The Financial Times: Far-right forces are steadily gaining strength across Europe, and the 2027 elections could see them enter government cabinets in several major EU countries.

Ivan Krastev, columnist at the Financial Times and head of the Center for Free Strategy in Bulgaria, pointed out that after the Alternative for Germany (AfD) achieved historic high vote shares in Saxony-Anhalt, the historical memory of fascism and communism is increasingly losing its restraining influence on European young voters' electoral choices. A telling sign is that older voters who personally experienced the East German regime actually showed lower support for AfD compared to other demographic groups.

2027 will bring a major test: France will hold a presidential election, while Italy, Spain, and Poland will conduct parliamentary elections. Current polling suggests that several countries may form governments significantly shifting rightward and adopting Eurosceptic stances. Trump’s potential return could provide additional momentum to radical parties in Europe.

Krastev argues that what truly threatens the EU is not merely a political shift to the right. The EU can absorb national policies tightening immigration controls or partially abandoning green agendas. The real challenge lies in the emergence of governments closely aligned with Moscow, openly opposing Brussels, or completely subservient to Washington.

Against this backdrop, Putin has proposed designating 2027 as Russia’s “Geography Year,” planning to issue a new map that incorporates territories of Ukraine annexed by Russia into its official territorial claims. In Krastev’s view, Russia’s “Geography Year” combined with Europe’s “Election Year” could evolve into a genuine nightmare for the continent.

Micro-comment

Krastev highlights a profound phenomenon: older voters, having lived through the East German regime, inherently distrust far-right movements; but younger generations, lacking that historical memory, focus solely on present-day practical concerns.

This explains why AfD secured an astonishing 43.8% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt. For today’s European youth, soaring inflation, deteriorating public safety, and immigrants perceived as competing for resources are immediate, visceral problems—while “anti-fascism” history lessons feel distant and abstract. While traditional mainstream parties (like Germany’s CDU and SPD) still rely on outdated approaches, far-right parties effectively capture these votes with simple, blunt narratives such as “national priority” and “expel illegal immigrants.”

If these major EU nations truly form governments markedly right-wing and Eurosceptic, the EU’s decision-making mechanisms risk paralysis. Major EU decisions require broad consensus—once key countries begin aggressively wielding veto power in pursuit of narrow national interests, Brussels will lose all capacity for coordination.

Krastev believes that a mere rightward shift (e.g., tighter immigration rules) is manageable for the EU. What’s most alarming is the potential for diplomatic fragmentation. Currently, there are two sharply divergent external orientations within Europe’s far-right movement:

Russia-friendly faction — represented by Germany’s AfD, advocating halting aid to Ukraine, lifting sanctions against Russia, and restarting the Nord Stream pipeline. If such parties come to power, NATO and EU’s unified front against Russia would collapse without a fight.

Pro-American faction — some far-right parties frequently engage with Trump’s political circle (such as tech billionaires like Musk), even accepting financial or media support from U.S. right-wing forces. Governments aligned with this camp may not be pro-Russian, but they would become complete satellites of Washington, taking hardline stances toward the EU on trade and technology.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1876275838931980/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.