Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al-Nakhalah: We are the rightful owners, and we must fight to retrieve our rights
Al-Nakhalah: The enemy and its allies must know that we can never surrender to their terms and diktats after all the sacrifices made
Al-Nakhalah: The prisoner exchange clause can be completed in the next few days, and thus we will have pulled the [explosion] fuse and removed the enemy's justifications for aggression
Al-Nakhalah: The Resistance has expressed its willingness to negotiate on the basis that there are items that can be dealt with positively, the first of which is the prisoner exchange item
Al-Nakhalah: Trump's plan entails the Palestinian people's declaration of complete surrender to the enemy
PIJ Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah, in an address aired on Al Mayadeen: The Resistance is engaging in a fierce negotiating battle under the so-called Trump plan
Russian Federation Council approves joint military cooperation agreement with Cuba
Al-Nunu: Today, the lists of prisoners required to be released, the agreed-upon criteria and numbers, were exchanged
Al-Nunu from Sharm el-Sheikh: Negotiations focused on mechanisms for implementing an end to the war, the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, and the exchange of prisoners
Al-Nunu from Sharm el-Sheikh: Mediators are making great efforts to remove any obstacles in the way of implementing the ceasefire, and a sense of optimism now prevails among all parties

EU elections see far-right advance in key France, Germany

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 9 Jun 2024 23:43
4 Min Read

France's National Rally and Germany's AfD, both far-right parties, advance in the EU parliament.

Listen
  • x
  • French far-right leader Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, president of the French far-right National Rally, stand at the party election night headquarters, Sunday, June 9, 2024 in Paris (AP)
    French far-right leader Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, president of the French far-right National Rally, stand at the party election night headquarters, Sunday, June 9, 2024 in Paris. (AP)

Sunday's EU elections saw significant gains for the far-right, as exit polls indicate Marine Le Pen's National Rally in France and Alternative for Germany leading the governing parties, potentially shifting the balance within the European Parliament at a critical juncture.

In France, Le Pen's party is projected to secure around 33% of the vote, translating to 31 seats in the European Parliament. This result more than doubles the score of President Emmanuel Macron's liberals, who are at 15%.

Meanwhile, in Germany, the Alternative for Germany party overcame a series of pre-election scandals to claim second place with approximately 16%, ahead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats and its coalition partners.

Check out: Your guide to the EU Parliament election

These outcomes represent significant blows to Europe's right-wing that are masquerading as centrists as the far-right gains significantly more sway within the EU's legislative body. However, despite these gains, the far-right factions remain fragmented and are expected to remain on the sidelines in Brussels.

Predictions indicate that the center-right and center-left parties, along with centrist partners, will likely retain a majority.

Le Pen's triumph in France had been anticipated, as her party previously led the European polls in 2019. 

A right-wing shift

Related News

Italy’s Meloni urges Gaza humanitarian flotilla to halt mission

Italy holds vote on citizenship, labor law reforms

Over 360 million people across the EU's 27 nations were eligible to vote over four days in elections that will shape the EU's direction for the next five years. The vote comes amid challenges such as the Ukraine war, global trade tensions, a climate emergency, and the potential for another Trump presidency.

The new parliament will play a crucial role in deciding the leadership of the European Commission, with increasingly unpopular German conservative Ursula von der Leyen seeking a second term.

European voters, grappling with high living costs and social concerns, are increasingly drawn to populist messages. While centrist parties are expected to retain the majority of the 720 seats, they may face challenges from a strengthened far-right pushing for more conservative policies.

Germany saw its highest turnout since 1979 at 66%, yet this did not spare Chancellor Scholz from a poor showing. His Social Democrats, at 14%, were outpaced by the far-right AfD at 16-16.5% and significantly lagged behind the conservative CDU-CSU bloc's 29.5%.

In Austria, the far-right Freedom Party led the count for the first time in a nationwide ballot. Migration policy and climate change were key issues for voters.

In the Netherlands, the far-right Freedom Party of Geert Wilders came second with 17.7%, trailing the Green-Labour coalition led by Frans Timmermans.

Italy's far-right ruling Brothers of Italy party, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, is expected to top the vote.

Meloni's support is being sought by both von der Leyen for her second mandate and by Le Pen and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who aim to form a far-right supergroup in parliament.

EU future in danger

Last month, Spain's environment minister, Teresa Ribera, warned that the European Union's future is in danger due to individuals "who exploit social tensions for immediate political advantage." She emphasized that the European project faces the risk of "implosion" ahead of the upcoming European parliamentary elections. 

Meanwhile, a shift in politics in Europe has created a scare for mainstream parties as more pro-Palestine supporters are gearing toward left-leaning parties with a more vocal pro-Palestine stance. 

Blandine Chelini-Pont, a historian at Aix-Marseille University, said that far-left La France Insoumise (LFI) is seeking to ban arms and impose sanctions on "Israel" while recognizing a Palestinian state, as well as refrain from calling the Palestinian Resistance Hamas a "terrorist group", thus attracting Muslim and radical-left voters.
 
LFI lawmaker Sebastien Delogu told Reuters, "Some will say we are surfing on an electorate but who are we speaking about? These are citizens of this country who do not have a racist vision of society."

  • Germany
  • France
  • European Union
  • EU
  • EU elections
  • European Parliament
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • Olaf Scholz
  • Marine Le Pen
  • Georgia Meloni
  • Netherlands
  • Italy
  • Austria

Most Read

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
ap

'Israel' pays influencers $7K per post to whitewash Gaza genocide

  • Politics
  • 1 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
In this May 20, 20201, photo Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the head of US Central Command, arrives in Baghdad, Iraq (AP)
Politics

US spent $33 billion on post-Oct.7 genocide, wars, Brown Uni reports

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., holds a news conference to mark the seventh day of the government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. (AP)
Politics

US troops face unpaid wages as government shutdown drags on

Mourners wave Hezbollah and a Palestinian flag during the funeral of Hezbollah former leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and his successor Sayyed Hashem Safieddine in the Sports City Stadium in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, February 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Hezbollah voices support for Gaza, Resistance on October 7 anniversary

Al-Aqsa Flood restored Palestinian cause on the global stage: Hamas
Politics

Al-Aqsa Flood restored Palestinian cause on the global stage: Hamas

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS