EU elections: Could far-right parties take over the European Parliament? | Focus on Europe

DW News
26 May 202425:28

Summary

TLDRThe video script delves into the rise of right-wing and populist parties in Europe, projected to gain significant influence in the upcoming European Parliament elections. It highlights concerns over the potential impact on democracy, climate policies, and migration. The script features activists like Donata Pormert, who founded an initiative to counter right-wing extremism in Germany, and Filipo Maona, who switched to Italy's post-fascist party. It also discusses the challenges of misinformation and deep fakes in Slovakia's elections and the media landscape shift in Poland. The script concludes with the unique perspective of a bination village, symbolizing European unity despite bureaucratic complexities.

Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ European voters are heading to the polls in June for parliamentary elections, with a notable rise in support for populist right-wing parties expected.
  • ๐Ÿ“Š The German party AFD is gaining popularity nationally and is projected to increase its seats in the European Parliament, despite controversies and being classified as potentially extreme.
  • ๐Ÿ‘ต Donata Poman founded a citizens' initiative to counter the rise of the right-wing, which she believes is eroding democracy, but faces a challenge in her village of Dlan, Saxony.
  • ๐Ÿ›๏ธ About 30% of Dlan voters chose the AFD, a party known for its opposition to climate change, LGBTQ rights, and refugees, and is seen as right-wing extremist by Germany's domestic intelligence agency.
  • ๐Ÿ“š Activists in Dlan are taking to the streets to promote democracy and tolerance, but face resistance and are often seen as the problem rather than the right-wing populism they oppose.
  • ๐Ÿ’ก Filippo Maona from Italy switched his political allegiance from a conservative party to the post-fascist Brothers of Italy, believing they better represent his interests and will bring change.
  • ๐ŸŒ Georgia Malone, leader of the post-fascist Brothers of Italy and now Italy's Prime Minister, is seen by some as a ray of hope, but her domestic policies have faced criticism and are a point of contention.
  • ๐Ÿค” The European Union could see significant policy changes if right-wing parties gain more seats in the upcoming elections, potentially impacting migration, climate goals, and foreign aid.
  • ๐Ÿ•Š๏ธ Slovakia has experienced a deep political divide, with concerns over disinformation campaigns and deep fakes affecting elections, as seen with the attempted assassination of the country's populist leader.
  • ๐Ÿ“บ The media landscape in Poland is shifting with the change of government, with the new administration attempting to reverse the country's shift to the right, though their methods have been controversial.
  • ๐Ÿก The village of Lian, straddling the Germany-France border, exemplifies European integration, with villagers living a binational life despite bureaucratic challenges.

Q & A

  • What is the significance of the upcoming European Parliament elections in June?

    -The upcoming European Parliament elections in June are significant because they are projected to result in historic gains for populist right-wing parties, which could have substantial implications for the future direction and policies of the European Union.

  • What is the current status of Germany's AFD party, and what challenges do they face?

    -Germany's AFD party has been polling high nationally and is expected to increase its number of seats in the European Parliament. However, they face challenges such as fresh scandals and a German court classifying them as potentially extreme.

  • Who is Donata Porman, and what is her initiative against the rise of the right-wing?

    -Donata Porman is a citizen who has founded an initiative to counter the rise of the right-wing, which she believes is eroding democracy. Her group, 'Grannies against the Right', aims to promote tolerance and equality in their village of Dlan in the state of Saxony.

  • What is the impact of the AFD party's policies on issues like climate change, LGBTQ rights, and refugees?

    -The AFD party is known for its strong opposition to climate change policies, campaigns against LGBTQ rights, and anti-refugee stances. Their policies reflect a nationalist and conservative ideology that has been gaining traction among certain segments of the German population.

  • How has the right-wing populist surge affected the political landscape in Italy?

    -The right-wing populist surge in Italy has led to the rise of parties like the post-fascist Brothers of Italy, which is currently in power. This shift has been driven by a sense among voters that traditional parties no longer represent their interests and concerns.

  • What are the potential consequences of a right-wing shift in the European Parliament for EU policies?

    -A right-wing shift in the European Parliament could lead to attempts to reduce migration into the EU, abandon climate neutrality goals, reduce European aid to developing countries, and potentially alter the EU's stance on issues related to Russia.

  • What is the role of fact-checking teams in the context of the European elections?

