Extreme Make-Over

The French extreme right wing party called Front National (FN) is doing great in France according to the IFOP (Institut français d'opinion publique). This survey informed that Marine Le Pen could receive 36% of the workers' vote for the presidential elections in 2012 (CR, 2011). Since Marine Le Pen assumed leadership of the FN on January 2011, there has been some changes within the party with the purpose of gaining more popular votes.

Marine Le Pen is trying to clean the image of the FN by erasing any trace that relates the party with his extremist past. A clear example of this makeover is when Marine Le Pen decided to exclude the regional counselor of Rhône-Alpes, Alexander Gabriac, who appeared in a photo mimicking the Nazi salute (FTV & AFP, 2011). This decision taken by the party is changing the way people think about the right wing. Due to this and the social crisis in Europe caused by the debate on immigrations laws the extreme right combined with the “broken social promises” (CR, 2011) of the actual government, has allowed the extreme right to gain supporters.

This is a great opportunity for the FN to gain importance and power, and Marine Le Pen knows it. Another characteristic of this perfect scenario for the extreme right is that the other parties are having troubles of leadership and public support. As pointed before it is estimated that Marine Le Pen could received 36% of worker votes while for the UMP it is not completely clear who is going to be the official candidate. As Bernard Debre explained “if Sarkozy is under 15% of vote intention, he won’t go” (SAN, 2011). If this circumstances continue the FN could have a good chance in the presidential elections next year, and this would be the first time an extreme right party does it alone, without coalition.

Bibliography

CR. (2011, 04 24). Nouveau sondage favorable à Marine Le Pen. Retrieved 05 01, 2011, from http://info.france2.fr/politique/nouveau-sondage-favorable-a-marine-le-pen-68520480.html

FTV, & AFP. (2011, 04 21). Marine Le Pen tente de lisser l'image du FN. Retrieved 05 01, 2011, from http://info.france2.fr/politique/marine-le-pen-tente-de-lisser-l-image-du-fn-68471414.html

SAN, L. (2011, 04 21). Des primaires à droite ? Et pourquoi pas... Retrieved 05 01, 2011, from http://info.france2.fr/politique/des-primaires-a-droite--et-pourquoi-pas-68492495.html

North African conflicts and their impact on European society and politics

With the growing number of revolutions that have occurred in northern Africa and Arab countries, now more than ever, it is of vital importance to guarantee the rights of migrants. People are running away from their own countries, desperate to find a safe place from the battlefields their countries have turned into. One example is the growing number of Libyans arriving in Malta lately (Aldami, 2011).

     There is no doubt that immigration is a growing issue in European countries, and even when some policies are being applied,  are certain sectors of the population against the granting of citizenship and they even consider that immigration is one of the biggest problems that their countries are facing right now (Press, 2011). Just after the unemployment and the economy, experts agree that even more than leading to economic problems for the European countries due a decrease in exports to African countries, the mass illegal immigration would lead to many social problems (Cava, 2011). In response to this, an expert from the European Economic and Social Committee ensures that the unwanted migration is a minor problem and the best thing Europe can do is to support democratic processes of the countries in crisis (Pariza, 2011).,

     In addition to this, the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) data, France ranks below the EU average in pretty much all of the immigration areas and it only ranks higher in the anti-discrimination policies. Even though this could appear to is good news for the country, in the rest of the areas France ranks considerably lower, turning the country into one with the most contradictory immigration policies in the European Union (Huddleston, 2011).

     Let's explain this a little bit further. On the one hand, they allegedly are against discrimination to migrants aiming to protect their rights. On the other hand France has the worst scores of the EU in areas like Family reunification for third-country nationals, political participation, education, long term residence, among others. So while they are punishing people for treating others differently, the government is not granting the same rights to the citizens and the increasing number of immigrants.

     Some other countries are taking action to improve their immigration records. For instance Spain and Poland are expected to adopt new anti-discrimination laws that cover discrimination by association and on the basis of assumed characteristics. This would enhance the protection of victims against discriminatory behaviors considerably. We should make notice that these two countries rank higher than the average in almost all of the areas (Do, 2011).

     The future is uncertain for politics and society in Europe. Despite the enormous discontent in society, the results of the cantonal elections held in France last Sunday, socialists received 36.3 per cent of the popular vote. The ruling UMP party under Sarkozy gained 19.7% and in third place the FN led by Marine Le Pen with only 11.6% (Jiménez, 2011). While this may not be relevant news, on the day of the election, a poll was released that allegedly Marine Le Pen will lead the next presidential election in the first round which could lead the FN in the second round once again. If we believe the poll, the FN has a shot at winning the French presidential elections

Only time will tell.

