A political earthquake shakes Europe: rise of the far right and challenges for governance

The recent elections to the European Parliament have triggered a political earthquake in France and have highlighted the growing power of the far right in several countries of the European Union. The results, marked by a strong advance of parties like the National Rally in France, have led President Emmanuel Macron to announce the calling of early legislative elections in the country. The far-right party National Rally achieved a resounding victory in France, obtaining twice as many votes as the alliance led by Macron. This result has shocked the French political class, generating a deep impact on the national scene and motivating the decision to bring forward the legislative elections to address the country's new political reality. In Germany, the far right also experienced a notable growth, with the AfD party positioning itself as the second political force in the European elections, behind the conservative CDU-CSU alliance. This scenario was a setback for the social democratic party, whose leader, Olaf Scholz, suffered the worst result in the party's history. In Austria, the far-right FPO party obtained significant support in the European elections, becoming the most voted political force in the country. Meanwhile, in Italy, the post-fascist Brothers of Italy party, led by Giorgia Meloni, also had a notable performance in the elections, according to exit polls. In response to this situation, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, called for building a containment barrier against "extremes" from the left and right in European politics. Despite the advance of the far right, the European People's Party remained the strongest political group in the European Parliament, highlighting the importance of maintaining a majority that allows governance in the EU. Although the sum of the moderate right, social democrats, and centrist liberals remains the majority in the European Parliament, it is evident that the arrival of new political actors and the strengthening of the far right pose a challenge to stability and consensus in the European legislative sphere. Political fragmentation and the diversity of positions represented in the Parliament raise questions about the ability to reach agreements on crucial issues for the European Union. In this context, the need to build bridges and promote dialogue among different political forces becomes crucial to ensure the cohesion and effective functioning of European institutions. The division into political blocs, especially in the far-right spectrum, reflects the complexity of the political reality in Europe and the importance of finding common ground to address the common challenges facing the region. The European elections have shaken the political landscape in several countries of the European Union, demonstrating a significant growth of the far right and posing new challenges for governance and cooperation in the community sphere. Amidst this scenario of transformation and political reconfiguration, a joint effort is needed to strengthen democracy, pluralism, and the fundamental values that underpin the European project. The response to these changes must be constructive, inclusive, and aimed at finding solutions that promote the well-being and prosperity of all European citizens.