International Desk (EFE).- Alternative for Germany’s (AfD) decisive victory in Saxony-Anhalt brings the party to the threshold of an absolute majority, putting it on the verge of forming the country’s first far-right regional government.
AfD’s strong surge in these elections reflects a broader trend across many European nations, where far-right parties have already entered central and regional governments.
The European political landscape reveals a far right that is diverse in its alliances but shares common patterns, notably a strong nationalist and identity-driven focus.
The far right in government
In Italy, Giorgia Meloni has just set a record for tenure as prime minister. After 1,412 days, her government is now the longest-lasting in Italy, surpassing Silvio Berlusconi’s second term (2001-2005). The “Meloni era” in the country has been defined by tougher immigration controls.
In the Czech Republic, the Action of Dissatisfied Citizens (ANO) leads a governing coalition with ultranationalists. The party has moved toward nationalist, anti-immigration, and anti-environmental stances.
In Slovakia, nationalist social democrat Robert Fico heads a government alongside the far-right Slovak National Party. This coalition has steered the government toward explicitly anti-immigration positions.
Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša, leader of the Slovenian Democratic Party, is a staunch admirer of Viktor Orbán and Donald Trump. The party maintains a Eurosceptic, anti-immigration platform.
In Croatia, the Homeland Movement serves as a junior partner in the executive branch led by the conservative HDZ. The party maintains an ultraconservative and Eurosceptic line.
Finland’s far-right Finns Party is currently the second-largest political force in the Nordic nation. It has been part of a governing coalition with conservatives since 2023.
In Sweden, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson leads a right-wing coalition supported by the far right. He faces general elections on September 13, with the Social Democrats leading polls.
The far right in opposition
In France, the far right which has come to power in several dozen French cities since March, has been increasing its political presence for years under the leadership of Marine Le Pen, the frontrunner in the polls to win the 2027 presidential election.
In the National Rally (RN), Le Pen has profoundly transformed a party initially marked by pro-Nazi and anti-Semitic ideals into one with a much more moderate rhetoric and a more pragmatic platform, although the fight against immigration and national preference remain its main campaign issues.
In Portugal, the far-right Chega party holds the second-largest number of parliamentary seats thanks to the rising popularity of its leader André Ventura. Its influence is already visible in legislative measures, including a full-face veil ban.
Austria’s FPÖ won elections two years ago but failed to form a government. Now polling around 40%, it remains the country’s strongest electoral xenophobic in nature and centered on the slogan “Austria first”.
In Poland, nationalist far-right groups like Konfederacja have become key potential coalition partners. Polls give the party 30% support overall, rising to 35% among young voters.
After Viktor Orbán (Fidesz) lost the government in Hungary following 16 years of absolute majorities, the Hungarian far right is now the second-largest force in Parliament with 52 of the 199 seats, where Our Homeland (Mi Hazánk), a far-right ultranationalist party, also stands out.
In the Netherlands, anti-European, Islamophobic, and anti-immigration Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom won the 2023 elections and formed a short-lived coalition. Following a collapse in 2025, it remains the second most voted party.
Norway’s anti-immigration Progress Party emerged from last year’s legislative elections as the second-largest political force. It secured 24% of the vote, the best result in its history.
Romania’s Alliance for the Union of Romanians tapped into public discontent over economic hardship and corruption to promote its anti-immigration, anti-vaccination, and anti-feminist message. The party is now the second-largest force in Romania’s parliament.
The far right gaining momentum and growing
Spain’s VOX remains a minority party, but its growth and the olive branch extended by the conservative PP put it in a strong position to form a government in the upcoming elections, in which polls show this coalition receiving around 50% of the vote.
Together with the PP, VOX has already joined regional governments, where it is pushing its “national priority” agenda to implement anti-immigration, anti-feminist, and anti-climate-change policies.
Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, established itself as the leading far-right party in the United Kingdom and the one with the greatest electoral potential. In the general election on July 4, 2024, it won five seats, and Farage finally entered Parliament.
In Belgium, the Flemish separatist and anti-immigration party Vlaams Belang won nearly 14% of the federal vote in the 2024 elections and became the second-largest party in Flanders, but the “cordon sanitaire” agreed upon by the other parties once again excluded it from the federal government.
Ahead of the upcoming elections in Greece, Greek Solution aims to double its 12 seats with radical proposals on border control, its leader, Kyriakos Velopoulos, suggested that the Armed Forces shoot anyone attempting to enter Greece illegally, while Voice of Reason (Foni Logikis), which aligns with Le Pen’s policies, is gaining ground.
The Cypriot ELAM ranks as the third-largest political force in the territory and makes its rejection of the Turkish Cypriot community clear.
In Bulgaria, the pro-Russian group Resurrection (the smallest party in Parliament) channels the vote against NATO and ethnic minorities. EFE
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