Far-right parties lead opinion polls in Europe's four largest economies

Vice President J.D. Vance, Elon Musk and other MAGA voices horrified Europe's leaders by embracing Germany's AfD and other far-right parties early in the Trump administration.Six months later, those parties are smashing their establishment rivals in poll after poll.Why it matters: The populist wave that formed in the wake of the 2015 migrant crisis has not crested. It's surging — and spreading — across Europe, cheered on by a U.S. government eager to see MAGA go global.Driving the news: For the first time in modern history, far-right parties are leading opinion polls in Europe's four largest economies.In Germany, a new poll last week found the AfD — dogged by Nazi scandals and surveilled by German intelligence for suspected extremism — is narrowly the most popular party in the country.In the U.K., Nigel Farage's Reform Party has a double-digit lead over both the ruling Labour Party and the Conservatives, which have dominated British politics for a century.In France, the far-right National Rally is comfortably polling first, even with its leader Marine Le Pen banned from running for president in 2027 for embezzling EU funds.In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni — leader of the country's first far-right government since World War II — has defied political gravity by remaining relatively popular three years after sweeping to power, though she has governed more pragmatically than many expected.Reality check: None of these countries have elections anytime soon, meaning the polls — for now — reflect momentum rather than an imminent transfer of power.In Germany and much of Europe, mainstream parties have long maintained a so-called cordon sanitaire — refusing to form coalitions or share power with the far-right.That firewall has held in recent years, but its durability is being tested by the growing strength of populist forces.The big picture: The far right's rise is the product of cultural, economic and geopolitical pressures that have been building for more than a decade.Migration: Millions of migrants from the Middle East and North Africa entered Europe in the years following the 2015 refugee crisis. Even moderate parties have tightened their immigration policies in recent years, but debates over national sovereignty, identity and security have only intensified.Economic anxiety: Stubbornly high prices, slowing growth and post-pandemic inequality have fueled resentment toward ruling parties. The war in Ukraine and President Trump's tariffs have added to economic pressure, especially in export-heavy economies like Germany.Trust in institutions: Scandals, corruption probes and perceptions of an out-of-touch elite have weakened confidence in mainstream parties and EU institutions, even as far-right outfits have faced numerous scandals of their own.What they're saying: "For the EU right now, it's all about the migrant crisis," MAGA podcaster Jack Posobiec, who spoke at inaugural CPAC events in Hungary and Poland, told Axios."Expectations have changed drastically. People used to want controlled net positive immigration. They were ignored. So now they want mass deportations," said Raheem Kassam, a former Farage adviser and current editor of The National Pulse.Between the lines: Trump officials have openly campaigned for Europe's far right, seeking to grow the ranks of allies like Meloni, Hungary's Viktor Orbán and Poland's new president, Karol Nawrocki.Vance met with the leader of the AfD ahead of Germany's election, Musk explicitly endorsed the party, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned German intelligence for labeling it an "extremist" organization.Vance, who also met with Farage in the U.K. this week, shocked the European establishment when he accused its leaders in February of "running in fear" of their own voters."Democracy rests on the sacred principle that the voice of the people matters," Vance declared in his first foreign policy speech as VP at the Munich Security Conference. "There is no room for firewalls."Tal Axelrod contributed reporting.

Comments

World news

Trump hands out pizzas to National Guard troops as he claims DC now ‘a different city’

Independent

How viewers paid more than £31,000 to see 'trash streamer' being abused during ten-days of torture before he died live on camera

about 5 hours ago

Dailymail

Trump suggests it would be 'impossible' for Ukraine to win the war without attacking Russia and blames Biden for failing to let Kyiv 'fight back'

about 5 hours ago

Dailymail

Daredevil CEO dies in horror wingsuit crash after colliding with trees in Swiss Alps

about 5 hours ago

Dailymail

Airline reveals what horrified cabin crew did with rapist businessman after girl, 15, reported sex attack during flight from Mumbai to Switzerland

about 5 hours ago

Dailymail

Italy is hit with deadly floods as ferocious 'water bomb' storm turns roads into rivers - while wildfires break out on tourist island

about 5 hours ago

Lil Nas X arrested and hospitalised after police altercation on LA street

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Trump threatens Colorado with ‘harsh measures’ unless far-right election conspiracy theorist released from prison