    -Fact-checking teams, in collaboration with tech giants like Meta, play a crucial role in debunking fake content and deep fakes, which are AI-generated clips that can spread disinformation and influence election outcomes.

  • How has the political situation in Slovakia been affected by deep fakes and disinformation campaigns?

    -Slovakia has experienced a significant rise in disinformation, particularly deep fakes, during election periods. These have been used to manipulate public opinion and have potentially influenced election results, as seen in the case of the 2023 parliamentary elections.

  • What challenges do journalists face in countries with politically polarized environments, such as Poland?

    -Journalists in politically polarized environments like Poland face challenges such as pressure to report favorably on certain governments, job instability due to political shifts, and the risk of being accused of bias.

  • How does the media landscape in Poland reflect the country's political shifts?

    -The media landscape in Poland has undergone significant changes, with the public broadcaster TVP experiencing a radical switch in personnel and tone following the rise of a new pro-European conservative coalition government.

  • What is the significance of the bination village of Lian, and how does it exemplify European integration?

    -The bination village of Lian, which straddles the border between Germany and France, exemplifies European integration by showcasing how a community can function harmoniously under the governance of two different countries, despite bureaucratic challenges.

Outlines

00:00

๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ Rise of Right-Wing Populism in Europe

The script discusses the upcoming European Parliamentary elections and the anticipated gains of right-wing populist parties. It highlights the case of Germany's AFD party, which is expected to increase its seats despite controversies and being classified as potentially extreme. The narrative focuses on Donata Pormanova, who founded a citizen's initiative to counter the right-wing's rise, which she perceives as a threat to democracy. The initiative aims to promote tolerance and equality in the face of the AFD's policies against climate change, LGBTQ rights, and refugees. Despite efforts, the group faces resistance in their village of Dlan, Saxony, where about 30% of voters support the AFD. The script also touches on the broader implications for the European Union's future as populist parties gain traction.

05:01

๐ŸŒŽ Political Shifts and the Impact on the European Union

This paragraph explores the political shifts in Italy, where Filippo has moved his support from traditional conservative parties to the post-fascist Brothers of Italy, now led by Prime Minister Georgia Malone. The party's stance on various issues, including its move away from glorifying Mussolini, is contrasted with the concerns of critics who fear a threat to democracy. The narrative also covers the potential impact of right-wing parties on European Union policies, such as migration, climate goals, and foreign aid, should they gain more influence in the European Parliament. The complexities of uniting various right-wing factions and the challenges posed by differing views on Russia are also discussed.

10:01

๐Ÿ“ข Disinformation and the Threat to Democracy

The script delves into the issue of disinformation and its potential to sway elections, as illustrated by the case of Slovakia's populist leader, Robert Fico, and the deep fakes that surfaced during the country's elections. Experts like Veronica Frankovka are working to combat fake news and deep fakes, collaborating with tech companies like Meta to identify and debunk false content. The narrative highlights the challenges of tracing the origins of disinformation and the concerns about its impact on the upcoming European Parliament elections. It also touches on the political changes in Slovakia, including the removal of early warning systems under the new pro-Russian government, which has raised fears of increased foreign influence.

15:03

๐Ÿ“บ Media Landscape and Political Polarization in Poland

This section examines the impact of political polarization on the media landscape in Poland. Journalist Dorota Babek discusses her experience of being fired from a private channel due to alleged code breaches, which she believes were politically motivated. The narrative describes the changes at Poland's public broadcaster TVP following the rise of a new pro-European coalition government. The station's shift from a perceived government mouthpiece to a more pluralistic and democratic language is controversial and has led to protests and staff dismissals. The challenges of restoring judicial independence and the difficulties of reversing the nationalist policies of the past are also highlighted.

20:06

๐Ÿก Life in a Bination Village: Unity Amidst Bureaucracy

The script presents a unique perspective on European integration through the story of a bination village that straddles the border between Germany and France. Despite the complexities of living under two different legal systems, the villagers value their community and the European dream. The narrative explores the practical challenges of dealing with dual bureaucracies, such as in law enforcement and farming, and the desire for more open borders. The story emphasizes the importance of European subsidies in building community infrastructure and the villagers' pride in their shared European identity.

