this post was submitted on 22 Nov 2023
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Europe

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[–] HowManyNimons 84 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Why is everything so fucked?

[–] [email protected] 66 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Years and years of exploiting the people while giving them scapegoats for it?

[–] HowManyNimons 20 points 11 months ago

Oh shit yeah.

[–] Squizzy 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

But these are the exploiters

[–] [email protected] 55 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

Maybe, just maybe, the west's political classes will realize--before its too late--that neoliberalism and funnelling the wealth of the many up to the few wasn't such a great idea?

Ah, whom I kidding, if its a choice between democracy and less money, or fascism and more money, neoliberalism will send democracy packing.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 11 months ago

Looking at Germanys history, and the current behaviour of the "conservative" and "liberal" parties:

Naah, they will happily delude themselves into being able to control the fascists and help them into power, believing it would mean more power for them too.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 11 months ago

As long as the political class and the wealthy few have such a large overlap, it's a great idea for them.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 11 months ago (1 children)

The lawmaker, who has previously been labelled a Dutch version of Donald Trump, will have to form a coalition government before he can take the reins of power.

And here we see evidence of why proportional voting systems provide a defence against populists and authoritarians by moderating extremes. Wilders is softening his xenophobic rhetoric in order to facilitate compromise. If the UK had PR, Brexit would never have happened.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)
  • Paul Von hidenburg, Jan 1933

I mean, I do agree PR is better than FPTP, just for different reasons. Brexit is bad sure, but I'm not sure I'd want UKIP to have >12% of seats in parliament either.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I'm a salty remainer who detests Farage but there's something deeply undemocratic when a party can get 10-15% of the vote and achieve no elected parliamentary representation, while the Tories get an unassailable majority with 34% of the vote

I'll put up with some Farage-ist mouth breathers in westminster if we actually got some democracy in return

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Exactly.

See my original comment: "I do agree PR is better than FPTP".

It's good because it's democratic, not because it particularly favours or dis-favours fascism.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 11 months ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:


An exit poll for Wednesday's Dutch election says that far-right, anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders has won the most votes.

The elections will be watched closely across Europe, with the Netherlands playing a leading role on a number of issues, such as the Eurozone bailout and the Ukraine war.

Wilders, who leads the PVV, or Party for Freedom, has recently tried to smooth out his image by qualifying some of his most controversial positions.

Immigration, the cost of living and the housing crisis - which particularly affects young Dutch voters - have been the main issues in the campaign.

After the long leadership of Rutte - nicknamed "Teflon" Mark for his ability to overcome scandals - the Dutch are looking for a change in the way of governing, according to experts.

Rutte shocked the country in July by announcing his government had collapsed after "insurmountable" differences on immigration.


The original article contains 326 words, the summary contains 147 words. Saved 55%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[–] Vinny_93 7 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yeah I'm not too worried. It will take practically forever to form a coalition but with the PVV as a major player it will be virtually impossible.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Omtzigt just said, that he respects the voters and might jump over his shadow...

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago (2 children)

YesilgΓΆz said she thinks a majority with the PVV leading is not possible. Without her, PVV won't be governing.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Since when can the VVD be trusted??

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Fair point.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

That was a way to walk back on her former statement that she wouldn't join a Wilders government. It meant that she didn't think he'd convince other parties to join his coalition.

Which mostly depends on NSC. We'll see what they do, but I can imagine negotiations stranding and Timmermans getting a shot.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

A coalition without the PVV would be kind of ideal for Wilders. He can keep bitching about how undemocratic the other parties are (obviously it's not undemocratic but his voters won't understand that) and won't have to come up with any ideas. He can remain anti-everything and wait until the fragile coalition will inevitably fall, after which he'll win 50 seats in parliament.

As much as I would hate to see Wilders as prime minister, I would perhaps worry more about the next elections if he can remain in the opposition.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Those 15 additional seats would have to come from voters who did not vote for him, getting angry about him not governing. If they wanted him in the government, why didn't they vote for him?

And this is especially true in the case of NSC, who've said multiple times beforehand that they'd rather not govern with PVV. If you voted for them, you can't (and probably wouldn't) really be mad at them for doing what they said they'd do.