Europe must get a handle on immigration to combat a growing threat from rightwing populists, Hillary Clinton has said, calling on the continent’s leaders to send out a stronger signal showing they are “not going to be able to continue to provide refuge and support”.
In an interview with the Guardian, the former Democratic presidential candidate praised the generosity shown by the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, but suggested immigration was inflaming voters and contributed to the election of Donald Trump and Britain’s vote to leave the EU.
“I think Europe needs to get a handle on migration because that is what lit the flame,” Clinton said, speaking as part of a series of interviews with senior centrist political figures about the rise of populists, particularly on the right, in Europe and the Americas.
Centrist heavyweights on the global rise of rightwing populism, and what can be done to stop it
Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor, in New York, London and Rome
Clinton was left dumbfounded by her 2016 defeat to Donald Trump, while Brexit has upended Blair’s legacy. Composite: The Guardian Design Team
Hillary Clinton, Tony Blair, Matteo Renzi: three of rightwing populism’s greatest scalps.
Clinton admits she was left dumbfounded by her 2016 election defeat at the hands of Donald Trump. Renzi’s centre-left party was defeated this year after a surge in the anti-establishment vote in Italy, a country he calls “the incubator” of populism.
Blair may not have lost at the ballot box, but his legacy, particularly on Europe, was upended in the Brexit referendum.
All three are shunned by sections of their own party that accuse them of being responsible for the failure of the centre-left to offer a sufficiently radical alternative.
But all three are still thinking deeply about rightwing populism – its causes and the threat it poses – the mistakes of the centre left, including their own, and how modern politics appears to be mobilising resentment towards a perceived elite.
To compare these remarks with her stated immigration policy in 2016, go here >>>>.
I have always been and remain a staunch advocate of comprehensive immigration reform that’s true to our values and treats every person with dignity, provides a pathway to full and equal citizenship…
and brings millions of hardworking people into the formal economy, fixes the family visa backlog, upholds the rule of law, and protects our borders and national security.
We passed bipartisan comprehensive reform when I was a senator, but House Republicans killed it. Since then, the GOP has refused to make progress and instead uses the issue to divide our country.
Trump has made it worse with cruel abuses at the border, detaining children and separating them from their families. It’s one of the most shameful moments in our history.
In a recent interview, I talked about how Europe must reject right-wing nationalism and authoritarianism, including by addressing migration with courage and compassion. I also gave a comprehensive speech about this last month.
On both sides of the Atlantic, we need reform. Not open borders, but immigration laws enforced with fairness and respect for human rights. We can’t let fear or bias force us to give up the values that have made our democracies both great and good.
In Europe, nationalists like Hungary’s Viktor Orban are exploiting this challenge to stoke fear and resentment. To defeat them and protect democracy, the EU needs a more comprehensive policy that builds societies that are both secure and welcoming.
The hypocrisy of the left wing populists over the last couple of days has been positively breathtaking. As they accuse Hillary of “appeasing racists”, they simply ignore the fact that their favorite politicians, like Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn, have horrible records on immigration issues and are to HRC’S right. Acknowledging that trying to shoehorn a million plus people from the Middle East, north Africa, and even other countries in Europe, into a few countries in western Europe is not sound or sustainable policy makes you a realist, not a racist. And not acknowledging this is imperiling liberal democracy itself.
And here’s a fun fact! The American left’s favorite country, Denmark, maintains very restrictive laws regarding immigration and asylum. This perfectly illustrates the problem.
The general ignorance among Americans about what is happening in Europe right now is pretty damn shocking but maybe not surprising. People seem to think it’s all peace and love as those super tolerant Europeans happily re-settle migrants where ever they wish to go. And the fact that Europeans are really bad at integrating immigrants into society is rarely mentioned only adds to the delusion. The perception is that there are so few questioning EU migration and refugee policy (or lack of one) we don’t need to worry about the spread of fascism over there.
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The hypocrisy of the left wing populists over the last couple of days has been positively breathtaking. As they accuse Hillary of “appeasing racists”, they simply ignore the fact that their favorite politicians, like Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn, have horrible records on immigration issues and are to HRC’S right. Acknowledging that trying to shoehorn a million plus people from the Middle East, north Africa, and even other countries in Europe, into a few countries in western Europe is not sound or sustainable policy makes you a realist, not a racist. And not acknowledging this is imperiling liberal democracy itself.
And here’s a fun fact! The American left’s favorite country, Denmark, maintains very restrictive laws regarding immigration and asylum. This perfectly illustrates the problem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The general ignorance among Americans about what is happening in Europe right now is pretty damn shocking but maybe not surprising. People seem to think it’s all peace and love as those super tolerant Europeans happily re-settle migrants where ever they wish to go. And the fact that Europeans are really bad at integrating immigrants into society is rarely mentioned only adds to the delusion. The perception is that there are so few questioning EU migration and refugee policy (or lack of one) we don’t need to worry about the spread of fascism over there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Riots in Paris yesterday. 1968 just keeps repeating and repeating itself.
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