The far right rears its head on TV
Communist Party (KKE) leader Aleka Papariga, in an interview with Skai Television and Radio earlier this week, charged that a number of media organizations were doing everything they could to promote a certain small, far-right party while other small parties did not enjoy the same special treatment, irrespective of whether they were represented in Parliament or not. Papariga even said she had evidence to back up her claims. However, I do not think any concrete evidence is necessary to confirm what all television viewers see every night in news bulletins and discussions. Representatives of this small far-right party are invited to join these debates, irrespective of their experience and the position they hold. Very often their appearances are amusing, other times provocative, even outrageous. But this does not appear to faze the channel directors, and the far-right representatives continue to masquerade as defenders of democratic rights, hoodwinking the public. If you are wondering why TV channels allow this to happen, do not entertain the idea that journalistic and democratic sensitivity demands the presence of all sides, even those who are enemies of democracy. I believe that the democratic principles of every citizen can be measured precisely on the basis of his or her struggle against the enemies of democracy. I also believe that the main goal of this ostensibly objective and democratic enterprise by the media is to promote this small far-right party so that it can garner more than 3 percent of votes in the next general elections and gain seats in Parliament, in which case the party getting the most votes would struggle to form a strong and stable government, since there would most likely be five parties in the national assembly. A weak government with a small parliamentary majority is generally more susceptible to graft and serving the interests of the elite. Some believe that the far-right party in question will secure a small but crucial percentage of votes from the ruling New Democracy party and that this would boost PASOK. Secretly, many PASOK cadres hope this will happen and do not conceal their optimism about the far-right party entering Parliament. Others believe that this onslaught from the far right will oblige ND to withdraw from the center ground, to which it owes its victory in the last general elections, and to take a «right turn» on a number of crucial issues. Ultimately, this is a wretched little partisan game which, irrespective of motives, will achieve one thing: It will legitimize the far-right and grant easy access to politics to all those hiding behind this small party. In an extreme situation, this party could end up having a significant influence on our political life. The other certainty is that such partisan games serve to compromise citizens’ democratic principles but also Parliament itself.
