Anti-immigration, right-wing shift in Europe: Germany, France and Britain cast a shadow over unity: Tokyo Shimbun TOKYO Web

Bjorn Höcke of Alternative for Germany visits the Thuringia state parliament building in Germany on the 1st (Reuters/Kyodo News)

[Kyodo News, Berlin]The xenophobic right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) made a big advance in state elections in two eastern German states. In Europe, far-right and right-wing parties critical of the European Union (EU) gained seats in the European Parliament elections, and far-right and right-wing populist parties have risen to power in France and the UK, showing a growing rightward shift. This trend is particularly noticeable in the major countries that lead Europe, raising concerns about the weakening of unity.

Right-wing and far-right parties that have made great strides in Germany, France, and the U.K. have adopted anti-immigration slogans. Many say that the influx of immigrants has led to high unemployment and lower wages, and they have expanded their support by venting dissatisfaction.

In the French National Assembly general election held in June and July, the far-right Rally National (RN), which advocates anti-immigration and anti-EU policies, came in third but won the most seats in the party’s history. In the British House of Commons general election held in July, the anti-immigration, right-wing populist party Reform UK made its presence felt by winning seats for the first time with a vote share second only to the two major parties.

While the ruling parties in Germany and France suffered major defeats in the European Parliament elections in June, the right-wing party led by Italian Prime Minister Meloni gained ground.