London – If Donald Trump wins the US presidential election next month, he will find himself at the center of political parties on the other side of the Atlantic that share his right-wing authoritarianism, populism and immigration's extreme hostility.
That is, Europe's rise is far from over. The right-wing party, which reached its maximum limit on September 29, received the highest number of votes — 28.9% — in the national elections. The FPÖ, as it is known, was founded by former Nazis and seeks to “immigrate” Austrian citizens with immigrant roots to create a more “homogeneous” society.
This is not a new trend and its current cycle has been covered by NBC News and others for at least a decade. But the last 12 months have been a blessing for this former end of the political spectrum. It was Big victory for the French national assemblyled by Marine IThat's coolAs well as for the Dutch Radical anti-Islamic Geert Wilders and neighbors Option for Germanywho is being monitored by Berlin's own intelligence agency on suspicion of extremism
“The general trend is unequivocal: the far right is gaining ground,” said Matthijs Rudhuizen, professor of politics at the University of Amsterdam. Cass Mudde, professor of international affairs at the University of Georgia and author of 2019’s “The Far Right Today,” agreed that “European far-right parties are here to stay.”
Some scholars attribute the roots of this increase to two events: the global financial crisis of 2007-2008 and the increase in migration to Europe in 2015, fueled by war and unrest in the Middle East and North Africa. The economic disaster impoverished Europeans, public services and infrastructure collapsed. D Border crisis Added to this was a rapid influx of people, many of them from Muslim-majority countries.
It's a familiar cocktail: an economically struggling population that turns racist In recent decades, increased immigration during economic crises has “pushed the electorate toward the more right-wing, blaming immigrants for unemployment,” according to a 2018 study carried out by the London-based peer. revised journal Electoral Studies.
Today is no different, with historic inflation rates, erosion of social programs and Europe's energy crisis in a context of economic distress.
“Indigenous people are being ignored due to mass immigration,” said Wilders, leader of the Dutch Freedom Party, last year. “We have to think about our own people first. The border is closed. Zero asylum seekers.”
Wilders, who rejects the “far right” label, has previously called Islam “an ideology of a deficient culture” and once proposed an annual “head rag tax” of 1,000 euros (about $1,100) for anyone who wears Islamic clothing.
Upon entering France, Le Pen tried to soften her party's image since the day in 2010 when she compared Muslim prayers in the streets to the Nazi occupation of France. However, in 2017 he called France “a university for jihadists” and claimed it had become an incubator for Islamic terrorism.
NBC News has reached out to Wilders and Le Pen's parties for comment on the criticism against them.
The Alternative for Germany party, which came second in that country, said in an email that “terms such as 'right-wing extremist', 'Islamophobic' or 'nationalist' are only intended to divert attention from the real problems in this country. . “
He states that he is “for the preservation of democracy” and states that he sees German citizens as equal “regardless of ethnic or cultural origin”. But the group said it “unequivocally opposes an Islamic religious practice that goes against fundamental free democratic systems, our laws, and the Judeo-Christian and humanist foundations of our culture.”
It wasn't just Muslims that the AfD angered. This year, their leader Björn Höcke was found guilty Consciously using a Nazi slogan – “Everything for Germany!” – at a 2021 rally.
These groups often share Trump's protectionist policies – from support for trade tariffs to opposition to arming Ukraine – as well. Economic populismAspects traditionally associated with the left: supporting pensions and social services, increasing some taxes on the rich while reducing them for the working class, or controlling incomes and food prices. During periods of high inflation.
His most prominent platform, however, is not just his opposition to immigration, but also his suggestion that European culture and values are being replaced by others.
This “ideology of ethnic replacement” and “demographic redefinition”, which parties seek to solve with “immigrant expulsions”, “sounds scary when you think about Nazism in the past”, said Nadia Urbinati, professor of politics. Columbia University.
Although major parties often condemn these policies and speeches, they have been overlooked due to the electoral threat they pose to the right. In Britain, the traditionally center-left Labor Party won elections in July after taking a hard line on immigration and the “patriotic” values of flags – seen by the left as dog-whistle nationalism.
“The ideas of these parties have been legitimized by many of the main right-wing parties, and political and media discourse has shifted to the right,” says Ruduijn, from the University of Amsterdam. “What was once considered radical is now the new normal for many voters.”
In Europe's multi-party arena, center-right and center-left parties have tended to dominate in the post-war era, with green and pro-business “liberals” and the far right and left playing smaller roles. But recent elections have seen right-wing conservatives increasingly assume the role of the main right-wing force.
Previously, observers thought his vote share was around 20%, said Markus Wagner, a professor of politics at the University of Vienna. “But that potential upper limit continues to rise.”
The far right “is no longer playing second fiddle to the main right-wing parties. It really changes the dynamic of how teams compete,” Wagner said. “It seems plausible that we are heading towards a world where the main right-wing party in many countries is a far-right party.”
Europe's multiparty system also holds some optimism about the mainstream, at least in the short term. Centrists can sometimes form coalitions to keep the far right at bay – even if these parties are individually small.
In Austria, the majority refused to form a coalition with the FPÖ. The former conservatives in power, the Austrian People's Party, said they would only consider the possibility if it did not include FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl.
Where Le Pen was in France Protect from victory through a complex network of strategic voting between former rivals in the June-July parliamentary elections.
This type of trading carries risks.
“The question is how to respond to the growing right in line with electoral democracy,” said Urbinati. “There is no respect for the will of voters. Weakness and arrogance are dangerous signs.”
