THE RISE OF THE RIGHT IN EUROPE
Syrian refugees and terror attacks have paved the way for rightwing parties and personalities to prosper. Antiimmigration, antiMuslim and antiEU platforms are now gaining ground and shaping politics in the continent
Right-wing parties have gained support across the continent and the real concern is not that they will win, but that they will shape political debates and force others to mainstream some of their ideas.
NEW DELHI : The thought that Donald Trump will be next US president still boggles many. Shocked liberals are attempting to understand how they could misread the extent of his appeal and wonder if this will bolster rightwing across the world, especially Europe.
Analysts warn that a reordering of the political landscape in Europe is underway. This is not surprising as Europe has not been at peace with itself in recent years. The 2008 financial crash dented its economies, sparking a debt crisis and generating high levels of unemployment. That led to debates within countries about immigrants, foreigners, assimilation, national identity and so on.
The surge of refugees fleeing the Syrian civil war and periodic terrorist attacks added to the fraught climate, creating the context for rightwing parties and personalities to prosper.
The European Union’s policies of integration have been blamed for the situation, prompting anti-EU, anti-immigration and anti-Muslim platforms to gain ground. Right-wing parties have gained support across the continent, including France, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Hungary and Italy.
Norbert Hofer of the Freedom Party in Austria lost a rerun of the presidential election to Greensbacked independent candidate Alexander Van der Bellen this month, but secured 48.3% of the votes. The Danish People’s Party came in second in the country’s parliamentary elections in 2015.
The far-right Party for Freedom in Netherlands, whose leader Geert Wilders was found guilty of inciting racial discrimination, is expected to come in first or second in elections due in March. The anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany, led by Frauke Petry, secured 2 million votes in 2013 polls. It is expected to win seats in parliament next year.
The real concern is not that far-right parties will win, but that they will decisively shape political debates and force others to mainstream some of their ideas. Angela Merkel of Germany has defended her policy of accepting more than 1 million refugees in 2015, but recently called for a ban on the full veil or the niqab — a move seen as a response to pressure from the right.
Groups known as identitarians that peddle majoritarian anti-immigrant messages, which are understood as “Europe’s answer to the American alt-right”, have grown in prominence. The movement has, as the Economist put it, “a deft way of making xenophobic causes seem palatable to moderates”, its representatives are invited to speak in media and they are able to repackage ideas for younger audiences. The big testing ground for the far-right’s energy is France, where Marine Le Pen of the National Front is expected to make it to the second round of presidential elections due in April-May. She will be up against Francois Fillon, the centre-right candidate of the Republicans. Fillon is a social conservative and neoliberal, who wants to sack half-a-million civil servants and reduce public spending by $100 billion over five years. Le Pen is not expected to win. Philosopher John Gray writes, however, that “in a contest with a neoliberal at a time when austerity policies are discredited this cannot be taken for granted”. “Le Pen could edge closer to power in 2017 and make a convincing run for the presidency after that,” he argues.
And then there is foreign interference. Elections in Western democracies are no longer only about what its citizens think. They also appear to be governed by what Russian president Vladimir Putin wants. After suspicions that Moscow intervened in favour of Trump through hacking and selective leaks, Europe is anticipating Russia’s intrusion into its own democratic processes.
The head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency recently warned of Russia’s attempts to destabilise the country through hackers and mentioned “growing evidence of attempts to influence the federal election next year”. Analysts fear that Russian hackers will tilt the election in Germany.
Europe is divided over sanctions against Russia following its annexation of Crimea; it is not inconceivable that Putin will back those who are in favour of rapprochement with Moscow. Incidentally, France’s Fillon and opponent Le Pen are in favour of improved ties with Moscow. The National Front took a loan of €11 million in 2014 from a Russian bank and applied for another €27 million from Russia to fight elections in 2017.
Europe clearly has a lot to contend with: faltering economies, social tensions, majoritarian nationalisms and Russia’s attempts to subvert its democracies to suit its geopolitical purposes. The right is understandably upbeat in this climate, particularly after Trump’s victory.
The fullface veil is not acceptable in our country. It should be banned, wherever it is legally possible... Our law takes precedence over codes of honour, tribal or family rules,andover sharia law. ANGELA MERKEL, Chancellor of Germany