Poland has chosen Donald Tusk as its new leader, defying the trend towards far-right ideologies in Europe.
The capital city of Germany, Berlin, is now home to Poland’s recently appointed prime minister, Donald Tusk. Tusk’s strong support for the European Union and NATO is a significant departure from the previous prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, who held right-wing nationalist views.
With his election victory, Tusk, a 66-year-old former European Commission president, has also become a new bearer of hope for European progressives and centrists at a time when many nations on the continent are showing increasing affinity for far right-wing populism.
According to Wojciech Przybylski, a political analyst and leader of the Visegrad Insight think tank, Tusk’s election is a significant moment of empowerment and enthusiasm for Poland.
Following Russia’s complete invasion in February 2022, Ukraine aspires to become a powerful member of NATO and a reliable ally of the United States. This is in line with their goal of establishing a dominant position among other European countries.
Janek Skarzynski/AFP via Getty Images
In an obvious attempt to differentiate himself from his nationalistic predecessor, he cautioned that a solitary Poland would be vulnerable to increased geopolitical dangers.
Recent political developments in Europe suggest that Poland may be heading in a different direction with the election of Tusk.
Geert Wilders and the country of the Netherlands
Geert Wilders has gained significant support in recent polls
A recent demonstration of Europe’s shift towards conservative views can be seen in the Netherlands, as Geert Wilders, a right-wing populist known for his anti-Islam stance, has garnered considerable backing in recent surveys. a majority of parliamentary seats in the Netherlands
The party led by Geert Wilders secured the most seats in the Netherlands’ parliament.
A resounding win in the parliamentary elections held in November.
The topic of migration and asylum played a crucial role in the election. Wilders, who had been a notable figure on the outskirts of Dutch politics for a long time, used strong anti-Islam language to gain support. This included proposals to nationally ban mosques, Islamic schools, and the Quran. These efforts have put him in a position to potentially lead the next government, as long as he can form a coalition with other political parties.
After his party’s victory and in search of coalition partners, Wilders has promised to govern for the benefit of “all citizens of the Netherlands.”
“I may need to retract my proposals at times, and I intend to follow through with that,” Wilders stated during a session with Dutch legislators. “I will demonstrate to the Netherlands, the government… anyone willing to listen, that we will revise our regulations to comply with the constitution and align our proposals accordingly.”
Frans Timmermans, the leader of a center-left coalition in the Parliament, responded by stating that he does not trust Wilders to fulfill his promise. He told him, “I view your ideas as a danger to the principles of democratic governance,” as reported by The Associated Press.
Italy and Giorgia Meloni
In September 2022,
The most right-wing government in the country was voted in by Italians.
Since the conclusion of World War II, Giorgia Meloni, the leader of the Brothers of Italy party, has become the first female prime minister of the country.
According to CBS News’ Chris Livesay, Italy’s past struggles with a far-right government, led by dictator Benito Mussolini before World War II, made the recent success of the Brothers of Italy party all the more surprising. This party, which was once on the outskirts of Italian politics, has now achieved a significant victory.
Meloni leads a coalition government with two equally far-right parties and presents herself as a Christian who prioritizes families, while also opposing the left-wing ruling elite and frequently highlighting migration as the cause of various socioeconomic issues in Italy.
Who is Giorgia Meloni, the woman expected to become Italy’s new right-wing prime minister?
06:48
While they are not currently leaders, the far right movement is gaining momentum.
During the national elections in October, the right-wing populist Swiss People’s Party emerged as the victor in Switzerland. The country’s government is led by a seven-member Federal Council, who are chosen by the Parliament. The People’s Party saw a resurgence in their seats compared to four years ago, solidifying their position as the largest party in Parliament.
The far-right nationalist party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), is experiencing a surge in popularity in Germany, currently following closely behind former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-right Christian Democratic Union party (CDU) in the polls.
The AfD has been labeled as a potentially right-wing extremist group by Germany’s national Office for the Protection of the Constitution due to unconstitutional statements made by certain members, such as anti-Semitic remarks and incitements of violence against the government.
The rise in the AfD’s percentage of votes has sparked a heated discussion among parties, such as the CDU, about their willingness to form coalitions with the extremist right in the future.
beat far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in the second round of the presidential election.
On April 2022, Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, won by a large margin against the far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in the presidential election’s second round.
I was reelected for a second term.
He defeated his opponent, Marine Le Pen, who was from the far-right-wing.
However, the fact that Le Pen’s National Rally party was able to garner 40% of the vote served as a warning for French liberals and centrists. It highlighted the growing popularity of her anti-EU and anti-NATO stance, especially as Europe deals with the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic and a worsening immigration crisis.
Austria is preparing for its upcoming election of a new Parliament next year, where the right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ) is currently leading in polls. This anti-EU, populist party has held positions in multiple Austrian governments in the past 25 years, but has yet to secure enough seats to lead one.
Source: cbsnews.com