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Saturday, May 24, 2025

Hard Right Gains Traction Across Europe Despite Centrist Wins

Voter support for far-right parties grows in Romania, Poland, and Portugal amid key national elections.
Recent elections in Romania, Poland, and Portugal have highlighted a growing trend of support for far-right and ultranationalist parties, despite victories for centrist candidates in some regions.

On a weekend marked by crucial electoral events across Europe, centrist leaders secured important wins, yet the overall rise of the hard right remains a significant concern.

In Romania, Nicușor Dan, a centrist candidate and the nonaffiliated mayor of Bucharest, won the presidential runoff against George Simion of the right-wing nationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians.

Dan’s victory, secured by a 7-point margin, was aided by a high voter turnout that rose from 53 percent in the first round to nearly 65 percent in the runoff, marking the highest participation since 1996. Simion, who is known for his ultranationalist views and has been characterized as a Trump supporter, previously won the first round of voting.

Support for Simion has notably increased following a previous canceled election, attributed to allegations of foreign interference.

His proposals, including reducing military aid to Ukraine, prompted fears of potential destabilization in Romania, a key EU and NATO member.

In the runoff, voter mobilization from the diaspora and an unexpected support shift from the Hungarian minority in Romania contributed to Dan’s success.

In Poland, the first round of the presidential election saw liberal Rafał Trzaskowski, the mayor of Warsaw and a member of the Civic Platform party, receive 31.4 percent of the votes, narrowly beating his right-wing rival Karol Nawrocki, who garnered 29.5 percent.

Sławomir Mentzen of the far-right Confederation and Grzegorz Braun, an antisemitic candidate, attracted 14.8 percent and 6 percent of the votes, respectively.

The results indicate a divided electorate, with Trzaskowski strong in the western regions and major cities while Nawrocki performed better in the east.

The upcoming runoff on June 1 will require Trzaskowski to appeal to supporters of eliminated candidates.

In Portugal, the recent snap election resulted in the center-right Democratic Alliance securing the most votes.

However, the far-right Chega party emerged as a significant force, rising to tie with the Socialist Party as the second-largest party in parliament.

Chega's performance underscores its rapid ascent, growing from one seat in 2019 to potentially controlling a quarter of parliamentary seats.

The party gained substantial support in southern Portugal, historically aligned with leftist parties, raising concerns about its influence in upcoming local elections.

As the counting of overseas votes continues, Chega's representation could further increase.

The outcomes of these elections highlight a complex political landscape in Europe, where traditional political alignments are shifting and support for far-right parties continues to rise, presenting challenges for centrist and liberal candidates across the continent.
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