Football

Some people have got their preparations well under way for the world cup: 'A particular focus is on the match between Iran and Angola on June 21 in Leipzig. The [far-right] NPD plans to "send a clear message of solidarity" to the Iranian regime led by President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, following his denial of the Holocaust and call for Israel's abolition' and his "defiant stance" on the nuclear issue. (Financial Times, 15 April)

I suppose in a way this shows the ineffectiveness of the far-right: it would be far "better" if they concentrated on Muslim immigrants, mainly Turks in Germany. In the same way, for a long time British fascists insisted on anti-Semitism, which was almost a non-issue in Britain. Philippe de Villiers, of the not-quite-far-right in France, seems to have grasped this. He has said recently that there is no such thing as moderate Islam and doubted whether muslims could be true members of the Republic.

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Just to clarify, or correct, something I mentioned here:

Tony Barber, writing in the Financial Times, 15 April, says, 'Mr Prodi's forces have a 158-156 majority in the senate [...] and 27 of  his senators come from Communist Refoundation'.