Europe is experiencing a dramatic political shift to the right in 2026, with nationalist and populist parties gaining power across the continent.
In France, Marine Le Pen's National Rally leads polls ahead of 2027 presidential election. In Germany, AfD became second largest party in Bundestag. Italy's PM Giorgia Meloni, Netherlands' Geert Wilders and Hungary's Viktor Orban form a powerful right bloc in European Parliament, now holding 28 percent of seats after 2024 EU elections
Their platform: anti-immigration, anti-EU federalism, climate skepticism and protectionism. They blame Brussels elites for inflation, migration crisis and loss of national identity. Recent farmer protests and energy costs fueled their rise
The EU Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen is caught between. It toughened border policy with new Migration Pact and deals with Tunisia and Egypt to stop boats, but far-right says not enough. Green Deal is being watered down.
Centrist parties in Germany, France and Spain have formed grand coalitions to keep far-right out, but that fuels populist claim that democracy is rigged.
Analysts warn this could weaken EU support for Ukraine and climate action.
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