25:08

๐ŸŒฟ The Desire for Further European Integration

In this final paragraph, the script hints at the potential for further European integration as a key to addressing the challenges faced by communities like the bination village. It suggests that deeper integration could provide solutions to the bureaucratic hurdles that complicate daily life for those living on the border between countries. The narrative leaves the reader with a contemplation of the benefits and possibilities of a more unified Europe.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กEuropean Parliament Elections

The European Parliament Elections are a significant political event where citizens of EU member states vote for their representatives in the European Parliament. In the script, the upcoming elections are highlighted as pivotal, with right-wing populist parties expected to make historic gains. This shift in voter sentiment could impact the future policies and direction of the European Union.

๐Ÿ’กPopulist Right-Wing Parties

Populist right-wing parties advocate for nationalist, anti-immigration, and often Eurosceptic policies. The script discusses the rise of such parties across Europe, particularly the AfD in Germany and the Brothers of Italy, signaling a broader shift in political dynamics and voter priorities within the EU.

๐Ÿ’กAfD (Alternative for Germany)

The AfD is a right-wing populist party in Germany known for its anti-immigration stance and criticism of the EU. Despite controversies and being labeled as extremist by German authorities, the AfD is gaining traction, especially in regions like Saxony, reflecting a growing trend of right-wing support.

๐Ÿ’กGranny's Against the Right

Granny's Against the Right is a citizen's initiative founded by Donata Porman to counter the rise of right-wing populism in Germany. This group symbolizes grassroots activism aimed at promoting democracy, tolerance, and equality, illustrating the societal pushback against extremist ideologies.

๐Ÿ’กDisinformation and Deep Fakes

Disinformation and deep fakes refer to the spread of false information and digitally manipulated media to deceive the public. The script mentions these tactics being used in Slovakia's elections, raising concerns about their impact on democratic processes and voter perceptions across the EU.

๐Ÿ’กClimate Neutrality by 2050

The EU's goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero. Right-wing parties often oppose these green policies, arguing they negatively impact domestic workers and farmers. The script suggests that a stronger right-wing presence in the EU Parliament could jeopardize these environmental goals.

๐Ÿ’กMigration Policies

Migration policies are rules and regulations governing the movement of people across borders. Right-wing parties in Europe aim to tighten these policies, potentially leading to an increase in irregular migration routes. The script highlights how these proposed changes could affect both EU internal dynamics and external relationships.

๐Ÿ’กEuropean Union Aid

European Union aid refers to financial and technical assistance provided to developing countries and regions. The script indicates that right-wing parties may push to reduce this aid, which could have significant implications for global development and the EU's role on the international stage.

๐Ÿ’กRussia and EU Relations

Relations between Russia and the EU are complex, often marked by political and economic tensions. The script discusses the divergent views within Europe's right-wing factions regarding Russia, particularly in the context of the Ukraine conflict, highlighting the challenges of achieving a unified stance within the EU.

๐Ÿ’กPolitical Polarization

Political polarization refers to the growing divide between opposing political ideologies and parties. The script illustrates this through various examples, such as the contrasting views of Italian voters and the political landscape in Slovakia, emphasizing how this polarization is shaping electoral outcomes and public discourse in the EU.

Highlights

Europeans will be voting in parliamentary elections in June, with populist right-wing parties projected to make historic gains.

Germany's AfD party is expected to increase their number of seats in the European Parliament despite a string of fresh scandals.

Donata Porman founded a citizen's initiative to counter the rise of the right, which they believe is eroding democracy.

Activists in the small Saxon town of Duban are taking to the streets for democracy and tolerance.

About 30% of Duban voters chose the AfD, a party designated as right-wing extremist by Germany's domestic intelligence agency.

The AfD campaigns against LGBTQ rights and refugees, among other issues.

Grannies Against the Right is a group that seeks to engage with local AfD voters, but they face challenges in creating dialogue.

Filipo Maona from Italy switched political allegiance from a conservative party to the post-fascist Brothers of Italy.

Italy's Prime Minister Georgia Maloney, from the Brothers of Italy, is seen as a beacon of change by some and a concern by others.

Right-wing parties across Europe have yet to unite at the European level, which may impact their influence in the European Parliament.

Disinformation campaigns and deep fakes are a significant concern in upcoming European elections, as seen in Slovakia.

Slovakia's populist leader Robert Fico's pro-Russian stance highlights deep political divides and disinformation issues.

Poland's media landscape is changing as the new government seeks to reverse the shift to the right by the previous administration.

Journalist Dorota Babek returns to Polish public broadcasting amid controversies over media influence and freedom.

