Iran Press/Europe: The comment came as the 2019 European Parliament elections are being held in most European countries. In France itself, European Parliamentary elections are held on Sunday 26 May 2019.
Far right groups are very active in these elections and should they do well, the political landscape of Europe will change substantially. It is also true that far-right leaders in France, Italy, Hungary, Austria and a number of other countries are trying to unite the far right populist groups to improve their chances in the European parliamentary elections. Their election to the European Parliament is expected to have a major impact on the European Union's future.
Europe saw a resurgence of far-right (nationalist) groups after the 2008 financial crisis, and in recent years, their popularity has increased significantly given the hardline stance they have adopted on immigrants entering Europe and terrorist attacks within Europe.
Opposition to Schengen Area and Euro
Extreme right-wing and nationalist groups are generally opposed to the single European currency, the Euro, to European convergence and integration, they also oppose free movement of people across national boundaries within the Schengen Area countries, and they are opposed to the Schengen agreement. They are Eurosceptics by nature. They also oppose Islam and Muslims and Muslim immigrants entering Europe, claiming they steal jobs which are meant for native Europeans.
In much of Europe traditional left-right, two-party systems have fractured under the weight of popular dissatisfaction, giving an opportunity to far-right extremist and nationalist groups to enter European politics in a big way.
Simon Tisdall, a well-known journalist, and political commentator said far-right groups have adopted Islamophobic anti-immigrant slogans and gained popularity by opposing austerity measures and austerity cuts of mainstream European politicians and political parties. Far right groups are reviving nationalist sentiments and nationalist identity across Europe, but so far their presence is only marginal in European politics. All that may change though if they do well in European Parliamentary elections, and a good showing by them is bound to challenge the European Union, increase tensions within Europe, and put pressure on established political parties.
EU Leadership Worried About Far Right Nationalists
Top EU politicians are very worried about the emergence of far-right groups in Europe and their increasing popularity.
For example, the Head of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Junker has said judging by their campaigns for the European elections, it looks likely that extreme far-right groups will do well, and their representation and influence is bound to increase within the EU and European Parliament, and this is bad news for European integration and convergence, and for European institutions as a whole.
French President Emmanuel Macron has promised to beef up Europe's economy and security, presenting plans for revamping and reconstructing Europe in years to come. These plans though are unlikely to see the light of day if extreme far-right groups do well in European elections and win many seats in the European Parliament.
It looks as if the European Parliament is becoming a battleground between pro-Europeans who want a united and strong Europe, and far-right nationalist groups who are Eurosceptics, oppose the European project, and want to see the end of the European Union.
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Writer: Atousa Dinyarian
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