Divided Voices: The Obstacles to a Unified Right-Wing Vision in the EU

While the right-wing parties have gained significant influence in the European Parliament, their inability to form a united front may limit their impact on policymaking

Jun 17, 2024

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The Facts:

The recently concluded European Parliament elections have seen a significant shift towards the right-wing parties across Europe. The mainstream center-right European People's Party (EPP) remains the largest political grouping, but it has seen a surge in support for parties often labeled as "far-right" by the media. These include Marine Le Pen's National Rally in France, Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy, and the Alternative for Germany (AfD). The right-wing parties have gained a critical mass of 131 seats, allowing them to become more obstructive in the Brussels policymaking process.

Their success has been attributed to voters' frustrations with the inability of mainstream parties to address issues such as mass immigration and the perceived social upheaval that comes with it, as well as a growing skepticism towards the EU's ambitious climate change policies and the associated costs. The shift towards the right has been particularly evident in countries like Germany and Spain, where the mainstream center-right parties have fared well. However, the relative newcomers on the right-wing scene have also seen significant gains, often due to their recent shifts towards the center on issues like the euro and the EU. This strategic move has allowed them to broaden their appeal and secure more support from the electorate.

Despite their newfound influence, the right-wing parties will face significant challenges in translating their electoral success into tangible policy changes. The parties are currently spread across different groups in the European Parliament, and have deep-seated divisions making it difficult for them to present a unified front. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose party Brother of Italy has roots in neo-fascism, has successfully courted mainstream conservatives with strong support for Ukraine and NATO, while repeatedly rallying the right to unite. Marine Le Pen has softened her stance as part of a broader National Rally rebranding over the past decade to appeal to a wider public. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's position on Ukraine makes it unlikely for him to join any grouping.

Despite their differences, the far-right parties do share political goals, such as curbing immigration and further sealing the bloc's borders, as well as curbing the EU's more ambitious flagship climate policies.

On climate policy, the ascendant right-wing parties may have a better chance of enacting their priorities, as their positions are more popular and the EU's governing system provides opportunities for change. However, reducing illegal immigration and addressing cultural assimilation of immigrants and their descendants will be more challenging for the ascendant right-wing parties, as there are no easy solutions and any proposed measures face logistical, fiscal, and political obstacles. Reducing illegal arrivals poses a formidable challenge across logistics, finances, and politics. EU initiatives often falter when Europeans confront the potential need to relinquish national sovereignty, such as through increased fiscal aid to border nations or greater alignment of asylum regulations.

The View:

The results of the recent European Parliament elections are a clear indication of the growing dissatisfaction among European citizens with the perceived failures of the mainstream political establishment. The ascendant right-wing parties, which have leveraged voters' grievances into significant gains, now have the opportunity to reshape the EU's policy agenda on critical issues like immigration and climate change. However, these parties will face significant hurdles in translating their electoral success into tangible policy changes.

The camps will probably stay divided rather than team up, as seat numbers are not everything, and they need 50% to make and shape decisions in the European Parliament. The right-wing parties' deep-seated divisions, particularly over the war in Ukraine, will make it challenging for them to present a unified front and effectively influence the policymaking process. What the far-right parties can do is set a different tone, change the narrative, and slowly normalize their far-right thinking and far-right stances.

Ultimately, the outcome of the European Parliament elections is a stark reminder of the growing political divide within the EU and the need for meaningful reforms to address the long-standing grievances of the electorate.

TLDR:

The European Parliament elections saw a surge in support for right-wing parties, often labeled as "far-right" by the media.
The mainstream center-right European People's Party (EPP) remains the largest political grouping, but has seen a decline in support.
The right-wing parties have gained a critical mass of 131 seats, allowing them to become more obstructive in the Brussels policymaking process.
Voters' frustrations with mass immigration, the perceived social upheaval, and skepticism towards the EU's climate change policies have contributed to the right-wing parties' success.
The right-wing parties face significant challenges in translating their electoral success into tangible policy changes due to deep-seated divisions and the need for a unified front.
On climate policy, the right-wing parties may have a better chance of enacting their priorities, as their positions are more popular and the EU's governing system provides opportunities for change.
Reducing illegal immigration and addressing cultural assimilation of immigrants will be more challenging for the right-wing parties due to logistical, fiscal, and political obstacles.
The European Parliament elections highlight the growing political divide within the EU and the need for meaningful reforms to address the concerns of the electorate.