce legislation banning the most talked about political party, with leader Nigel Islamic face-veil and dual nationality, both Farage wide ly thought to have beaten Deputy Prime 1016 long-standing priorities for Wilders. Minister Nick Clegg in live televised debates on After the PVV withdrew its support for the coalition Europe in April 2014.1024 1017 in April 2012 over budget cuts disagreements, An example of UKIP’s current strength is the inability however, Wilders’ proposed bans were dropped as new of established political parties to dismiss it in the ways elections were called for September 2012.1018 The they previously have. In 2006, the then leader of the Dutch electorate surprised many commentators by Conservative Party, David Cameron said UKIP voting heavily for two centre parties, the outgoing members were “fruitcakes and loonies and closet Liberals and the Labour party, producing a stable racists”.1025 By contrast, after the party’s success in two-party coalition and diminishing the potential influence of other parties, including the PVV which local elections in May 2013, Prime Minister Cameron had lost nine seats.1019 said: “It’s no good insulting a political party that people have chosen to vote for.”1026 Despite lacking its previous leverage, the PVV’s impact can still be felt across the political landscape. During the The UK’s mainstream parties have also had to clarify 2012 election campaign, Wilders called for a Dutch their positions on two issues central to UKIP’s agenda, withdrawal from the EU for the first time – a significant Europe and immigration. While in his first party gesture in a country previously seen as at the heart of the conference speech as leader Cameron appeared to European project,1020 and one which pushed the issue to dismiss Europe, stating, “Instead o f talking about the the forefront of national politics in an unprecedented things that most people care about […] we were way forcing other political parties to clarify their banging on about Europe,”1027 six years later he positions.1021 Wilders’ position is also reflected in the announced a series of measures that echoed UKIP’s increased Euroscepticism of the Dutch electorate;1022 agenda. In October 2012, he publicly considered visa and mirrors that of the party’s counterpart on the left, controls on internal EU migration, controversially the Socialist Party. Opinion polls suggest that both parties challenging a core principle of the European are feeding on a strong anti-EU sentiment and could project;1028 and in January 2013 promised an ‘in-out’ command almost a third of the national vote between referendum on the EU by the end of 2017.1029 The them at the forthcoming European elections.1023 centre-left has also had to adjust to UKIP’s presence

