REAL POLITIK NO. 81
22 DECEMBER 2024 – 19 JANUARY 2025
With “ flash” comments on 4 major events in only 1000 words by the well-known analyst,
DR. JORGJI KOTE
1.Packages with gifts for extremism!
For these gifts was selected the most convenient moment, Christmas and the New Year 2025. Just on 28 December 2024 it had a glamorous echo in the prestigious German daily ”Die Welt am Sonntag” the opinion expressed by superbillionere Elon Musk, President Trump’s External Advisor that « The Alternative for Germany” (AfD) is the only hope and alternative for Germany» Before that he had insulted the German Chancellor Scholz and described President Steienmeier “ an anti-democratic tyran”. Musk went on with “ gifts” for AfD in a virtual meeting on 8 January on the platform X with its leader, Alice Weidel. Hardly had she thought about a more precious gift, only 6 weeks ahead of early parliamentary elections on 23 February!
Then, Musk associated the geopolitics with “ far right” gifts and bonuses and with unprincipled tirades of attacks against British labourists. He went that far as to demand the resignation of its Prime Minister Starmer for his alleged role as former prosecutor for some crimes of sexual nature years ago. He even called on King Charles to fire him, a true political and diplomatic non-sense. Meanwhile, he has asked the far right “ Reform UK” Party to defy Labour in the upcoming general elections, pledging to them a financial package of 100 Million Dollars.
Given his exceptional role, the immense assets and his high position in the new Trump Administration, these interferences are indeed major political gifts and bonuses for the far right in Europe, triggering in this way indignation in the European chancelleries with well-known reaction and calls on the EU Commission to examine the compatibility of Musk’s acts and positions with the EU digital service laws.
In fact, when one looks at their possible negative effects and in the electoral processes in Germany, UK and elsewhere, it becomes clear that they are much more than “ Christmas and New Year packages with gifts” . They are indeed acts and actions that “ bring water to the far right mills”. They are major material, moral and political bonuses which serve the further escalation of far right extremism in Europe, in USA and everywhere to the detriment of fundamental western values and liberal democracy.
Facts talk louder than words. In the recent years, the far right parties have come to power in several EU Member States – Austria, Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, and even in its co- founding states as Italy and the Netherlands.
Motivated by these achievements, their target now is to “ occupy” the EU axes, i.e. France and Germany. If in Berlin they face some hidrances mainly due to the legendary CDU, in France, Le Pen’s advent to power seems only a matter of time, perhaps months only.
However, its worth stressing that before the “ gifts” from Musk, the far right for Europe is a gift mainly thanks to to its mistakes, wrong positions and political naiveness of traditional moderate right and left parties, especially in France, Germany, in the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Italy and elsewhere.
2. A major bonus for Giorgia Meloni was considered the meeting between President Elect Trump with the Italian Premier, Mrs. Meloni on 5 January 2025 in his private residence in Mar-a-Lago. After the NATO Secetary General, Mark Rutte, this was the second official meeting in his residence. Meanwhile, on 7 December 2024 Trump was in Paris attending the reopening ceremony of the emblematic cathedral of ”Notre- Dame” where he met the French President Macron, President Zelenski and the UK Crown Prince, William.
The warm reception for Meloni exceeded the boundaries of diplomatic courtesy. Trump spoke with very high positive notes for his Italian counterpart. Among others he said that ”Meloni conquered Italy and Europe” as a power and energetic lady. Given the above-mentioned considerations also from this privileged meeting, many observers and analysts say that Meloni may be a binding bridge between Trump and Europe. Actually, this is a very strong trump card for Meloni’s image, moreover given a weakened Macron and Scholz, the major problems of the EU “engine” and the escalation of far right in Europa and elsewhere; the latter after Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland is seeking to take up Berlin and Paris. Then, one might say “ ” Good buy Europe”.
3. “The head, then the feet!” There are many talks and discussions especially in Kosovo on the future hopes and expectations from the appointment of EU mediators for the Dialogue Pristina – Belgrade. With several assumptions, showing the pluses and minues of the Danish Sorensen and the Finish Havisto. In practical terms, this is a premature discussion because first, we have to wait President Trump and his Administration start work and the new leaders on the State Department for our region. But even that is no sufficient. As we have explained even earlier, the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade is not simply a matter of mediators; they are just technicians who implement a certain strategy adopted by the USA and the EU.
However, since it will take months to adopt this strategy, is is untimely to talk on various scenarios and alternatives. Moreover, that there are major geopolitical shifts currently, where the above-mentioned dialogue is only one of the hot points in the essential western geopolitical catalogue. Therefore, the major questions posed is whether the USA and the EU would keep on with “appeasement& petting diplomacy” towards Belgrade and continue to treat Kosovo as “ stepmother’s son” or would there be a substantial change of positions? For the time being, no one, even President Trump can hardly say something for this cardinal issue.
4. A great step to the long – awaited peace was the Agreement of 19 January between Izrael and Hamas. With exceptional positive effects for the relevant states, the Middle East, peace and security worldwide. Moreover, after immense human, material and financial loses, especially after the Hamas terrorist attack against Izrael on 7 October 2023. However, experience shows that these deals may remain on paper and have provisional effects. Therefore, continuous efforts are required for the achievement of the relevant major goals. BUT now involving the Palestinian people and authorities. Let they realize once and for good that without PALESTINA, whatever happens, there would be no peace in that region and beyond.
© 2025 Argumentum