Nationalist parties in Europe are expected to make significant gains in the upcoming elections for the European Parliament, leading to questions of how far is too far for the far-right movement. The hard-right parties in Italy and France are attempting to gain acceptability by mainstream conservatives, leading to divisions within the movement. Marine Le Pen, the French nationalist, has offered to form an alliance with mainstream conservatives, distancing herself from the Alternative for Germany party, which has been deemed too extreme even among fellow far-right parties.
While nationalist parties in Europe have supported each other and shared common themes such as protecting Christian traditions and opposing immigration, there is now a debate over levels of acceptability within the far-right movement. Mainstream parties are faced with the challenge of deciding which nationalist parties could potentially be partners. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, has signaled that she may need to seek alliances on the hard right to secure enough votes for another term by the Parliament.
The choice of allies for mainstream parties is crucial, with von der Leyen emphasizing clear principles such as being pro-Europe, pro-Ukraine, anti-Putin, and pro-rule of law. While she has ruled out alliances with parties such as the National Rally party, Alternative for Germany, and Poland’s Confederation party, she has suggested that Giorgia Meloni, the Italian nationalist leader, could be an acceptable partner. Meloni has been portrayed as a pragmatic operator firmly aligned with Europe’s leadership on key issues.
Despite attempts to broaden her influence, Giorgia Meloni faces a dilemma in choosing whether to ally with Marine Le Pen, as this move could set back her efforts to be seen as a partner for mainstream conservatives. While Meloni has emerged as a pragmatic leader aligning with Europe on key issues, Le Pen remains sidelined in France and faces criticism for her party’s ambiguity on issues like supporting Ukraine. The contradictions within nationalist parties regarding international alliances are evident, with divisions on immigration policies highlighting their inherent incompatibility.
Far-right parties in Europe have a history of both collaboration and conflict within the movement. While they have supported and cheered for one another, they have also clashed and rebuked each other over issues of prejudice and antisemitism. The divisions within the far-right movement are exemplified by previous rejections of alliances and accusations of contributing to policies that harm European people. As the European Parliament elections approach, the dynamics within the far-right movement continue to evolve, raising questions about the future of nationalist parties in Europe.
