Is the far right taking over Europe? A neo-fascist party now governs at the very heart of Europe. Some fear this is the foothold they need to spread across the entire continent.
Fears as 'female Mussolini' elected in Italy
Is the far right taking over Europe? A neo-fascist party now governs at the very heart of Europe. Some fear this is the foothold they need to spread across the entire continent.
"History was written today." That was the triumphant call of Giorgia Meloni after an election on Sunday swept her to power in Italy.
Meloni is no ordinary candidate. She is leader of the Brothers of ItalyA right-wing populist party that split off from the mainstream conservative party The People of Freedom in 2012., a far-right movement.1 She has praised Benito MussoliniThe fascist dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943. , the world's first fascistFollowing fascism, a set of ideologies that advocates dictatorial power, political violence, suppression of opposition, traditional gender roles, and official racism. leader who ruled Italy from the 1920s to the 1940s.
The result was received with glee by other far-right politicians across Europe. For everyone else, it was a moment of dread.
This is the first time one of the European UnionA political and economic union of 27 countries.'s founding members, and one of its most important economies, has elected a far-right government.
Now some fear they could take advantage of the economic chaos caused by the energy crisis to stir up people's fears and win power everywhere.
Although some call this the "return" of the far right, in truth it never really went away. Until the 1970s, fascist governments ruled in Greece and Spain. Fascists made their way into the Italian government in the 1990s, and came close to winning the French presidency in 2002.
Nonetheless, until recently the mood was optimistic. Many believed that with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the era of totalitarianWhen a political system or leader requires complete subservience to the state. In a totalitarian system, people are not allowed to express their own opinions. ideologies had come to an end. They were confident that fascist movements would wither away.
Instead, the opposite has happened. The far right has become a major force in European politics. They form the second-largest party in France and Sweden, and the third-largest in Spain.
So does the future belong to the far right? Not necessarily. There is still little appetite for their policies in Europe. The most successful far-right parties have won by watering down their ideas and presenting a moderate face to the world.
This creates internal tensions between the pragmatistsPeople who act based on practical concerns rather than ideals. who want to win elections, and the true believers who think they should stand up for their ideas. Many far-right movements have split under this pressure.
Now that she has won power, Meloni will also have to persuade Italians that she can do better than previous governments. Italy is in the grip of a prolonged economic crisis.
Since 1945, Italy has had a new government every 1.11 years. The instability that brought Meloni to power could still bury her party - and with it, the aspirations of the far right.
Is the far right taking over Europe?
Yes: The far right has been hoping to take power in a country as important as Italy for years. Now it will be emboldened across the whole continent. This is only the beginning of a far-right wave.
No: Extreme right-wing parties have only been able to win elections by jettisoningAbandon something that is no longer needed. their most controversial policies. Even then, very few have managed to come to power.
Or... Far-right parties have had mixed electoral results. Even in Italy, the far right is only one party in a coalition. It is too early to say whether this is their high tide point, or if they can keep developing further.
Keywords
Brothers of Italy - A right-wing populist party that split off from the mainstream conservative party The People of Freedom in 2012.
Benito Mussolini - The fascist dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943.
Fascist - Following fascism, a set of ideologies that advocates dictatorial power, political violence, suppression of opposition, traditional gender roles, and official racism.
European Union - A political and economic union of 27 countries.
Totalitarian - When a political system or leader requires complete subservience to the state. In a totalitarian system, people are not allowed to express their own opinions.
Pragmatists - People who act based on practical concerns rather than ideals.
Jettisoning - Abandon something that is no longer needed.
Fears as ‘female Mussolini’ elected in Italy
Glossary
Brothers of Italy - A right-wing populist party that split off from the mainstream conservative party The People of Freedom in 2012.
Benito Mussolini - The fascist dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943.
Fascist - Following fascism, a set of ideologies that advocates dictatorial power, political violence, suppression of opposition, traditional gender roles, and official racism.
European Union - A political and economic union of 27 countries.
Totalitarian - When a political system or leader requires complete subservience to the state. In a totalitarian system, people are not allowed to express their own opinions.
Pragmatists - People who act based on practical concerns rather than ideals.
Jettisoning - Abandon something that is no longer needed.