The rise of the extreme right in Europe deeply concerns the European Socialists, as was shown by the forum organized by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Berlin with the participation of parliamentarians belonging to the European Socialist Party, which was entitled: “Strategies against the Far Right’.
Indeed, the danger highlighted by the European Socialists is far from non-existent, as in repeated electoral contests, as well as in opinion polls regarding the upcoming European elections in June, the extreme right appears strengthened, to a very significant extent indeed. The latest example is Portugal, where in last week’s elections the far-right party Chega more than doubled its percentages compared to the 2022 elections, reaching 18.1% from 7.2%. With this performance, the extreme right is now the third force in the country, while it is the regulator of developments, as the alliance of the center-right, which was in first place, and the socialists, which were in second place, are unable to form a government.
At the same time, just last November, the party of the far-right, xenophobic and Eurosceptic Geerd Wilders took first place in the Dutch elections. The months-long negotiations to form a government may have shown the reluctance of the other parties to participate in a government with the same prime minister, nevertheless the victory of a far-right party in a country considered to be one of the most progressive in the EU, the Netherlands, has shaken Europe.
What do the opinion polls show about the European elections?
At the same time, opinion polls show that Marie Le Pen’s party will take first place in the European elections in France, comfortably beating President Macron’s centrist party, which is currently in third place, behind the leftist coalition under Jean-Luc Mélenchon. At the same time, Germany’s far-right AfD is in second place in opinion polls, behind the Christian Democrats but ahead of Chancellor Soltz’s ruling socialist party.
Finally, with regard to the next composition of the European Parliament, after the upcoming European elections, everything shows that the extreme right will emerge particularly strengthened as the most extreme right-wing party, the Identity and Democracy party, is expected to be in third place from fifth in 2019 , beating both the Greens and centrist Renew. At the same time, the European Conservatives and Reformists, who also belong to the extreme right, are expected to move from sixth place in 2019 to fifth place, but with a small difference from the fourth Renew.
Such a composition is very likely to give the extreme right the role of regulator of the next European Parliament, as its approval will be necessary for the approval of European legislation, since the centrist parties (EPP, Socialists, Renew) will not have the necessary majority, as was the case in all previous parliamentary periods.
The Greek participation of Manolis Christodoulakis
From the Greek side, the member of Parliament of the Greek Socialist Party, Manolis Christodoulakis, participated, who said to Vima: “In the past few days I was in Berlin, a guest of the Foundation together with fellow members of the European Socialist Party from all over Europe, at the FES forum on the rise of the Far Right in Europe: “Strategies against the Far Right”.
“We discussed existing examples in European countries, about the strategies that can eliminate hate speech but also the reasons that give space to extreme voices and populism. The European elections in June are a challenge for an inclusive Europe, with solidarity and respect to diversity, ethnic, religious, social or of any other form. But it is also a challenge for something else. To be able to respond not only to the “causes” but also to the real causes of the rise of the Far Right. In the widening of inequalities in Europe, in the retreat of the welfare state and social policy, but also in the feeling of insecurity of the peoples of the Union after the complex crises we have gone through” added Mr. Christodoulakis.
The Eastern Attica MP also mentioned that “Greece has deeply experienced the consequences of the intolerant anti-political discourse, with the risk of its recovery always being present. The PASOK and the European Socialists must and will be at the forefront of this battle as well. With our politics and proposals in the foreground, with the courage and confidence of our ideas. Only with them can our societies move forward. United and for everyone”.
The MP – survivor of the far-right terrorist attack in Norway
Gaute Børstad from Norway took part in the Forum, among the members of parliament belonging to the European Socialist Party. The 28-year-old parliamentarian is one of the survivors of the terrorist attack that took place on July 22, 2011 by the far-right Anders Breivik, against the summer camp of the country’s Labor Party (AUF), in which 77 people were killed.
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