Europe's nationalist leaders launch year of election hopes

KOBLENZ, Germany (AP) — French presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen declared Saturday that 2017 will be the "year of the awakening of the people of continental Europe" as she joined fellow nationalist leaders in Germany at the beginning of a year of high-stakes national elections.

Populist parties have been surging in polls in Europe and the leaders' mood was celebratory as they came together in support of one another, the day after Donald Trump was sworn in as U.S. president following a campaign buoyed by anti-establishment and protectionist themes.

The meeting of the Europe of Nations and Freedom group in the European Parliament also featured Matteo Salvini of Italy's Northern League and Harald Vilimsky, the general secretary of Austria's Freedom Party, which last year narrowly failed to win the country's presidency.

AVAAZ organizer Pascal Vollenweider said the statues of the dictators were meant to send a "strong message" to the nationalist politicians meeting that "global citizens are rejecting their old dangerous ideas."

Public broadcaster ARD has said it was refused access for "not meeting journalistic standards in its past reporting on the party," a claim it has rejected.