Worldwide news covering the European election - "Right-wing forces sweep through Europe's core"
Following the European elections, the European Union finds itself weakened and hesitant.
The European People's Party (EPP), led by German candidate Ursula von der Leyen, emerged victorious. According to a prediction from the European Parliament, the CDU politician can anticipate a second term as president of the EU Commission.
Far-right parties have reason to be pleased with their results. In countries like Austria and France, right-wing populists have taken the lead. Germany’s AfD even took the top spot in the eastern regions.
How does the international media view the shift towards the right in Europe?
"La Vanguardia" (Spain): "The initial interpretation of the European elections is that nothing will change in Brussels’ political landscape. The status quo will remain. In terms of Europe, citizens are leaning more to the right, but the ruling coalition of Christians, Socialists, and Liberals that has been directing European politics for some time will maintain a substantial advantage. The far-right parties may have grown, but they don’t have enough leverage to take over the majority."
"de Volkskrant" (Netherlands): "Ursula von der Leyen might not face any challenges if all MEPs from pro-European parties support her. However, the French Liberals, along with some Social Democrats and Greens, reject her candidacy. In the upcoming weeks, von der Leyen will negotiate with various factions, including the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformers (ECR) and the Identity and Democracy (ID) faction. During these talks, von der Leyen will devise the political program for the European Union, which she hopes will secure the necessary votes. This balancing act will be challenging, as the more she leans towards the right, the more votes she risks losing among pro-European groups."
"NZZ" (Switzerland): "The German government parties have experienced setbacks after a string of losses in state elections over the weekend. (...) There's a possibility this outcome could fuel discussions within the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) about whether Olaf Scholz would be a suitable candidate for the Bundestag election in 2025. (...) The major casualty of the election was the Greens, garnering only 11.9% of the votes. (...) The German government coalition will face challenging times ahead. Internal tensions may rise, and their allies will need to focus on establishing their reputation in anticipation of future elections."
"Tages-Anzeiger" (Switzerland): "Now, what Europe needs is a strong Europe, an EU that takes action and has answers. In Moscow, Vladimir Putin is not making any attempts to cease his devastating war against Ukraine. China is attacking Europe's industrial base with cheap prices, and there could be a return of Donald Trump to the US in November. However, following the European elections, the European Union is less secure and unsure. The surge in populists and extremists, as predicted, is more significant than forecasted. The extremist wave has reached the heart of Europe. France and Germany, who typically guide the EU's direction and pace, will now have less influence."
"Rossijskaja Gazeta" (Russia): "Despite the success of right-wing and radical left-wing parties in the elections, the pro-European parties remain the Europe’s largest force. (...) This past Sunday, the far-right experienced success in France, where the "Macronists" were soundly defeated. However, this achievement isn't limited to France. Populist parties made significant strides in Germany and Austria, making it more difficult to pass laws and raising concerns about ongoing support for the Kiev regime in the European Parliament."
"Dagens Nyheter" (Sweden): "The extremist right has made gains, as the opinion polls had suggested. Therefore, there's a possibility that a new majority could form in the European Parliament that situates itself to the right of the center. However, most voters continue to fall within the pro-European center. These votes represent the sentiments of Europeans more than the 5% victory scored by the extreme right. This message must now be acted upon."
"La Repubblica" (Italy): "France and Germany must keep driving the European train forward to lead us through the crises to a new era. Now, this train has stopped. The process of strengthening the Union has come to a halt. Unless Europeans reclaim their history and take responsibility, uniting in a new European movement: The ascent will be arduous, but the journey has just begun."
