Discussion on "A century of the rise of fascism - What have we learned?" on the occasion of the Day of Victory over Fascism and Europe Day, was held today at the Parliament of Montenegro.
By explaining the choice of the topic, the President of the Parliament said that "this year we did not want to miss the opportunity, in relation to a century of the rise of fascism, given its consequences, to think about the present through a prism of such a past. Did not want to miss the opportunity to ask ourselves what we have learned in the meantime.
- That is why we invited competent interlocutors to recall during the discussion about the political, social and economic preconditions that have been favourable for the rise of fascism; about the actions of social elites of that time; what has remained unnoticed and missed; how did Montenegro respond to the emergence of fascism; what are the obligations of the political and intellectual elites in their prevention?"
President Brajović reminded of the fact that Mussolini was a leftist at the beginning of his political career, in order to radically change his political commitment later, and become the leader of the far right-wing movement:
- Mussolini's fascists have long bragged that they had no ideology, and in the 1919 founding program, the fascism was depicted as the so-called "movement for Italian healing". During the same year, the National Socialist German Workers' Party was formed. It should be noted that fascist movements in Italy and Germany did not enjoy the support of the majority at the beginning, but had entered parliaments as politically insignificant. It is also the known fact that fascism, with its focus on direct action, had significantly counted on young people from socially vulnerable groups – the President of the Parliament pointed out.
He added that at a time when it is not easy for anyone to make a difference between information and partial information and false news, our society needs science and basic knowledge, historical facts along with scientific interpretation of the context of time, and not relativisation and revisionism:
- Over the past two years I have insisted that the Parliament of Montenegro should initiate these kind of topics and that we hear different opinions. Dissonance and different views on the given topic have been heard here for certain. It does befit the house of representatives of the citizens of Montenegro, who are not of the same opinion also, and choose their political favourites to represent them accordingly. What all the interlocutors agreed on was the obligation to talk, the obligation to cultivate the culture of recollection, the opening of all the topics - and those not so favourable as well, the assuming of responsibility. We learned that serious social issues, questions and answers are not implied. We strive to foster critical attitude and encourage discussion. The responsibility of the people who gained the trust of citizens to lead the country, but also the intellectual elites of this society, is not to get caught up, to prevent some occurrences, and then to wait for the reason to prevail, wait for someone else to resolve the problem on our behalf or to wait for the scourge to pass. Our duty, obligation is to recognise, anticipate social movements, and directed them towards the modern, civilised developed world. I believe that Montenegro makes good strategic decisions. I also believe that the meeting of today will be a contribution to that – the President of the Parliament concluded.
Mr Dragutin Papović reminded that fascists, who promote the abolition of freedom, diversity and individuality, rose to power in parliamentary democracies. The consequences of their actions during the Second World War required that legal science and theory establish new terms such as genocide and crimes against humanity.
Mr Hrvoje Klasić emphasised the importance of dealing with anti-fascism within institutions and his pride that today he did not have to go, for example, to France or the United Kingdom to talk about this topic, but to Montenegro that can be learned from plenty, although being less economically developed as a country. Mr Klasić stressed that it was important to talk about fascism today, because by glorification of criminals from the past we could not predict the reaction to the same phenomena in the future:
- Discussions like these are indispensable because at no time should we underestimate human stupidity and malice that particularly the 20th century taught us – Mr Klasić concluded.
Speaking about some of the causes of the emergence and expansion of fascism and Nazism, Mr Milan Šćekić addressed the influence of the right-winged politics, the First World War and the October Revolution leading to the Second World War.
- Peace has no alternative. Even the worst peace is better than the best war. I am afraid that the elites of the 20th century were not aware of that – Mr Šćekić stressed.
The writer Andrej Nikolaidis was of the opinion that the need for a discussion on fascism was that it had been defeated, but not permanently.
- We have a very clear vision of when we need to talk about the fascism of others, while we always perceive our own as a product of necessary defence. All that fascism needs is fear, and the leftists who have lost in the field have to show the virtue – Mr Nikolaidis explained vividly.
In addition to the President of the Parliament, Mr Ivan Brajović, the introductory speeches were delivered by Mr Hrvoje Klasić, historian from Zagreb, an associate professor at the Department of History at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zagreb, Mr Milan Šćekić, a historian, teaching assistant at the Department of History at the Faculty of Philosophy in Nikšić, and Mr Andrej Nikolaidis, a writer and columnist. Mr Dragutin Papović, historian and Member of the Parliament of Montenegro, moderated the discussion. The following MPs took part in the discussion: Ms Branka Tanasijević, Ms Nada Drobnjak, Mr Ervin Ibrahimović, Mr Andrija Popović, Mr Nikola Rakočević, Ms Marta Šćepanović and Mr Mihailo Anđušić.
For the third consecutive year, the Parliament of Montenegro has marked Day of Victory over Fascism and Europe Day with discussions on topics of wider social significance, and in relation to undisputed and current anti-fascist values.
The President of the Parliament, Mr Ivan Brajović, will traditionally head a delegation for the laying of wreath at the Monument of the Partisan Fighter in Gorica tomorrow, 9 May, at 9:00.
Introductory speech by the President of the Parliament of Montenegro, Mr Ivan Brajović
VIDEO: Speech by the President of the Parliament of Montenegro, Mr Ivan Brajović
