World
Populism Growing in Europe – Where At Exactly?
Published
8 years agoon
(Via Zerohedge)
While the establishment may breathe a sigh of relief looking back at political developments and events in Europe – which was spared some of the supposedly “worst-case scenarios” including a Marine le Pen presidency, a Merkel loss and a Geert Wilders victory – in 2017, any victory laps will have to be indefinitely postponed because as Goldman writes in its “Top of Mind” peek at 2018, Europe’s nationalist and populist tide was just resting, and as Pascal Lamy, the former Chief of Staff to the President of the European Commission admitted earlier this year, “Euroskeptic politicians are largely following the pulse of domestic sentiment. The fact is that the public is less enthusiastic about Europe than it once was.”
Echoing the sentiment by the europhile, Goldman’s Allison Nathan writes that while the Euro area’s most immediate political risks—i.e., populist or euroskeptic parties winning key elections this year— did not materialize, these movements have continued to gain traction.
In the Dutch elections in March, the far-right Party for Freedom performed worse than polls had once predicted, but still increased its share of the vote relative to the 2012 elections. It remains the second-largest party in parliament.
In France, concerns about the prospect of Marine Le Pen winning the presidency gave way to optimism over Emmanuel Macron’s reform agenda; nonetheless, Le Pen posted the best-ever showing for her party in a presidential race.
In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU-CSU retained the largest number of seats in the Bundestag, but the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) entered it for the first time with 13% of the vote.
And elsewhere in Europe, populist parties on various parts of the political spectrum performed well enough to participate in government coalitions; indeed, an anti-establishment candidate in the Czech Republic recently became prime minister
Some other observations and lessons from recent European events in the twilight days of 2017:
The transition from campaigning to governing has proved difficult. Europe’s increasingly fragmented political landscape has made coalition-building challenging. In the Netherlands, it took over 200 days to form a government with only a single-seat majority. Similarly, German coalition talks with the Green party and the Liberal (FDP) party collapsed in November. But, after having planned to move into the opposition, the SPD—Merkel’s former coalition partner—decided at its congress last week to open talks with the CDU-CSU. Talks were set to begin this week.
Other sources of uncertainty remain unresolved. Spain continues to grapple with the standoff between Madrid and Catalonia; regional elections in Catalonia on December 21 will influence the trajectory of the situation. Meanwhile, the UK and EU-27 seem likely to agree to move past the first phase of the Brexit talks (covering separation issues). But in a setback for UK Prime Minister Theresa May, UK lawmakers recently voted for an amendment to the Brexit bill that will guarantee Parliament a vote on the final deal agreed with the EU.
The decline in political risk bolstered European assets, though fundamentals likely played a decisive role. The market-friendly outcome of the French elections dovetailed with a pick-up in European growth, supporting European equity markets. US inflows into European equities rose significantly but have since stabilized with the acceleration in growth and the decline in the risk premium likely behind us. Receding political risks also contributed to a stronger euro, which is up 12.5% against the dollar this year. Given the currency move, the SXXP is up roughly 7.5% in local terms and 20.6% in USD terms year-to-date.
Next, here’s what Goldman expects and will look for in 2018 and beyond:
A continuation of the populist pull. The socioeconomic and cultural factors driving public opinion are unlikely to dissipate. Indeed, they may come into greater focus if growth moderates on a sequential basis starting in mid-2018.
Constraints to further fiscal integration. Opposition to fiscal transfers within the Euro area makes incremental revisions to existing EU programs more likely than transformational change. Key to watch will be Macron’s credibility as a champion of integration, which will hinge on his ability to push through reforms in the face of political and economic constraints.
Risks around Italian elections set to take place in March. Polls show the largest populist party, the 5 Star Movement (M5S), leading with roughly 27% of the vote. However, the new electoral law and M5S’s unwillingness to join a coalition suggest a centrist coalition is most likely. Such a government, while pro-EU/euro, would likely struggle to implement reforms.
An eventual resolution of political issues in Germany and Spain. We believe Germany’s major parties will work to avoid new elections, given limited public appetite for a new vote and the risk of AfD gaining more seats in parliament. In Spain, economic and policy uncertainty could persist, but in our view, it is not likely to have lasting or systemic implications. Eventually, we expect a compromise that grants Catalonia greater autonomy within Spain.
