Bracing Up for Change in France?
By Nita Chicooree-Mercier
It is widely acknowledged that the primary aim of politicians is to secure electoral victories and consolidate power for themselves and their parties. Consequently, informed electorates approach politicians’ promises with caution when seeking solutions to pressing issues. Concepts such as democracy, fundamental freedoms, and human rights often come under scrutiny, particularly when mainstream political parties face electoral challenges in Western democracies. Partisan media outlets exacerbate these tensions by amplifying false polarizations, using buzzwords like populism, fascism, and racism to vilify opponents. This tendency heightens societal divisions during election cycles, and politics becomes the most divisive factor in society during election periods.
It is incumbent upon the public to cultivate a critical mindset through well-documented sources and numerous online news channels that can unveil hidden information due to censorship and provide deeper insights into current issues. Partisan media must strive for intellectual honesty in their expressions rather than resorting to sensational headlines and scare tactics to sway public opinion. Otherwise, recycled partisan stances from publications like The New York Times will continue to influence media across Europe, compelling smaller countries like Mauritius to echo what French some newspapers translate from NYT and Courrier International.
How can we discern genuine concerns from what is often dismissed as “far-right” rhetoric in today’s Western context? For decades, politicians have invoked the spectre of fascism associated with far-right parties to dissuade voters and maintain their seats in national assemblies. Is today’s far-right comparable to nationalist movements in the 1930s? The Nazis originated from the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, a leftist entity. In Italy, Georgia Meloni, Mussolini’s granddaughter, leads her country but faces constraints due to financial aid from the European Union, restricting her party’s policy implementation on migration. Similarly, Marine Le Pen of the National Rally (“Rassemblement national”) may encounter similar obstacles if her party triumphs in the upcoming election.Read More… Become a Subscriber
Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 5 July 2024
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