Blog: Bring it on, Steve Bannon! Europe stands tall for our values! - Hoofdinhoud

Recently the former Trump advisor Steve Bannon announced he will be campaigning for the right wing extremist nationalists in Europe, aiming to win a third of seats in the European Parliament.

Well Steve, bring it on! We happily take the challenge! In May 2019 in the ballot station, Europeans can chose what kind of Europe they want to live in. And Europeans will overwhelmingly show Bannon that we stand tall for our way of life and our values.

Steven Bannon and his European allies, like the Polish PiS government party, Marine Le Pen, Viktor Orbán, Nigel Farage, Geert Wilders as well as Dutch Christen Unie/SGP, want to pit European people against each other. But on top of that, they aim to dismantle all progress we have achieved in society. In their joint political agenda, laid down ao in the Manifesto “Restoring the Natural Order”, they reject modern values like gender equality, LGBTI rights, womens’ right to decide over their own bodies, stem cell research, freedom of religion and conscience, secularism, the open and diverse society, and more. In other words: turning back the clock. Women at the kitchen sink, gay people back in the closet, the church ruling our private lives and middle aged white males holding all power.

Populists have definitely advanced. Think: Trump election victory, Brexit, or the Hungarian and Polish governments breaking down the democratic rule of law with firm determination. The interference of Bannon is not new. For years he has been building his European network, for example through the obscure “think tank” Dignitatis Humanae Institute. And while Orbán has opened a witch hunt for Soros, he embraces Bannon like a friend.

Will we just stand by and watch Bannon & Co destroy modern society? Will we meekly accept that our way of life will disappear? No! We will get moving! In May 2019 we will join forces for a broad pro-European progressive party in the political center, offering a real alternative to the voters. A broad alliance of like-minded parties for an open and inclusive society, equality and freedom, looking ahead at the future, rather than at the past.

A big, powerful centrist movement, aiming for a strong European Union that will defend its citizens in today’s world, that will protect our rights and freedoms, and that will promote our European values in the world. In short: a European Union that safeguards our way of life.

This is why in May 2019 we will climb the barricades with conviction and inspiration. Because Europe is too important to leave it to the populists.

Photo: Gage Skidmore