Switzerland's surprise decision in favor of curbing EU immigration [4], was greeted by UKIP's Nigel Farage as "wonderful news for national sovereignty and freedom lovers throughout Europe." With 50.3% of Swiss voters backing the "Stop Mass Immigration" bill proposed by right-wing populists, AFP reports that Farage (who has been outspoken over immigration and sovereignty problems in Europe) added "a wise and strong Switzerland has stood up to the bullying and threats of the unelected bureaucrats of Brussels." As we noted previously, [5] with the EU elections rapidly approaching non-centrist status quo parties are quickly gaining attention as 'the protest vote' gains traction.
Via AFP,
The leader of Britain's main eurosceptic party hailed "wise" Swiss voters Sunday for backing curbs on EU immigration, saying it would encourage others across the continent.
Nigel Farage, the head of the UK Independence Party, said Switzerland had stood up to "bullying" from Brussels and that it was "not a matter of race but of space."
"This is wonderful news for national sovereignty and freedom lovers throughout Europe," said Farage, who is a member of the European parliament (MEP).
"A wise and strong Switzerland has stood up to the bullying and threats of the unelected bureaucrats of Brussels."
Final results from a referendum showed that 50.3 percent of Swiss voters had backed the "Stop Mass Immigration" proposal pushed by [4]right-wing populists [4], threatening to ignite a row with Brussels. [4]
UKIP has led calls for similar calls for a cap on immigration, a touchy issue in Britain since Bulgarians and Romanians were given full rights on January 1 to free movement within the European Union.
Farage added: "It is a great thing to be welcomed that the Swiss people now have the freedom to decide the number and skill level of the people who they wish to invite to work or stay in their country."
"It is not a matter of race but of space, of numbers and of skills," he said.
Of course this move is a blow for a Europe "run by big banks, big business, and big government" [6] as Farage has described it in the past but we thoght this brief discussion from the UK (Boston, Lincolnshire) was useful in summing up the rising tensions from both the people and non-status-quo politicians looking for change...
It would seems to us that one 'event' that no one is discussing as a catalyst is the EU elections and here, from El Pais [7], is a very enlightening graphic showing the considerable growth in "Extreme Right" parties across the entire European region:
[8]
Whether, as Farage has warned in the past, we remain on the verge of social unrest is unclear but for sure this is not the poltical union that Barroso pitches it to have become...