If one looks at the European press these days, one will notice that there is a growing concern that the Far Right will have an impressive record in the upcoming European elections and this will have wider implications not only in terms of the internal political relations of the member states but also in terms of the functioning of the European institutions, at a time when their prestige has suffered a blow anyway.
Let’s not forget that in countries, such as Hungary and Italy, the Far Right rules, while in others it participates in the elections with many claims and is expected to gather a large percentage, being a surprise and claiming the role of regulator of political developments.
Already the Far Right has a significant influence on political affairs at the European level. It is enough to think that Europe’s shift to a much stricter anti-immigration policy is the result of a way in which parties and governments of the “constitutional arc” are already incorporating aspects of the far-right political agenda in an attempt to curb its influence.
But the problem is deeper. Because if the predictions are verified and we start to have a greater participation of far-right parties in the government or they emerge as a main opposition pole, then we will talk about another dystopian situation.
Because then its ability to influence the overall direction of Europe will be much greater. And this will not be limited to immigration and refugee policy issues, but will extend to women’s rights (such as the right to abortion) or the rights of LGBTI+ people. But also by invoking the priority of “national decisions” it will jeopardize any ability that the European institutions have to demand compliance with rules of the rule of law.
Not to mention that by its nature the European edifice needs a policy with a strong element of democracy and social justice in order not to become just an “economic integration” but also not to function simply as a “permanent bargain” between governments of the member states.
In Europe – which, of course, is not solely responsible for the rise of the Far Right, which now threatens it – they have not yet succeeded in implementing a policy that would be able to limit the influence of the Far Right.
But at least they are worried and concerned. Even worse, we make the mistake here too of thinking that the answer to the Far Right is for the governing parties to start using a rhetoric of the type “fatherland-religion-family”, which in fact only strengthens the Far-Right.
Because neither a center-right that is becoming more and more neoliberal and at the same time more and more authoritarian, nor a center-left that is cut off from its values in the name of “governability” can today be a rival awe to the Far Right.
What is needed is a left-wing progressive party capable of combining the defense of democracy with social justice, but also able to really communicate with the most popular strata. Because she would be able to ensure that popular strata will not be attracted by the rhetoric of the Far Right, but at the same time it would also pressure the center-right to move in a more democratic direction.
Otherwise, we will simply watch in embarrassment – and in the end, fear – as the “serpent’s egg” hatches.
