The 2024 European elections have illuminated a significant shift in the political landscape across the continent, with far-right parties making notable gains in several key countries. In Germany, the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) secured the largest share of the vote, aggregating to 29.5% according to polls. However, all eyes are on the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has jumped to second place with 16.5% of votes, surpassing the Social Democrats (SPD) at 14%. This marks an increase for the AfD, highlighting the growing traction of their far-right policies in Germany.
Austria has also seen a dramatic rise in support for far-right ideologies. The Freedom Party (FPÖ) has emerged victorious, securing approximately 27% of the vote, a significant rise of ten percentage points from the previous election. The traditionally dominant Christian Democrats (ÖVP) have faced a strong decline, capturing only 23.5% of the vote and competing closely with the Social Democrats (SPÖ) at 23%. The Greens in Austria saw a minor decrease, now at 10.5%, showing resistance to the overall decline experienced by center-left parties across Europe.
Participation in these elections has varied significantly among EU member states. In France, turnout was relatively high with 45.3% of the electorate casting their votes by 5:00 p.m., reflecting increased political engagement among French citizens. However, Spain experienced a lower turnout at 38.3% by 6:00 p.m., a decrease from previous years. This variation illustrates the differing levels of voter engagement and political mobilization across the continent.
In Cyprus, the center-right DISY party and the Eurocommunist AKEL are neck-and-neck, both polling between 22.6% and 25.4%. Interestingly, an independent candidate, Fidias Panayiotou, notably a popular YouTuber, has emerged as a potential winner with 16% to 18% of the vote. This suggests a disruption in the traditional political arena and an openness to new, unconventional candidates leveraging modern platforms for political mobilization.
The Netherlands is observing a significant shift with the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) led by Geert Wilders gaining traction. According to exit polls, the PVV is set to secure seven seats in the European Parliament. This is a considerable boost given their absence in European Parliament since their sole deputy left in 2022. The rise of PVV and other Eurosceptic groups in the Netherlands signals a shift towards more critical attitudes towards the EU's central policies, especially around immigration and agriculture.
- In Spain, the fallout in voter turnout is particularly striking, with Catalonia leading the decline. Girona witnessed a drop to 22.11%, highlighting logistical and political challenges driving voter disengagement. Elsewhere, Italy reported a 25.10% turnout by midday, showing relatively stable engagement compared to previous elections.
- Far-right gains are not limited to central Europe. Voting trends across various countries, including Austria and the Netherlands, underscore a continental shift toward right-wing populism. This reflects broader discontent with traditional political structures and growing receptivity to far-right rhetoric on immigration and national sovereignty.
