Reported 11 months ago
Following the European Parliament elections, right-wing populist parties in multiple EU countries have seen a surge in support, with Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) in France leading with over 31% of the vote, double that of the ruling Renaissance Party. Chancellor Macron dissolved the National Assembly amid concerns over the rise of right-wing populism, especially evident in Italy with Georgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy winning around 29% of the vote. In Germany, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) became the second largest party representing Germany in the EU Parliament. The dominating issues in this election were immigration, economic policies, and security, contrasting with the environmental focus of the prior election. With the rise of right-wing populism, Macron expressed worries while Le Pen's 'de-demonization' strategy proved successful. The election results highlighted the strength of National Rally's voter base rather than just attracting protesters. Right-wing populist parties saw a notable increase compared to the previous elections, while the ruling center parties suffered significant setbacks. The distribution of seats in the new European Parliament indicates the rise of the right-wing populist Identity and Democracy group. Merkel's center-right alliance topped the polls in Germany, with AfD following closely. Overall, voter turnout remained similar to the previous election, with the new parliament expanding to 720 seats from 705.
Source: YAHOO