The rise of far-right parties in Europe, mirroring the trend in the US, has sparked a shift in mainstream politics. In countries like France, Germany, and the UK, nativist parties have gained traction with promises of tighter immigration controls and anti-multiculturalism rhetoric. In the UK, Reform UK and its leader Nigel Farage secured a significant share of votes; while in Germany, Alternative for Germany (AfD) made history by winning a state election post-World War II, almost toppling the ruling party. Marine Le Pen’s National Rally in France also clinched third place in a recent election, focusing on similar themes.
Mainstream parties, in response, have adopted tougher stances on immigration to counter the far-right’s influence. Economic austerity measures have also played a role in fueling the rise of non-mainstream parties across Europe, with immigrants often being scapegoated for societal issues. The result is a polarization of the political landscape, with parties on both ends scrambling for support.
As far-right parties continue to gain ground, mainstream parties face a dilemma of whether to shift towards increasingly hardline positions to appeal to voters.