  Rise of the right

Jean-Marie Le Pen died on Tuesday at the age of 96. Having founded the far-right Front National in 1972 - the predecessor of today's Rassemblement National - he reached the runoff vote in the French presidential election in 2002. In 2011 he handed over the party leadership to his daughter Marine. What is his legacy?

Austria's President Alexander Van der Bellen has tasked the leader of the right-wing populist FPÖ, Herbert Kickl, with forming a government and starting coalition talks with the conservative ÖVP. The head of state said that he had not taken this step lightly and would ensure that the principles of the constitution are respected. Commentators discuss the ramifications.

The social democratic PSD has emerged from Romania's parliamentary elections as the strongest party with 22 percent of the vote and could now form a four-way coalition with three other traditional parties. However, three right-wing populist parties together received around 32 percent of the vote. Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court has approved the result of the first round of the presidential election, meaning that the far-right populist Călin Georgescu can compete in Sunday's runoff vote.

The far-right candidate Călin Georgescu scored a surprise victory in the first round of Romania's presidential elections. He will now go into the runoff on 8 December against the centre-right politician Elena Lasconi. One week before that, the country will elect a new parliament. Commentators examine how outsider Georgescu, who was mostly active on Tiktok before the first round, was able to secure so many votes, and what this means for the country.

Romanian voters are called to the polls to elect a new head of state this Sunday. Pollsters believe the right-wing populist AUR candidate George Simion could make it to a runoff vote on December 8 against the Social Democratic Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. Commentators zero in on Simion's chances of winning.

The right-wing populist Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) emerged as the strongest party in the Austrian parliamentary election on Sunday. It received 29.2 percent of the vote, followed by the conservative ÖVP with 26.5 percent and the Social Democrats with 21.1 percent. The current governing coalition of the ÖVP and the Greens (8 percent) has been left without a majority. Europe's press examines the reasons for the FPÖ's success, looks at potential outcomes and voices concern about the implications for Europe.

Austria elects a new National Council on Sunday. According to the polls, the right-wing populist FPÖ could emerge as the strongest force and push the conservative ÖVP into second place. Commentators examine the potential repercussions for the formation of a new government and the future of the country.

The new Dutch government, which for the first time includes ministers from the far-right PVV, presented its government programme on Friday. Two points in particular have sparked debate: the asylum law is to be partially suspended via an emergency regulation which allows more people seeking asylum protection to be turned away. And VAT on cultural and sporting events, as well as books and newspapers, is to rise from 9 to 21 percent.

The AfD's strong performance in the Saxony and Thuringia state elections poses an enormous challenge for the other parties. In view of the disastrous results of Germany's ruling coalition government, European media turn their attention to the centre-right CDU, which must now decide how to position itself vis-à-vis the victorious far-right party.

Europe's press continues to analyse the election results in the German states of Saxony and Thuringia. The far-right AfD emerged as the strongest party in Thuringia, receiving almost a third of the vote, with the conservative CDU coming second. In Saxony, the CDU won a narrow victory against the AfD. In both states, the Offices for the Protection of the Constitution has classified the AfD as a right-wing extremist organisation. The newly founded BSW party achieved double-digit results.

The European press is closely following developments ahead of Sunday's state elections in Saxony and Thuringia. Commentators are seeking explanations for the high poll ratings of the AfD, which is classified as a suspected right-wing extremist party by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, and the new Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW). There is also advice on hand for what will likely be complicated coalition negotiations after the votes are counted.

The UK saw further rioting by right-wing extremists on the weekend. The trigger was a knife attack in the seaside town of Southport in which a 17-year-old allegedly killed three girls and seriously injured several other people. Misinformation according to which the perpetrator was a Muslim asylum seeker fuelled the riots. The police had expected further riots on Wednesday, but instead thousands of people demonstrated against racism and violence in several cities.

In the Netherlands, the new right-wing government of the four-party coalition comprising the right-wing populist PVV, the conservative VVD, the centrist NSC and the protest party BBB was sworn in on Tuesday. It will be headed by the non-aligned former civil servant Dick Schoof, with ministerial posts going to right-wing populists for the first time. Commentators express a sense of foreboding.

