Ivan Krastev writes:

It was a turning point but Europe did not turn.

Despite fears of a right-wing populist surge, a majority of voters across the Continent cast their ballots for mainstream, pro-European Union parties in the recent elections for the European Parliament. The main center-right and center-left blocs have lost their majority, but they will continue to dominate the 751-member legislative body. The center has held for now.

But the anti-Brussels, nationalist far right that includes parties like Marine Le Pen’s National Rally in France and Matteo Salvini’s League in Italy, and which has received support and advice from Steve Bannon, did make serious headway. These parties, along with other euroskeptics, are expected to hold close to 25 percent of the European Parliament’s seats when the new body meets for the first time in July. The far right may not be dominant but it should now be clear to everyone that this movement is not going away any time soon. Of the five individual political parties with the biggest representation in the new European Parliament, four are anti-European Union.

Not long ago, many mainstream politicians and pundits viewed the far right as little more than a protest movement: People voted against the establishment in European elections to send a message, but no one really wanted these politicians to try their hand at governing. These parties were not seen as serious about policy; they were just playing politics.

Now, there is no choice but to admit that the populist far right is becoming a permanent feature of European politics. [Continue reading…]