A Look Into Europe’s Far-Right Surge
Over the last few years in Europe, far-right parties have gained overwhelming backing and support. Some commentators believe the support comes from extreme reactions to immigration and terrorist attacks, with far-right parties appealing to these audiences using anti-immigration rhetoric. Europe is experiencing a political shift.
Romania
In December, the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) party, surprisingly became the fourth largest party in Romania’s Parliament, gaining 9% of the vote.
Portugal
In 2019, the Chega party gained 1.3% of Portugal’s election vote. In the recent 2021 election, it rose to 11.9%.
France
Marine Le Pen, high profile leader of France’s far-right party, National Rally, has experienced a recent surge of popularity.
Italy
The Fratelli d’Italia party had 6% of the public support in 2020 compared with 15% today.
Hungary
60% of Hungarian respondents hold negative views towards immigrants. On Mar. 5, 2021, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called for a new right-wing group targeting “our type of people.” He said, “We must build a European democratic right that offers a home to European citizens who do not want migrants, who do not want multiculturalism, who have not descended into LGBTQ lunacy, who defend Europe’s Christian traditions, who respect the sovereignty of nations, and who see their nations not as part of their past, but as part of their future.”
Britain
English nationalism gained strength after the result of the Brexit vote in 2016. Several groups such as the English Defence League, Britain First and the United Kingdom Independence Party have all spread nationalist rhetoric. White nationalist group, Patriotic Alternative recently applied to be acknowledged as a political party. The group has been linked to neo-Nazis.
Slovenia and Hungary recently tried to limit media freedom. The Polish government also made abortion illegal. France is currently in the process of banning the hijab for under 18s, in a bid to gain back the republic’s values.
While some countries have chosen to censor far-right parties promoting hatred and discrimination — France banned anti-immigration group Generation Identity — other governments have let tension and influence grow.
In late 2020, Poland made global headlines as it announced anti-LGBT zones. In February, Tomasz Greniuch, a well-known far-right figure, was appointed to lead Wroclaw’s Institute of National Remembrance (INR). This caused outrage throughout Poland. Two weeks after the news was made public, Greniuch resigned.
The INR is the establishment that investigated crimes committed against Poland during the Nazi era. In 2007, Greniuch was photographed giving a Nazi salute at various events. Far-right members who get appointed to public institutions have the means and access to influence government policies.
As support for the centre-left declines and nationalist candidates gain popularity in the polls, Europe is experiencing a step toward the political right.