In the first round of the parliamentary elections in France, the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) and its allies emerged as the strongest force. Ahead of the second round of voting on Sunday, the leftist alliance Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP), which came second, and the third-placed Macronist camp have withdrawn more than 200 candidates in total in order to boost each other's chances against the RN.

After the electoral victory of the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) in the first round of the parliamentary election in France, European commentators look at the potential consequences outside France. Are fundamental EU values and strategies under threat? Are the common economic policy, Western orientation and support for Ukraine at stake?

The first round of the French parliamentary elections will be held on Sunday. President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly after his party suffered heavy losses and the right-wing nationalist Rassemblement National (RN) made strong gains in the European elections. The electoral alliance New Popular Front (NFP) is running with a centre-left agenda. Europe's press is keeping a close eye on the developments in France.

In the Netherlands, the new four-party coalition led by Prime Minister Dick Schoof has presented its cabinet after months of wrangling. The main bones of contention were candidates from Geert Wilders' right-wing populist PVV, including Marjolein Faber, the designated migration minister, who is known for her far-right rhetoric. Can this government be successful?

In response to the resounding victory of the right-wing nationalist Rassemblement National (RN) in the European elections, a broad alliance of left-wing, far-left and green parties has formed in France with the aim of defeating the RN in the snap parliamentary elections called for late June and July. Among other things, the Nouveau Front populaire, or New Popular Front, wants to lower the retirement age and increase the minimum wage. Commentators are divided in their assessments.

France is in turmoil following the dramatic victory of the right-wing nationalist Rassemblement National (RN) in the European elections. President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly on Sunday and announced a snap election for 30 June and 7 July. Then on Wednesday the conservative Les Républicains (LR) party announced the expulsion of their leader Eric Ciotti after he announced his intention to work with the RN.

The rift had already been obvious for some time, and then on Thursday the AfD was excluded from the Identity and Democracy group in the EU Parliament. Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National and Matteo Salvini's Lega were the driving forces behind the move, which was reportedly triggered by remarks by the AfD's lead candidate in the EU elections, Maximilian Krah, in which he downplayed the crimes of the SS during World War II. What comes next for Europe's far right?

The 'far-right international', to use the words of the host organisation Vox, came together in Madrid at the weekend. Participants included Poland's former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Marine Le Pen, Argentinian President Javier Milei, Chega Chairman André Ventura, Giorgia Meloni (via video link) and Israeli Minister Amichai Chikli. What do they have in common - and how much clout does this supposed movement really have?

The new right-wing four-party coalition in the Netherlands has announced plans to introduce "the strictest asylum law ever". For farmers, however, there will be fewer environmental regulations under the new government programme. The coalition agreement is proof that many things will change, the leader of the right-wing populist PVV, Geert Wilders, stressed. Commentators discuss the wider implications.

The Higher Administrative Court of North Rhine-Westphalia has confirmed the ruling of a lower court and maintained the categorisation of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a suspected right-wing extremist organisation. This status allows the Office for the Protection of the Constitution to continue to use intelligence resources to monitor the AfD across Germany. Although the judgment is not yet legally binding it has reignited the debate on banning the party.

Just over a week before the European Parliament elections on 9 June, the polls predict a significant increase in votes for right-wing populist and far-right parties of the ID (Identity and Democracy) Group. Together with the ECR (European Conservatives and Reformists), which also includes the Fratelli d'Italia, they could win over a fifth of the seats. Commentators discuss the possible repercussions.

The Dutch right-wing populist leader Geert Wilders has announced he will forego the job of prime minister in order to clear the way for a right-wing coalition. Now Wilders' PVV party, the conservative-liberal VVD, the farmers' party BBB and the centrist NSC will examine the possibility of forming an "extra-parliamentary cabinet" which would be staffed by external experts, among others. What does this mean for the Netherlands and the EU?

