The Far-Right Strikes Back in Europe

Volatile Electorates, Contrasting Results

Surprise was not the predominant feeling on the evening of May 26. Nuanced realities of 28 member states prevented any "black and white" EU assessments.

France and Italy lived up to the expectations with openly Eurosceptic far-right parties gaining ground. In France, Marine Le Pen's National Front rebranded as the Ressemblement National, or the National Assembly, narrowly defeated President Emmanuel Macron's La République en Marche and reached the symbolic victory they longed for.

In Italy, Matteo Salvini's Liga confirmed its standing as the country's new political behemoth, reaching 34 percent of votes in a land which was long considered cast-iron Europhile. The far-right is on the rise in Belgium and Austria, where the FPÖ did not collapse despite a corruption scandal tarnishing vice-chancellor Heinz-Christian...