A bumpy road to Brexit. Expect the UK and EU to eventually agree to a two-year “status quo” transition plan.
And finally, here is a map showing where the forces of populism are expected to remain strong – and grow – across the continent.
Europe
Populist Warning: Hungary’s Nationalist Fortress Falls
Published
3 days agoon
April 12, 2026
In a stunning upset on April 12, 2026, Hungarian voters delivered a crushing blow to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party after 16 years of defiant nationalist leadership. The opposition Tisza Party, led by Péter Magyar—a slick former insider turned “change” candidate—stormed to victory with around 53% of the vote and a projected supermajority of 138 seats in the 199-member parliament. Orbán conceded defeat, calling it “painful,” as record turnout hit nearly 80%. What was sold as a grassroots revolt against “corruption” and “illiberalism” looks far more like a coordinated elite operation to drag Hungary back into the EU’s suffocating embrace. This isn’t just a Hungarian story; it’s a flashing red alert for every nation fighting to preserve its sovereignty against globalist machine politics.
The real story behind this result is a classic elite betrayal of working families who once rallied behind Orbán’s unapologetic defense of borders, traditional values, and resistance to endless migrant invasions and Brussels diktats. Magyar’s Tisza outfit, dressed up as “centre-right” and “pro-reform,” promises to “bolster the rule of law” and unlock frozen EU billions—code for surrendering Hungary’s hard-won independence on migration, family policy, and foreign affairs. Orbán built a bulwark against demographic replacement, gender ideology, and Ukraine war escalation that threatened to bleed Europe dry. Now, with high turnout fueled by anti-Orbán mobilization and possible foreign-backed campaigns, that wall is cracking. They—the Davos crowd, EU bureaucrats, and their media allies—painted Orbán as an authoritarian boogeyman while ignoring how his policies protected Hungarian workers from the cheap labor floods and cultural erosion devastating Western Europe. This shift reeks of the same globalist playbook we’ve seen time and again: undermine leaders who put citizens first, install pliable figures who prioritize “European values” over national survival.
The consequences for everyday Hungarians—and the broader populist movement—could be dire if this new regime follows through. Expect a rapid pivot toward open-border policies lite, accelerated EU integration that funnels sovereignty to unelected officials in Brussels, and a rollback of pro-family incentives that kept Hungary’s birth rates from total collapse. Hungarian families already squeezed by inflation and energy costs from green fantasies will face more “reforms” that benefit multinational corporations while eroding national identity. On the world stage, this weakens the America First alliance; Orbán stood as a rare European voice skeptical of forever wars and mass migration pacts that hurt American workers too. A pro-EU supermajority in Budapest hands globalists a propaganda win, signaling that even resilient populists can be toppled through relentless pressure, funding, and narrative control. For the U.S., it’s a reminder that our own battles against Big Tech censorship, bureaucratic overreach, and demographic swamping demand eternal vigilance—Trump’s return notwithstanding.
Patriots must treat Hungary’s fall as a cautionary tale, not a death knell. What needs to happen now is a fierce counter-mobilization: expose the foreign influences and elite capture behind Magyar’s rise, double down on securing borders and sovereignty wherever populists hold ground, and reject any “moderate” surrender that trades short-term EU cash for long-term national suicide. America First means learning from this—strengthen election integrity, rally working-class voters against cultural Marxism, and back leaders who refuse to bend the knee to globalist overlords. Hungary showed that high turnout can be weaponized against defenders of the nation; we must ensure ours delivers victories for citizens, not Davos. The fight for Western civilization isn’t over, but complacency invites exactly this kind of betrayal. Time to wake up, organize, and push back harder than ever before.
In a bold and decisive move that has sent shockwaves through global energy markets and geopolitical circles, President Donald Trump has effectively declared the Strait of Hormuz under American control. What was once Iran’s chokepoint for extorting the world’s oil supply is now being transformed into the Strait of America—a vital maritime artery secured by U.S. naval power, free from Iranian tolls, mines, and threats.