In Portugal's snap parliamentary elections this weekend, the centre-right Aliança Democrática (AD) has won a narrow victory against the Socialists (PS), who have been in power in Portugal since 2015. However, the AD has fallen short of a parliamentary majority after the right-wing populist Chega party more than doubled its share of the vote to 18 percent and quadrupled its seats in parliament. The European press is concerned by Chega's success.

Ten weeks after Geert Wilders' right-wing populist Party for Freedom (PVV) won the elections in the Netherlands, the centrist NSC has pulled out of coalition negotiations with the PVV, the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB) and the right-wing liberal VVD of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte. However, NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt has left open the option of supporting a minority government of the remaining negotiating partners. What are the options now?

Outrage over plans for mass expulsions from Germany has led to large-scale demonstrations against right-wing extremism across the country. A glance at the commentaries shows that Europe is keeping a close eye on events in Germany as they unfold.

Following the scandal over plans for mass expulsions from Germany, the debate about banning the AfD has gained new momentum. On the weekend hundreds of thousands of people across Germany demonstrated against right-wing extremism, and in some cases explicitly against the AfD. According to public surveys, between 10 percent (in Saarland) and 34 percent (in Saxony) of the population would vote for the AfD if elections were held now. Europe's press is nonethless sceptical about a ban on the party.

The right-wing populist Chega party organised a conference on the weekend to prepare for the upcoming election campaign in Portugal. According to polls it could win around 15 percent of the vote in the snap parliamentary election on 10 March. Portuguese media analyse the reasons for the party's growing popularity and potential consequences.

According to research by the news outlet Correctiv, AfD politicians, far-right politicians, selected businesspeople and other guests met in November in a hotel near Potsdam, where they discussed plans to expel millions of people with an immigrant background. Europe's press is outraged, but sees the large demonstrations against right-wing extremism as a hopeful sign.

In the Netherlands, the new Tweede Kamer (lower house) of the Dutch parliament has been sworn in, although the question of who will form the next government remains open. Election winner Geert Wilders and his far-right PVV are seeking coalition partners, but so far he has failed to secure the necessary support. Commentators voice unease about the composition of the parliament.

Following the victory of the right-wing populist Geert Wilders and his PVV party, it is not yet clear who will form the next Dutch government. The former right-wing liberal governing party VVD and the centrist NSC have already rejected proposals to enter a governing coalition with him. Europe's press sees the success of the right-wing populist as a general trend and discusses the causes and consequences.

Today's parliamentary elections in the Netherlands are a very close race. In the latest polls, Geert Wilders' Islamophobic and right-wing populist PVV has a narrow lead against the right-wing liberal former governing party VVD and the red-green electoral alliance GL-PvdA of former EU heavyweight Frans Timmermans. Commentators fear above all a potential shift to the right.

The far-right AfD party made major gains in elections in the German states of Bavaria and Hesse on Sunday. The AfD is listed by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as suspected case of right-wing extremism. The AfD came third after the CSU and the Free Voters party in Bavaria, and second after the CDU in Hesse. Commentators wonder what this means for the federal government.

Iván Espinosa de los Monteros, co-founder and parliamentary spokesperson of Spain's far-right Vox party, has announced that he is leaving politics. Vox's performance in the general election on 23 July was very disappointing for the party, which ended up losing 19 seats. With his departure it loses one of its more moderate representatives. What does this mean for Vox and for Spain's party landscape?

At a party convention held on the weekend the German AfD selected its top candidates for the 2024 European elections. Maximilian Krah, a member of the European Parliament representing the far-right wing of the party, was elected as the lead candidate. Thomas Haldenwang, head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, has warned of growing unconstitutional tendencies. Commentators see the moderate faction as weakened and assess the situation.

The poll ratings of right-wing populist currents, some of which are in favour of their countries leaving the EU, are rising in several member states. In Poland, for example, Konfederacja could grow from the smallest to the third strongest force in this autumn's parliamentary elections. Europe's press asks how the trend should be faced.

The Spanish parliamentary elections on Sunday could usher in a change of government, according to the latest polls. If the conservative People's Party (PP) under opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo wins the most votes, with the support of the right-wing populist Vox party it could oust socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his left-wing coalition. Commentators speculate on the repercussions of this potential shift to the right.

