Short thread about this Steve #Bannon interview about his efforts to support rightwing populists in Europe that is exciting a lot of people here. @guyverhofstadt even came up with #BanBannon hashtag thedailybeast.com/mueller-finall…
Bannon wants to unite Europe's rightwing populists/far-Right & nationalist groups into coherent political force. He's setting up a foundation, which he compares to @georgesoros network, to help them with funding. But he'll only have up to 10 employees & no serious cash.
Europe's rightwing populists have tried to unite before, notably in the @Europarl_EN, but not with great success, bc their policies pose a structural problem for a pan-European movement. Often their debates descended into insult-laden quarrels.
No wonder Le Pen was surprised that Bannon saw them all as one movement. He thinks with a US mindset about a very heterogenous European political landscape. Also, most of these people have been politically successful long before he entered politics, so what's his value added
The only thing that could make a real difference this time, as opposed to pre 2015, is the rallying cause of anti-migration and anti-Islam politics. That is something they can all agree, from Finland to Greece. But hardly enough to built an actual political bloc.
Ups, I linked the wrong article. Here's the correct one thedailybeast.com/inside-bannons…
PS I’m not saying that the galvanising cause of migration/Islam will not make a difference this time. It’s already certain that the @Europarl_EN will be filled with anti-establishment politicians from across the spectrum. Protest voters tend to love MEP elections
I posted a wrong link. Here’s the correct one thedailybeast.com/inside-bannons…
