European elections: Far right eyes vote surge and ditches German AfD

Far-right parties are on the rise and could become a powerful force in the European Parliament.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchRegisterSign InHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUK General ElectionIndia ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessFuture of BusinessTechnology of BusinessWork CultureInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherFar right eyes Europe vote surge and ditches German AfD18 hours agoPaul Kirby,BBC NewsShareREUTERS/Ana BeltranItaly's Giorgia Meloni wants to repeat her domestic success on a European scaleFar-right parties are on the rise in much of Europe, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni senses a big moment.

“We are on the eve of a decisive election,” the Brothers of Italy leader tells a packed hall in Madrid by video link. Marine Le Pen of France’s National Rally is in the front row, alongside Santiago Abascal, who heads Spain’s Vox party. “We are the engine of our continent’s renaissance,” the Italian prime minister declares, before rousing her audience to a standing ovation.

The far right has won elections in Italy and the Netherlands, leads the polls in France, Austria and Belgium and has a stake in the governments of Finland and Slovakia.

Now they could secure more than three in every 10 votes when the EU’s 27 states vote in European elections from 6-9 June, and become a powerful force in the European Parliament.

Infighting is threatening to take the gloss off the far-right surge - because of a series of scandals surrounding Germany’s AfD.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgllgxlg5dgo

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