The Far Right’s Vision for Europe

In many ways, Europe’s far right has already won, regardless of what happens at the ballot box in the coming months. Its parties may still quarrel among themselves, but they agree on the three big issues that will define much of the European political agenda for years to come. BERLIN—Recent events have cast European politics into sharper relief. With left-wing protests, some violent, engulfing cities from Paris to Milan to Madrid, the right has remained focused on big upcoming elections, and most mainstream parties appeared to be in retreat. It may be too soon to guess at the outcomes in Spain, France, Poland, and Italy, but there can be little doubt that far-right and populist ideas will shape the Europe that emerges from these contests. That much is clear to me after spending the past few months talking to leading “new right” politicians and strategists in France, Poland, Germany, and Italy.