Today's Edition
DINA MAHMOUD (LONDON)
With the European Parliament elections approaching, a recent study highlighted the rising influence of right-wing forces, posing a notable challenge to the traditional political parties that have dominated the parliamentary landscape in Europe for decades.
The study, drawing from data across the 27 EU member states, suggested that the European People’s Party, a moderate right-wing coalition known for its populist inclinations, could potentially secure a parliamentary majority for the first time.
The European Council on Foreign Relations research centre, which prepared the study, also entertained the possibility of even more radical right-wing groups surpassing this bloc.
The Identity and Democracy Party, established in 2019 and comprising members from far-right parties, is projected to significantly increase its seats by at least 40, ranking it as the third largest bloc in the European legislative body.
This shift underscores a broader trend of declining popularity for major European parties and the ascendancy of smaller, more extreme right-wing entities, a phenomenon that has been gaining momentum both nationally and across the continent.
Analysts, in their warnings highlighted by Geo TV News, stressed that this evolving political landscape presents a critical challenge for both moderate right-wing and centre-left parties. These parties are urged to heed the voters’ demands and priorities more attentively, especially as they have traditionally shied away from aligning with more extreme right-wing factions.
The anticipated rise of radical right-wing elements in the European Parliament is expected to influence the Union’s policy-making, particularly on divisive issues like immigration and climate change.
Traditional parties are called upon to rally and showcase their commitment to safeguarding Europeans’ fundamental rights, contrasting the propositions of their more extreme counterparts.
Given the European Parliament’s pivotal role in legislating and approving budgets as proposed by the European Commission, any significant shifts in its composition, as forecasted by the study, could profoundly affect the European Union’s political agenda and the orientation of its future legislation.
The study predicts that populist, anti-European Union parties will lead the legislative elections in nine member states, including France, and secure second or third place in several others, such as Germany, Spain, and Sweden.