1024 1016 ‘‘Dutch coalition deal involving Wilders takes shape’, ‘Instant opinion polls gave Farage a victory over Clegg, one by 69% to 31% BBC News, 30 September 2010, available at: and another by 68% to 27%. See ‘Nick Clegg v Nigel Farage TV debate on www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11438581; see also ‘New right-of- the UK and the EU’, BBC News, available at: www.bbc.co.uk/news/ centre Cabinet-Rutte introduced at The Hague palace’, Windmill Herald, uk-politics-26854894; see also ‘Nigel Farage scores victory over Nick Clegg available at: www.godutch.com/newspaper/index.php?id=1913; see also as second TV debate turns nasty’, The Telegraph, 2 April 2014, available at: ‘Netherlands to ban the burka’, The Telegraph, 15 September 2011, available www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/eure ferendum/10740795/Nigel- at: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/netherlands/8765673/ Farage-scores-victory-over-Nick-Clegg-as-second-TV-debate-turns-nasty.html. Netherlands-to-ban-the-burka.html Last visited: 10 May 2014. Last visited: 10 May 2014. 1025 1017 ‘Election Briefing No. 71 Europe And The Dutch Parliamentary Election, ‘David Cameron: UKIP ‘A Bunch Of Fruitcakes, Loonies And Closet European Parties Elections and Referendums Network, Sussex European Racists’, LBC Radio, available at: https://audioboo.fm/boos/1079562- Institute, December 2012, p. 2. david-cameron-ukip-a-bunch-of-fruitcakes-loonies-and-closet-racists. Last visited: 10 May 2014. 1018 Ibid. 1026 ‘Ukip success prompts Cameron to reach out and ‘show respect’’, Guardian, 1019 ‘‘Dutch surprise’, Economist, 15 September 2012, avai lable at: 3 May 2013, available at: www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/may/ www.economist.com/node/21562989. Last visited: 10 May 2014. 03/ukip-success-cameron-show-respect. Last visited: 10 May 2014. 1020 ‘‘A founding member’s apostasy’, Economist, 3 August 2013, available at: 1027 ‘Cameron places focus on optimism’, BBC News, 1 October 2006, available www.economist.com/news/europe/21582541-fanned-geert-wilders-dutch- at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5396358.stm; see also ‘David euroscepticism-rise-founding-members-apostasy. Last visited: 10 May 2014. Cameron in his own words – He hates “banging on about Europe”‘, 1021 ‘Election Briefing No. 71 Europe And The Dutch Parliamentary Election, LabourList, 16 May 2013, avail able at: European Parties Elections and Referendums Network, Sussex European http://labourlist.org/2013/05/david-cameron-in-his-own-words-he- Institute, December 2012, p. 3-4. hates-banging-on-about-europe/. Last visited 10 May 2014. 1022 ‘‘A founding member’s apostasy’, Economist, 3 August 2013, available at: 1028 ‘Conservative conference: Cameron considers EU migrant curbs’, BBC News, www.economist.com/news/europe/21582541-fanned-geert-wilders-dutch- 7 October 2012, available at: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19862253. euroscepticism-rise-founding-members-apostasy. Last visited: 10 May 2014. Last visited: 10 May 2014. 1023 ‘Rene Cuperus, ‘Electoral Bloodbath For Dutch Labour’, 1029 ‘David Cameron Promises ‘In-Out’ EU Referendum’, Sky News, 23 January Social Europe Journal, 31 March 2014, available at: 2013, available at: http://news. sky.com/story/1041652/david-cameron- www.social-europe.eu/ 2014/03/dutch-labour/. Last visited: 6 May 2014. promises-in-out-eu-referendum. Last visited: 10 May 2014.

