Populism's Ascent: The Right-Wing Surge in Europe's Parliamentary Polls

European Parliament elections have sent shockwaves across the continent, with the surge in support for right-wing and far-right parties reflecting a growing desire for change and a more pragmatic app

Jun 10, 2024

The Facts:

The recent European Parliament elections have sent shockwaves across the continent. With just over half of the 373 million eligible voters casting ballots, the results have significantly impacted the political landscape. The center-right parties, led by the European People's Party (EPP), have maintained their dominance in the parliament, but the surge in support for right-wing and far-right parties has evoked troubling memories of the past. Marine Le Pen's National Rally party won nearly a third of the vote in France, more than the combined share of President Macron's Renaissance and the Socialist Party. Despite claims of Russian interference and propaganda, the right-wing surge appears to be largely homegrown, driven by factors such as inflation, opposition to climate-change policies, and the urban-rural divide that has fueled so-called "culture wars." Above all, the growing hostility towards mass migration from the southern hemisphere has been a driving force behind the right's rise, with no credible government response in sight.

Parties of the right that won did so by moving towards the center on many issues, such as the Euro currency and support for Ukraine. Other political parties that resisted this transformation, like Alternative for Germany (which faced recent scandals related to its leaders' alleged sympathies for historical Nazis), did not experience the same level of success as their counterparts who embraced the shift. Voters are concerned about issues like immigration and the EU's handling of the migrant crisis, as well as the EU's climate change policies that have led to stagnating economies and rising energy prices.

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The election results have reduced the leaders of the bloc's biggest nations, Germany and France, to "lame ducks." The French Prime Minister's plea for voters to "not be like the British who cried over Brexit" has been largely ignored, as a majority of French voters have embraced the right-wing surge. One of the key figures to watch is Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose right-wing party, Brothers of Italy, has gained a stunning 29% of the national vote, up from just 6% in 2019. Meloni, who once spoke warmly of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, has managed to present a more respectable image, even forging a close working relationship with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The election results also highlight the growing divide between the urban and rural populations, as well as the economic decline of Europe relative to Asia and the United States. The EU's share of world GDP is falling, and its economies are struggling to keep pace with the US and China. European universities are lagging behind their American counterparts, and the continent's financial markets offer much more limited access to capital.

The View:

The European elections have sent a strong message to the liberal elites who have held power for years. Voters are demanding a more responsive and effective EU that puts their interests first, rather than pursuing policies perceived as prioritizing virtue-signaling over practical solutions. The success of the right-wing parties, when viewed in this context, reflects a desire for change and a more pragmatic approach to the challenges facing Europe.

The success of these right-wing parties is not a sign of the rise of fascism, as European voters are smarter than that. Parties of the right that won did so by moving towards the center on many issues, while those who did not make this shift, like Alternative for Germany, did not gain as much ground. What European voters want is an EU that can effectively address pressing problems, such as immigration and climate change policies that are perceived as prioritizing virtue-signaling over economic stability.

TLDR:

The center-right parties, led by the European People's Party (EPP), have maintained their dominance in the parliament, but the surge in support for right-wing and far-right parties has evoked troubling memories of the past.
Marine Le Pen's National Rally party won nearly a third of the vote in France, more than the combined share of President Macron's Renaissance and the Socialist Party.
Parties of the right that won did so by moving towards the center on many issues, such as the Euro currency and support for Ukraine.
Voters are concerned about issues like immigration and the EU's handling of the migrant crisis, as well as the EU's climate change policies that have led to stagnating economies and rising energy prices.
The election results have reduced the leaders of the bloc's biggest nations, Germany and France, to "lame ducks."
The success of these right-wing parties reflects a desire for change and a more pragmatic approach to the challenges facing Europe.
The growing divide between the urban and rural populations, as well as the economic decline of Europe relative to Asia and the United States, are also highlighted by the election results.