World NewsEurope

Actions

While Macron Rebuked Nationalism, Nationalists Marched In Poland

The contrasting centennial commemorations in Warsaw and Paris made clear the growing divisions between liberals and nationalists in Europe.
Posted 12:31 AM, Nov 13, 2018

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel presented a united front all weekend long in France to commemorate the end of World War I — in which the two countries were enemies.

But while Macron issued a warning against the resurgence of nationalism, which he blamed for fueling that conflict ...

"Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism. Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism."

... In Poland's capital, nationalists with fascist flags marched among more than 200,000 people to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the country's independence.

The official march, led by Poland's president, mostly included patriotic Poles carrying Polish flags. But nationalists followed closely behind them, holding banners representing far-right parties from Poland and Italy.

While the two marches were separated by the police and the military, the line between patriotism and far-right nationalism in PolandHungary and many other European countries is becoming more and more blurry. 

Warsaw's mayor attempted to ban the nationalist portion of the march, but a court overruled her last week.

Known as the March of Independence, it has been organized annually by far-right groups to celebrate the restoration of the country's sovereignty in 1918.

So while Macron, in Paris, was lecturing President Donald Trump — who recently embraced nationalism — and other world leaders about the danger of that ideology, far-right Poles in Warsaw reminded the world that Macron and Merkel's battle is an uphill one.

This video includes reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN