Just as in the 1930's, the more fragile democracies in Europe are falling to fascistic forces.No longer is the government in Romania characterized merely by mistakes, excesses and professional incompetence. Prime Minister Victor Ponta has launched a brutal attack on the country's institutions, democratic principles and the rule of law.
During my stay in Berlin in recent weeks, I met with the former mayor of Budapest several times. Starting in 1990, Gábor Demszky governed the city for 20 years; now he was telling me about the situation in Hungary. He sees it as a fatal mixture between the administrations of Miklós Horthy, the Hungarian head of state who served at Hitler's pleasure, and János Kádár, the later head of the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party. According to Demszky, the situation is characterized by dictatorial and fascist impulses, an atmosphere of personal power struggles and drastic restrictions of free speech.
I was pleased to be able to tell him that Romania was in better shape. There is certainly corruption, I said, and there are dangerous political and administrative turf wars and every conceivable form of abuse and blunders. But, I added, we are not on the verge of dictatorship. Almost two months have passed since then, and now I must change my assessment: Romania is looking more and more Hungarian!
Just because these countries are members of the European Union doesn't mean that it is happening, covertly, in a 21st century manner rather than blackshirts walking down the streets. Instead it is smooth politician-thugs in designer suits in the corridors of power crushing democracy.
None of this is a surprise to me.
I think that Greece, Italy, Spain and France are logical next targets over time in the rise of the far-right, even if we may see a surge of the Left in the next few years. Longer term, it will be the extremist right that will triumpth as hope dies and living standards carry on collapsing.