In the bi-national village of Lighting, France and Germany, residents navigate complex cross-border bureaucracy while embracing European integration.

Further European integration is seen as a solution to cross-border issues in towns like Lighting, straddling France and Germany.

Transcripts

play00:00

Europeans will be voting in

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parliamentary elections in June and

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populist right-wing parties are

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projected to make historic gains so what

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has prompted this shift among voters and

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what could it mean for the future of the

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European Union find out on this special

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edition about the European Parliament

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elections Germany's afd party has been

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polling High nationally and they're

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expected to increase their number of

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seats in the European Parliament this is

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despite a string of fresh scandals and a

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German Court classifying them as

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potentially extreme Donata porman is

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alarmed she's founded a citizen's

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initiative to counter the rise of the

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right which they believe is eroding

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democracy but in her Village of dlan in

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the state of Saxony their calls for

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tolerance and equality seem to be

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falling on deaf

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ears activists are taking to the streets

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for democracy and tolerance in the small

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Saxon town of duban and in the thick of

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it all GR against the

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right this is about all of us and the

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values we hold about Freedom equality

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freedom of

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thought in recent elections about 30% of

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duban Voters chose the afd a party whose

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Saxony branch has been designated as

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right-wing extremist by Germany's

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domestic intelligence agency the afd

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lashes out against other German parties

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denies human CA climate change and

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campaigns against lgbtq rights and

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refugees I can assure you that burkas

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headscarf girls publicly supported Thugs

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and other good for nothings will not

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secure our prosperity economic growth

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and the social

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State the Granny's against the right are

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watching this right word surge with

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great concern ahead of the European

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elections they want to talk to local afd

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voters they've got coffee and cake and

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information about the right-wing

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populists if we can give out our

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information hand out materials to a few

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people say that later this evening some

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might think it over in private and

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possibly realize oh I didn't know that

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that would be the greatest

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thing porman founded the group in duban

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about 3 months ago after journalists

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reported on a right-wing meeting near

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Berlin there afd politicians right-wing

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exists and some conservative politicians

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are said to have planned deporting

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millions of

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immigrants the fact that such a

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discussion happened was shocking and

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deeply

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disturbing and convinced me something

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had to be

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done the group started out with 18

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female activists now there are 41

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they want to learn how to counter

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right-wing populist arguments at

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practice sessions like these almost all

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of them are confronted with racism and

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extremism on a daily basis in workplaces

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sports clubs and

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elsewhere I was

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shocked but that's why we should speak

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up in those

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moments the most frustrating thing for

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the active this is when their neighbors

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see them as the problem and not

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right-wing

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populism when I drum up support for the

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Granny's against the right for instance

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or other campaigns we're organizing in

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Durban I'm often confronted with blank

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stairs silence people turn away and act

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as if it's us who are the problem as if

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we are the ones making trouble

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here but the Granny's aren't giving up

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there's too much at stake after the

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European elections elections will be

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held in the state of Saxony and

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according to polls for the first time

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ever the afd could

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win I want my grandchildren to grow up

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in the same free tolerant Democratic

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state that I

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did and now I'm so worried it's all

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going down the drain

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again but today no afd voters show up to

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chat with them at their stand despite

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free coffee tea and Cake none of the

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locals seem interested and decide to

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stay put inside there's simply no

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dialogue between the Granny's and duban

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afd

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voters an increasing number of Voters

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are turning to right and leftwing

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parties because they no longer feel

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represented by The Establishment which

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is exactly what prompted felipo maona

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from Italy to switch the political aisle

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he used to be a staunch conservative but

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now he feels best represented by the

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post-fascist brothers of Italy who are

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currently in power in southern Italy's

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maratea filipo has faith that the party

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will bring change but those around him

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see things quite

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differently a 21 M tall Christ the

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Redeemer statue overlooks the Gulf of P

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Castro in southern Italy filipo myON

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owns a restaurant here in 2019 he made

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the acquaintance of Georgia Malone

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chairwoman of the post-fascist Fratelli

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dalala at the time averaging only around

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3% of the vote now she's Italy's Prime

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Minister she made a positive impression

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on me at the

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time I realized that after the burone

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era she and her political project had a

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future my used to vote for Silvio B On's

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party the right of Center fora Italia

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but now he's gone over to the brothers

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of Italy which many in the country label

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post fascist he doesn't believe it poses

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a danger to democracy and says the party

