Is ‘Merkozy’ Tagging to the Right? Nationalists on the Move

by Rikke Brammer Buk

Today Ms. Merkel, the Federal Chancellor of Germany and Mr. Sarkozy, President of the French Republic had a meeting with both the President and the Vice-president of the Alliance of European Nationalists Movements, Mr. Bruno Gollnisch and Mr. Nick Griffin.

The background was ostensibly that ‘Merkozy’ wanted to hear the nationalists’ position with regards to the proposal on the common EU migration policy by the European Commission.

We had a chance to ask Mr. Bruno Gollnisch a few quick questions after the meeting.

Rightists on a roll. Two very excited nationalists, Nick Griffin, British National Party, (left) and Bruno Gollnisch, Front National. The nationalists had very little traction when they arrived yesterday, but are now being consulted by the two most formidable EU leaders: Merkozy

Mr. Gollnisch, your party in France the National Front, is in a state of election mode back home, just as your President, Mr. Sarkozy. Do you worry that this meeting is an attempt to steal voters from your party?

“Taking the negotiations into account, I do not think that it is a publicity stunt by the French president. We are happy that heads of government share some of our policies and are willing to deal with the immigrant problems by taking very strict border controls into account.”

Did they seem excited about your proposals?

“To a certain degree, we could find a common ground among us.”

Does this mean that you feel represented in summit now?

“Definitely, definitely! We feel that by this meeting we are making a way through and that we are actually being heard and being taken seriously. We were a bit concerned yesterday that the heads of state were going to overlook us. We consider ourselves as being watch dogs on national level, but in  this case in order to ensure the national level, we have come to some agreement with the fact that a common European policy towards a strict border control is necessary.”