The announcement came swiftly on April 12, 2026, following the collapse of high-stakes peace talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan. With no agreement reached on Iran’s nuclear ambitions or its destabilizing activities, President Trump took to Truth Social to issue a clear directive: “Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz.”
This is no mere threat. U.S. Central Command has confirmed the naval blockade will commence operations on Monday morning, targeting vessels that have paid illegal tolls to the Iranian regime. Mines laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are being cleared, with American warships already demonstrating freedom of navigation through the passage. Trump has made it explicit: no ship paying tribute to Tehran will enjoy safe passage on the high seas.
From Iranian Stranglehold to American Resolve
For decades, the Strait of Hormuz has been a flashpoint. Roughly 20% of the world’s oil and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas have passed through its narrow waters, giving Iran outsized leverage. During the ongoing conflict that escalated earlier in 2026, Iran mined the strait, attacked vessels, and began charging exorbitant “tolls” for passage—effectively holding global energy supplies hostage. Shipping traffic plummeted, oil prices spiked, and the world watched as a rogue regime attempted to dictate terms to the international community.
President Trump’s response has been characteristically direct and unapologetic. He has repeatedly set deadlines for Iran to reopen the strait, threatened strikes on Iranian power plants and infrastructure if demands were ignored, and now followed through with overwhelming naval force. “We’re putting on a complete blockade,” Trump stated. “We’re not going to let Iran make money on selling oil to people that they like and not people that they don’t like.”
This move echoes historic assertions of American maritime dominance. Just as the U.S. Navy has protected sea lanes in the past—from the Barbary Wars to modern freedom-of-navigation operations—Trump is reclaiming this critical chokepoint for free and fair passage. Allies and neutral nations reliant on Gulf oil are being quietly encouraged to support the effort, though the United States has signaled it is prepared to act decisively on its own.
Epic Show of Strength
Critics may wring their hands over rising oil prices or the risk of escalation, but the reality on the water tells a different story. U.S. forces have already sunk Iranian mine-laying vessels, cleared paths through the strait, and demonstrated that American naval power can enforce order where diplomacy failed. Iran has issued warnings of a “strong and forceful response,” yet the U.S. Navy remains the most formidable fleet on the planet—equipped with advanced destroyers, aircraft carriers, and overwhelming technological superiority.
This is the Trump Doctrine in action: maximum pressure, zero tolerance for extortion, and a clear message that America will not be bullied by adversaries who weaponize global trade. By securing the Strait of Hormuz, the United States is not only protecting its interests and those of its partners but also reasserting leadership in a region too long plagued by instability.
Oil markets reacted immediately, with prices surging on the news, underscoring the strait’s enduring importance. Yet long-term, a secured passage under American oversight promises stability—free from Iranian mines, arbitrary tolls, and attacks on commercial shipping. The “Strait of America” is more than a provocative nickname; it represents a strategic reality where the world’s most important energy corridor operates under the protection of the world’s preeminent naval power.
As operations unfold in the coming days, the world will witness whether Iran chooses confrontation or finally accepts that the era of unchecked aggression in the Gulf has ended. President Trump has drawn a line in the water—and the U.S. Navy stands ready to enforce it.
In the end, this is classic Trump: turning a crisis into an opportunity for American strength. The Strait of Hormuz, long a symbol of vulnerability, is becoming a monument to resolve. Welcome to the Strait of America.
Today in our current body politic we are inundated with the word FASCIST! The history of the word goes back to the early 20th century with Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. These were fascist dictators. Over the years there was also Saul Alinsky who applied certain tactics to radical left wing activism. Ridiculing someone with fascist and other slanderous put downs were part of the psychological warfare against political opponents. If you are aware of Saul Alinskys’ 13 Rules for Radicals, you will be able to apply it to today’s political discourse. I am a strong believer in knowing your history, helps you understand your present, and enables you to predict the future.
If you follow politics, you will see that some things are done repeatedly from a playbook. These political strategies are used and are tried and true as the Rules for Radicals. These are used over and over because they work, they are successful. When something works you keep using them until they cease to be effective. Certain things can manipulate human behavior and that’s why they are so effective in politics. You are influencing a mass of people, and people like to be accepted into the herd and peer pressure comes into play to make you acquiesce to the current climate. Racism is a great example. No one wants to be called racist. So, calling someone racist puts them on the defensive and isolates them. So, in addition to fascist, racist is used in the left wing demonization of political opponents.