88 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections on immigration,1030 and in January 2014, Shadow In Lithuania, the former Liberal Union MP Rolandas Business Secretary and Labour MP, Chuka Umunna, Paksas also left his party in 2002 to found what admitted that under his party’s previous government became the Order and Justice Party, calling for a there was “too much [low-skill immigration] from the stronger focus on law, order and family values. Taking EU”. 1031 with him 13 MPs, his fledgling party became the The Conservative Party’s apparent tougher stance on fourth largest in Parliament without ever having 1036 immigration and the EU comes despite the risk of contested elections. A “flamboyant” 1037 being marginalised in Europe, indicating the power personality, Paksas successfully challenged the ‘outsider’ parties can have.1032 However, while IPUK incumbent President in 2003 and served as head of are keen to claim responsibility,1033 these shifts in state until April 2004 when he was removed from policy also reflect the constant pressure Cameron is office for violating the constitution. Despite a lifelong 1038 under from Eurosceptic backbenchers; and the fact ban from national elections, he remains the most 1039 that tougher immigration measure generally poll well well-known personality associated with the party. with segments of the British public. Similarly, UKIP leader Nigel Farage, while never an MP, left the centre-right Conservative Party in protest The evolution of populist leadership in Europe over its perceived political direction.1040 Farage casts Populist parties across Europe have traditionally himself as a man-of-the-people, particularly on centred on a strong personality, a figure whose Europe, crime and immigration, where he argues the charisma and compelling leadership personifies the political elite is too removed from the sentiments of party’s message.1034 While many of the parties the general population.1041 In an April 2014 poll, for profiled fit this model, there appears to have been an example, 77% of UKIP supporters said Farage was evolution in populist leadership from right-wing “in touch with normal people,” compared to only politicians towards anti-establishment celebrities. 37% of Conservative supporters who said the same 1042 Among the most well-known leaders is Geert Wilders about party leader David Cameron. of the PVV in the Netherlands, who encapsulates the Despite their differences, Wilders, Paksas and Farage traditional image of a populist leader. After leaving typify a style of populist leadership grounded in the conserv ative Liberal party in 2004 in protest over political protest against a perceived shift towards the its perceived shift towards the centre-ground, he centre-ground from the right, which capitalises on quickly branded himself as a politician prepared to reaching the parts of the electorate that feel left say what others would not. In 2013, for example, he behind. Since the last European elections in 2009, was named ‘Politician of the Year’ by a prominent however, a new style of populist leadership has current affairs television show EenVandaag, because “he emerged, grounded in celebrity activism against the speaks in clear language […] and is good at perceived corruption of the political establishment. In 1035 representing his electorate”. Italy, Greece and Bulgaria, anti-establishment political movements led by celebrities (and driven by social 1030 ‘Populist Party Gaining Muscle to Push Britain to the Right’, New York media) are all contesting their first European elections. Times, 7 May 2014, available at: www.nytimes.com/2014/05/08/world/ europe/populist-party-gaining-muscle-to-push-britain-to-the-right.html? Italy’s M5S, founded in 2009 by celebrity comedian, _r=0. Last visited: 10 May 2014. 1031 ‘Stop EU citizens travelling to UK in search of work, says Labour’, Guardian, Beppe Grillo, is the oldest and most well-known of 10 January 2014, available at: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ 2014/jan/10/stop- eu-citizens-travelling-uk-work-labour. Last visited: 10 May 2014. 1036 Algis Krupavicius, ‘Lithuania’, European Journal of Political Research, 1032 ‘David Cameron faces EU isolation on anti-immigration stance’, Financial December 2003, vol. 42, no. 7-8, pp. 1010-1020. Times, 19 January 2014, available at: www.ft.com/cms/s/0/91350d0e-7f91- 1037 Profile, Rolandas Paksas, BBC News, 6 April 2004. 11e3-b6a7-00144feabdc0.html#axzz31DGsr2wV. Last visited: 10 May 2014. 1038 Rolandas Paksas, Encyclopaedia Britannica. 1033 ‘UKIP seeks to push UK Labour party into EU referendum pledge’, 1039 Reuters, 12 February 2014, available at: http://uk.re uters.com/article/2014/ Profile, Rolandas Paksas, BBC News, 6 April 2004. 02/12/us-eurozone-summit-farage-idUKBREA1B1K120140212. 1040 ‘Profile: UKIP leader Nigel Farage’, BBC News, 2 April 2014, available at: Last visited: 10 May 2014. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26823817. Last visi ted 11 May 2014. 1034 Noam Gidron and Bart Bonikowski, ‘Varieties of Populism: Literature 1041 ‘Profile: UKIP leader Nigel Farage’, BBC News, 2 April 2014; ‘Ed West, Review and Research Agenda’, Weatherhead Center for International ‘Nigel Farage has successfully positioned himself as both Thatcher’s heir Affairs Working Paper Series, Harvard University, 2013, pp. 12-13, and a man of the people’, The Telegraph, 15 April 2013, available at: available at: http://scholar.harvard.edu/files/gidron_bonikowski_ http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/edwest/100212167/nigel-farage-has-succ populismlitreview_2013.pdf. Last visited 12 May 2014. essfully-positioned-himself-as-both-thatchers-heir-and-a-man-of-the-people/. 1035 ‘Dutch society rounds on Geert Wilders for anti-Moroccan cheerleading’, Last visited: 11 May 2014. Amsterdam Herald, 21 March 2014, available at: www.amsterdamherald.com/ 1042 ‘Nigel Farage Has Successfully Convinced The Public That He’s A Man Of index.php/rss/1177-20140321-dutch-society-rounds-on-geert-wilders- The People’, BuzzFeed, 15 April 2014, available at: www.buzzfeed.com/ anti-moroccan-cheerleading-netherlands-local-elections-politics. jimwaterson/nigel-farage-has-successfully-convinced-the-public-that-hes. Last visited: 10 May 2014. Last visited: 11 May 2014.

