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Europe's nationalist leaders excited by Trump win

SBS World News Radio: Donald Trump's surprise win in the United States presidential race is emboldening nationalist leaders and parties across Europe.They are hoping to win over voters with similar anti-immigration and anti-political-establishment messages in looming elections.

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Europe's nationalist leaders excited by Trump win

"This is going to be Brexit-plus ... Brexit-plus."

It is what Donald Trump had predicted and hoped for.

And the results of the United States presidential election have received a warm welcome from nationalist politicians around the world.

The U-K Independence Party's Nigel Farage appeared with Mr Trump during the US election campaign, and, now, he is rejoicing in another victory for discontented voters.

"The political revolution of 2016 is that, in two massive campaigns, the underdogs beat the establishment. We did it in Brexit. And Trump did it last night in the USA."

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Many of Europe's other nationalist leaders have also welcomed Mr Trump's election.

France's Marine Le Pen, who espouses similar anti-immigration views, describes his win and Britain leaving the European Union as the dawn of a new world order.

Ms Le Pen is hoping to ride the nationalist wave to also break through at next year's French presidential elections.

"The overwhelming vote in favour of Brexit, of course, and now Donald Trump's election, these are democratic choices which bury the ancient order."

If Donald Trump can do it, they say, then Europe had better watch out.

In Austria, Europe's first nationalist head of state in this wave could be elected next month.

And in the Netherlands, anti-immigrant Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders says Mr Trump's victory offers encouragement for parties such as his.

"I certainly believe it will be an enormous incentive for the common people to see, 'Hey, it's possible, what can happen in America can happen in Europe, can happen in the Netherlands as well.' So I'm sure it will have a positive effect."

Greece's third-largest party, the nationalist Golden Dawn, calls Mr Trump's win a victory against illegal immigration and a step forward for what a spokesman calls "ethnically clean nations."

Spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris posted these comments on youtube:

"A great global change has begun, and it will continue, with nationalists prevailing in Austria, Marine Le Pen in France and Golden Dawn in Greece."

The head of Germany's anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party, Frauke Petry, is also emboldened by Mr Trump's win ahead of elections next year.

"It is just so natural that this movement against the political establishment reverberates also in Europe, also with the ADF in Germany. Yes, we are in favour of a new political start worldwide."

 

 

 

 


3 min read

Published

Updated

By Peggy Giakoumelos


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