Europe’s democracies face a growing far-right threat

Published: 09 September 2026.The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Europe’s liberal democracies are facing a renewed political challenge as far-right parties gain electoral ground, nationalist movements strengthen their influence and political forces in Europe increasingly intersect with ideological currents emerging from the United States and Russia.

For decades, Europe was widely associated with liberal internationalism, democratic cooperation and the belief that political differences could be managed through tolerance and compromise. That confidence helped shape the European project and encouraged countries that had once been divided by war and nationalism to pursue closer political and economic integration.

Today, however, that confidence is under growing pressure.

The latest warning signs have emerged from Germany, where the Alternative for Germany, or AfD, secured a major electoral victory in Saxony-Anhalt. The result has attracted particular attention because of Germany’s historical experience with authoritarianism and fascism and its postwar efforts to build strong democratic safeguards against political extremism.

The AfD’s success has intensified debate over the direction of German politics and the wider future of European democracy. Critics of the party argue that its nationalist rhetoric and positions on immigration represent a direct challenge to Germany’s postwar political culture.

The party’s advance also highlights the broader transformation taking place across Europe, where movements once considered politically marginal have increasingly entered mainstream political competition.

In France, Marine Le Pen’s National Rally has spent years attempting to present itself as a more respectable political force. The party has sought to distance itself from some of the most openly extreme elements of the European far right while maintaining its strong opposition to immigration and its emphasis on national sovereignty.

The AfD’s rise has nevertheless created difficulties for that strategy. The German party remains considerably more controversial in some European political circles, particularly because of accusations that parts of its rhetoric and political programme cross boundaries that mainstream nationalist parties have sought to avoid.

The divide has also become increasingly visible across the Atlantic.

Elon Musk has publicly supported the AfD, using his enormous influence on social media to promote messages favourable to the German party. His involvement illustrates how political movements in Europe are now operating within an international digital environment in which influential figures outside Europe can amplify domestic political campaigns.

US Vice-President JD Vance also met AfD co-leader Alice Weidel during a visit to Munich last year. The meeting was viewed as another indication of the changing relationship between sections of the American right and European nationalist movements.

Donald Trump’s administration has also adopted rhetoric that places greater emphasis on supporting nationalist and so-called patriotic movements in Europe. This has raised concerns among critics who believe that American political influence could contribute to the weakening of liberal democratic norms across the continent.

Britain has experienced its own version of this political shift.

Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK and one of the most prominent figures behind Brexit, has long maintained close ideological connections with Trump and other figures on the American right. Yet the changing political landscape has created a more complicated environment for Farage.

Other groups and individuals positioned further to the right have increasingly competed for attention within the wider nationalist movement. That has made it more difficult for Farage to combine strong anti-immigration politics with an attempt to present himself as a conventional mainstream political figure.

His relationship with the AfD has also evolved.

Farage once appeared at an AfD rally, but he has since described the German party as a “mixed bag”. He has indicated that some of its cultural positions are acceptable while expressing criticism of its approach to authoritarian leaders and Russia.

The issue of Vladimir Putin has become an important dividing line within the European right.

Some nationalist movements have expressed admiration or sympathy towards the Russian president, while others have attempted to distance themselves from Moscow. The question has become particularly sensitive following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting security crisis across Europe.

Britain has experienced its own controversies involving political figures and alleged Russian influence. Former Reform UK Wales leader Nathan Gill was jailed after being convicted of accepting bribes in exchange for making pro-Russian statements while serving as a member of the European Parliament.

Such cases have contributed to concerns about the relationship between political extremism, foreign influence and disinformation.

The challenge is not limited to the political right. Russian propaganda has also found audiences among parts of the political left, demonstrating that susceptibility to foreign narratives can cross traditional ideological boundaries.

Yet Britain remains comparatively resistant to openly pro-Putin politics. Public opinion towards Trump is also weaker than among some supporters of Reform UK, although polling has indicated that Trump is viewed more favourably by Reform voters than by the British public as a whole.

Farage’s political strategy has increasingly focused on domestic issues, particularly immigration. At Reform UK’s recent annual conference, questions about Britain’s international position and its relationship with the wider world received comparatively little attention.

One notable moment came with the appearance of Jordan Bardella, the young French politician and close ally of Marine Le Pen. Bardella and Farage signed an agreement focused on tackling small-boat crossings in the English Channel.

The agreement was quickly criticised in France, with opponents accusing Bardella of making concessions to British interests. The prospect of a future French government led by the far right adopting policies specifically designed to accommodate British demands remains highly uncertain.

The growing links between European nationalist movements therefore contain an inherent contradiction.

Nationalist politics emphasises sovereignty and national interest, yet many of these movements are increasingly connected through international political networks, social media campaigns and shared ideological causes.

Far-right movements across Europe are not necessarily united on every issue. Their nationalist instincts can create rivalry as much as cooperation. Political leaders competing for domestic influence may have little interest in subordinating their national ambitions to a broader international movement.

This fragmentation could provide an opportunity for liberal democratic forces.

Europe’s political future is not predetermined. The rise of nationalist parties does not automatically mean the collapse of democratic institutions or the end of European cooperation.

The continent has faced political crises before and has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to adapt. Democratic institutions, independent courts, free media, civil society organisations and political parties committed to pluralism remain important counterweights to extremist movements.

The central challenge is whether those institutions can respond effectively before political polarisation becomes deeply entrenched.

The rise of the far right has been driven by a combination of factors, including concerns over immigration, economic insecurity, distrust of established political parties, cultural divisions and frustration with government institutions. Addressing those concerns will require more than simply condemning nationalist movements.

Mainstream democratic parties must also convince voters that liberal democracy can deliver security, economic opportunity and effective government.

The danger is that political complacency could allow increasingly radical ideas to become normalised. Once extremist rhetoric becomes part of everyday political discourse, positions that previously appeared unacceptable can gradually become easier to defend.

At the same time, Europe’s democratic forces should not assume that every nationalist voter is committed to authoritarianism. Political coalitions can change, and voters can move between parties when circumstances change.

The European project has survived major political and economic crises because cooperation has repeatedly proved more useful than confrontation. Its future will depend on whether that lesson remains persuasive to a new generation.

The rise of the AfD, the growing influence of nationalist parties elsewhere in Europe and the increasing involvement of American political figures and technology billionaires demonstrate that the political landscape is changing rapidly.

But the outcome remains uncertain.

Nationalist movements may continue to expand, or internal divisions may limit their ability to translate electoral victories into lasting political transformation. Liberal democratic parties may regain support if they address voters’ concerns more effectively and rebuild trust.

Europe therefore faces a choice rather than an inevitable fate.

The continent has already witnessed the consequences of political extremism, nationalism and the destruction of democratic safeguards. Its democratic institutions now face another test.

The warning signs are visible, but the final outcome has not been decided. European democracies still have the ability to strengthen liberal values, protect political pluralism and resist the forces seeking to replace cooperation with confrontation.

The question is whether they will act before the political space for doing so becomes significantly narrower.