89 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections such parties.1043 It benefits from Grillo’s widespread anti-corruption ticket, Barekov has already gained two popularity, built over a 30-year-long career spanning seats in the National Assembly (through defections) television, comedy and blogging. Grillo dominates his and is predicted to win 10% of the vote in the party through his enormous social media presence: his European elections. Like Theodorakis, Barekov has blog is the party’s official ‘headquarters’ and the most leveraged his following as an investigative journalist, widely read in Italian.1044 His Facebook page has over capitalising on the national outcry against the former 1.5 million ‘likes’ and his Twitter account has almost ruling party after he uncovered evidence of voter as many followers.1045 Despite winning a quarter of manipulation during parliamentary elections in 2013. the vote in parliamentary elections in 2013, Grillo Setting his party in opposition to traditional parties, refuses to work with other political parties and Barekov promises to clean-up politics in the second continues to present M5S as an ‘outsider’ most corrupt country in Europe.1053 His party has also organisation.1046 Like many new celebrity leaders, he generated over 30,000 Facebook ‘likes’ in its short is criticised for lacking viable policies, but continues to history;1054 and garnered influential supporters, poll well and is predicted to win one in five votes in including the former President of Bulgaria, Petar the European elections.1047 Stoyanov.1055 In Greece, a similarly anti-establishment party, The Unlike the right-wing populist leaders profiled, who River, has very quickly made a significant impact on characterise themselves as taking a stand on key domestic politics, polling ahead of more established policies, these new celebrity leaders are often parties within a month of its launch in March 2014. described as “unideological” or lacking coherent Typifying this new style of populist leadership, the policy positions.1056 Despite this, their party was founded by TV presenter and journalist anti-corruption rhetoric, high-profile celebrity status 1048 Stavros Theodorakis, who leveraged the and social media presence, has quickly gained popularity of his current affairs programmes into traction in countries suffering the effects of both the 1049 support for his political movement. The party Eurozone crisis and internal political scandals. Both capitalises on celebrity endorsements, with prominent The River and Bulgaria without Censorship are supporters ranging from writers and journalists to hoping for a good result in the forthcoming elections 1050 musicians, sportspeople and academics. It has also in order to secure European funding, while for Grillo developed a strong social media presence on Facebook, the elections will arguably demonstrate whether the Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, generating over 30,000 Italian electorate will continue to support a celebrity 1051 Facebook ‘likes’ in under two months. ‘outsider’ who refuses to work on the inside with Meanwhile in Bulgaria, former television host Nikolay meaningful effect. Barekov founded Bulgaria without Censorship in January 2014.1052 Campaigning primarily on an The viability and potential outcomes of a right-wing Europea n ‘wrecking’ alliance

