Right-Wing Populists (Northern Europe) Stoke Anti-Southern (Europe) Rage

[pampango]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,780621,00.html

Right-wing populists in the Netherlands, Austria and Finland are stoking anger against people in debt-laden southern European countries. Experts say they are taking advantage of the debt crisis to gain popularity.

Distrust towards states along the Mediterranean Sea is spreading, especially in the northern countries where stability has not been questioned by ratings agencies. The mood is being fueled by three right-wing populists who are targeting recession fears. Along with (Heinz-Christian) Strache, Timo Soini from the True Finns party and Dutchman Geert Wilders are trying to take advantage of the situation.

The euro rescue package was also nothing more than a mass compulsory purchase, Strache had railed: "Why do the Austrians, as well as the Germans or the Dutch, constantly have to pay for the bottomless pit of the southern European countries?"

Anyone who cannot cope with the euro should withdraw from the currency union, vituperates Soini. His party managed 19 percent of the vote in April's election, after the debate over the bailout package for Portugal helped make the monetary union the top issue of the poll.

Some particularly cruel comments have emanated from right-wing populist Dutch politician Wilders. "We work while they eat souvlaki and drink ouzo," he said of the Greeks. Not a single cent would be seen again, the blond radical said, and the Greeks should be kicked out of the community.

[Odin2005]

1. Europe never lost the nationalist crap, it just went into hiding temporarily.