But back to fascism, there are the tell tale signs of political manipulation in today’s political environment. Conservatives will be frequently called far right. They will be frequently called authoritarian. They will also depict deportations as racist and trying to enforce a racial purity. The word autocracy will also be in the pot of slanderous gumbo. Putting all these things together are part of the definition of a FASCIST. This is why those specific words and terms are used over time. These are used to paint a picture of a dictator in the unassuming minds of the public. The word fascist is used deliberately, although in no way shape or form is President Trump a fascist, but reality does not matter in the left’s political world. Another rule for radicals is if you push a negative long enough and hard enough it will break through and be taken as the truth.
Once these rules are recognized you become aware of the manipulation, and this strange political dance becomes increasingly understandable. The ridiculous slander starts to make sense to the political strategist’s mind. I would think why would a person say something so ridiculous, stupid and untrue? Then, when I go back over the Rules for Radicals and communist tactics it makes sense and gives me a much better understanding of the madness.
One of the main rules is: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, polarize it.
This is exactly what is being done with Donald Trump. They go after a person, not a corporation. Personalizing it increases the focus on the target unambiguously. Another rule that goes right alongside this is: Ridicule is a man’s best friend. If you are watching the lamestream media (which is dying) you will notice incessant ridicule of the current POTUS. This is by design. This is also why the president has decent poll numbers and not outstanding numbers like he should have that would normally come from his monumental achievements. So, these are many of the reasons that you will see outright lies and vicious slander. It has many functions but all supporting a political slight of hand. Driving a president’s poll numbers down, isolating him, making him toxic, thus degrading his support. This works because many do not pay close attention to the small and /or big lies that are told in the media every day. We must note that there is a method to the madness.
Hillary Clinton was personal friends with Saul Alinsky. She wrote her honors thesis on Saul D. Alinsky. She was not in lock step with all his theories, but he offered her a job while she was in college before she went to Yale University Law School. So, there is ample reason to believe she really took these rules to heart. She served as Secretary of State under President Barack Obama who was a community activist. Community activism was largely based on Saul Alinsky Rules for Radicals. It was to manipulate the public image and opinion on whatever the political issue of the day was. I would ask my Democrat left leaning friends: before Barack Obama was a junior senator from Illinois, what did he do? He was a community organizer or community activist. What did a community organizer do? They generated discord in the community to push for or against a certain political issue. They organized marches and protests. You see the number of protests that are currently happening. Now you understand it is not just for an issue but to get the top news media to get said protest on air to sway public opinion. Visuals are more important than the substance of the march. When these protesters are interviewed many are severely inarticulate and many have only a vague idea of why they are there. But they have the visual and that is the goal. Mission accomplished. The purpose of protests from the left are always the same. But you will see the media will not cover the protests from conservatives in the same way that they cover the protests from leftists. Perfect example let’s take January 6th. The media and the left drone on and on about January 6th like if it were the devil himself had come up straight from hell. And to this day this is the holy grail of leftists’ complaints. One riot. While they ignore the hundreds of riots from BLM, Antifa, Occupy Wall Street and others. Mind you they are responsible for HUNDREDS of riots, billions of dollars of property damage to businesses, hundreds of police injuries, deaths, arson and damage to government property and the attempted murder of police. But they will memory hole all of that and proudly yell, but January 6th though!
Fascism, is used by fascists, to paint their political opponents as such. Projection. Accuse your opponents of what you are doing or are already guilty of. The Democrats demonstrated their hypocritical fascist stance during COVID. Take this shot or lose your job. Close your business or be arrested. You cannot go to church. You cannot visit your elderly relatives in the hospital even if they were dying in hospice. Many lost the last few precious moments with their loved ones because of Democrat Fascist policies. This is what fascism looks like. Lie to the public and tell them you will have immunity once you take the shot. Lie. You cannot transmit the disease once you take the shot. Another lie. We will take two weeks to bend the curve. Lie. We don’t know where the disease came from, BIG LIE! So, when you see the leftists saying something that is demonstrably ludicrous, know they are using their fascist playbook.
Michael Ameer
News@11
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