1043 ‘Notizie in due minuti’, Corriere della Sera, 5 October 2009; see also ‘A waning Across parts of Europe, right-wing parties appear to star’, Economist, 29 September 2012. be capitalising on rising anti-EU sentiment after over 1044 Jamie Bartlett, Caterina Froio, Mark Littler, Duncan McDonnell, ‘New Political Actors in Europe: Beppe Grillo and the M5S’, DEMOS, 2013, p. four years of the Eurozone financial crisis and 24; see also ‘A waning star’, Economist, 29 September 2012. austerity measures. Ahead of the European elections, 1045 Social-media information accurate as of 6 May 2014; screenshots archived. 1046 Dino Amenduni, ‘Why so many Italians love Beppe Grillo’s Five Star leaders of populist right-wing parties have been trying Movement’, Guardian Comment, 6 March 2013; see also ‘Italy’s Beppe Grillo to consolidate this newly found popularity1057 in the vows to shake up Europe in May elections’, Financial Times, 1 January 2014. 1047 ‘Italy’s Five Star Movement loses shine’, Financial Times, 12 June 2013. 1048 Theodorakis created The River in February 2014 and the party was officially launched on 4 March 2014. See ‘A river runs through it (the 1053 ‘Ex-journalist establishes Bulgaria without Censorship party’, political system)’, The TOC, 26 Fe bruary 2014; see also ‘Journalist launches FOCUS News Agency, 26 January 2014; see also Bulgaria Without To Potami but remains vague on ideology, candidates’, Ekathimerini, Censorship - party profile, The Democratic Society, 10 February 2014; 4 March 2014; see also ‘Stavros Theodorakis’s ‘river’ party aims to get see also Corruption Perceptions Index 2013: EU and Western Europe, Greek politics flowing in the right direction’, Guardian, 13 March 2014. Transparency International. 1049 ‘Stavros Theodorakis’s ‘river’ party aims to get Greek politics flowing in the 1054 Facebook information accurate as of 16 April 2014; screenshot archived. right direction’, Guardian, 13 March 2014; see also ‘Will the Riv er sweep 1055 ‘Ex-Right-Wing President Backs Pa rty of Bulgarian TV Host’, Sofia News Greek politics?’, Hurriyet Daily News, 17 March 2014. Agency, 28 January 2014; see also ‘Group of opposition MPs to join 1050 ‘Theodorakis reveals “River” supporters’, New Greek Radio, 4 March 2014. Bulgaria without Censorship’, FOCUS News Agency, 1 April 2014. 1051 Social-media information accurate as of 29 April 2014; screenshots 1056 ‘To Potami (lit. ‘The River’)’ - party profile, The Democratic Society, archived. 8 April 2014; see also ‘Stavros Theodorakis’s ‘river’ party aims to get 1052 See ‘Ex-journalist establishes Bulgaria without Censorship party’, FOCUS Greek politics flowing in the right direction’, Guardian, 13 March 2014. News Agency, 26 January 2014; see also ‘About Us’ Bulgaria Without 1057 ‘Wilders an d Le Pen join forces on anti-EU group’, EUObserver, 14 Censorship official website. November 2013, available at: http://euobserver.com/news/122096.

