The Surge of the Far-Right in the 2024 EU Elections: Implications for Europe

The 2024 European Parliament elections marked a significant shift in the political landscape, with far-right parties making substantial gains and unsettling traditional power structures across the EU bloc. This election cycle, held every five years, is a crucial indicator of public sentiment and carries long-term implications for EU policies and governance.

France: National Rally's Triumph

In France, Marine Le Pen’s National Rally secured nearly one-third of the votes, establishing itself as the dominant ultra-nationalist group in the forthcoming Parliament. French President Emmanuel Macron’s party suffered a heavy defeat, prompting him to call for snap legislative elections. Macron acknowledged the loss, stating, “I’ve heard your message, your concerns, and I won’t leave them unanswered.” Le Pen’s National Rally, which garnered over 30 percent of the vote, nearly doubled the support for Macron’s pro-European centrists, who received less than 15 percent. Le Pen declared, “We’re ready to turn the country around, ready to defend the interests of the French, ready to put an end to mass immigration.”

Germany: AfD's Ascendancy

In Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democrats fell to a projected 14 percent, trailing behind the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which surged to second place with 16.5 percent. AfD leader Alice Weidel expressed her elation, stating, “After all the prophecies of doom, after the barrage of the last few weeks, we are the second strongest force.”

Italy: Brothers of Italy's Victory

Italy saw Premier Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party achieve the highest percentage of votes, with 28.5 percent. This significant victory solidified Meloni’s position as a key figure in the far-right movement in Europe.

Hungary: Fidesz's Continued Strength

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s nationalist Fidesz party secured 43 percent of the vote, though this was a decline from previous elections. Orbán commented, “Right is good. To go right is always good. Go right!” This sentiment resonated across several countries, with far-right parties appealing to voters on issues like immigration and national sovereignty.

Netherlands, Slovakia, and Other Nations

In the Netherlands, Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom won six seats, a notable increase. Similarly, in Slovakia, the liberal and pro-Western Progressive Slovakia topped the vote, defeating the leftist Smer party led by populist Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Spain’s opposition Popular Party (PP) led with 34 percent of the vote, outperforming Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Socialists, who received 30 percent. The far-right Vox party, despite being challenged by a new extremist party led by a social media influencer, still managed to secure six seats.

In Greece, the ruling New Democracy party maintained a comfortable lead with just under 28 percent of the vote, despite a decline. The hard-right populist Greek Solution party increased its support to 9.5 percent.

Central and Eastern Europe

In Poland, the centrist Civic Coalition, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, won decisively with over 38 percent of the vote, while the far-right Confederation party garnered nearly 12 percent, marking a significant setback for the national conservative Law and Justice party.

The Czech Republic’s Euroskeptic ANO movement, led by former Prime Minister Andrej BabiÅ¡, triumphed with 26 percent of the votes, surpassing the center-right Together coalition’s 22 percent.

Implications for the EU

The rise of far-right and euroskeptic parties now means they control a significant portion of the European Parliament. The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and the Identity and Democracy (ID) groups will collectively hold 131 seats. If these groups unite, they could form the second-largest bloc in Parliament, influencing EU policies on migration, security, and climate change.

Impact on EU Policy and Governance

The election results reflect a broader trend of increasing support for far-right and nationalist parties across Europe. This shift is likely to put pressure on EU policies, particularly in areas like migration, security, and climate change. Christian Democratic leader Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the results' significance, stating, “We are by far the strongest party. We are the anchor of stability.” However, the gains by far-right parties suggest a potential shift in legislative priorities and a more contentious political environment.

The EU elections highlighted growing discontent with traditional parties and a move towards more radical solutions. With far-right and nationalist parties gaining ground, the future of EU governance and policymaking faces a period of uncertainty and potential transformation. The coming years will be critical in determining how the EU responds to these internal shifts and the growing influence of the far-right.