The far right, associated with fascist and populist tendencies, is on the rise. They are a danger to freedom, democracy, and European values.
Extremists on the right often point the finger at people who are different to them, like migrants and other vulnerable communities. They stoke division, promote hate speech, and spread fear and antagonism to spark culture wars.
As they want to see the EU fail, the far right are not constructive when it comes to making policy and deciding EU laws: they are often absent in the job and prefer to shout from the sidelines. They vote against progress.
Over the past decade, there has been a noticeable rise in far-right movements across democratic nations. In the United States, the Republican party's association with Donald Trump amplified extremist ideologies and pulling a mainstream right wing party towards the far-right. Similarly, in Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro's presidency followed this trend, as did the emergence of figures like Javier Milei in Argentina.
Unfortunately, Europe has not been immune to these trends, with far-right parties gaining traction in many countries. This includes the National Rally in France, the PVV in the Netherlands, the AfD in Germany, the PiS in Poland, the Fdl in Italy, the PS in Sweden and Fidesz in Hungary, among others. Addressing and countering these trends is essential in order to uphold the principles of tolerance, inclusivity and democratic governance. Being part of the public debate is one thing, but in countries like Italy and Hungary, the far-right are in government. They have the power to dismantle and attack the rights and freedoms of millions of European citizens.
Europe is facing a surge in far-right movements across the continent. Right wing governments even include or rely on the support of far-right political factions.
In response, democrats across Europe have organised protests of their own to tell the fascist movements that their ideology does not belong in Europe, or anywhere else! We stand as part of this anti-fascist movement.
The Socialists and Democrats are, and will remain, vocal about the far right's attempt to undermine and damage the EU project!
The European Union stands as a testament to the ideals of tolerance and inclusivity, principles that lie at the very heart of its foundation. The visionaries behind the EU sought to create a space where diverse nations could come together, fostering cooperation and unity in the aftermath of devastating conflicts.
While opposition to the EU can arise from concerns like national sovereignty, economic policies or integration direction disagreements, when this opposition undermines tolerance and inclusivity principles, it threatens the very essence of what the EU stands for.
Preserving these core values is essential for the EU's continued success and relevance on the global stage. We, the S&Ds, firmly uphold the values of the EU in all our policymaking decisions and we will fight for all EU citizens, no matter their background or sexual orientation.
We must call out these movements for what they are – fascist groups actively working to undermine democratic institutions, limit freedoms and reduce inclusivity.
Holding such movements accountable means closely examining their actions, policies and words to ensure they don't compromise the principles of democratic societies.
Contrary to the far right, the Socialists and Democrats believe in bringing people together and fostering understanding among different communities. Our goal is to create a fair and just society that includes everyone – regardless of their background – while supporting policies that strengthen democratic institutions, safeguard people's rights and ensure equal treatment for everyone.