90 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections form of a European alliance in order to pool resources coalition could potentially enable its members to and “wreck” the parliament from the inside.1058 paralyse EU policy-making by blocking the votes of 1066 In November 2013, Marine Le Pen of the French mainstream political groups, gain greater National Front and Geert Wilders of the PVV, both influence and perceived legitimacy at home, as well as leading in their national polls,1059 met in The Hague providing opportunities for small far-right parties to enter the European Parliament and pitch their to discuss forming a joint parliamentary group in the 1067 European Parliament.1060 Following this, they nationalist agendas. announced their intentions to collaborate in an However, the far-right’s ability to create viable, lasting alliance, should they do well in the elections, in order alliances in the European Parliament has in the past to reclaim power back from the EU. Wilders referred proven limited. From the early 1980s, internal to these developments as “the start of the liberation of divisions and controversies caused by member parties Europe from the monster of Brussels”,1061 while Le have often led coalitions to implode. “Identity, Pen stated that “we want to give freedom back to our Tradition and Sovereignty” (ITS), the party group people” as “our old European nations are forced to ask formed in 2007, whose members included the the authorisation of Brussels in all circumstances, National Front and FPO, fell apart in a matter of forced to submit their budget to the headmistress”.1062 months after one of its members – Alessandra Mussolini – made racist remarks about Romanian In order to form a viable party group, 25 MEPs and 1068 the representation of one quarter of the group’s immigrants in Italy. member states are required.1063 A successful alliance While right-wing parties gained significant ground in would entitle members the right to present resolutions the 2009 EU elections, and are largely expected to do and promote policies on an EU level, as well as to well in May, attempts to form a group in the current greater funds from the EU budget, office space and European Parliament to date have faltered. While support staff. If successfully formed, the coalition extreme-right parties Golden Dawn, Jobbik and would provide a greater platform for right-wing Attack (Bulgaria) are not likely to be considered as rhetoric, which tends to play on anti-immigration potential members, given their strong links to sentiments and the threat of ‘radical’ Islam. anti-Semitism and political violence, the most likely The majority of the parties believed to have already candidates to join the alliance – populist right-wing parties such as DF and UKIP – have shown caution joined the alliance (including the FPO, Slovak 1069 1070 National Party, Sweden Democrats, the Italian Lega or even outright dismissal of the prospect. Nord and the Flemish Vlaams Belang),1064 want to UKIP’s leader Nigel Farage has attempted to distance revise the Lisbon Treaty. And, according to Wilders, himself and his party from the European radical-right they “want to decide how we control our borders, our for fear of appearing too extreme at home. In August money, our economy, our currency”.1065 This new 2013, his party claimed that “UKIP is not right-wing but a libertarian party”, denying any “involve[ment] 1071 1058 ‘Le Pen and Wilders forge plan to ‘wreck’ EU from within’, The Guardian, in this initiative by Geert Wilders”. Then, in 13 November 2013, available at: www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/ November, Farage said: “Whatever Le Pen is trying to nov/13/le-pen-wilders-alliance-plan-wreck-eu. Last visited: 10 May 2014. 1059 See: ‘UKIP and the Tories: in search of palatable EU partners’, do with Le Front National, anti-Semitism is still deeply EUObserver, 8 May 2014, available at: http://euobserver.com/ embedded in that party, and for that principle political eu-elections/124025. Last visited: 13 May 2014; and: ‘Lat est polls from France’, EuropeanVoice, available at: www.europeanvoice.com/ reason, we are not going to work with them now, or page/4031.aspx?LG=1. Last visited: 12 May 2014. at any point in the future”.1072 DF has similarly 1060 ‘Denmark’s populists on the rise’, Deutsche Welle, 19 November 2013, available at: www.dw.de/denmarks-populists-on-the-rise/a-17238507. Last visited: 10 May 2014. 1061 ‘Geert Wilders: Dutch Far-Right Leader Riding High’, Sky News, 12 May 1066 ‘Le Pen and Wilders forge plan to ‘wreck’ EU from within’, The Guardian, 2014, available at: http://news.sky.com/st ory/1259744/ 13 November 2013. geert-wilders-dutch-far-right-leader-riding-high. Last visited: 13 May 2014. 1067 Ibid. 1062 ‘Le Pen and Wilders forge plan to ‘wreck’ EU from within’, 1068 The Guardian, 13 November 2013. ‘The Le Pen-Wilders alliance and the European Parliament: Plus ça change, plus a meme chose’, The Washington Post, 11 February 2014. 1063 ‘Political Groups’, European Parliament, available at: 1069 www.europarl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/en/007f2537e0/ Ibid. Political-groups.html. Last visited: 12 May 2014. 1070 ‘Denmark’s populists on the rise’, Deutsche Welle, 19 November 2013, 1064 Waterfield, B. ‘What would a UKIP far-right Euroscep tic bloc look like?’, available at: www.dw.de/denmarks-populists-on-the-rise/a-17238507. The Telegraph, 5 May 2014, available at: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ Last visited: 10 May 2014. worldnews/europe/eu/10808931/What-would-a-Ukip-far-Right- 1071 Black, T. ‘Ukip and the Tories: in search of palatable EU partners’, Eurosceptic-bloc-look-like.html. Last visited: 12 May 2014. EUObserver, 8 May 2014, available at: http://euobserver.com/ 1065 ‘Wilders and Le Pen join forces on anti-EU group’, EUObserver, eu-elections/124025. Last visited: 13 May 2014. 14 November 2013. 1072 Ibid.

91 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections refused to join the Le Pen-Wilders alliance, with its deputy leader Søren Espersen, saying “I don’t think that Front National is a decent party”.1073 Even if these parties did decide to join, clashes of personalities and policy positions could still potentially rupture an alliance. For example, DF’s pro-free market stance1074 stands in direct contrast with the FN’s protectionist tendencies.1075 Furthermore, given the light-footed diplomacy that would be necessary to balance the old far-right and new right-wing populists, success in overcoming their lack of ideological coherence remains unlikely. Even if an alliance is successfully formed following the elections, right-wing parties would still collectively remain a minority in parliament, and would be unlikely to have a major impact on EU policy making. Howeve r, a new grouping could potentially threaten other European alliances, such as Farage’s EFD bloc, drawing many of its members further to the right. On the other side of the European Parliament meanwhile, parties from the Left, such as SYRIZA and Spain’s United Left, show Eurosceptic tendencies and, in some cases, call for leftists to unite against European neo-liberalism.1076 1077 However, whether this is simply rhetoric, or a sign that a left-wing alliance will form after the elections is difficult to tell.

