BRUSSELS -- Europe is in danger of seeing its extreme-right parties move into the mainstream. The message has changed. Anti-Semitism has metamorphosed into "Islamophobia" since 9/11, finding a popular resonance with those bearing the consequences of the war on terror. Islamophobia has become the prejudice of the day, but the threat from the extreme right is real and it is found across the European Union.
The big shock was in France in 2002 when Jean-Marie Le Pen, leader of the National Front Party (who believes the Nazi occupation of was "essentially benign" despite the deaths of 70,000 French Jews in the concentration camps) came second in the presidential elections.
Le Pen has announced his candidacy for 2007, but first he must gather the 500 signatures from elected officials required to stand, a task that he only just managed to accomplish last time round.
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