At the start of his second term, President Trump positioned himself at the crest of a global wave of conservative populism that fueled and inspired the rise of nationalist parties in the European Union and beyond.
These parties generally support hard-line stances against immigrants, “traditional” values against LGBT rights, climate regulations, and calls for business-critical politicians and agnostic criticism of parties.
To varying degrees, some, but not all, sought to weaken or undermine existence Institutions such as the courts or an independent media, critics have made efforts to erode democracy and keep authoritarians in power.
Ahead of elections next month, the broad spectrum Alternative for Germany, or AFD, is trying to broaden its appeal but still shouts Nazi slogans; Italy’s brothers who grew out of post-fascism but moderated after gaining power; National rally with more MPs than ever in France after attempt to soften image; The Freedom Party of Austria, founded by former Nazi soldiers and winning elections last fall, has embraced a combined image.
But the parties differ from each other, from Mr. Trump, in critical ways. Rhetorically, Mr. Trump falls at the extreme end of the spectrum of right-wing politicians and parties who are not shy about using overtly racist or inflammatory language to alienate immigrants and political opponents.
In some cases, such as his calls to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, Mr. Trump has promised that many of his most adoring fans in Europe stand up well.
For example, Giorgia Meloni has dialed back many of the more hardline positions since we became Prime Minister of Italy. In some ways, Ms. Meloni has provided a road map for difficult leaders who want to gain power and know their power in Europe: talk the Fiery game, but in line with the center on some issues – support Ukraine.
Mr. Trump’s opponent could provide fewer apologies and more emphatic ones. Ms. Meloni, who attended Mr. Truman’s inauguration and right-wing parties in Europe, may be tempting to watch, experts say.
“Barriers are coming down,” said Natalie Tocci, a leading Italian political scientist.
Here’s how the EU’s main conservative populist parties compare with each other and with Mr Trump on key issues:
It is divided into Ukraine
Mr. Trump has vowed to end the war immediately, though he is unclear on how he plans to do so. In Europe, support for Ukraine has pushed right-wing parties and parties with ambivalent or pro-Russian positions to its borders.
Many of them see post-Soviet Russia as a right of traditional values from Soviet Russia, but the full-scale invasion of Ukraine was, at least for some, alluring.
Hungary’s Fiderz Prime Minister Viktor Party Prime Minister Viktor Party Prime Minister Viktor Party Prime Minister Viktor and other forces “There are differences” between those who are different “,” the head of the delegation of the prime minister of Fiderz Carlo Fidanza. “The main one is Ukraine.”
Ms Meloni has positioned herself as a strong supporter of Ukraine’s strongman, Italy, along with most of its EU allies. He said it would be a “mistake” to leave Ukraine.
In Hungary, the Fiderz Party is waging a war against all military aid to Ukraine and European sanctions against Russia, which it blames for Hungary’s high inflation and generally poor economic performance. (Hungary has long depended on relatively cheap Russian energy.)
Mr. Orbán has met twice with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia since the invasion, portraying himself as a “peacekeeper” and warming Hungary’s EU and NATO allies.
The war has undermined close ties between Mr Orban, who will rule in February 2022, and Poland’s right-wing Law and Justice Party, or PIS.
But other leaders on the far right are closer to Mr. Orban’s camp. Herbert Kickl, Adam was set to become the next chancellor of Austria, and his Freedom Party built ties with Moscow and criticized European involvement in Ukraine.
Germany’s alternative candidate Alice Weidel, or AFD, which has its strongest support in East Germany, where Russia’s affinity for Russia is strong, accused Ukraine of a “very dangerous” escalation of the conflict.
In France, in 2014, the national rally received a loan of 9.4 million euros worth 12.2 million dollars from a Russian bank and The sea and the penlong time leader of the party, he once said “Admiration” of Mr. Putin.
But the Russian invasion, condemned by the national rally and its top brass, is only a little if the party is trying to position itself.
The national rally is not against sending defense equipment to Ukraine. But he has many facilities to provide Ukrainians with offensive weapons.
It also reflected some of the sanctions on Russian imports – notably energy – and denied Ukraine the possibility of joining the European Union or NATO.
Some soften the negotiations
Europe’s far-right parties have rejected Mr. Trump’s abrasive rhetoric, portraying themselves as outsiders and victims, rejecting their enemies.
Over the years, Ms. Meloni said, she has called for the ethnic replacement of Italians by immigrants and a naval blockade against illegal migrants.
Since taking office, he has toned down his tirades. On Monday, Mr Trump called the US an “invasion” by immigrants, and Ms Meloni was largely stopped short of using the word.
Still, he continued to use polarizing language to portray his party as fringe workers and underlings and to direct vitriolic attacks on the left, such as journalists, unions, judges and billionaire liberal donor George Soros. He is there too He resisted wearing it Parenting and teaching gender theory in schools.
A national rally in France has sought to distance itself from its racist, anti-Semitic and anti-gay founder, Jean-Marie Le Pen. died this month. Daughter Denizi tried to shift the party’s focus towards pocketbook issues as part of an extended effort to neutralize This.
Shift helped the party to make an effort in the elections, even as many experts to characterize just like marketing. The party’s lack of interest in protecting the French identity and its intention to change the French Constitution to limit the rights of foreigners, and this marks it as a far-right party in France.
In Germany, where voters will choose a new government at the end of February, the Alternative for the German Party is also softening its image. Ms Weidel – a lesbian economist who lives in Switzerland with her Sri Lankan partner and children – as the standard bearer in the race.
He and the Party, helped by billionaire Elon Musk, who endorses the AFD, are trying to appeal to a wider audience. But they say very different things to different audiences.
Parts of the AFD are officially classified as extremist by the German government. But Ms Weidel hit back at Mr Musk saying the AFD was a “conservative libertarian party”.
A few days later, members of the AFD party welcomed Mrs. Weidel with “Alice for Alice”. A crime to be used in Germany now.
Some parties did not soften their tone at all. In Austria, the Freedom Party gained ground in recent elections after ramping up its confrontational language criticizing immigrants and Islam.
Party members, including Mr. Kickl, were enthralled in chants with Nazi Echoes. The Freedom Party campaigned on a promise that Mr Kicklin would be “Volkskanzler” – “People’s Chancellor” – a term used by Hitler.
Immigration nuances
Mr. Trump has vowed to deport every one of the millions of immigrants who remain in the United States illegally. While immigration is at the heart of these parties’ agendas in Europe, they have different views on how to tackle it.
The AFD has vowed to screen some recent migrants to Germany who have committed crimes but not others who have learned or otherwise mastered the German language.
In Hungary, Fiderez dismissed migrants as a threat to public health and potential terrorists.
Ms Meloni said she would only oppose illegal immigration and acknowledged the need for legal immigration. A presented The much-controversial plan to resettle asylum seekers in Albania While their cases were being heard, they supported legislation to disperse migrants from the regions they had sent migrants to other European Union nations for the first time (such as Italy and Greece).
In countries farther from the coast, other nationalist leaders opposed the idea.
In France, a national rally wants to drastically reduce immigration. Abolish birth citizenshipThey prioritize French people over asylum-seekers to apply abroad, or even legal migrants for social benefits and subsidized housing.
The party argues that it is necessary to cut funding to other areas such as reducing immigration, health services and protecting the French identity.
Jim Tankersley reported from Berlin, Emma Bubola from Rome, Andrew Higgins from Warsaw and Aurelien From Paris.
