I think we need another framing because the conservative-nationalist vs liberal-globalism dichotomy in parallel with the left vs right doesn't quite fit. At least not if you add Fico's (leftish) government, Ursula being part of the EPP which are supposed to be conservative, Melone being part of the national conservative-nationalist party as well as on EU level the ECPA while having zero qualms with assisting the NATO effort, ... .
Nationalist vs globalist is good enough. Like MAGA Republicans are Nationalist, not-MAGA Republicans are not so much. Besides, in addition to being "Left", Fico's government is socially conservative. Or have you seen them supporting Christopher Street Parades?
Ursula is part of the CDU, a so-called Christian Democratic Union which is however a left-wing organization in every sense of the word. As for the EPP, it is also part of the European left-wing swamp, along with socialists, greens, liberals and so on. So, de facto, Andrew is absolutely right when he talks about this "left", composed of various anti-national entities.
That the CDU would be "left" tells more about you then it tells about the CDU. I agree they're all part of the swamp. The "Christian" CDU are generally considered center right, whethever right and left mean today. They are also supposed to be conservative. Kaja for example is part of the liberals while Ursula is part of the conservatives. Is there a noticeable difference? I would say no. Melone is more to the right, let's say nationalist conservative. There we can distinguish some difference but again, is her position (or that of her party) any different towards Russia? And I'm not talking in regards to rhetoric but in action.
And I would even argue that her party or Italy in general has less of reason to be so Russia unfriendly given Russia's help in Bergamo when the elderly over there were dropping like flies during Covid. Because, which countries actually sent help while all their other Western "friends" stood by?
So Italy's position headed by a conservative nationalist can not be explained within the framework of left and right or conservative-nationalist vs liberal-globalism.
Why would I care how they define themselves? The CDU is a Christian party made up of atheists! We know that because of their policies on abortion and homosexuality. When I say they are left-wing, I mean their climate policies, for example. Who wrote all the legislation? Frans Timmermans, from the Socialists. The Socialists, I hope, are left-wing. Did the CDU or the EPP vote against it? No way. Let's take the migration policies? Is someone telling me that those are right-wing policies? Because I only see social protection, free housing, pocket money, etc.
You can see too uberisation, work concurrence, lower salaries, less trade unions.
And why do you say that climatist laws are leftists?
It's the very capitalist Club of Rome and it's big oligarchs who paid 5 billions dollars to found the GIEC.
Nothing is more capitalist that climatic laws.
And if you think that European socialists are leftists, ask yourself why left electors reduces the european socialists parties from 40% to 10% in less than 25 ans.
You need to differentiate between socially conservative, sceptical of environmentalism and pro-capitalism that is not socially conservative and pro-"environment"
well, it could be social democrat on capital, but socially conservative and not pro-environment. Like the more centrist German Social Democrat Party of the 1970s. I would guess Slovakia's Babis is like that.
Andrew, out of topic, but day after day, concerning the US plan in Gulf( come back home and let the world falling around) I think more and more that you are right.
It's monstrous and crazy and I was not able to think it was possible but I must admit that you're probably right.
"The EU has no tolerance for real nationalists and the diplomats that represent them." Absolutely! If they had, they would have encouraged the re-unification of R of Moldova with Romania but perish the thought of bringing up nationalist sentiments in the EU population. Re-unification is only for the Germans! In my mind Germans should be BDS for the next 100 years, they never paied for their crimes, not even by half.
The Pentagon has a spook inside every single Android and Apple mobile phone handset. Google has total access to all workings and operations conducted via every Android phone because the terms of license are such that mobile operations will cease to function if Google is forcibly barred from access. Moreover, social media comments posted by Iranians using keypads that use Microsoft swift key software are automatically logged into the infamous PRISM project, and are further sifted through by Pentagon's AI for identifying and earmarking individuals voicing uncomfortable contrarian opinions for assassination via targeted bombings under the pretext of war.
The UK is EU most anti Russian country . It is out of jealousy and inferioity that the UK is that way. Few E U countries are in the UK's mode. Hungry and Slovakia beinh 2 of them. You can expct differences
Peter Szijjarto is truly one of the extremely few valuable diplomats the EU still has. Let's hope that Hungary will have him in the same position for at least one more term.
Dear friend, it's less a matter of influence on the public that a preparation of refusal of elections result if Orban wins again. Or justify the victory if they succeed in rigging these elections.
I think we need another framing because the conservative-nationalist vs liberal-globalism dichotomy in parallel with the left vs right doesn't quite fit. At least not if you add Fico's (leftish) government, Ursula being part of the EPP which are supposed to be conservative, Melone being part of the national conservative-nationalist party as well as on EU level the ECPA while having zero qualms with assisting the NATO effort, ... .
Nationalist vs globalist is good enough. Like MAGA Republicans are Nationalist, not-MAGA Republicans are not so much. Besides, in addition to being "Left", Fico's government is socially conservative. Or have you seen them supporting Christopher Street Parades?
Ursula is part of the CDU, a so-called Christian Democratic Union which is however a left-wing organization in every sense of the word. As for the EPP, it is also part of the European left-wing swamp, along with socialists, greens, liberals and so on. So, de facto, Andrew is absolutely right when he talks about this "left", composed of various anti-national entities.