Bibliography:

Aldami, A. (2011, March 30). Unique response needed for current influx of immigrants - minister. Retrieved from http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110330/local/unique-response-needed-for-current-influx-of-immigrants-minister

Cava, J. (2011, March 30). ¿en qué afectan las revueltas del magreb a la economía española?. Retrieved from http://www.cope.es/economia/30-03-11--en-que-afectan-las-revueltas-del-magreb-a-la-economia-espanola-236738-1

Do, U. (2011, March 22). New anti-discrimination law in spain and poland to significantly affect mipex iii results. Retrieved from http://mipex.wordpress.com/2011/03/22/new-anti-discrimination-law-in-spain-and-poland-to-significantly-affect-mipex-iii-results/#more-85

Jiménez, A. (2011). El partido socialista francés gana las elecciones cantonales y el frente nacional se consolida. El Pais, Retrieved from http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/Partido/Socialista/frances/gana/elecciones/cantonales/Frente/Nacional/consolida/elpepuint/20110327elpepuint_5/Tes

Huddleston, T. (2011, March 25). France: least favourable, most contradictory policies of major migration countries. Retrieved from http://mipex.wordpress.com/2011/03/25/france-least-favourable-most-contradictory-policies-of-major-migration-countries/#more-96

Pariza, L. (2011, March 30). Experto del cese cree que la inmigración no deseada es "un problema menor" y apuesta por apoyar la democracia en libia. Retrieved from http://www.europapress.es/sociedad/noticia-experto-cese-cree-inmigracion-no-deseada-problema-menor-apuesta-apoyar-democracia-libia-20110330143419.html

Press, E. (2011, March 30). El paro, la economía y la inmigración, problemas que más preocupan a los aragoneses. Retrieved from http://www.europapress.es/aragon/noticia-paro-economia-inmigracion-son-problemas-mas-preocupan-aragoneses-20110330123550.html

Migration policies of Spain

In the articles discussed during this month, we can see how some countries within Europe have a strong fear of immigrants, however Spain is one of the countries thankful to migrants for their economic progress, and this has a lot to do on the actions their government has taken to secure migrants rights. One of the actions Spain has taken into account is that they look forward for a greater equity among its people, whether they are from other countries or they are currently living there illegally. The notes reviewed give us an example of the positive changes in a country after certain modifications in laws or the creation of new ones in order to protect immigrants.

The government of Spain takes actions to deal with the problem of migration, such as people who are illegally in the country, ask for their return will be the first to consider when they actually want to return home, or if an immigrant woman has a pending lawsuit by victims of gender violence will be suspended until her return end of the trial, so this country fight against sexual crimes according to Pablo's article.

In Sandoval's article, where the country's political favors migrants who are legally and if they contact the government to want to return to their countries of origin, when they want to return will be given preference to return as the voluntary return plan for countries outside the EU is 3 years, although it is not clear how it will be the preference but still be carried out.

Spain a as other European countries have problems with immigrants, so that each will create laws to address this problem as may be appropriate and the type of migrants still missing steps will be very varied with each other, and see what actions work
Bibliography

P., S. P. (2011,02 03). elpais.com. Retrieved 02 28, 2011, from http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/inmigrantes/marchen/mantendran/antiguedad/residencia/elpepiesp/20110207elpepinac_1/Tes

PABLOS, S. P. (2011,02 08). Retrieved 02 28, 2011, from  http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/Gobierno/dara/residencia/temporal/inmigrantes/tengan/hijos/nacionalidad/espanola/elpepuesp/20110208elpepunac_30/Tes

SANDOVAL, P. X. (2011,02 03). elpais.com. Retrieved 02 28, 2011, from http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/inmigrantes/retornados/tendran/prioridad/regresar/Espana/elpepuesp/20110202elpepunac_27/Tes

Extreme right against immigration

Newspapers that were analyzed, are publications both considered to be center, center left, and simply as guidance means "Republican." Hence it makes sense that the articles are mostly opposed to the extremist anti-immigration policies, thus urging the UN to take anti-segregation measures in the countries involved in the severe problems of immigration, rather than building walls and prohibition laws, which have proven their ineffectiveness in the U.S., and sparking anger in society, dividing it.

Immigration in Europe has become one of the main problems for the European Union, extreme right wing parties are gaining support due to their racial politics and nationalistic ideology.  People are afraid, while social tension creates opportunities for the rise of radical nationalist parties. A good example would be Marine Le Pen, leader of the French party Front National who is now attacking the Islamic culture due to the Islamophobia that developed after 9/11. She argues that Islamic mosques should finance their operations with their own resources and that the government must stop supporting the construction of religious buildings. She even stated that praying in public is against the law because France is a secular nation.

Obviously racist ideologies are still criticized throughout Europe, but it is worrying that American-style laws are being considered to prevent immigration. Greece wants to build a wall to try to stop immigration, and the French Minstre de L’interieur supports this proposal because according to Frontex nearly 200 people cross that border and enter Europe illegally. If this was not enough, now countries like Bulgaria are declaring that they will follow and support these radical policies with the purpose of entering the EU in a shorter term (BULGARIA IS IN THE EU).

The UN will have a lot to do so that this situation does not degenerate into something worse. Each European government must propose new ways to deal with the immigration problems in order to neutralize the extremist nationalist parties.

Bibliography

Barbier, C. (2010, 02 18). L'express.fr. Retrieved 01 27, 2011, from http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xc9z7l_stop-au-quick-halal_news

Camus, J.-Y. (2011, 01 14). LeMonde.fr. Retrieved 01 27, 2011, from http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2011/01/14/avec-marine-le-pen-le-discours-du-fn-sur-l-islam-a-change_1465255_823448.html

Reuters. (2010, 12 20). 20minutes.fr. Retrieved 01 27, 2011, from http://www.20minutes.fr/article/641859/politique-pour-marine-pen-musulmans-doivent-financer-eux-memes-mosquees#