PES declaration

Is this another rather oblique go at the Polish governing coalition and the brothers Kaczynski in general? I have to tell you, that the attacks on the Polish government by the left-liberal press in Western Europe and the left-liberals in various European institutions is having, in Poland, the opposite result to that which it is intended. I know of people who are in no way supporters of the current the brothers Kaczynski but feel that they are being given a hard run by many in Europe who object to anything other than a their point of view. The president and prime minister of Poland are frequently misquoted in the non-Polish press and little attention is paid to the detail of what is said before criticism is made of a couple of headline grabbing soundbites. I am also not a supporter of the brothers Kaczynski and their coalition of loonies but, I too, am writing this comment.

It's incredible, how come no-one seems to complain that the President of Italy is a Communist who has never criticised Stalinist suppression in Eastern Europe or that Communists are allowed into government?

The PES seem to be advocating limited freedom of speech within certain norms, they seem to be suggesting that certain issues are off limits. That is not democracy - everyone has a right to come to the table and express their views (however abhorent we may find them).

Democracy is a wild horse, not a tame kitten.

Kind regard.

Hektor

Thanks for your comment.

This is by no means an attack on Poland, where I do not believe the government is an extremist government, it is however a very misquoted government. Just because a party is right or left wing rather than centre right or left makes it in no way extreme, from what I gather the declaration is saying that where the extreme left or right is concerned there should not be a place for these sorts of parties in government where they are not elected as the main party or the main opposition. From what I read the declaration is more aimed at some of the smaller parties that seem to be coming through in some countries (like the BNP in Britain) who in places according to some polls are only being held out from getting a seat by the first past the post system of elections. I believe the far right or left wing parties are in governments as they have a small number of seats that give the coalition just enough votes to form a government, the problem is it risks the far right or far lefts more extreme views getting some legitimacy where they probably should not receive them.

And for your comment about the Italian government, it is a very fair point in highlighting the fact that the far left in Europe should have as much notice taken of it as the far right, and I would agree to any matching declaration saying so.

However as you say, democracy is a wild horse and no-ones views should be suppressed or put down, but just as these parties have a right to express their views, it is important that others have the right to argue them.

I hope that explains my position slightly more!

Cheers