EUROPE’S FAR RIGHT

AUSTRIA

The far-right Freedom Party (FPO), founded by former Nazis with a past history of anti-Semitism, obtained 26 per cent of the vote in December’s election.

Its leaders exploited the backlash against the arrival of tens of thousands of Muslim asylum-seekers in 2015.

The FPO became a junior partner of Austria’s ruling coalition under Conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, but it has set the government’s agenda against immigration and Islam.

The government, which calls for an “axis” with Italy and Germany against migration, has just begun Austria’s six-month term in the influential role of European Union president.

GERMANY

The far-right Alternative for Germany party (known by its German initials, AfD) won 13 per cent of the vote in last year’s election.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party, although still retaining power in a coalition, received its worst result in 70 years largely as punishment for Merkel’s open-door refugee policy in 2015.

The AfD became the first far-right grouping in more than 60 years to hold a seat in the federal parliament and is now the largest opposition party.

As Germany’s fastest-growing party, it attracted voters who are anti-immigrant, anti-European and anti-establishment.

HUNGARY

Last April, Prime Minister Viktor Orban won a landslide victory in an election dominated by immigration.

Orban darkly warned of “Muslim invaders” even though Hungary has taken in virtually no refugees and has a tiny Muslim population.

Orban and his party have worked to cripple the political opposition, limit press freedom and corrupt Hungary’s judicial system.

He has vowed that the European Parliament elections next May will bring a wave of “Christian democracy” to the continent.

ITALY

Once a marginal fringe, Italy’s extreme right Lega party, or The League, won the third-largest share (18 per cent) of the vote in March’s election.

Since then, it has become the driving force in a radically right-wing coalition government with the anti-establishment Five Star party.

The League is led by Matteo Salvini, who has become Italy’s interior minister and deputy prime minister and is now regarded as the country’s most popular politician.

Relentless in his anti-immigrant actions and describing refugees as “rapists” and “drug dealers,” Salvini has become one of Europe’s most prominent nationalist leaders.

POLAND

Polish democracy has been under siege ever since the far-right Law and Justice party won a majority government in 2015.

The government has packed the country’s courts with loyalists, restricted freedom of the media and undermined opposition groups.

It passed a widely condemned law making it illegal to blame Poland for crimes committed during the Holocaust, and enacted anti-refugee policies.

Condemned by the European Union, Poland has relied on the strong political support of Hungary, whose government has also been accused of authoritarianism.

SWEDEN

The Sweden Democrats, an anti-immigrant party founded by neo-Nazis in the 1980s, is expected to obtain record support in the country’s election next weekend.

The far-right party may end up in second place, with one poll putting them tied for first.

If this happens, it would be stunning in a country internationally known for a long-held openness to refugees.

Exploiting a growing public backlash, the Swedish Democrats have focused on the costs of welcoming migrants and the crime they allegedly bring.