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officially moved away from its

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glorification of the former dictator

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musolini long ago Mone claims this

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alienated many early followers of the

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party some in their loyal base are

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disappointed because the part's not

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pushing through their rightwing

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platform but Malone is a responsible

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politician so she has to consider the

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finances and the national budget

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first and for that she needs the support

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of the European

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Union myON feels that many left-leaning

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workers voted for Georgia Maloney

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because Italy's left-wing parties have

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lost sight of their concerns jobs are

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one of the most important

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issues myON Chef is less inclined to

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warm up to the ideas of the right-wing

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nationalist prime

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minister all politicians promise you the

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Earth and the moon but in the end you

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have to manage the problems of daily

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life

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yourself I don't demand that politicians

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save our lives but if you believe in

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something and have ideals but never see

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anything get better you lose hope and in

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Italy we haven't seen any real changes

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for the

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better Georgia Maloney has been

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governing Italy since

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2022 internationally she portrays a more

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moderate stance showing support for NATO

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and Ukraine critics say it's a different

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matter when it comes to domestic affairs

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she abolished the citizens benefits

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outlawed surrogate motherhood and led

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campaigns against journalists and

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[Music]

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[Applause]

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intellectuals Myon often argues over

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politics with his friend

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jeppe you lefties only think about civil

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rights you concentrate only on issues

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like those you've forgotten the workers

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the poorest of

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society you've turned into the party of

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the rich and the

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privileged and you with your slogans

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let's close the ports no to migrants and

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abortion is not a right you're

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constantly attacking these civil

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rights it might work for now because

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people are still honeymooning with

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Maloney and the right-wing Coalition has

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their

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support but sooner or later that

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honeymoon will be

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over Malone's slogan for the European

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Parliament election is Italy changes

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Europe it's a ray of Hope for filipo but

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a nightmare for jepe and for both it'll

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be a bone of contention for a long time

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to

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come while far right parties are

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becoming more established at National

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levels in Europe they have yet to make

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their mark on the European stage but if

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they gain more seats in the upcoming

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elections European Union policies could

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significantly change so what exactly

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would a shift to the right mean for the

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EU our next report takes a look at the

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consequences this could have both in

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Europe and out inside its

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borders in the June elections for the

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European Parliament right-wing and Far

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Right parties are expected to gain more

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seats so far the far right has not yet

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managed to unite at the European level

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it's divided into different

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factions but what would a right-wing

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search in the European Parliament mean

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what consequences would it have for the

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EU and the world if Europe's right-wing

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factions became a stronger and United

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group they would most likely try to

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reduce migration into the EU by

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attempting to change EU laws this in

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turn might mean an increased number of

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people trying to enter the EU

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irregularly via land routes or across

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the dangerous Mediterranean Sea and the

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Atlantic the far right would also likely

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try to force the EU to abandon its goal

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of being climate neutral by 2050 many

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right-wing and Far Right parties say

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green laws are having a negative effect

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on domestic workers and Farmers European

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Aid to developing countries could also

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be reduced

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drastically but all these changes would

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require a United right and far right

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political front which experts believe

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the different groups are still unlikely

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to achieve the main sticking point

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Russia one of Italy's right-wing parties

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the Lega as well as the Freedom Party of

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Austria have both criticized the West's

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heartline against Russia after its

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invasion of Ukraine but Poland's

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right-wing Law And Justice party and

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Italy's other far-right party the

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brothers of Italy are strong backers of

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Ukraine and even if the far-right

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factions are able to unite Europe's

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conservative and Centrist parties have

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so far refused to make deals with them

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however if that changed the far right

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and right-wing parties would truly gain

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influence in the European Parliament

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the attempted assassination of

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Slovakia's populist leader Robert fito

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has highlighted the nation's deep

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political divide authorities say the

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suspect had a clear political motivation

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prime minister fito came to power again

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last year this time on a pro-russian

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platform his Nationalist and populist

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rhetoric has raised concerns in the EU

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data expert Veronica frankovka believes

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disinformation campaigns with deep fakes

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and artificial intelligence were rampant

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in Slovakia's elections and she fears

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they could also sway the vote in

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European

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elections in Bratislava the capital of

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Slovakia Veronica franova is on a

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mission to protect her home country from

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disinformation and fake

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news we come across a lot of information

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especially on the internet and it's hard

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for people to tell whether it is or

