The rise of the far right scares Europe

The rise of the far right is the biggest threat to Europe’s future, according to a Politico survey.

In particular, outgoing members of the European Parliament who took part in the poll cited Europe’s shift to the right and the rise of populism as the biggest challenges facing the continent.

Climate change and Russia’s war against Ukraine also ranked highly, overshadowing traditional issues such as immigration and the state of the economy.

But not everyone has the same fears.

While Social Democrat lawmakers highlighted right-wing populism, the climate crisis and social inequality in their responses, MEPs from the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) were more likely to cite the war in Ukraine and the bloc’s security as their biggest concerns. .

The war in Ukraine is notably absent from right-wing MEPs’ responses, instead focusing on the dangers of immigration and the erosion of national sovereignty, as well as the pitfalls of a hasty implementation of the Green Deal.

Yes, no, maybe in a second von der Leyen term

Ursula von der Leyen is hoping for a second term as European Commission president, but outgoing lawmakers aren’t too keen on the idea. About 1 in 5 respondents said they would like von der Leyen to serve another term, but even her own EPP group is divided.

A small vocal minority, dominated by the ECR and the Greens, openly opposes von der Leyen.

A significant percentage of respondents placed their hopes in the Spitzenkandidat process, based on which European political parties nominate, before the European elections, specific candidates for the role of president of the European Commission, with the presidency ending post-election in the person nominated by the largest parliamentary group.

The system, which was first introduced in 2014, failed miserably in 2019 but some lawmakers seem to believe or hope it can be revived and citizens will finally be able to have a say in the composition of the next EU executive.