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France and Romania: Should far-right candidates be banned from running for the presidency?
Insight ^ | 25 April 2025 | Zselyke Csaky

Posted on 05/04/2025 9:33:11 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican

Excluding candidates from standing in elections may be a legally sound option to protect democracy from anti-democratic forces. But it is an insufficient solution on its own.

Romania and France have recently banned candidates from running in forthcoming elections, causing uproar domestically and internationally. While the circumstances and the reasons behind the bans are very different, the barring of candidates raises similar questions in both countries: are bans justified and, even if they are, do they harm democracy?

When are election bans justified?

Banning political parties or politicians on the basis of their politics is seen as a measure of last resort in democracies. Exclusions are a response to what is called the ‘paradox of democracy’ – the risk that anti-democratic actors may use democratic institutions and rights, including freedom of speech and assembly, to abolish democracy. As a response, many countries have enshrined in their legal systems the idea of a ‘militant democracy’, which defends itself against political actors undermining its foundations. Germany, for example, defines its political system as a militant democracy, allowing the courts to ban political parties.

(Excerpt) Read more at cer.eu ...


TOPICS: Politics
KEYWORDS: eudemocracy; zselykecsaky
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To: MinorityRepublican

How to turn your country into a dictatorship? Ban opposition political parties.


41 posted on 05/04/2025 1:31:03 PM PDT by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
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To: MinorityRepublican; All
They will reduce their vote to a plebiscite
42 posted on 05/04/2025 1:32:13 PM PDT by SMARTY (In politics, stupidity is not a handicap. Napoleon Bonaparte I)
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To: Rummyfan
If these parties have solid popular support among the voters, by what legal basis can they be banned?

You need to study the origins of West Germany, the Basic Law, and learn what the ruling class means when they use the term "Our Democracy™".

Once you are caught up on those things, you will have answered your own question.

43 posted on 05/04/2025 1:42:24 PM PDT by Jim Noble (Assez de mensonges et de phrases)
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To: EnderWiggin1970
If these "far right" candidates were calling for pogroms or otherwise expressed actual extreme views there might be some justification

Tell us what would qualify as "actual extreme views".

For millions of US voters, support for President Trump is an "actual extreme view".

44 posted on 05/04/2025 1:44:51 PM PDT by Jim Noble (Assez de mensonges et de phrases)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Only the globalist brain-fornicated should be allowed to vote...to protect the globalist plutocracy.


45 posted on 05/04/2025 1:48:33 PM PDT by RckyRaCoCo (Time to throw them out of the Temple...again)
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To: MinorityRepublican
I notice so far they have not tried to use the “far-right” argument here in USA

You need to get out more.

The exact argument which is the foundation of the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz) is spreading like wildfire among American leftists, and if they ever get back into power you can bet that it will be exactly what they will do.

Here's the question you need to answer for yourself: Are the voters free to elect a communist to office? Are the voters free to elect a national socialist to office?

If your answers to the two questions are different, please explain why.

46 posted on 05/04/2025 1:50:23 PM PDT by Jim Noble (Assez de mensonges et de phrases)
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To: Jim Noble
The exact argument which is the foundation of the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz) is spreading like wildfire among American leftists, and if they ever get back into power you can bet that it will be exactly what they will do.

Source? Just curious.

47 posted on 05/04/2025 1:54:30 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

What the Left means by “Far-Right” is anybody’s guess, so I’m inclined to assume it’s a nonsense question.


48 posted on 05/04/2025 3:45:28 PM PDT by enumerated (81 million votes my ass)
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To: TheDon

Hmmm...are communists and socialists also excluded?

LOL. No.


49 posted on 05/05/2025 9:28:07 AM PDT by Pete Dovgan
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To: BobL; Admin Moderator
Other than the Zeepers, I suspect most here agree that voters should be given a CHOICE as to who they vote for.
Name calling on this site is PROHIBITED by FreeRepublic rules. Please refrain from doing so. - BobL
Regards,
50 posted on 05/07/2025 12:20:45 AM PDT by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
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