Can Europe Resist The Rise Of Radical Politics?
The Inquiry
BBC
4.6 • 1.7K Ratings
🗓️ 16 December 2014
⏱️ 24 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Swedish politics has for decades been the very model of stability. Not any longer. Earlier this month a far-right party which holds the balance of power in Sweden’s parliament sided with the opposition to defeat the government. A snap election has been called, just months after the government was formed.
In Greece, where EU-imposed austerity has fuelled extreme politics, the radical left Syriza party could soon have a shot at gaining power. It is already the main opposition.
Elsewhere in Europe – in France, Spain, Hungary, Italy and elsewhere – far right and hard left parties have gained popular support and parliamentary seats, threatening the political centre. Can Europe resist the rise of radical politics?
(Photo: Shadow of Marine Le Pen. Credit: Jeff Pachoud/AFP/Getty Images)
Transcript
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| 0:28.9 | Hi thanks for downloading the inquiry here on the BBC World Service. |
| 0:34.0 | It's a new weekly program. |
| 0:35.9 | Our job is to add in-depth analysis to one big question from the news. |
| 0:41.6 | We hope you like it. |
| 0:43.0 | BBC World Service, this is Joe Fijon with The Inquiry. |
| 0:49.0 | This week, with the far right forcing a snap election in Sweden and a new presidential |
| 0:57.6 | poll in Greece giving the hard left a shot at government, we ask, can Europe resist the rise of radical politics? |
| 1:07.0 | On Wednesday, the 3rd of December, |
| 1:13.2 | Stefan Levine did something no Swedish Prime Minister had done in more than half a century. |
| 1:19.0 | No more discussions, he told a hastily arranged news conference, the time for talking has passed. |
| 1:29.0 | After a mere two months in power, his centre-left government caved after MPs from a |
| 1:38.2 | far right party blocked his spending plans. Just five years ago the Sweden Democrats had no |
| 1:44.4 | members of parliament. Now they have 49 seats and the balance of power. Sweden isn't alone. |
| 1:55.8 | One time fringe parties across Europe gained ground in May's elections to the European Parliament. |
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