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isn't the truth and our job is to look

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for the pieces information that are

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false or misleading in June Europeans

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will vote for a new Parliament franova

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small NGO is one of 29 factchecking

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teams across the EU working with us Tech

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Giant meta to debunk fake

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content they are fighting a new enemy

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deep fakes Clips created in minutes with

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the help of AI software in which people

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appear to say or do things they never

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did

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and no country in Europe has experienced

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this new threat firsthand like

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Slovakia in September 2023 we had

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parliamentary elections and uh in the

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months before them there was quite a

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rise in uh

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disinformation just a few days before

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the election suspicious audio files

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appeared online they seemingly involved

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mikal shimeta the leader of the pro-

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European Progressive Slovakia party

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in one of them he seemed to be talking

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to a journalist about how to Rick the

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election in another one about plans for

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raising the price of beer both of these

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deep fakes first appeared uh on telegram

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but they gained traction when they were

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re-shared by accounts on

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Facebook from there they spread like a

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wildfire they were shared on uh personal

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messages and WhatsApp

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messages within hours fact Checkers

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debugged the posts as like fakes

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prompting meta to label them but people

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continued to share them and shima's

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progressives lost the election by a few

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points to the populist pro-russian smear

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SD party meta the tech giant behind

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Facebook Instagram and WhatsApp said it

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had slowed down the spread of the Slovak

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deep fakes after they'd been

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flagged and yet the Deep fake about

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election rigging still amassed over a

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100,000 public views in a country of

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less than 5 and a half million people

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that's how disinformation Works experts

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say its very nature makes it impossible

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to say with 100% certainty who's behind

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it and yet one former senior government

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official told us that when it comes to

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last year's deep fakes he's pretty

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sure I believe it's very likely that

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there was a Russian footprint uh because

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there are so many coincidences and so

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many details dets that just wouldn't

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allow any other logical explanation my

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name is Daniel Milo and until December

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last year I was the director of Center

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for countering hybrid threats at Slovak

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Ministry of interior shortly after the

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government was formed that uh you know

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the mission uh that I believe in mainly

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to protect Slovakia from foreign hostile

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influence and to be able to push back

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against such influence uh was not

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possible anymore since then Milo says

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the new pro-russian government has got

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rid of many early warning and defense

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mechanisms it's much easier for Russia

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to conduct its uh its influence

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operations well I definitely expect

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Russia to intensify their activities in

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an email Slovakia's interior Ministry

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rejected Milo statements saying that

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they do not Accord with real fact and

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undermine the work results of

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specialists

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as Slovakia along with the rest of the

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European Union enters election mode

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fears are running high that AI generated

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deep fakes could once again emerge in

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the runup to the

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vote I'm afraid that especially in

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Slovakia but also in other countries

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this is only going to show and become

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more distinct before the European

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elections the threat is

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[Music]

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real the tug of war between between

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pro-european parties and the right is

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also changing the media landscape in

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Poland journalist dorata babek was

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directly affected by the policies of the

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Nationalist Law And Justice party they

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ruled Poland from 2015 until last year

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the new Coalition is now trying to

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reverse the country's shift to the right

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but their methods are drawing criticism

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even from the government's own

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supporters D bck is getting ready to

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return to polish Airwaves from here in

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Strasburg she's become the new face of

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Poland's public broadcaster in the

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European Union something Unthinkable

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until last year I did everything I could

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to not let the politicians decide about

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my profession doroto was fired from a

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private polish channel in 2022

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officially over Co rule breaches but

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she's sure it was down to the media

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influence of Poland's former nationalist

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Euros skeptic government I felt the

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pressure

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from uh 2015 onwards it was growing it

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was uh always bigger when it was close

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to the elections sometimes when uh when

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the big things were happening in

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Brussels which were negative for Poland

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um I was not ask to report on

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them after a pro-european conservative

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Le Coalition gained the numbers to

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govern last year dto was recruited to

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report for Poland's public service

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broadcaster TVP

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in Warsaw there are more New Kids on the

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Block there's been a radical switch up

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at the channel once accused of being

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nothing more than a populist government

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mouthpiece what changed everything

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changed most of all the people entire

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teams are new plus the type of language

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we use has changed this means there is

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no hatred or the Venom that has flowed

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from the screens over the last 8 years

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we changed it to Simply pluralistic

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language Democratic language the

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language of public

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television but the change is

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controversial the station was occupied