Because of previous far-right contacts and Nazi "jokes", Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs Vilhelm Junnila of the right-wing populist party The Finns faced a vote of no confidence on Wednesday. He narrowly survived, although the Swedish People's Party of Finland, a coalition partner in the newly formed government, denied him its support. The national press takes the view that despite the motion's failure Junnila should not remain in office.

The staff of the Sunday newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche (JDD) are on strike to protest the appointment of editor-in-chief Geoffroy Lejeune, the former head of the far-right magazine Valeurs actuelles. His appointment comes as the multimedia group Vivendi - whose boss Vincent Bolloré is known for turning media into mouthpieces for right-wing polemics - is finalising its takeover of the JDD's publisher Lagardère.

Robert Sesselmann, candidate of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is listed in the 2022 report put out by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as a suspected right-wing extremist group, has won the run-off election for the office of district leader in Sonneberg, Thuringia. This is the first time the party has won such an important office in local government. Sesselmann received 52.8 percent of the vote, while the CDU candidate Jürgen Köpper, who was supported by the SPD, the Left Party, the Greens and the FDP, garnered 47.2 percent. Europe's press takes a closer look.

The new coalition government consisting of the conservative National Coalition Party, the right-wing populist Finns Party, the Swedish People's Party (RKP) and the Christian Democrats (KD) has presented its governing programme. In a bid to reduce government spending by six billion euros and thus public debt, social welfare cuts and a tighter immigration policy are on the agenda. Is it a good plan?

After the regional and local elections in May, the conservative Partido Popular (PP) is negotiating the formation of a coalition government with the far-right Vox party in several regions and municipalities. In the Valencia region a coalition has now been agreed in which Vox will probably take over three ministries. Commentators take different stances on the move, also in view of the upcoming general election.

In Spain, the conservative Popular Party (PP) won local and regional elections on 28 May with 31.5 percent of the vote, leaving Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's Socialists in second place with 28.2 percent followed by the far-right Vox party in third position. Faced with the heavy losses of the left-wing parties, Sánchez has brought forward the general election from December to 23 July. The press sees major upheavals in Spain's and Europe's party landscape.

According to the latest polls, the right-wing populist party Chega is gaining ground in Portugal, with up to 13 percent of the population saying they would vote for André Ventura's party. The national press debates whether the main opposition party, the liberal-conservative PSD, should clearly distance itself from the far right by establishing a "cordon sanitaire".

The German police launched nationwide raids on Wednesday, targeting a group from the far-right Reichsbürger ("Citizens of the Reich") scene. Around 3,000 officers searched 150 properties in several federal states and arrested 25 suspects. The group was allegedly planning a coup to abolish the current state order in Germany, and is being described as a "real threat".

The 27-year-old MEP Jordan Bardella has replaced Marine Le Pen as leader of the Rassemblement National (RN). It is the first time in the 50-year history of the right-wing populist party that it will not be led by a member of the Le Pen family. Commentators believe the change of leader is only on paper, however.

Friday October 28 marks the centenary of Mussolini's March on Rome, which brought Italy's National Fascist Party to power in 1922. A few days after the swearing-in of the new Italian government under the post-fascist Giorgia Meloni, commentators ask what remains of Mussolini's spirit in Italy and Europe - and why.

Giorgia Meloni has become Italy's first female prime minister after being sworn into office and handed the symbolic cabinet bell by her predecessor Mario Draghi on Sunday. Meloni's coalition government consists of her post-fascist Fratelli d'Italia party, Matteo Salvini's right-wing populist Lega and Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia. Commentators discuss what this pronounced shift to the right means for Europe.

Ulf Kristersson, leader of the liberal-conservative Moderate Party, became Sweden's new prime minister on Monday. His conservative coalition plans to work closely with the Sweden Democrats (SD). Migration and fighting crime are the main issues on which there is common ground among the parties. Commentators look on with concern.

