A/HRC/20/38 stigmatizing other peoples and blaming them for any problems experienced, appears to have grown. In this connection, it appears that extremist political parties have effectively placed the burden of the negative consequences of the crisis on minorities, foreigners, migrants, including irregular migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. These groups have been labelled as a threat to the standard of living of the general population and blamed for being responsible for the rise in unemployment and the State debt. Reports received indicate that Muslim populations have also been particularly singled out and stigmatized, especially during electoral campaigns carried out this year in some countries, including at the presidential level. 5. The Special Rapporteur is concerned that some traditional political parties have also engaged in the rhetoric of extremist political parties and have scapegoated vulnerable groups, instead of using rational and objective arguments to counter the rather simplistic solutions often put forward by extremist political parties to solve the political, societal and economic problems resulting from the crisis. The previous mandate holder had already pointed out the sometimes equivocal position taken by mainstream political parties towards extremist political parties, including through coalitions formed with such parties and the fuelling of populist ideas during electoral campaigns (A/HRC/15/45; A/HRC/18/44). In order not to lose part of their electorate, some traditional political parties and leaders continue to favour nationalistic rhetoric that is sometimes openly racist and xenophobic. For instance, it was reported that some mainstream political parties, like extremist political parties, have repeatedly, based their electoral campaigns on the rhetoric of national identity, threats posed by foreigners and migrants, including irregular migrants, to the economy, employment, security and national identity. The problem is that the spiral of scapegoating creates a climate in which such rhetoric may increasingly be seen as the norm. Indeed, it was reported that traditional political parties and politicians, including high-level political leaders, do not always condemn such discourse and rhetoric. Yet the absence of condemnation may send a wrong signal that the ideas promoted by extremist political parties are acceptable, despite the fact that they represent a danger to democracy and the cohesion of societies. The Special Rapporteur calls on traditional political parties and leaders to take a strong public stance against extremist political parties and politicians who propagate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. He also urges all politicians and political parties to break out of the spiral of intolerant, racist and xenophobic discourse that seeks primarily to blame, and above all serves to inflame tensions rather than build mutual understanding and respect. Furthermore, the Special Rapporteur emphasizes that it is equally important that such a stance be taken by traditional political parties against expressions of intolerance, racism and xenophobia when these expressions come from their own ranks. B. Persistence of racial violence against vulnerable groups 6. As stated above, in this period of economic crisis, non-citizens, members of minorities, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers are still the main scapegoats of extremist political parties with a xenophobic and racist agenda, which blame them for the social problems of the population and sometimes incite racial discrimination and violence against them. Indeed, an increase in incidents involving racist violence perpetrated by extremist movements and groups, including neo-Nazis, skinheads, and other right-wing movements were reported in some countries. In this regard, the Special Rapporteur is concerned about reported cases of violence and harassment perpetrated by neo-Nazis and skinheads against 4