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by nationalist protesters in December

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and temporarily went off air amid the

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chaos many staffers were suddenly sacked

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among them

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Camis newly returned from Germany and

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out of a job I'm sad that I'm not in

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berin Mar for years Cesar was a TVP

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correspondent breaking big stories he's

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been acced acced of favoring the

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previous government in his coverage but

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after being sacked he says he's the one

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who's the victim of a biased

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system this is the experience of every

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journalist in Poland with conservative

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use I never work in any media outlet for

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more than a few years because

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left-leaning liberal circles put

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pressure on these media to deprive them

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of their

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voice as the media landscape shifts even

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observers who back the new government's

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move moves say it stretched the limits

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of the law maybe these activities of our

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government I mean firing people out was

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not pretty legal but it was necessary

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this new television new public media

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needs some time to find to to GA

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credibility unpicking the legacy of

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Poland's recent past is also proving

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difficult for the new government in

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other areas the EU sanctioned the last

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Administration over alleged attempts to

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control polish courts through new laws

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no judges want systemic change to

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restore

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independence the last eight years have

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been very difficult because we have been

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fighting to ensure that polls have the

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right to go to court so that politicians

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do not dictate the content of Judges

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rulings we want to build a modern

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European system and anti system that

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over several decades has greatly

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strengthened the role of the Minister of

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Justice in po

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and that will take time in a Poland

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which remains politically

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polarized but outside Wars so there are

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fewer clashes to cover these days the

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general atmosphere around Poland um in

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Brussels in Europe has changed to much

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more positive one when I report from

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Brussels um I don't have to explain so

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much uh why the EU decided to criticize

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us why we are punished but I have new

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challenge which is

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to to present the real face of the

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European Union to the Polish

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people EU elections are fast approaching

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and populist parties are expected to

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gain ground D says she'll be here to

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cover every twist and

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turn now to a place that's divided not

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by politics but by a border Lian is a

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town that straddles both Germany and

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France while EU regulations apply here

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one part is governed by French laws and

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the other by German ones the red tape

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makes life complicated but despite those

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challenges the villagers don't want to

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take

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sides now I'm in

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[Applause]

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Germany and now I'm in France Henning

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and his parents live in a bational

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village France on the left Germany on

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the right Lighting in has been split

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since Napoleonic times aloise tush loves

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strolling around the

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village we're on the neutral Street my

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left foot is in France my right foot is

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in Germany we're living the European

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dream but not everyone is a fan there's

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a German hydrant and a French

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hydrant a French church and a German one

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French pets and German ones

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too there's never been a border fence

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and right-wing populist ideas have never

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caught on Lighting in simply to European

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for

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that but Castine moza says dealing with

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German and French bureaucracy can be

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exhausting it doesn't really have any

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advantages there's a unique situation

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for example with thefts and burglar

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criminals can just simply cross the

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border then we have to inform our French

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colleagues which takes a while

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longer and the criminals get

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away then there are crimes you'd find in

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few other Villages says German Village

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headid so the German side still has a

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flag up proudly signaling that this is

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Germany on the other side someone has

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removed the French flag pole

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if a German had removed it mcon would

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have traveled to Berlin to take this up

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with the German

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Chancellor everyone here however is

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proud of the village community center

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built with plenty of EU

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subsidies we couldn't have set this up

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without European

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support Schmidt's counterpart French

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mayor Madame LaRon used to slip over the

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Border as a teenager

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[Music]

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at the time it was

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smuggling sometimes we'd walk through

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the little alley so that nobody would

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see us see alcohol n no not alcohol

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German wine isn't the

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best a little outside the village Kine

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CBA and her husband run a cattle farm

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they say dealing with two countries

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bureaucracy is a pain but before getting

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into the details they first need to help

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a cow give birth the clas breed cattle

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having the farm right by the French

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border complicates

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matters we farm land here on French

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soil we would like to use the land for

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grazing but the law says the animals

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have to be quarantined for 3 months

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before they can be taken over to the

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other side of the road to

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France she wants an even more open

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border not just for the cows but for her

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daughter

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too I'm in

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Germany it's Fin and now I'm back in

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France further European integration

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could be the key

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European ElectionsPopulism RiseRight-Wing PoliticsDemocracy ConcernsEU PoliciesClimate ChangeMigration IssuesDeep FakesMedia LandscapeNational IdentityCross-Border Challenges