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[maquiladora]

BERLIN—Russia’s ruling party signed a five-year “cooperation agreement” with the anti-immigrant Freedom Party of Austria, one of the clearest signs that the Kremlin is seeking to deepen ties with nationalist and antiestablishment forces in the West.

The two-page agreement, reached in Moscow after Freedom Party leaders met with officials from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party, spells out a common commitment to holding regular joint meetings and public events while working to strengthen social and economic ties between Russia and Austria.

The accord is the latest example of Russian efforts to forge ties with antiestablishment, euroskeptic parties in Europe, many of which in turn promote closer ties to Moscow and rolling back the European Union. Marine Le Pen’s National Front has tapped a Russian bank for a loan to help fund its election efforts in France, for instance. Meanwhile, antiestablishment politicians such as Ms. Le Pen, Britain’s Nigel Farage and Geert Wilders, head of the Netherlands’ Party for Freedom, have bashed the EU in interviews on Russian television.

The Freedom Party, which has campaigned on xenophobic, anti-Islam rhetoric and casts itself as an alternative to Europe’s political establishment, is in the opposition in Austrian parliament.

Freedom Party officials also traveled to the U.S. just before the U.S. election for meetings with allies of President-elect Trump. Johann Gudenus, a senior Freedom Party official, said his delegation discussed with the Russians the opportunities for better U.S.-Russian ties after Mr. Trump takes over and the need to end Western sanctions on Russia.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-...th-anti-immigrant-party-in-austria-1482170810

 

[KingSnake]

So they don't even hide it anymore.

How come all the "patriots" find no shame in serving Russia?

 

[storafötter]

In for another cold war. It is both funny and tragic how Europe is falling for this shit.

Disgusting and definitely a destabilizing effect for the future.

 

[tuxfool]

So they don't even hide it anymore.

How come all the "patriots" find no shame in serving Russia?

Because they don't care, they aren't really patriots. All of their populist nonsense is just a means to an end.

 

[Beefy]

In for another cold war. It is both funny and tragic how Europe is falling for this shit.

Disgusting and definitely a destabilizing effect for the future.

A lot of Europeans aren't, we can just do jack shit.

 

[Lilalaunebaer]

And i thought i could say that we got our shit together after the (repeated) presidential election here.

..........

 

[Bollocks]

The Freedom Party is in the opposition in Austrian parliament.

so in other words they can't do jack shit so the article is nothing but fear mongering.

 

[Chuckie]

In for another cold war. It is both funny and tragic how Europe is falling for this shit.

Only the far right. However that seems to be a bigger and more significant group lately

 

[storafötter]

A lot of Europeans aren't, we can just do jack shit.

But I do not think it is enough. As a Norwegian I feel like way too many people share the values of Putin and Trump but do not want to openly admit it.

Only the far right. However that seems to be a bigger and more significant group lately

I used to think it is only a far right thing but after seeing Brexit and the disastrous US elections it is too big of a thing now. I also have become more aware of how dangerous and xenophobic people values are in general.

 

[Dan]

How is a political party allowed to openly sign a deal with another country?

 

[Metal B]

So they don't even hide it anymore.

How come all the "patriots" find no shame in serving Russia?

There all just power hungry assholes, who use poor people to get what they want.
A lot of things silently went wrong in the EU and now we have to pay the price. Let's hope, we find a way out, until some powerful hands will bite each other (right-wing politicians fool themself, if they think, Putin would not come back to "cash out" his investment.).

 

[Alx]

So they don't even hide it anymore.

How come all the "patriots" find no shame in serving Russia?

Yeah that's the most surprising thing. It's now obvious that Russia is actively trying to dismantle Europe, but the ones helping them are those that should be the first to oppose to external influence.
And I wonder why there isn't more open criticism of that. Has anybody asked those far-right parties "how does it feel being Putin's puppet ?".

 

[Rebel Leader]

so in other words they can't do jack shit so the article is nothing but fear mongering.

Maybe people need that?

I mean the far right is gaining ground

 

[Familienoberhauptvogel]

What the fuck, this should be an absolute criteria never to get elected but then thye are polling as #1 for the next election.

so in other words they can't do jack shit so the article is nothing but fear mongering.

they are currently projected to win the next election in 2018

 

[ReplacementPelican]

In for another cold war. It is both funny and tragic how Europe is falling for this shit.

Disgusting and definitely a destabilizing effect for the future.

'Europe is falling for this shit'.

Pretty sure so far there's only one major country who has elected a racist, fascistic demagogue who loves Russia and was helped by propaganda, fake news and convenient hacking originating from Russia and it sure as shit isn't a European one.

 

[Horns]

How is a political party allowed to openly sign a deal with another country?

Yup. It sounds like treason to me.

 

[Des0lar]

so in other words they can't do jack shit so the article is nothing but fear mongering.

