Polish Fringe Magazine Pictures Merkel As Hitler

Playfuls ^ | March 2nd 2007

[lizol]

Polish Fringe Magazine Pictures Merkel As Hitler

March 2nd 2007 by Playfuls Team

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is pictured as Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler with the caption "EU Fascism on the Offensive" on the cover of the latest edition of the Polish political fringe magazine Czas.

The marginal publication is a mouthpiece of the radical fringe Union of Real Politics (UPR) political party, staunchly opposed to the European Union, particularly to closer political integration of the 27-member bloc via the shelved constitutional treaty.

The UPR party has virtually no popular support in Poland and holds no parliamentary seats.

The provocative cover leads into an article slamming the EU by UPR leader Janusz Korwin-Mikke. Famous for his unorthodox opinions, bow- ties and playing bridge, he is considered Poland's most eccentric politician.

"The spectre of fascism or euro-socialism (as you prefer) is moving around Europe," writes Korwin-Mikke voicing his opposition to moves such as the proposed EU constitutional treaty designed to push ahead with European integration.

He likens the proposed closer political integration of the EU to the forced Sovietisation of Eastern Europe under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin after World War II.

"It is not ruled out that the European Union will formally arise and the idea of the 'European nation' (as in the time of Stalin - and later - the "Soviet nation"). Some euro-crats already use this term!' Korwin-Mikke notes.

Germany currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union and German Chancellor Angela Merkel has made it her mission to revive work on the floundering European constitutional treaty.

Poland's conservative Law and Justice (PiS) government has welcomed Germany's push to get work on the EU-wide constitutional treaty back on track, but insists a new approach is necessary to guarantee equal rights and influence for all EU members.

[lizol]

[lizol]

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[Atlantic Bridge]

Let's hope that she does not suffer from diarrhoea the next time she is going to meet Lech Kaczynski in the "Weimar triangle". But do not worry - most of us Germans have a much more robust stomach than you potato-shaken Poles.

:)

[twinself]

Hi Andreas,

FYI "Najwyzszy Czas" is conservative-libertarian magazine of UPR party (Realpolitik Union). Something like FDP gone hardcore. They are very anti EU and onsidering it another form of beaurocratic, socialist organization.

[wolf78]

FYI "Najwyzszy Czas" is conservative-libertarian magazine of UPR party (Realpolitik Union). Something like FDP gone hardcore. They are very anti EU and onsidering it another form of beaurocratic, socialist organization.

Ah, well, I can only say the same thing about this magazine cover as with the "potatoe" incident: It's stupid and tasteless, but that's what "freedom of the press" often means: The right to idiocy. So who cares?

The only thing that I find a bit problematic is that such magazine covers play into the accusation that Poland is cultivating victimhood in order to profit from it. One should not forget that it was the Poles who decided to give up some sovereignty in order to become an EU member - because the alternative, i.e. belonging to Russia's sphere of influence was far worse. On the one hand counting on the EU's might in a trade conflict with Russia and on the other hand constantly picking on Germany is a bit like trying to have your cake and eat it, too!

But then, in the grand scheme of things, I really don't care that much. Trade relations between Poland and Germany are excellent.

[twinself]

Yes, the majority of Poles have chosen "pro", but I voted against. I think you'll find another Poles here on FR who did the same thing. Economic freedom- yes, but a real one, not a fully regulated one like in EU. And besides - gaining common political perspective and stepping out of your "national" boots is simply not possible. Europe is not USA in that sense.

[Lukasz]

FDP is not conservative at all.

[twinself]

I don't know them that well to judge definitely. You should ask German FReepers.

[Lukasz]

FDP politicians are the first foreigners to condemn “Polish homophobic policy” even before Greens and other leftist wastes. Polish wikipedia compare their political program to our SLD!! :)

[twinself]

So what, they also mention that it consits of conservative-libertarian wing. I doubt Wiki is a reliable source of information about this party.

[wolf78]

FDP is not conservative at all.

Well, that all depends on your definition of conservatism ;). In reality, the FDP is mostly libertarian, i.e. pro-capitalist, pro-Reaganomics, pro-flat tax etc., but also pro-choice, pro-decriminalization of marihuana... (also pro-gay rights in general, but against special protection at the workplace etc.).

In the German politics we have three main branches of conservatism:

Liberalkonservatismus (liberal conservatism, i.e. economic conservatism)
Nationalkonservatismus (national conservatism)
Wertkonservatismus (social conservatism)

If I say that the FDP is mainly libertarian, that also means that is has a liberal conservative wing and a social liberal wing (or just "liberal" if you prefer the not-quite accurate American usage of the term). National conservatism and social conservative wings can be found among the CDU/CSU.

Personally, I'm a libertarian/liberal conservative. I put the emphasis on economics and putting limits to the state. That why I, for example, wouldn't consider the national-socialist PiS a conservative party, even given it has some national conservative traits.

[si tacuissem]

Perhaps there is a mix-up with the FPOe, the (former?) Austrian pendant...

[Lukasz]

I know that there is a huge mess in different people minds how understand such political names. Personally I consider myself to be liberal conservative, “liberal” because I’m pro-capitalist. I don’t think that economic views have anything to do with “conservatism” (maybe some radical views like communism are unacceptable). And by the way, I have never voted for PiS although because Polish political scene is so pathetic I considered such possibility.

What you wrote about German parties, I basically share your view.

[wolf78]

You're right.

It's always problematic to define "conservatism", when different cultures have different notions of conservatism. American conservatism is basically liberal conservatism, i.e. anti-statism and American leftism is social liberalism, because the idea of freedom (i.e. liberalism/libertarianism) is so much more prominent in American politics. It's highly ironic and coincidental that the left got to be called "liberal" in the US, when being "liberal" is considered burgeoise in the rest of the world.

And I also agree that conservatism per se (or, to be more precise: historically) is not primarily based on economic priniciples, but rather social hierarchy (best example: the UK with its Tory party) and certain values.

As to political parties: In the end we all get what we deserve, or as a great English statesman once put it: Democracy is the worst form of goverment - except for all the others. And sometimes even the PiS is right, for example with regard to the Constitutional Treaty for Europe, namely that such a treaty (whatever it shall be named) is necessary, but that we can do much better than the current draft (i.e. less Brussels, more regional government).

As to German politics: I mostly vote for the FDP, because it's the only party that doesn't make me want to puke all the time.

The tragedy of German politics is that it's lacking a REAL conservative alternative, i.e. an unabashedly capitalist, EU-sceptic party along the lines of Merz, Kirchhof etc.. Such a party probably won't get more than 10-15 percent of the votes - but it would correct the current imbalance in Germany politics.