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Civil liberties network says in states where far-right parties influence power, rule-of-law deterioration risks becoming systemic
The rule of law is declining across the EU as governments continue to weaken legal and democratic checks and balances, a leading civil liberties network has said, highlighting in particular a sharp rise in restrictions on the right to protest.
Berlin-based Liberties said in its annual report, compiled with 37 rights groups in 19 countries, that in older democracies with mainstream parties in government, such as France, Germany and Belgium, challenges to the rule of law remained sporadic.
However, in similarly long-established – so resilient – democracies where far-right parties are in power, or influencing power, such as Italy and Sweden, Liberties said deterioration of the rule of law, while gradual, risked becoming systemic.
In more recently re-established EU democracies, such as Slovakia, Slovenia and Poland, it said the rule of law “can swing rapidly - either towards recovery or decline”.
Balázs Dénes, the executive director of the Civil Liberties Union for Europe, as Liberties is formally known, said its 600-page report – used by the European Commission in its rule-of-law monitoring – showed the EU needed to act faster against clear rule-of-law backsliding.
The problem is that the ruling class thinks that they can shove anything down the throats of their people and the people will just be happy eating cake. The far-right should be labeled undemocratic and prevented by any means from occupying any political position anywhere or have any kind of influence as it’s taking the world down a dangerous path just so they can satisfy their fetish of power.
I don’t disagree. But I would like to make a distinction. Authoritarian populists should never be given any credence. Left or right. When it comes to capitalism, liberals are about as far right as you can get in general. But they can be reasoned with pretty frequently. And are not constantly maliciously trying to hurt people. Their policies tend to hurt a lot of people because of biases built into the systems. But it’s not something they try hard to do.
Conversely, fascists and leninists are a threat to everyone including themselves. And as you said, should be given no quarter. But are given far too much attention and tolerance.
Ah yes, all those Leninist politicians that are showing up all over Europe and winning elections…
Liberals hurt plenty of people. They enact austerity that have hurt many poor people. They care more about money than human well-being. They often vote for sanctions that do nothing but hurt regular people. And historically have always sided with fascists when it comes down to it.
Currently it’s fascists. But leninists absolutely marched across Europe and Asia in the mid 20th century. Slaughtering and forcefully annexing countries against their will. Imprisoning and murdering people simply for disagreeing with “the party”. It’s literally the one genuine accurate criticism capitalists have had of leninists. Even if it is somewhat hypocritical.
I’m not going to disagree with your characterization of liberals. Except to point out that that doesn’t represent all or most of them. It definitely does represent some. But also ironically represents a large portion of those in power in Leninist political structures. Because it’s not the non-authoritarian liberals that are the problem. Just like it’s not the non-authoritarian non-leninist Marxist like myself, who aren the problem. It’s those who support or make excuses for authoritarians that are a threat to everyone. Along with the authoritarians of course. Regardless of whether they are technically left or right.
Criticizing liberals and fascists while supporting Lenin, Engles, and those that follow their diseased ideology. Is hypocritical.
Yes! Thank you for making the distinction between authoritarian and left wing politics. Folks hate Nazis and Tankies because of the authoritarian ideology. No one wants others running their lives and the extreme political spectra are filled with assholes ruining the lives of others en masse.
Tankies are not leftists. They are Nazis with worse economics.
I disagree with your last sentence. If there’s one thing they remotely got close to right on. It was economics. However, let me frame it this way. Which ever economic system you support, it shouldn’t be forced at tank point or threat of gulag. Or forced by a wealthy foreign power either militarily, or via economic embargo. They should be allowed to compete. Something that’s never really been allowed.
That said, for all the problems with the USSR for instance, they had great economic success. For a time becoming a center of research, industrialization, and technological progress. China has had similar things that could be said. That said, it doesn’t excuse the oppression and violence against people they’ve committed. Just like it doesn’t excuse the violence and oppression of the capitalists either.
This is 100% it, politicians across the board are tuning out the needs and wants of the common people, and are instead selling out to the corporations, billionaires, and other policy-creation-behind-closed-doors organizations (like the WEF, ALEC, etc). The only place people have left to turn to be heard is the extremes of the left or the right, so it’s no surprise we’re going down this path.
The problem is that they are correct.