They are also currently leading in all polls and will get close to 35% come next election. So this certainly not fear mongering.

 

[Brawly Likes to Brawl]

So they don't even hide it anymore.

How come all the "patriots" find no shame in serving Russia?

Why bother hiding anything when half the world's superpower not only doesn't care that you messed with them but is glad you did?

 

[Easy_D]

Yeah that's the most surprising thing. It's now obvious that Russia is actively trying to dismantle Europe, but the ones helping them are those that should be the first to oppose to external influence.
And I wonder why there isn't more open criticism of that. Has anybody asked those far-right parties "how does it feel being Putin's puppet ?".

I'm not a puppet you're the puppet

 

[Blader]

In for another cold war. It is both funny and tragic how Europe is falling for this shit.

Disgusting and definitely a destabilizing effect for the future.

Not sure it counts as another Cold War if everyone is just on Russia's side.

 

[Saucycarpdog]

And I'm sure Russia will use its power to undermine the other parties.

Hooray democracy.

 

[Chuckie]

I used to think it is only a far right thing but after seeing Brexit and the disastrous US elections it is too big of a thing now. I also have become more aware of how dangerous and xenophobic people values are in general.

True. But it is still the far right or extreme right. It just has a lot more followers than I ever expected unfortunately.

Yeah that's the most surprising thing. It's now obvious that Russia is actively trying to dismantle Europe, but the ones helping them are those that should be the first to oppose to external influence.
And I wonder why there isn't more open criticism of that. Has anybody asked those far-right parties "how does it feel being Putin's puppet ?".

But the nationalist parties (well at least the one in the Netherlands) and 'patriots' also want to dismantle Europe.

 

[RedSparrows]

Hah, it used to be the left, now it's the right. Moscow gives no fucks, whatever serves.

 

[Alx]

But the nationalist parties (well at least the one in the Netherlands) and 'patriots' also want to dismantle Europe.

Yeah but they want to do it to "take back control" and not have to be influenced by foreign countries. The reason Russia is helping them should be too obvious for them to ignore.

 

[FoxSpirit]

so in other words they can't do jack shit so the article is nothing but fear mongering.

Dude, we NEARLY elected their candidate president. Last general election they were a close third and will most likely be the 2nd strongest party after the next one. With a very slim chance of straight out grabbing the No.1 spot.

The conservative and socialist party are already doing internal twist dancing to show that a FPÖ coalition would not be completely unimaginable. When last time it was a disaster and has been dubbed a cleptocratic experiment.

So yeah, this is relevant.

 

[Lovely Salsa]

When did russia become über alles? Im so confused

 

[Omegasquash]

Because they don't care, they aren't really patriots. All of their populist nonsense is just a means to an end.

Thank you. It's rhetoric meant to whip up sentiment and get voted into power, where they can just accumulate more for themselves. It's how authoritarian, dictatorial governments come into power.

Convincing people that they're the good guys, making them feel good about their choice, and then fucking them over real good.

 

[Josh7289]

So weird how Russia is now the champion of far-right evil rather than far-left evil, like 25+ years ago.

Also shows that the problem the right in the West had with Russia back then was never the "evil" part but rather the "far-left" part. It's all politics, never morals.

 

[Lord Frieza]

I just don't understand how it is that a decent portion of the people are okay with this. I know it's not all, I know there are plenty of regular voters who are terrified of this, but god, how is that so many seem to not care about all of these ties to Russia in various countries. I just do not get what is happening at the world right now at all.

 

[Dierce]

So they don't even hide it anymore.

How come all the "patriots" find no shame in serving Russia?

They will deny it when asked if they are trying to influence the politics of a foreign country.

I think all this will push towards a more militant form of liberalism that we haven't seen yet as progressive values struggle in the western world. Most militant ideologies are either conservative or communist.

 

[Oersted]

so in other words they can't do jack shit so the article is nothing but fear mongering.

Stating "Russia Signs Cooperation Agreement With Far Right Anti-Immigrant Party in Austria" is fearmongering because they are still opposition?

Do you always live up to your username?

 

[Lord Frieza]

They will deny it when asked if they are trying to influence the politics of a foreign country.

I think all this will push towards a more militant form of liberalism that we haven't seen yet as progressive values struggle in the western world. Most militant ideologies are either conservative or communist.

The real question is will it have a chance to foster before being crushed?

 

[Funky Papa]

Only the far right. However that seems to be a bigger and more significant group lately

And the far left.

They are so short sighted that they will follow anybody opposing NATO.

 

[E-phonk]

I'm just going to leave this here, article from 2014 about Surkov, the man behind Putins strategic plans.

http://www.theatlantic.com/internat...thor-putinism-russia-vladislav-surkov/382489/

They don't care who they fund and they don't care that people know. Right-left as long as it destabilizes Europe.