That the CDU would be "left" tells more about you then it tells about the CDU. I agree they're all part of the swamp. The "Christian" CDU are generally considered center right, whethever right and left mean today. They are also supposed to be conservative. Kaja for example is part of the liberals while Ursula is part of the conservatives. Is there a noticeable difference? I would say no. Melone is more to the right, let's say nationalist conservative. There we can distinguish some difference but again, is her position (or that of her party) any different towards Russia? And I'm not talking in regards to rhetoric but in action.
And I would even argue that her party or Italy in general has less of reason to be so Russia unfriendly given Russia's help in Bergamo when the elderly over there were dropping like flies during Covid. Because, which countries actually sent help while all their other Western "friends" stood by?
So Italy's position headed by a conservative nationalist can not be explained within the framework of left and right or conservative-nationalist vs liberal-globalism.
Why would I care how they define themselves? The CDU is a Christian party made up of atheists! We know that because of their policies on abortion and homosexuality. When I say they are left-wing, I mean their climate policies, for example. Who wrote all the legislation? Frans Timmermans, from the Socialists. The Socialists, I hope, are left-wing. Did the CDU or the EPP vote against it? No way. Let's take the migration policies? Is someone telling me that those are right-wing policies? Because I only see social protection, free housing, pocket money, etc.
You only see that because you have blinders.
You can see too uberisation, work concurrence, lower salaries, less trade unions.
And why do you say that climatist laws are leftists?
It's the very capitalist Club of Rome and it's big oligarchs who paid 5 billions dollars to found the GIEC.
Nothing is more capitalist that climatic laws.
And if you think that European socialists are leftists, ask yourself why left electors reduces the european socialists parties from 40% to 10% in less than 25 ans.
Such a political ignorance is astonishing
Are you from USA?
Von der Leyen? Leftist?
Please stop billshiting.
CDU? Leftist?
Either you're dumb, either you're ignorant.
Probably an dumb US ignorant.
For US dumb bigots, everything is left of Trump is leftist.
You need to differentiate between socially conservative, sceptical of environmentalism and pro-capitalism that is not socially conservative and pro-"environment"
Where is the left here?
well, it could be social democrat on capital, but socially conservative and not pro-environment. Like the more centrist German Social Democrat Party of the 1970s. I would guess Slovakia's Babis is like that.
And how can you say that CDU or Von der Leyen are social-democrates???
Anyone Trump or his devotee Barnabus doesn't approve of
One must be clear
In the UE, the only nationalism allowed is the nationalism against Russia, against Serbia. That's all.
All others kind are nationalism and even patriotism is considered as absolute evil and doomed to social pyre.
Andrew, out of topic, but day after day, concerning the US plan in Gulf( come back home and let the world falling around) I think more and more that you are right.
It's monstrous and crazy and I was not able to think it was possible but I must admit that you're probably right.
"The EU has no tolerance for real nationalists and the diplomats that represent them." Absolutely! If they had, they would have encouraged the re-unification of R of Moldova with Romania but perish the thought of bringing up nationalist sentiments in the EU population. Re-unification is only for the Germans! In my mind Germans should be BDS for the next 100 years, they never paied for their crimes, not even by half.
The Pentagon has a spook inside every single Android and Apple mobile phone handset. Google has total access to all workings and operations conducted via every Android phone because the terms of license are such that mobile operations will cease to function if Google is forcibly barred from access. Moreover, social media comments posted by Iranians using keypads that use Microsoft swift key software are automatically logged into the infamous PRISM project, and are further sifted through by Pentagon's AI for identifying and earmarking individuals voicing uncomfortable contrarian opinions for assassination via targeted bombings under the pretext of war.
Yes, so what does anyone propose to do about it?
The UK is EU most anti Russian country . It is out of jealousy and inferioity that the UK is that way. Few E U countries are in the UK's mode. Hungry and Slovakia beinh 2 of them. You can expct differences
You forget about the Balts, the Swedes, the Finns... which were all at some time either defeated or rulled by the inferior Russian ogres...
He forgot that UK isn't in the EU - and you're correct, per Pew, which surveys public perceptions of Russia/Putin regularly;
https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/06/23/views-of-russia-and-putin-2025/
https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/resrep63208.3.pdf?addFooter=false
Poland; 90% VERY UNFAVORABLE, 8% somewhat unfavorable
Sweden; 82% very unfavorable, 14% somewhat unfavorable
Spain; 63%, 29%
Netherlands; 71%, 20%
UK; 67%, 23%
Germany; 49%, 37%
France; 52%, 30%
Italy; 49%, 30%
Hungary; 39%, 34%
Japan, Australia, South Korea; 93%, 92%, 85% net unfavorable
Interestingly, the Kremlin-linked Strategic Culture Foundation publishes similar numbers; https://worldanalytics.press/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/inf237_rus1.jpg
https://worldanalytics.press/news/2025/08/01/this-how-russia-perceived-europe/
At least Vlad still has some fans in India ...
The Russians are not inferior , they are SUPERIOR. Ask all those who invaded Russia and were KICKED out.
Peter Szijjarto is truly one of the extremely few valuable diplomats the EU still has. Let's hope that Hungary will have him in the same position for at least one more term.
You're right. If you find just another brilliant and honest official in every UE government, I offer you a bottle a bottle of Champagne
Carbon copy of the Russiagate playbook. I hope Hungarians won’t be deceived by this BS.
Dear friend, it's less a matter of influence on the public that a preparation of refusal of elections result if Orban wins again. Or justify the victory if they succeed in rigging these elections.
Very astute point. Depressing. ☹️
Alas
Yup. Russia and its allies act bewildered "but we won fair and square!?!"