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International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics Thursday, 28.03.2024, 18:24

ECFR analysis ranks Estonian parties by pro-Westernism

BC, Tallinn, 20.07.2017.Print version
The most pro-Western political party in Estonia is the opposition Reform Party, which places second on that criterion among the parties represented in the national parliaments of Europe and the European Parliament, a study by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), a well-known think tank, suggests, cites LETA/BNS.

Ranked at the opposite end of the scale, of Estonia's political parties, is the Conservative People's Party (EKRE).

 

The Reform Party of Estonia is seen in the survey ranking 181 parties as the second most pro-Western political party in Europe, after the Civic Choice (Scelta Civica) party of Italy.

 

Also ranked as pro-Western are the Estonian Free Party, in seventh place overall, Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL), in tenth place, and the Social Democratic Party, in 11th place.

 

Ranked as moderately pro-European by the ECFR is the Center Party, in 118th place, whereas EKRE is seen to be moderately anti-Western, in 131st place overall.

 

The survey finds 30 parties across Europe to be hardcore anti-Western parties. The political parties with the most anti-Western patterns are far-right, anti-system, or even fascist parties: the Ataka party in Bulgaria, Kotleba – Our Slovakia, Jobbik in Hungary, the Front National in France, Fratelli d'Italia-Centrodestra Nazionale and Lega Nord in Italy, the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), and the Austrian Freedom Party (FPO).

 

Moderate anti-Western parties are seen to number 31, moderate pro-Western parties 49, and pro-Western parties 71.

 

The research that looked at the political parties represented in the 28 EU national parliaments and the European Parliament, attempting to determine how ideologically aligned with Russia each of them is, identified Estonia as the country with the most pro-Western stand, ahead of Slovenia, the UK and Portugal.

 

The survey assessed 181 parties represented in national parliaments and/or the European Parliament and the 22 countries where they are elected on criteria such as support for the European Union, liberalism as a European value, secularism as a European value, support for the NATO/EU-centric European security order, the country's support for transatlantic relations, free trade and globalization, the country's relations with Russia, the country's sanctions on Russia, the country's support for Ukraine, refugees and migration, the war in Syria, and the particular party's links to Russia.

 

The authors of the survey point out that there is a large amount of ideological overlap between some European political parties and the Russian government. Significantly, these include parties considered to be 'mainstream' – it is not just 'fringe' parties that share elements of the Kremlin's world view.

 

European political parties range from those that are 'hardcore' in their 'anti-Westernism' to those that are fully pro-Western. The former are much more open to cooperation with Russia and are generally aligned with its priorities.

 

Strong election showings from anti-Western parties can change the character of entire national political systems. Most countries are 'resilient' to 'anti-Western' politics, but a large minority are favorable towards Russian standpoints. Important players like France and Italy form part of the Malleable Middle group of countries which Moscow may seek to cultivate.

 

The populist, anti-Western revolt of the last decade did not originate in Russia. But it is yet to run its course, and Western politicians should act now to prevent Russia taking further advantage of it, the ECFR said.






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