The extreme right advances in governments and oppositions throughout Europe

The broad victory of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the German region of Saxony-Anhalt has placed this party on the verge of an absolute majority and, therefore, of the first regional government of a far-right formation in the country. The great growth of the AfD in these elections is part of the trend in many European countries where far-right parties already make up central or regional governments.

The extreme right in the government

Italy: Giorgia Meloni has just broken a record for her tenure as prime minister, exceeding 1,412 days and making her government the longest in Italy, surpassing that of Silvio Berlusconi in his second term (2001-2005). The hardening of immigration policy is one of the aspects that characterizes the Meloni era, although a new competitor has emerged for the prime minister and her party: former general Roberto Vannacci (National Future), located to the right of the extreme right, to whom the latest polls give 7.1% of voting intentions, above the 5.1% of Matteo Salvini's League.

Czech Republic: The Alliance of Dissatisfied Citizens (ANO) party leads the Czech government coalition with ultranationalists and eurosceptics. From populism it evolved to the nationalist far-right, anti-immigration and against environmental policies.

Slovakia: the nationalist social democrat Robert Fico heads a government together with the far-right Slovak National Party (SNS), for which he has been expelled from the European socialist party. This coalition led the Slovak government to positions that were openly anti-immigration and contrary to gender policies.

Slovenia: Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa of the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) is a firm admirer of Viktor Orbán and Donald Trump. It is a party critical of Russia, eurosceptic and anti-immigration.

Croatia: the Patriotic Movement, ultra-conservative and eurosceptic, is a minority partner in the Executive led by the conservative HDZ.

Finland: the far-right Authentic Finns party is currently the second political force in the Nordic country and since 2023 has been part of the coalition government along with conservatives, Christian Democrats and the Swedish People's Party.

Sweden: In Sweden, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who presides over a right-wing coalition that governs with the support of the far right, will face legislative elections on September 13 for which the favorites are the Social Democrats, currently in opposition.

The extreme right in the opposition

France: The extreme right, which came to power in several dozen French cities since March, has been increasing its political presence for years thanks to its leader, Marine Le Pen, the main favorite in the polls to win the 2027 presidential elections.

In National Regroupment (RN), Le Pen profoundly transformed a party initially marked by phil-Nazi and anti-Semitic ideals to a much more moderate discourse and a more possibilist program, although the fight against immigration and national preference remain her great electoral demands.

United Kingdom: Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, established itself as the main force of the extreme right and the one with the greatest electoral projection. In the general elections of July 4, 2024, he obtained five deputies and Farage entered Parliament.

Portugal: Chega's far-right is the second parliamentary force and undisputed leader of the opposition, thanks to the rise in popularity of André Ventura, its leader, who even came close to becoming president of the country this year. Its influence is already noticeable in laws, such as the prohibition of the full Islamic veil and in the tightening of migration policies.

Belgium: the Flemish separatist and anti-immigration party Vlaams Belang obtained almost 14% of the federal votes in the 2024 elections and was the second force in Flanders, but the validity of the cordon sanitaire agreed upon by the rest of the parties once again excluded it from the federal government.

Netherlands: Geert Wilders' Party for Freedom (PVV)—anti-European, Islamophobic and anti-immigration—won the 2023 elections and formed a brief government coalition led by Dick Schoof in 2024. After the fall of the Executive in 2025, its representation was reduced to 26 seats, although it remains the second most voted party in the country.

Austria: the FPÖ, a party of xenophobic origin and centered on the slogan “Austrians first” that won the elections two years ago but failed to govern. It is around 40% in the polls, remaining the force with the greatest electoral muscle in the country.

Poland: the nationalist far-right has gained weight in Poland in recent years and parties such as Konfederacja, considered anti-establishment and outside the political landscape, are now a convenient partner to access power. The polls give him 30% of voting intentions, which reaches 35% among young people.

Hungary: after losing the Government after 16 years of absolute majorities by Viktor Orbán (Fidesz), the Hungarian far-right is the second force in Parliament with 52 of the 199 deputies, where Our Homeland (My Hazánk), a far-right ultranationalist party, also stands out.

Norway: In Norway, the xenophobic Progress Party became the second political force in the country and the main opposition force after last year's legislative elections, obtaining 24% of the votes, the best result in its history.

Romania: The Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) is the second force in the Romanian Parliament (18% in the 2024 elections). He took advantage of the popular unrest due to the poor economic situation and corruption to place his anti-immigration, anti-vaccination and anti-feminist message.

Spain: VOX remains a minority force, but its growth and the extended hand of the conservative PP means that it is positioned with many possibilities to participate in the government in the next elections, in which polls give this coalition around 50% of the votes. Together with the PP, VOX has already entered regional executives, where it imposes its “national priority” discourse to implement anti-immigration, anti-feminist and anti-climate change policies.

Greece: with a view to the next elections, Greek Solution aims to double its 12 seats with radical proposals for border control - its leader, Kyriakos Velopoulos, suggested that the Armed Forces shoot those who try to enter Greece illegally - while the Voice of Reason (Foni Logikis), which identifies with Le Pen's policies, gains space.

Cyprus: the Cypriot ELAM positions itself as a third force and imposes its rejection on the Turkish Cypriot community.