 

[Saint Gregory]

'Europe is falling for this shit'.

Pretty sure so far there's only one major country who has elected a racist, fascistic demagogue who loves Russia and was helped by propaganda, fake news and convenient hacking originating from Russia and it sure as shit isn't a European one.

Ouch, I'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from trying to force me to accept this dank new reality thank you.

 

[exmachina64]

Yeah but they want to do it to "take back control" and not have to be influenced by foreign countries. The reason Russia is helping them should be too obvious for them to ignore.

They would never win on their own.

Using Russian power to win in Western democracies is an acceptable consequence if you can achieve your goal of dismantling Europe, etc.

 

[Plum]

I'm just going to leave this here, article from 2014 about Surkov, the man behind Putins strategic plans.

http://www.theatlantic.com/internat...thor-putinism-russia-vladislav-surkov/382489/

They don't care who they fund and they don't care that people know. Right-left as long as it destabilizes Europe.

Adam Curtis' Hypernormalization and Bitter Lake documentaries are great insights into this. I'd recommend giving them a watch if you can.

 

[Byakuya769]

so in other words they can't do jack shit so the article is nothing but fear mongering.

A minority party signing cooperation agreements with a foreign government is concerning. What are you on about?

 

[E-phonk]

Adam Curtis' Hypernormalization and Bitter Lake documentaries are great insights into this. I'd recommend giving them a watch if you can.

Yup, saw them both and fully agree.

 

[Napalm_Frank]

I'm still not sure if the primary goal of Russia with stuff like this is aggressive (to weaken the EU) or actually healing the ties (get new blood into political seats that will speed up the return to pre-Crimean relationships when it comes to sanctions ect).

 

[Dalibor68]

Russia doesn't want to "destroy Europe", they want more influence and less anti-russian leaders so the sanctions get dropped eventually. This particular deal does seem shady and kind of pathetic however.

 

[E-phonk]

I'm still not sure if the primary goal of Russia with stuff like this is aggressive (to weaken the EU) or actually healing the ties (get new blood into political seats that will speed up the return to pre-Crimean relationships when it comes to sanctions ect).

whynotboth.gif

It's about power and control. Of course they want the sanctions lifted, but they also want a weaker EU that is occupied with it's own problems, same with the US.
They also want to show their own people how much the rest of the world is in chaos, while Russia is "stable".

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/06/opinion/for-putin-disinformation-is-power.html

 

[SymbiantXenos]

Russia has a track record with far right Austrian parties.

 

[commedieu]

so in other words they can't do jack shit so the article is nothing but fear mongering.

It's best to stop this now. As we all know where little hate clubs lead.

It's as if the world is forgetting this.

 

[Chuckie]

And the far left.

They are so short sighted that they will follow anybody opposing NATO.

Yes I had one of those on my FB. He actually thought Trump would be better for the world than 'Killary' and that Putin wasn't so bad...that it was Western propaganda. First time I unfriended someone.

 

[theignoramus]

So they don't even hide it anymore.

How come all the "patriots" find no shame in serving Russia?

Because they naturally gravitate towards Russia's White nationalist leanings.

 

[KingSnake]

Guys, Bollocks called Van der Bellen extreme left in one of the elections threads. That should clarify where he comes and why he tries to make this seem like nothing.

Because they naturally gravitate towards Russia's White nationalist leanings.

It was more of a rhetoric question. I mean this is very close to treason and so very far from patriotism.

 

[Lord Frieza]

I'm still not sure if the primary goal of Russia with stuff like this is aggressive (to weaken the EU) or actually healing the ties (get new blood into political seats that will speed up the return to pre-Crimean relationships when it comes to sanctions ect).

Little of both, but more of the former with what we know about Putin. Dude is power hungry as fuck. He's basically sinking his own country's economy to fund all of this and the massive army investments over the last few years.

 

[Xe4]

'Europe is falling for this shit'.

Pretty sure so far there's only one major country who has elected a racist, fascistic demagogue who loves Russia and was helped by propaganda, fake news and convenient hacking originating from Russia and it sure as shit isn't a European one.

America fucked up, no doubt. But you absolutely cannot deny Europe is falling for this shit, just like America.

Britain has left the European Union, largely because of anti immigration sentiments thst Russia helped foster. Le Pen is likely going to be in the final round of voting. I'd say she has zero chance, but I said the same thing about Trunp, so I just don't know. Wilders is almost certainly going to be leader of the Netherlands, and he's even more of a populist dickbag than Trump is.

So stop trying to shed the blame, Europe is just as much falling to the far right as America is. If it continues at this rate, it won't be pretty. All we can hope is that the damage is minimal and people regain their sanity in a few years.

 

[amar212]

Russia has a track record with far right Austrian parties.

I sieg what you did there.