June 10th 2024.
There have been some recent developments in Europe that have caught the attention of many. On the not-so-bright side, it seems that right-leaning parties have made some significant progress in the European Parliament election, the results of which were announced on the night of June 9th. However, it's not all bad news. Europe has not yet succumbed to the ideologies of these groups with fascist and Nazi leanings. Thankfully, the centrist parties still hold the majority and Ursula von der Leyen is on track to remain as President of the European Commission until 2029.
However, the rise of the far-right parties has caused some immediate consequences. French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a snap parliamentary election, even before the official results were released. His centrist pro-European party, Renaissance, only received 15% of the votes and was overshadowed by the far-right National Rally, which received over 30% of the votes in France.
Macron seems to be quite shaken by these events and has declared to his people that they will have the power to decide the future of their parliament through their vote. With this in mind, he has dissolved the National Assembly. This is a bold move for Macron, as he is taking a huge risk. Although he was reelected as President in 2022, defeating National Rally candidate Marine Le Pen, he seems determined to regain control of the country. French voters will now have the opportunity to exercise their democratic right again on June 30th and July 7th.
Le Pen, the leader of the National Rally, was thrilled by Macron's announcement. She wasted no time in confidently stating that she and her party are ready to "transform the country, defend the interests of the French, and put an end to mass migration." It is clear that Le Pen's far-right intentions are no secret. She is expected to run again in the 2027 French presidential election, although 28-year-old Jordan Bardella now presides over the National Rally.
Meanwhile, the mood in Germany seems to be shifting away from the established parties. The far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) will now have 15 seats in the European Parliament. Despite facing several scandals, the AfD was still able to emerge as the second largest force in Germany, behind von der Leyen's Christian Democrats. Only last month, their lead candidate, Maximilian Krah, was accused of spreading Russian influence, and one of their parliamentary aides was accused of espionage for China.
The centrist forces, led by von der Leyen, are still ahead of all their rivals. According to provisional projections from all 27 EU countries, her centre-right European People's Party has won 184 of the 720 seats. In second place is the slightly weakened centre-left Socialists and Democrats group, with 139 lawmakers, followed by the significantly reduced liberal Renew group, with 80 seats.
After the picture became clearer, 65-year-old von der Leyen reiterated her determination to "build a barrier against extremism from both the left and the right." This is not just empty political rhetoric, but a strong message to the centre-left and liberal groups that she will need to work with them in order to continue to push her agenda forward.
It's safe to say that Europe is at a crossroads. The credibility of the established parties to deliver on their promises to help people overcome the rising cost of living has been greatly diminished. This situation is eerily similar to the rise of Nazism and fascism before World War II. History seems to be repeating itself and it is crucial for us to keep a close eye on whether the deeply divided far-right can come together and form a coalition to build on their gains. Only time will tell.
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