Far-right politics

Austria's far-right Freedom Party, a party rooted in Nazi ideology, just celebrated an unprecedented election victory on Sunday night, with its leader talking about a new era for the far right. This is seen as another worrying sign for Europe, as a surge by populist far-right forces shows no sign of slowing down.

Will the outcome of the elections in France and the UK trigger a wave of support for progressive forces across Europe as a whole? There are some important differences between the two countries that need to be noted. In the UK, extreme populism and promises of magical solutions were tried and they failed dismally.

People gather at Republique plaza to protest the far-right National Rally, which came out strongly ahead in first-round legislative elections, Sunday, June 30, 2024.

Marine Le Pen's National Rally party, led by the young Jordan Bardella, secured the lead in the first round of historic French parliamentary elections, potentially setting the stage for the far-right to gain power for the first time since World War II, AFP reported.

There are two definite conclusions from Sunday's European elections. Ruling New Democracy (ND) lost big and nationalist, pro-Russian Greek Solution won big. The percentages secured by all parties seem to imply a further shift of the ideological-political axis to the right.

Sunday's European elections saw not only a strengthened far right emerge, but also saw French President Macron call for snap parliamentary elections in response to the victory for the far-right National Rally led by Marine Le Pen.

Center-right and far-right parties are now set to take the largest number of seats in the most populous nations.

BELGRADE - Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic congratulated all Serbian citizens on May 9 - WWII Victory Day - on Thursday.

"Victory Day is a great holiday, a symbol of heroism and unity of peoples that, above all, brings back strong memories of the joint fight against fascism, the biggest evil of the 20th century," Dacic said in a statement released by the Interior Ministry.

As Bulgaria marks both Victory Day and Europe Day, Kornelia Ninova, leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), took a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made during World War II and the enduring quest for peace on the continent.

Populism in its various forms, be it from the far right or far left, is the greatest danger facing all the European countries, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has told the final day of his New Democracy party's congress.

For Germany — a country that knows something about how extremists can hijack a government — the surging popularity of the far right has forced an awkward question.

How far should a democracy go in restricting a party that many believe is bent on undermining it?