Balkans:
Deutsche Welle: Bregovic breaks down racism with ‘gypsy’ music. ‘Discrimination against Roma and Sinti communities continues to be a major problem across Europe. But the “gypsy” inspired music of world-famous Balkan musician Goran Bregovic is breaking down stereotypes.’
Bulgaria:
Novinite: Bulgarian nationalists to propose ‘alternative’ budget 2013. ‘Bulgarian nationalist party Ataka plans to submit to Parliament an alternative version of draft budget 2013 in a few days’ time. Ataka MP Pavel Shopov came up with the announcement Thursday during the first discussion of draft budget 2013 at a sitting of the Parliamentary Budget and Finance Committee.’
Greece:
Al Jazeera: Golden Dawn glows amid Greece gloom. ‘The Athenians of Amerikis Square are in no doubt about it – Golden Dawn, the far-right nationalist party many describe as neo-fascist – is to be thanked for cleaning up their neighbourhood. “Immigrants used to just rob you. But in recent years they were also beating you up,” says Katerina, a florist who has worked on the square for nearly two decades.’
Greek Reporter: Golden Dawn leader says they’re not Nazis. ‘The head of the far-right extremist party Golden Dawn, which showcases Hitler’s Mein Kampf and who has used the Heil salute, has denied it has a Nazi orientation and claimed it is being ostracized by the media and in Parliament, where it has 18 seats.’
Time Magazine: Why the Rise of Greece’s Golden Dawn Party Is Bad for Europe. ‘In Thermopylae, in the year 480 B.C., King Leonidas of Sparta and hundreds of Greek warriors made history by battling 300,000 invaders who made up the army of Xerxes, the Persian King of Kings. A bronze statue of Leonidas towers there now, and on a late August day in the year 2012, about 800 people crowded around it. Many were unsmiling men in army fatigues and black T-shirts printed with a meandros, an ancient Greek symbol that happens to resemble a swastika. Some had shaved heads and pork-chop sideburns. “Greece belongs to the Greeks!” the men in black chanted’
Hungary:
BosNewsLife: Hungary condemns burning Israel flag and anti-Semitic violence. ‘Hungary’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, October 24, condemned the “desecration of an Israeli flag” and attacks against fellow Jewish citizens by supporters of a far-right party amid mounting concern about anti-Semitic incidents in the country.’
Russia:
United Press International: Russian police kill Tartar militants. ‘Russian police and federal security service killed two alleged militants in Russia’s Tatarstan. Tatarstan is a predominantly Islamic autonomous republic within the Russian Federation.’
Serbia:
Politics.hu: Far-right Hungarians detained in Serbia. ‘Seven Hungarians were detained by Novi Sad police after they entered a bar in Temerin on Saturday night, greeted each other with Nazi salutes, scuffled with patrons and insulted their ethnicity.’
Polls via Electionista:
- Austria (Gallup poll): SPO 25% OVP 22% FPO 22% Greens 15% Stronach 11% BZO 2% Pirates 2%
- Ukraine (pre-election polls): Party of Regions 22-23% Batkivschyna 15.6-16.5 UDAR 14.7-17.9 Communists 9.2-12.8
