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BZO, AUSTRIA
The Alliance for the Future of Austria, or BZO, was founded in 2005 by Jorg Haider - often called a 'yuppie fascist' - his sister Ursula Haubner and other leading lights of the Freedom Party. It holds seven out of 183 seats in the National Council. Haider praised the employment policies of the Third Reich, and has associated himself with SS veterans.
VB, BELGIUM
Vlaams Belang is a political party with 17 out of 150 seats in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives that advocates Flemish independence and strict immigration control. VB considers the 'Islamisation of Europe' as a 'frightening historical process'. One member, ideologue Roland Raes, was charged with historical revisionism after claiming in 2001 that the Holocaust was exaggerated.
DPP, DENMARK
Led by Pia Kjaersgaard, a former nurse, the Danish People's Party won 25 out of 179 seats in the 2007 elections and is regarded as part of the ruling coalition. Representatives of the party have proposed punishing sex offenders with chemical castration.
FN, FRANCE
Jean Marie Le Pen's Front National, with 75,000 members, is established as the third largest party in France. One FN-run council once offered a €700 'baby subsidy' provided that both parents were European nationals. Le Pen has said: "The immigrants will not be forced to leave. But once they can't get jobs or benefit, there will be little incentive for them to stay."
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NPD, GERMANY
The National Democratic Party of Germany, which received 1.6 per cent of the vote in the 2005 federal elections, is considered as a neo-Nazi party by opponents, who tried to ban it in 2003. Led by Udo Voight since 1996, the NPD refuses to acknowledge prescribed geographical borders, believing German territory extends into Austria and Poland.
LAOS, GREECE
Founded by maverick journalist and former body-builder Giorgos Karatzaferis, Popular Orthodox Alarm, or LAOS, saw its share of votes increase to 3.8 per cent and now holds 10 seats in Parliament. Karatzaferis calls on his countrymen to unite against neighbouring enemies Albania, Macedonia and Turkey.
FN, ITALY
Based on traditionalist Catholicism, Roberto Fiore's Forza Nuova takes Benito Mussolini's ideology as an ideological starting-point. FN is strongly against abortion, homosexuality, Chinese goods, Turkey's proposed EU membership and temporary work. It wants the immediate closure of gypsy camps.
SVP, SWITZERLAND
Led by Christoph Blocher, the Swiss People's Party (SVP) controls 62 out of 200 national seats. It has launched a campaign to ban the construction of minarets, and mailed supporters asking them to sign the 'Federal Popular Initiative for the Deportation of Criminal Foreigners'. A campaign poster shows three white sheep kicking a black sheep out of Swiss territory.
FIRST POSTED DECEMBER 4, 2007
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Fascism gains ground in modern Italy