The right-wing alliance led by the post-fascist Fratelli d'Italia (FdI) party will have an absolute majority in both chambers of the Italian parliament. FdI, the right-wing populist Lega and the conservative Forza Italia secured 112 of the 200 seats in the Senate and 235 of the 400 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. Commentators discuss what this means for the countries of Europe.

The right-wing bloc has won a narrow victory in Sweden's parliamentary elections. The Social Democratic head of government, Magdalena Andersson, has tended her resignation. Ulf Kristersson, leader of the Moderate Party, looks set to become the new prime minister, but to achieve a majority he needs the support of the right-wing populist Sweden Democrats. Commentators speculate on the consequences for Europe as a whole.

A victory for Giorgia Meloni's Fratelli d'Italia party - widely regarded as post-fascist - in Italy's parliamentary elections on 25 September seems increasingly likely. The party has a lead of around 25 percent in all the polls. The second-placed social democratic Partito Democratico under top candidate Enrico Letta follows with 20 to 22 percent. But unlike Meloni's party it doesn't have a strong electoral alliance behind it.

Spain's largest autonomous community, Castilla y León, has a new government: a coalition between the conservative People's Party (PP) and the far-right party Vox, which will be represented with three ministries, the parliamentary presidency and a vice-presidency. This is the first time that Vox will be in government in Spain. The national press is very divided over this development.

The far-right party Vox has made strong gains in a snap election in the central Spanish region of Castilla y León and is now third behind the conservative People's Party (PP) and the Socialists (PSOE). Vox now has 13 MPs in the regional parliament instead of just one. Spanish outlets speculate about an alliance between the conservatives and the far right.

Portugal will elect a new parliament in early elections on 30 January. According to polls, the far-right populist Chega party led by André Ventura has good chances of becoming the third strongest force in the country. So far Chega has been represented by just one MP in parliament - its leader. The national press complains that Ventura and his empty promises are receiving far too much attention.

Leading nationalists and far-right politicians from EU states have met in Warsaw at the invitation of Poland's ruling PiS party. The aim: to bring the far-right factions divided between two groups in the EU Parliament together and to hammer out plans to change the "character of the EU". Commentators discuss what this could mean for Europe.

Every year on 11 November tens of thousands of far-right sympathisers gather in Warsaw for their March of Independence to mark Poland's Independence Day, and each time the event has been a source of concern for commentators. Last year the ruling PiS party did not get involved, but this year it helped challenge a court ban on the event. The press is outraged.

Sixteen right-wing and far-right parties have signed a declaration on reforming the EU. They are demanding that Europe respect the "freedom of nations" and accuse the Commission of imposing rules on member states. They also state that this is part of their plan to form a large alliance in the EU Parliament. As things currently stand, the various parties still belong to separate groups within the Parliament.

The president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso of the conservative Partido Popular, who governs with the support of the far-right Vox party, officially began her new term on Saturday. Commentators analyse her first policy announcements after her election victory at the start of May and contemplate, with some apprehension, the prospect of Ayuso aspiring to higher office.

Europe's press is abuzz after the clear victory of Isabel Díaz Ayuso (PP) in Madrid's regional election. The incumbent regional president scored key points in the election campaign with her opposition to Spain's Covid lockdown policy and belongs to the right wing of her party which would be willing to enter a coalition with the far-right Vox.

In an open letter published in the right-wing weekly Valeurs Actuelles, a group of mostly retired generals has called on France's politicians to crack down on anti-racism, Islamism, hatred and "hordes" in the banlieues to stop France from falling apart. The leader of the far-right Rassemblement National, Marine Le Pen, has endorsed their critique. Commentators find the call completely out of line.

Marian Kotleba's far-right party L'SNS has presented a constitutional amendment to "protect the traditional family" to the Slovak parliament under which same-sex couples would be denied any right to raise children. The motion was rejected, but the national press is dismayed to see that the L'SNS secured the votes of 26 MPs from parties in the governing coalition.

After the collapse of the regional government in Murcia following a corruption scandal, centre-right coalitions are now tottering in several other Spanish regions. The Community of Madrid is now holding a snap election in which the conservative incumbent Isabel Díaz Ayuso of the PP is the favourite and if elected may form a coalition with the far-right Vox party. Commentators sound the alarm.

The Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Germany's domestic intelligence agency, now views the AfD, currently the largest opposition party in the Bundestag, as a potentially far-right organisation. This means that the entire party can be put under surveillance. So far this has only applied to certain AfD state branches. Most European media outlets welcome the move.

Following the withdrawal of his party Fidesz from the EPP group, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is looking for new allies in the European Parliament. He is scheduled to meet today with the leader of Italy's Lega party Matteo Salvini and Poland's head of government Mateusz Morawiecki (PiS) to discuss the possibility of forming an alliance. Europe's press sees little chance of the right-wing parties joining forces for the time being.

After this weekend's elections in Catalonia the Vox party has entered the regional parliament, marking the first time a far-right party has done so since 1982. Vox won 7.7 percent from a standing start, securing eleven seats and also overtaking the conservative People's Party (PP), which received only three seats. Vox's campaign focused among other things on countering the "Islamisation of Catalonia". Commentators discuss the reasons for the party's success.

Thierry Baudet, the shooting star of the right-wing populist party Forum voor Democratie (FvD) in the Netherlands, has stood down as its lead candidate and was apparently also forced to give up his party chairmanship due to internal pressure. His resignation came after it emerged on the weekend that members of the FvD's youth wing had praised Nazi books and posted anti-Semitic messages online.

The right-wing populist Sweden Democrats have made strong gains. Current surveys put them almost neck and neck with Prime Minister Stefan Löfvan's Social Democrats, with both parties polling at around 25 percent. Swedish media feel they know what is behind this shift in electoral support.

The right-wing populist AfD has made major gains in elections in the east German states of Saxony and Brandenburg, becoming the second-strongest party in the two state parliaments. Commentators speculate on the reasons for its success.

Roughly three weeks after the murder of Walter Lübcke, head of the regional government in the German city of Kassel, the presumed murderer Stephan E. has confessed to the crime and said that he acted alone and killed Lübcke because he was angry about his statements on refugee policy. Stephan E. is said to have contacts in the far-right milieu. How could things get so out of hand?

Finland's Social Democrats have won the parliamentary elections, edging out the right-wing populists and the conservatives in their first election victory since 1999. Prime Minister Sipilä's Centre Party suffered significant losses. Commentators shed light on the success of the right.

In Estonia the Centre Party led by Prime Minister Jüri Ratas, the nationalist Ekre party and the conservative Isamaa party have signed a coalition agreement. Ratas rejected a grand coalition with the Reform Party, which won the election. Some commentators are upset that he is teaming up with the far right. Others point to the contradictions in this coalition.

Andalusia was a Socialist stronghold, but Sunday's elections saw Prime Minister Sánchez's PSOE lose a considerable proportion of the vote and Vox become the first far-right party to gain seats in a Spanish parliament since the end of the France era. Commentators discuss how Vox is luring voters disappointed by the established parties.

The formation of a new government in Sweden has failed. The leader of the conservative Moderate party, Ulf Kristersson, was set to become prime minister, but because his government would have had to rely on votes of the Sweden Democrats, the Liberals and the Centre Party decided to leave the alliance. How should Sweden's political leaders handle the right-wing populists?

Journalists are still preoccupied with the election victory of the far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil's presidential elections. They fear that other countries could be infected by this development in the Latin American country and explain why Europe should also be concerned.

In the run-up to the Swedish parliamentary elections on Sunday everything points to a deadlock. Polls indicate that both the left and the conservative Alliance will have difficulties obtaining a majority. The right-wing populist Sweden Democrats look set to garner roughly 20 percent of the vote. Commentators examine what such a result could mean for the country.

An attack against discus thrower Daisy Osakue has sparked a debate about racism in Italy. The athlete suffered an eye injury when unknown assailants hurled an egg at her from a car. The UN Refugee Agency reports an increase in xenophobic attacks in the country, and the opposition says Interior Minister Matteo Salvini's refugee policy is partly to blame. Europe's press agrees.