1073 ‘Danes turn down EU anti-immigration election alliance’, NewsWave, 14 November 2013, available at: http://newswave.eu/df-turns-eu-anti- immigration-alliance/. Last visited: 12 May 2014. 1074 ‘EU Policy’, Danish People’s Party official website, available at: www.danskfolkeparti.dk/M%C3%A6rkesag-EU. Last visited: 9 May 2014. 1075 ‘Project of the National Front’, National Front official website, available at: www.frontnational.com/le-projet-de-marine-le-pen/. Last visited: 2 April 2014. 1076 ‘IU program for the European elections 2014’, United Left official website, available at: www.izquierda-unida.es/programa_europeas2014. Last Visited: 9 May 2014. 1077 All policy positions taken from ‘Greece: SYR IZA’s 40-point program’, SYRIZA official website, available at: http://links.org.au/node/2888. Last visited: 11 May 2013. See also: ‘About SYRIZA’, SYRIZA official website, available at: www.syriza.gr/page/who-we-are.html #.U1keJvldVQg. Last visited: 6 May 2014.

92 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections Conclusion

Polls from across EU member states prior to the European elections suggest that, in many countries, so-called ‘outsider’ parties will see success at the expense of more established parties. This reflects discontent with the more traditional parties at a national level, an increasing opposition to the EU from both ends of the political spectrum, and a response to the economic woes experienced by voter s across the continent in the aftermath of the Eurozone crisis. 25 parties in 19 EU member states, spread across the three fringe blocs within the European Parliament, are predicted to receive more than 10% of their national vote. Of these, 11 parties are non-aligned (NI), ten belong to the far-left GUE-NGL bloc, and three are part of the right-wing EFD grouping.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Greece features the greatest number of parties profiled in the report, while four countries have two ‘outsider’ parties predicted to gain more than 10% of the vote. Most see Eurosceptic parties from either end of the political spectrum polling well, and Latvia, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Sweden, these parties are predicted 54%; 39.6%; 30%; and 20.8% respectively. Meanwhile, in the Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Italy, Lithuania, and the UK an ‘outsider’ party is predicted to take more than 20% of the vote. Furthermore, it is clear that the recent formation of many of these parties is not affecting their chances in the upcoming elections, with a significant number of the parties formed post-2000. 11 of the 25 parties profiled formed since then, and five post-date the European Elections in 2009. Despite this, 23 of the 25 are also represented in their national parliaments, with only UKIP and The River (the latter yet to contest elections) not represented, and this is mirrored at European level, with 17 of 25 already holding seats in the European Parliament. While the success stories these figures show should not be underestimated, it is also apparent many of these parties have a darker si de, with 11 of the parties profiled linked to religious hatred-related controversies and nine involved in racism-related controversies. Meanwhile, five parties are linked to violence/murder or threats thereof, with two consistently accused of violence against minorities. In addition, eight parties have been embroiled in corruption or financial scandals.

Despite this, many of these parties have hel d consistently high positions in the polls, suggesting that they may be more durable than previously expected. As such, whatever alliances are made in the European Parliament after these elections, and whatever the capabilities of the parties involved, such a groundswell is likely to have considerable political reverberations in the years ahead.

93 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections

94 The Rise of ‘Outsider’ Parties in the 2014 EU Elections AUTHOR | AUTHOR A Henry Jackson Society Briefing

First published in May 2014 by The Henry Jackson Society The Henry Jackson Society, 8th Floor, Parker Tower, 43-49 Parker Street, London WC2B 5PS Tel: 020 7340 4520 www.henryjacksonsociety.org © The Henry Jackson Society, 2014 All rights reserved The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and are not necessarily indicative of those of The Henry Jackson Society or its Trustees ISBN: 978- 1-909035-15-7 £10.00 where sold