Far-right parties are gaining ground across Europe, forcing mainstream politicians to adapt. While some countries resist, others see these groups influencing policies, particularly on immigration.
Europe’s political landscape is shifting as far-right parties gain momentum, forcing mainstream leaders to rethink their strategies.
The AfD is polling at 20%, securing second place ahead of Sunday’s election.
The Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) lead with 27%, while the Social Democrats (SPD) trail at 17%.
Christian Democrat leader Friedrich Merz has toughened his stance on immigration, even leaning on AfD votes to advance a stricter migration bill.
Tensions rose further after U.S. Senator J.D. Vance met with AfD leader Alice Weidel but not with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, prompting accusations of U.S. interference in German politics.
The Freedom Party (FPÖ) won 30.6% in September’s election, aiming to form the country’s first far-right-led government.
Talks collapsed, and new elections now seem likely.
The Sweden Democrats, who took 20.5%, continue to shape migration policies despite not being in government.
In the Netherlands, Geert Wilders’ PVV won 23.6% and holds 5 of 16 cabinet positions, including immigration and asylum policy.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy won 26% in the last election.
Meloni is now widely accepted internationally, a sign of how far-right parties are gaining legitimacy.
The Finns Party secured 20.1% and holds 7 of 19 ministerial positions.
The party has compared immigrants to parasites and seeks to block undocumented migrants from receiving healthcare.
đź“Ś How Divided Is Europe’s Far-Right?
Marine Le Pen (France) and Giorgia Meloni (Italy) distance themselves from the AfD, seeing it as too extreme.
But far-right narratives on immigration and security continue to shape mainstream policies.
As far-right parties gain influence, mainstream parties shift rightward to counter their rise.
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou acknowledged growing public concerns over migration, which has strengthened Le Pen’s National Rally, now leading in polls ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
Some countries have kept the far-right out of power:
Belgium’s Vlaams Belang (22%) was excluded from the ruling coalition.
France’s National Rally is the largest party in parliament but remains out of government.
However, analysts warn these barriers may not last.
With Trump’s tariffs on European goods threatening exports, the continent faces a larger challenge beyond politics. Economic growth remains sluggish, and inflation concerns persist. Regardless of who holds power, the real question is: Can Europe avoid economic stagnation while navigating growing political instability?
Mount Etna, one of the world's most active volcanoes, erupted once more early on Saturday, with ash and lava spewing from the southeastern crater. The eruption, which began late Friday night, continued through midday, local sources reported.
The Holy Fire ceremony stands as one of Christianity's most enduring and mysterious rituals, drawing thousands of pilgrims to Jerusalem each year.
In a groundbreaking event, China hosted the world’s first humanoid robot race, where robots and humans competed side by side. The competition saw Chinese-made Tien Kung Ultra emerge victorious in the half-marathon, completing the 21-kilometer course in an impressive 2 hours and 40 minutes.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 19th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
he Trump administration has replaced the Covid.gov website, once a central hub for COVID-19 resources, with a new platform focusing on the lab leak theory regarding the virus's origins.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with senior Vatican officials on Saturday for talks that the Vatican described as "cordial," following ongoing criticisms of the Trump administration’s policies, particularly regarding immigration.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine for Easter, set to last from 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday until midnight (2100 GMT) following Easter Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday his plan to reclassify approximately 50,000 federal workers under a new category, "Schedule Policy/Career," which would make it easier to fire civil servants who do not align with his administration's policy agenda.
The U.S. Supreme Court issued an order early Saturday blocking the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members from Texas under the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law from 1798.
Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s reluctance to support military action, Israel has not ruled out launching a limited strike on Iran's nuclear facilities in the coming months, according to Israeli and other sources familiar with the matter.
The Russian ruble has emerged as the top-performing currency globally in 2025, registering an impressive 38% appreciation against the US dollar since the beginning of the year, according to a report by Bloomberg.
A small plane crashed near Kopake, New York, on April 13, killing at 6 people. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, carrying six people, went down under unclear circumstances. This marks the second aviation accident in New York in a week, raising safety concerns.
The Holy Fire ceremony stands as one of Christianity's most enduring and mysterious rituals, drawing thousands of pilgrims to Jerusalem each year.
Several regions in Ukraine faced heightened alert on Palm Sunday, as reports of explosions and missile threats drew public attention and official responses.
Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
Jordan's King Abdullah II and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held a phone conversation on Saturday to discuss ongoing efforts to end the Israeli war on Gaza, which has been ongoing since October 7, 2023.
Elon Musk announced on Saturday that he plans to visit India later this year, following a discussion with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about potential collaboration in technology and innovation.
Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said of Oman is scheduled to visit Moscow on Monday, just days after the commencement of a new round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks mediated by Muscat.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with senior Vatican officials on Saturday for talks that the Vatican described as "cordial," following ongoing criticisms of the Trump administration’s policies, particularly regarding immigration.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine for Easter, set to last from 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday until midnight (2100 GMT) following Easter Sunday.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with senior Vatican officials on Saturday for talks that the Vatican described as "cordial," following ongoing criticisms of the Trump administration’s policies, particularly regarding immigration.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine for Easter, set to last from 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday until midnight (2100 GMT) following Easter Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday his plan to reclassify approximately 50,000 federal workers under a new category, "Schedule Policy/Career," which would make it easier to fire civil servants who do not align with his administration's policy agenda.
The U.S. Supreme Court issued an order early Saturday blocking the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members from Texas under the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law from 1798.
Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s reluctance to support military action, Israel has not ruled out launching a limited strike on Iran's nuclear facilities in the coming months, according to Israeli and other sources familiar with the matter.
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