Far-right parties now attract nearly a quarter of European voters, research shows
Quick Look
Research by 150+ political scientists across 31 countries reveals far-right parties in Europe have seen support surge to over 23%, up from ~5% in 1995 and ~10% a decade ago, with significant gains in France, UK, Germany, Austria, and Portugal between 2023-2025.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Far-right parties in Europe have been gaining traction over the past few decades, with recent elections showing significant increases in support.
Almost one in four voters in Europe now cast their ballot for far-right parties, research shows, a proportion that has grown nearly fivefold since the mid-1990s and climbed particularly steeply over the past three years. [...] Far-right populist parties are now in government as part of ruling coalitions in Croatia, Czechia, Italy and Finland, propping up a right-wing minority government in Sweden, and, the analysis finds, leading in the polls in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany and the UK. [...] "It’s important to emphasise this isn’t a sudden thing," Rooduijn said. "It’s been under way for decades, and accelerating recently." [...] The experience of countries such as Hungary, Poland and the US shows that when far-right populists gain power, democracy itself can come under pressure. [...]
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Further gains for far-right parties in upcoming European elections
Likely · Within days
Increased political polarization across Europe
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What specific policies are driving the surge in far-right support?
- How will mainstream parties respond to this shift?
