Polish Firebrand Praises
Hitler's Early Policies
By Katarzyna Mala
4-14-4
WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish firebrand Andrzej Lepper, whose nationalist Self-Defence party tops popularity rankings, has been quoted as saying he believes Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler's early policies were good.
"At the beginning of his activities, Hitler had a really good programme," Lepper told the Zycie Warszawy newspaper. "I don't know what happened to him later...who had such influence over him that he moved towards genocide."
Lepper's growing popularity is part of a wider backlash in future European Union members from central Europe against years of tough market reforms and government sleaze.
His nationalist, anti-establishment views also fit into a wider phenomenon of support for far-right politicians in western Europe such as Austria's Joerg Haider or France's Jean-Marie Le Pen, both of whom scored electoral successes in the last decade.
Haider also once praised Hitler's "enviable" record in job creation.
Lepper's remarks are bound to stir controversy in Poland, a country which Nazi Germany invaded in 1939, unleashing World War Two. Five million Polish citizens, including over three million Jews, were killed by the Nazis.
Asked to confirm the remarks, Lepper said the newspaper had manipulated his comments. "All I said concerning Hitler is that, yes, he eliminated unemployment," Lepper told Reuters on Wednesday. "Hitler was the biggest criminal and murderer in history."
The newspaper played a tape recording of the interview to Reuters including the quoted remarks.
ONE IN THREE
Surveys show one in three Poles could vote for Lepper in the next parliamentary elections, which are due next year but could be brought forward as the current leftist coalition struggles to reconstruct its government.
Unpopular Prime Minister Leszek Miller will step down on May 2, a day after Poland joins the EU. His designated successor Marek Belka has yet to assemble a parliamentary majority.
Some Polish commentators have drawn parallels between Hitler's tactics on his way to power and Lepper's.
Like Hitler, who scorned Germany's feeble Weimar Republic, Lepper uses fiery rhetoric to attack the mainstream parties and the shortcomings of Poland's young democracy.
He opposes Poland's EU membership, wants more state intervention in the economy and advocates strong presidential powers such as those enjoyed by Russia's Vladimir Putin.
His popularity is fuelled by promises to slash the country's high unemployment, running at about 20 percent, by launching wide-scale public works.
Hitler launched huge infrastructure projects including building Germany's autobahn network and the armaments industry after he seized power in 1933.
Copyright © 2004 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?
type=worldNews&storyID=493184§ion=news Link
Hitler's Early Policies
By Katarzyna Mala
4-14-4
WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish firebrand Andrzej Lepper, whose nationalist Self-Defence party tops popularity rankings, has been quoted as saying he believes Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler's early policies were good.
"At the beginning of his activities, Hitler had a really good programme," Lepper told the Zycie Warszawy newspaper. "I don't know what happened to him later...who had such influence over him that he moved towards genocide."
Lepper's growing popularity is part of a wider backlash in future European Union members from central Europe against years of tough market reforms and government sleaze.
His nationalist, anti-establishment views also fit into a wider phenomenon of support for far-right politicians in western Europe such as Austria's Joerg Haider or France's Jean-Marie Le Pen, both of whom scored electoral successes in the last decade.
Haider also once praised Hitler's "enviable" record in job creation.
Lepper's remarks are bound to stir controversy in Poland, a country which Nazi Germany invaded in 1939, unleashing World War Two. Five million Polish citizens, including over three million Jews, were killed by the Nazis.
Asked to confirm the remarks, Lepper said the newspaper had manipulated his comments. "All I said concerning Hitler is that, yes, he eliminated unemployment," Lepper told Reuters on Wednesday. "Hitler was the biggest criminal and murderer in history."
The newspaper played a tape recording of the interview to Reuters including the quoted remarks.
ONE IN THREE
Surveys show one in three Poles could vote for Lepper in the next parliamentary elections, which are due next year but could be brought forward as the current leftist coalition struggles to reconstruct its government.
Unpopular Prime Minister Leszek Miller will step down on May 2, a day after Poland joins the EU. His designated successor Marek Belka has yet to assemble a parliamentary majority.
Some Polish commentators have drawn parallels between Hitler's tactics on his way to power and Lepper's.
Like Hitler, who scorned Germany's feeble Weimar Republic, Lepper uses fiery rhetoric to attack the mainstream parties and the shortcomings of Poland's young democracy.
He opposes Poland's EU membership, wants more state intervention in the economy and advocates strong presidential powers such as those enjoyed by Russia's Vladimir Putin.
His popularity is fuelled by promises to slash the country's high unemployment, running at about 20 percent, by launching wide-scale public works.
Hitler launched huge infrastructure projects including building Germany's autobahn network and the armaments industry after he seized power in 1933.
Copyright © 2004 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?
type=worldNews&storyID=493184§ion=news Link
posted by BEING HAD at 4:46 AM
<< Home