Steve Bannon planning foundation to boost far right in Europe: report

668

WASHINGTON, July 22, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – US President Donald Trump’s
controversial former advisor Steve Bannon plans to set up a foundation in
Europe called “The Movement” to spark a populist rightwing revolt, according
to a report.

Bannon envisages the organization rivalling George Soros’ Open Foundation,
which has given away $32 billion to liberal causes since it was established
in 1984, according to the report by the Daily Beast published late Friday.

The non-profit will be a central source of polling, advice on messaging,
data targeting, and think-tank research.

He told the Daily Beat he was convinced the coming years will see an end
to decades of European integration.

“Right-wing populist nationalism is what will happen. That’s what will
govern,” he said. “You’re going to have individual nation states with their
own identities, their own borders.”

He added he had held talks with right-wing groups across the continent,
from Nigel Farage and members of Marine Le Pen’s Front National (recently
renamed Rassemblement National) in the West, to Hungary’s Viktor Orban and
the Polish populists in the East.

The organization will likely be based out of Brussels initially and has
set its sights on the 2019 European parliament elections.

The architect of Trump’s nationalist-populist campaign and his election
victory, White House chief strategist Steve Bannon was nicknamed the “Prince
of Darkness” and the “Shadow President.” His economic nationalism became the
lynchpin of Trump policies, even as many of his other ideas were rebuffed by
policy rivals.

After new Chief of Staff John Kelly arrived, Bannon’s constant clashes
with other advisors became untenable, as did his ties to the extreme right,
which drew accusations that Trump fostered racists. Bannon left the White
House last August.