Refugee charities install safe rooms and relocate amid rise in far-right threats

German controversy surrounds jail term for transgender far-right extremist

France’s Macron reveals why he had to sue far-right podcaster Candace Owens over ‘nonsense’ Brigitte conspiracy theory

Australia cancels visa of far-right Israeli politician

Labour condemns Robert Jenrick’s visit to rally attended by far-right activist

Far-right Israeli politician barred from Australia ahead of speaking tour

The small east German bank that cannot drop its far-right customer

Far-right Israeli minister confronts long-imprisoned Palestinian leader

Far-right Israeli minister taunts jailed Palestinian leader in prison visit

Far-right Israeli minister taunts prominent Palestinian prisoner

Far-Right Israeli Minister Unveils Controversial West Bank Settlement Plan

Far-right Israeli minister vows settlement push to ‘bury’ Palestinian state

Brigitte Macron 'hired investigators to look into podcaster Candace Owens before suing her for ludicrous claim the French first lady is a man - and dug up links to far-right'

Trump stirs far-right rage despite FBI deprioritizing extremist threat

Far-Right Israeli Minister Calls for Quicker Military Moves in Gaza

Far-right protesters clash with police in Nuneaton after rally outside town hall

A far-right ‘1st Amendment’ group lost its defamation lawsuit. Now the New York Times is suing them back

Tommy Robinson, Far-Right UK Activist, Is Arrested Over Train Station Assault

Former assistant to far-right politician on trial over Chinese spy charges

World news

Trump hands out pizzas to National Guard troops as he claims DC now ‘a different city’

China says it stands with India against ‘bully’ Trump’s trade tariffs

Fears for more victims as new bodies exhumed from doomsday cult graves

Why have Hamas-Israel ceasefire talks stalled as IDF troops push into Gaza City?

Kilmar Abrego Garcia could be released from jail. What happens next?

FBI raids home of Trump adviser-turned-critic John Bolton in ‘national security probe’

OnlyFans owner paid $700 million in dividends ahead of sale of brand

Trump’s education secretary Linda McMahon makes Long Island high school’s mascot a ‘top priority’

Inside the life-saving maternity ward at risk from Trump’s aid cuts

Ghanaian singer Shatta Wale questioned in US luxury car probe

Zelensky accuses Russia of deliberate attack on US-owned factory

Man accused of taking wolf to bar before killing it faces two years in prison

Man arrested over Rufus Du Sol attack which saw woman knocked unconscious

Immigration to U.S. declines for first time in 50 years amid Trump crackdown, study shows

Boeing fighter jet crashes and bursts into flames moments after taking off

Famine in Gaza officially declared by UN-backed group monitoring world hunger

Children are starving in Sudan – it’s time the world took notice

Tour guide dies after collapsing in searing heat while showing group around Rome’s Colosseum

Trump can’t stop America from building cheap EVs

Russia has killed Trump’s Ukraine plan – Putin is the real dealmaker here

Everton’s four transfer priorities – and three players on Moyes’ wishlist

AC/DC live in Edinburgh was raucous rock ’n’ roll to rival Oasis

Why Labour’s ‘mansion tax’ could end up losing the Government money

The new vaccines and treatments that could stop cancer in its tracks

The 7 most annoying types of Brit this summer

Immigrants from Central Asia find hostility and violence in Russia

Former Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe arrested on allegations of misusing state funds

Top European diplomat says Putin is setting 'a trap' by demanding Ukraine concessions

Long, fraught timeline of Iran nuclear tensions

Findings from asteroid dust discovered 200 million miles from Earth revealed

Rapper Lil Nas X arrested and taken to hospital after wandering LA street in underwear

Famine declared in Gaza City - and projected to expand to two other areas in the next month