Although for many decades, in the wake of World War II, its specter seemed to be a thing of the past, in the last decade having invested rhetorically in increasing immigration flows, its rise in power has been remarkable, with electoral successes in a number of countries of the Old Continent.
In fact, 2024 was a year in which the far-right managed to consolidate its power electorally, while the support of the far-right European parties by his close partner, Elon Musk, creates favorable conditions for its further rise.
The electoral successes of 2024
More specifically, in 2024, the extreme right managed to increase its percentages in a series of electoral contests, Specifically, it managed to strengthen its presence in the European Parliament with the political group Patriots for Europe now being the third political force with 86 seats, while the fourth force is the European Conservatives and Reformists with 80 seats. The far-right forces also include the political group Europe of Sovereign Nations, which has 25 seats in the current composition of the plenary session.
The French elections
A great success for the extreme right was also that they were held in two rounds, in June and July. In fact, in the first round, the National Rally led by Jordan Bardela managed to cut the thread first, collecting 33.2% of the votes.
The French electoral system, combined with the strategic alliance before the second round between the centrist Renaissance coalition and the left-wing New People’s Front, sent the far-right National Rally to third place in terms of seat distribution, although it again garnered a larger share nationally level from the rest of the factions.
The first in Austria
The extreme right managed to achieve in 2024 another electoral first in another EU member state, Austria. The FPÖ, as Austria’s far-right party is called, with 28.8% conducted in September.
The ensuing talks to form a government between the center-right People’s Party, the Socialists and the centrist NEOS proved fruitless, currently plunging Austria into political crisis. At this moment it is even possible that the extreme right will participate in the next government, with the possibility that the new prime minister will come from within it is visible for the first time since the Second World War.
The presidential elections in Romania and Russian interference
The result of the presidential elections in Romania was particularly interesting and indicative in terms of the relationship between the electoral rise of the extreme right and the Russian influence on the political issues of Europe.
In the first round, which was held on November 24, taking first place with 22.9%. But as suspicions of Russian meddling were raised, the Supreme Court annulled the presidential election and ordered the ruling coalition to organize it from scratch. Outgoing president Klaus Johannis will remain head of state until the May elections.
The battles to come
At the same time, in 2025, a series of electoral contests are scheduled to take place that will largely shape the political balance in Europe in the coming years, with perhaps the most pivotal of all being the one in Germany, which is scheduled for February 23.
According to the latest polls, the far right is also expected to benefit in this case, as the AfD is in second place with percentages ranging from 18% to 22%, behind only the Christian Democrats who register percentages between 29% and 33%.
At the same time, as mentioned above, with the first round scheduled for the 4th of the month and the second for the 18th. It is still not clear if Calin Gheorgescu will get the “green light” from the competent electoral committee to participate again, however, the electoral battle is expected with particular interest, as its result will demonstrate the extent of Russian influence in the country and whether Romanian citizens will decide to support a far-right candidate again.
The support from Trump-Musk
In this whole situation that is being created it seems that one of the richest people in the world and a close ally of the elected president of the USA, Donald Trump.
“Only the AfD can save Germany,” Musk wrote on X ahead of Germany’s February 23 election. He even did not hesitate to debate live on X with AfD co-chair Alice Weidel. In addition, Musk’s pro-AfD op-ed was published in the major German newspaper Die Welt of the powerful Axel Springer media group.
Musk also didn’t hesitate to wade into UK politics, asking his millions of X followers whether “America should free the British people from their tyrannical government.” He even tried to stir up the far-right reflexes of the citizens, openly accusing the Prime Minister of Keir Starmer that during his tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales he did not deliver Justice in the high-profile case of the abuse and seduction of children (mainly white girls) by gangs immigrants (mainly Pakistanis), who were later convicted.
Musk’s close relationship with Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, is still known, but he put her in a difficult position when he criticized Italian judges who canceled her plan to send migrants to Albania.
Finally, Musk also openly supports far-right and openly pro-Russian Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, with whom he recently met, as does Trump.
