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In this mailing:
by Soeren Kern
• May 24, 2016 at 5:30 am
- European political
and media elites have been quick to hail the election of Van der Bellen,
who campaigned on a pro-immigration, pro-EU platform. They seem to
believe his razor-thin win validates their uninterrupted pursuit of
European multiculturalism.
- Meanwhile, European
elites have expressed relief at Norbert Hofer's defeat. Their reactions
would indicate that they unaware that they are largely responsible for
the rise of anti-establishment parties in Austria and other parts of
Europe.
- "Europe has
been polarized for years by misguided policies pursued by the old major
parties, not only in Germany but in many European countries. The fact is
that it must be our task to preserve freedom, democracy and the rule of
law across the continent. And the policy of open borders does exactly
the opposite." — Frauke Petry, Alternative for Germany party.
In this month's Austrian presidential election, Alexander
Van der Bellen (left), who campaigned on a pro-immigration, pro-EU platform,
defeated Norbert Hofer (right) of the anti-immigration Austrian Freedom
Party. (Image source: ORF TV video screenshot)
Norbert Hofer of the anti-immigration Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) has
been narrowly defeated in his bid to become Austria's next president.
Alexander Van der Bellen, former leader of Austrian Greens party, won
50.3% of the vote, compared to 49.7% for Hofer. The margin of victory was
31,026 out of nearly 4.5 million votes cast.
European political and media elites have been quick to hail the election
of Van der Bellen, who campaigned on a pro-immigration, pro-EU platform. They
seem to believe his razor-thin win validates their uninterrupted pursuit of
European multiculturalism.
But Hofer can claim victory even in defeat. By winning half the ballots
cast, Hofer has exposed Austria's gaping political divide on immigration and
relations with the European Union. Hofer's rise, which has effectively
upended Austria's political system, has also inspired anti-establishment
parties in other parts of Europe.
by Burak Bekdil
• May 24, 2016 at 4:45 am
- Ahmet Davutoglu was
a typically Islamist prime minister, except that even his secular rivals
admitted that he was an honest man -- not corrupt at all. In contrast,
Binali Yildirim, who is designated to be the next prime minister, has a
different story to tell.
- There are
suspicions about how the Yildirim family has run its business arm.
- Yildirim will leave
foreign policy to Erdogan and his inner cabinet exclusively. He will
devote most of his time to his number one task: putting together a
parliamentary majority, either by horse-trading or by snap polls, in
order to introduce the executive presidential system his boss so
passionately craves.
Ahmet Davutoglu (left) was a typically Islamist prime
minister, except that even his secular rivals admitted that he was an honest
man -- not corrupt at all. In contrast, Binali Yildirim (right), who is
designated to be the next prime minister, has a different story to tell.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, the choice of Turkish President and
would-be Sultan Recep Tayyip Erdogan for loyal servant in 2014, stepped down
with words that were bitter but not resentful: he will always remain loyal to
the sultan, party and "dawa" – the Islamist political cause.
After having been chosen by the Sultan as his first Grand Vizier, not
knowing he would have to quit barely 20 months later, Davutoglu read out his
government's program in parliament on Sept. 1, 2014:
by Z. • May
24, 2016 at 4:00 am
- "Why," I
said to the woman next to me, "is this flag there? Is that not the
ISIS flag?"
Time: Saturday May 21, 2016, 12:00-3:00PM
Venue: Swagat Banquet Hall, 6991 Millcreek Dr., Mississauga, Ontario,
Canada
The half-full banquet hall, divided into the men's side and the women's
side, admitted about 100 attendees. A black flag with white script was on
display, on both the screen and on the podium. "Why," I said to the
woman next to me, "is this flag there? Is that not the ISIS flag?"
The woman, later identified as Naeema, said it was not, and called her son,
one of the organizers, to address the question. It seemed difficult for him,
too; he went off to look for someone else more knowledgeable to the help with
the problem. Naeema explained that the writing was different. "I can
read Arabic," I said. No one could be found to answer the question.
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