07 Apr The World Tilts to the Right
I am not sure whether European politicians are channeling Donald Trump and his MAGA movement, or whether he is picking up on their “best” practices. For whatever reason, at the same time the United States made a sharp move to the authoritarian, populist, nationalistic political right in the 2024 elections, so too have several countries in Europe.
When I saw the recent newspaper headline “President Pushes Limits of Executive Authority,” I correctly assumed that it referred to the U.S. President. But I know the same headline also could describe many European politicians. This trend is troubling. For many decades until now, the U.S. led the western world toward democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and a commitment to free trade that benefited all economies (national and personal).
Only America can lead the way back to those values.
Make Europe Great Again?
Everywhere I traveled last week, hard-right authoritarian candidates are making strong pushes for political power, and people are picking up on what those populist politicians are peddling.
My wife and I started our trip by spending a weekend with our daughter in the Czech Republic. There, a hard-right party named Freedom and Direct Democracy is the fastest-rising in the country. In Romania, where our daughter had been on business before meeting us in Prague, a Russia-leaning candidate, Calin Georgescu, was barred from running despite being expected to win 40 percent of this year’s vote. Mr. Georgescu had received support not only from Russia’s intelligence service (which interference is why he was disqualified), but also from U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Tulsi Gabbard, the U.S. Director of National Security.
After our daughter headed home, we stopped in Vienna. Despite Austria’s own hard-right Freedom Party winning the most votes in recent national parliamentary elections, it was edged out of control by a coalition of the three next-highest-placing parties. We finished our trip in the Netherlands, where the nationalist and populist Party for Freedom is the largest in parliament, but it was forced to be part of a coalition government led by the Independent Party.
Although we did not go there on this trip, Hungary, and its strongman prime minister, Viktor Orban, are the primary example of authoritarian government in Europe. As you may know, Donald Trump and Mr. Orban have been mutual fans – even before their three meetings at Mar-a-Lago last year. Giorgia Meloni (who has been closely linked with Elong Musk) and her right-wing-populist Brother of Italy Party have been in power there since 2022, and Eurosceptic, Russia-admiring Robert Fico is prime minister of Slovakia. In France, the recently convicted Marine Le Pen’s hard-right National Rally Party won 28 percent of the vote last year, and Alice Weidel’s Alternative for Germany, with a core of young, Nazi-like zealots, won 20 percent in this February’s German elections.
Recognizing their quickly growing influence, representatives from several of the above-mentioned political parties held a “Make Europe Great Again (MEGA)” meeting earlier this year. Politicians from France, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, and even Spain participated. “Yesterday we were the heretics, today we are the mainstream,” declared Hungary’s Viktor Orban.
And then there is Russia itself. A large portion of Russia, including its capitol, Moscow, is located in Europe. To say the least, Vladimir Putin is a democracy-despising, authority-loving, murderous, oligarchical president.
How a Nation Sees Itself
While they do not all espouse each of the same beliefs, these politicians and parties overlap on the basic points. Foremost, they want their countries to focus on their own nation’s interests (think “Hungary First” and “Austria First,” similar to “America First”). This isolationism opposes being part of global or continent-wide alliances. Closely related is their anti-immigration position, which often serves as a handy call to action. Many of them also oppose the U.S.-led western order that has prevailed since World War II, as hard-core rulers and candidates in Europe display indifference to values like free trade, human rights, sovereignty, and the rule of law.
The most power-hungry political leaders in some of these countries also are authoritarian by definition. In this regard, many empathize with Russia and Mr. Putin, while emulating his strongman approach.
The question Europeans and others need to ask themselves is this: Who are we? As a nation and as individuals, what defines us? And, most importantly, what do we aspire for our country going forward?
America needs to have this conversation, too. I get tired of hearing “this is not who we are” or “this does not define us” whenever something disgraceful occurs in the United States. “We are better than that,” the optimists among us hasten to add.
I am not so sure we really are superior, but I do believe Americans still desire to be better. If so, we must elect principled leaders who will neither (a) adopt the tactics of dictators or totalitarians, of nationalists and isolationists, or undemocratic despots; nor (b) lead democratic allies in Europe and elsewhere down those same, dangerous paths.
We must elect leaders who truly manifest principles like freedom and free enterprise, human dignity, integrity, equality, transparency, law, justice, and peace, and then use those principles when articulating their aspirations for our country going forward.
Written by Quentin R. Wittrock, founder of Principle Based Politics.
Look for his periodic, principled political posts each week, as this blog will explore and promote the idea of principle in politics, both as to individual elected leaders and our federal government as an institution.
Principle Based Politics does not endorse or support any particular political candidate or party.
Raymond Lynch
Posted at 12:23h, 08 AprilMy first time reading your blog and to add our world has become a global entity due to how the Internet has changed our daily lives. We hear from the extremes of political parties instead of the more moderate voices. We must first take responsibility for ourselves then elect leaders who think the same way. By setting the example maybe then will other nations look at us and react likewise.
DKnight
Posted at 18:30h, 08 AprilTrump will not be a dictator–and we will not allow him a 3rd term. If he gets out of control, I am confident we will stop him–so relax. His administration’s actions in challenging the authoritarianism of leftist, entrenched government power, are not those of a dictator. How is trying to shrink Giant Gov, when we have a $36 Trillion deficit, authoritarian? How is trying to reduce government size/power ever authoritarian? It is not. Similarly, populism should not be characterized as “right-wing”. The current dictatorships around the world come almost universally from the left–as they have in the past by the way. China, Russia, Venezuela, Cuba, Iran–all rotten, murderous regimes that are run by power freaks that took over giant government states. England and Germany recently passed laws that are now being enforced by police knocking on doors of people issuing “insults” on the internet. Free speech is under assault in democratic/socialist leaning governments across Europe–as the thought police are taking over. We just got rid of a corrupt prez–Biden–who was using our legal and government systems improperly–with lawfare and intimidation–to restrict free speech. How soon we forget. People were taken off of Twitter and FB–by the leftist control freaks–just a few years ago. Everyone remember, it was the National Socialists that took over Germany and caused WWII–(not the National Dems or the National Republicans). Finally, our ancestors all ran away from Europe and other places for very good reasons. Freedom should continue to reign in the USA. Don’t follow the Europeans on foreign policy or anything else of ultimate importance. WWI and WWII–yep–that was the knuckleheads in Europe–that America bailed out twice. Freedom can be messy–but it is infinitely better than the institutionalist/giant government approach.
Quentin
Posted at 18:37h, 08 AprilTo me, it is the insistence on absolute loyalty to the leader, the reckless disregard of laws and process, and the distain for the rights and interests of others (especially including allies) that most concern me. That’s what I’m referencing as “authoritarian.”
Gary Russell
Posted at 15:10h, 10 AprilAs we continue to watch the actions of our exec branch, followed by the commentary on these actions, we are reminded by the “lens” we judge them. Trump vs. Biden (or just about anyone else but Trump). We’re dug in. A thought: Take an action that you favor and consider “I wish OUR guy would have done that”. Can Democrats admit that the Afghan withdrawal should have been managed differently or that Hillary should not have used a private e-mail service? Could Republicans (who support Trump) admit the recent Houthi attack should not have been discussed on a commercial chat service? I (think I) get it…everything we’re seeing now is about speed. Every administration in the last 100 years has gone too slow and we must move lightning fast now and reverse it. That’s why Elon is here. Maybe the Democrats could admit there is some value in this. Maybe the Republicans (who again support MAGA) could admit the speed is causing some real problems and pain. The chainsaw is not a good look and is going to be a symbol for many years.