On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 18:00 CET, join us for an engaging livestream discussion titled ‘Le Pen Ban: Stopping the Far Right – or Fueling It?’ on our YouTube channel. This timely event will feature prominent voices including DiEM25 co-founder Yanis Varoufakis, journalist Glenn Greenwald, and historian David Broder.
The conversation will delve into the recent ban on far-right political figure Marine Le Pen and its implications for democracy and freedom of speech in Europe. The panellists will explore critical questions:
- Does banning far-right leaders curb the spread of their ideologies, or does it inadvertently amplify their message by portraying them as martyrs?
- How can democratic societies effectively combat the rise of extremist movements without compromising their foundational principles?
Yanis Varoufakis quickly touched on this topic when the news broke last week, saying “lawfare is wrong whomever it targets. And it is stupid to boot. France’s neofascists will only benefit from this”. And this livestream discussion will provide the opportunity for him to delve deeper into his views. Glenn Greenwald, celebrated for his investigative journalism on civil liberties, will also offer perspectives on the balance between security and freedom. David Broder, with his expertise in European history and politics, will contextualise the current developments within historical trends.
When Turkey’s courts ban Erdogan’s frontrunning Presidential opponent, the liberal mind rebels and rejects forthwith Erdogan’s argument that the law is the law. When France’s courts do they same, the liberal mind rejoices & parrots the law is the law. Mind-boggling hypocrisy!
— Yanis Varoufakis (@yanisvaroufakis) March 31, 2025
This livestream is part of our ongoing commitment to fostering open and critical discussions on pressing issues facing Europe and the world. By bringing together diverse viewpoints, we aim to promote a deeper understanding of the challenges to democracy and explore pathways toward more inclusive and resilient societies.
We invite you to be part of this important conversation, and to contribute by sending in your questions during the livestream.
Tune in live on April 8 at 18:00 CET on DiEM25’s YouTube channel, and engage with us as we examine the complexities of countering far-right movements in contemporary Europe.
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