Opinion | How Europe Swung to the Right

Millions of Europeans will go to the polls this year in a test of the right-wing movements that surged in 2024’s historic elections — and of the liberal order that so many disgruntled Europeans turned against.Voters in Germany, Austria, France and the Netherlands have shown the potency of this new populist wave.What’s behind their dramatic shift? We asked them.

In more than two dozen interviews across the continent, Europeans who voted for far-right parties talked about casting their ballots in fury, in frustration, in protest, but perhaps most of all in a bid to bring change to a system they believe has failed to fulfill the contract between their democratically elected governments and the people.They talked openly about nationalism, immigration, stagnant economies, the cost of living, housing shortages, anger at the elite and their countries’ perceived buckling to what many consider politically correct views.Their voices offer a window into the choices Europeans may make in the year ahead.The main event will be a Feb.

23 snap federal election following the collapse of the governing coalition in Germany, where the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, has made tremendous gains.Voters in Italy, Poland, Norway, Ireland, Romania and the Czech Republic — all countries where populist movements are either well established or on the rise — are also expected to choose leaders on the local or national levels.Europe is changing.

These are the some of the voters who are driving that change.Excerpts from their translated interviews have been condensed and edited for clarity.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

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