Recent electoral contests across Europe confirm significant European far-right gains. These parties have solidified their presence in national parliaments and governments, altering the political fabric of the continent.
In Germany, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerged as the main opposition party in the February 2025 legislative elections. It secured 20.8 percent of the vote, placing second behind Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservatives. Moreover, the anti-immigration party achieved a historic victory in Saxony-Anhalt’s September 2024 regional election.
The AfD also topped the September 2024 regional election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. However, the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) is expected to maintain control, forming a coalition with left-wing allies. Furthermore, the AfD openly expresses sympathy for Russia and former US President Donald Trump.
Italy witnessed a major shift as Giorgia Meloni, leader of the post-fascist Brothers of Italy party, has headed the government since October 2022. Her party achieved a historic victory in the 2022 legislative elections. Her coalition includes Matteo Salvini’s far-right League and the conservative Forza Italia.
Austria’s Freedom Party (FPO), founded by former Nazis, secured first place in the September 2024 legislative elections. Despite this, the FPO failed to find sufficient coalition partners to form a government. Meanwhile, in Switzerland, the radical-right Swiss People’s Party (SVP) consolidated its position as the largest party in the National Council after the October 2023 elections, holding 62 of 200 seats.
France also observed a notable advance for the National Rally in 2024. It became the largest single party by seats in the lower house of parliament. Nevertheless, an alliance of rival parties curbed its legislative power. Party figure Marine Le Pen is currently the frontrunner for the spring 2027 presidential election, according to opinion polls.
Spain’s far-right Vox party made substantial gains in regional elections. Consequently, it has partnered with the conservative Popular Party (PP) to govern or collaborate in several regions. Portugal’s far-right Chega (“Enough”) party also surpassed 20 percent of the vote for the first time in the May 2025 legislative elections. The minority right-wing government has since sought its support on key legislation, including nationality and naturalisation reforms.
Eight months later, Chega leader Andre Ventura reached the second round of the presidential election. He was ultimately defeated by moderate Socialist Antonio Jose Seguro. In Belgium, the far-right Vlaams Belang dramatically increased its representation in the June 2024 elections. It now holds 31 of 124 seats in the Flemish parliament and 20 of 150 at the federal level, becoming the largest opposition group in both assemblies.
The Netherlands saw far-right leader Geert Wilders’ PVV party narrowly lose the November 2025 legislative elections. However, the Dutch far-right remains a potent force. Other parties on this political spectrum, Forum for Democracy and JA21, also made significant electoral gains. In Britain, Nigel Farage’s anti-immigration Reform UK secured 14 percent of the vote and its first five Members of Parliament in the July 2024 general election. Farage himself was re-elected by a wide margin in a snap by-election in August 2026.
The Czech Republic’s far-right SPD party has been part of Premier Andrej Babis’s governing coalition since December 2025. SPD leader Tomio Okamura has served as the speaker of the Czech parliament since November 2025. Meanwhile, Slovakia’s nationalist Prime Minister Robert Fico, known for his Kremlin ties, returned to power in October 2023. His Smer-SD party governs in coalition with the far-right SNS.
Finland’s far-right Finns Party placed second in the April 2023 legislative elections. It now participates in the governing coalition led by conservative Petteri Orpo. In Romania, far-right AUR party leader George Simion, a prominent admirer of former US President Donald Trump, secured second place in the May 2025 presidential election. He lost to pro-European centrist Nicusor Dan.
Not all regions followed this trend; Sweden experienced an unexpected setback for the far-right Sweden Democrats (SD) in September 2024. Their support declined for the first time since their 2010 parliamentary entry, pushing them to third place. Similarly, Hungary saw ultraconservative nationalist Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party defeated in April 2026, leading to a handover of power to conservative Peter Magyar. In Poland, however, nationalist Karol Nawrocki’s election as president in June 2025, backed by the Law and Justice party (PiS), posed a challenge to the pro-European government.
