Protesters at a demonstration against the far-right and racism in Place de la Republique in central Paris on Tuesday. Photographer: Nathan Laine/Bloombergin a row the EU was destined to be overwhelmed by a surging far right. Or, at least, that’s what the panicked headlines of much of Europe’s political commentary predicted in the run-up to last weekend’s elections.
Finally, the “anti-everything Europeans” comprise a hodgepodge of extremist views, conspiracy theorists, pro-Putin fanboys and old-fashioned bigots hanging out in the ID group and non-aligned members. Lacking any discernible vision for Europe, they are best represented by the current AfD party in Germany. Like most hard-right parties, the AfD seamlessly shifted from its starting purpose in 2013 – opposing the euro currency – to using migration as a tool to whip up anti-immigration fervour.
This, in turn, should be followed by a process of sidelining and weakening the destructive and anti-everything Europeans