US President Donald Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon wants to support European right-wing populists with his foundation "The Movement" in a bid to instigate a "right-wing populist revolt" in the run-up to the European elections, according to media reports. How dangerous are his plans for Europe?

The Visegrád states, Austria and Italy: a growing number of European states have governments that are pushing for the sovereignty of nation states and isolationism in migration policy. Commentators observe this trend with concern, seek the causes and propose ways to reverse it.

In the run-up to Sweden's parliamentary elections in September the red-green government is seeing its support plummet in the polls. The right-wing populist Sweden Democrats, meanwhile, are gaining ground, particularly in the north of the country. Politicians have neglected the needs of people living outside the big cities, Swedish commentators criticise.

In the first provincial parliament elections to take place since the ÖVP-FPÖ government took over in Austria, the right-wing populist FPÖ saw its share of the vote rise - despite a scandal in which its leading candidate Udo Landbauer allegedly sung songs glorifying the Nazis as a member of an academic fraternity. While some journalists are appalled, others take a more positive view, noting that at least the FPÖ wasn't able to celebrate a major triumph.

The images of the Polish Independence Day march show thousands of people dressed in black, throwing fire crackers and chanting racist and anti-Semitic slogans. Although these aggressive images are dominating the media this week the right has radically changed its style - a move that makes it no less dangerous, commentators observe.

Many of the town halls in Italy's major cities will soon be led by conservatives and right-wing parties. In local elections Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia and the right-wing populist Lega Nord have won against the social democrats of the Partito Democratico (PD) in cities like Verona and Como. Beppe Grillo's protest party Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S) also suffered major losses. Does this signal a shift to the right in Italy?

The Romanian "Coalition for the Family", an group of conservative NGOs, is upping pressure on the government. After gathering three million signatures against the introduction of same-sex marriage, the coalition is now demanding that access to abortion be restricted. Commentators are reminded of a dark chapter in the country's past.

Le Pen has done less well than expected and many already see Macron as France's next president: Europe's press breathed a sigh of relief after the first round of voting in France. For many the right-wing populists have once again been put in their place after the defeats of Hofer in Austria and Wilders in the Netherlands. But are Europe's populist movements really on the wane now?

The leader of the far-right Front National, Marine Le Pen, has disputed France's involvement in the persecution of Jews during the Second World War. France was not responsible for thousands of Jews being rounded up at Paris's Vélodrome d'Hiver before being transported to Nazi extermination camps in 1942, Le Pen said. The press criticises her statements, accusing her of making a calculated move with this comment shortly before the country's presidential elections.

Many journalists have their doubts about whether the big sigh of relief after the Dutch elections is justified, and warn liberal society not to lapse into a false sense of security after the party of xenophobe Geert Wilders fared less well than expected in the Dutch parliamentary elections. Others see contradictions in the right-wing populists' behaviour.

After the Brexit vote and Trump's election victory, observers have their eyes trained on Geert Wilders and his xenophobic PVV in the run-up to the Dutch parliamentary elections on March 15. For months the right-wing populist was ahead in the polls, but now Prime Minister Mark Rutte's right-wing liberal VVD has regained the lead. The press is eager to see how the Dutch will vote in this first key ballot in a year packed with important elections.

A new police unit has been set up in Slovakia to combat terrorism and extremism - particularly on social networks. Prime Minister Robert Fico has said that his country had underestimated the force of the "new wave" of fascism and extremism. The country's newspapers welcome the measure but criticise that it comes too late to counter the neo-Nazis in parliament.

The big names in Europe's right-wing populist scene gathered in Koblenz, Germany, on the weekend. Frauke Petry of the Alternative for Germany was also present, marking the first time a representative of the party has attended such an event. This will be the year in which "the people of continental Europe awaken", Front National leader Marine Le Pen declared. She may soon suffer a major setback, commentators observe, and call for new alliances to combat the far right.

Eurosceptic, nationalist and xenophobic movements have seen their popularity surge in the last few years in Europe. In view of this trend journalists discuss what the social democratic and left-wing politicians' response should be.

Fear of globalisation is the driving force behind right-wing populism while traditional values play less of a role, a recent survey carried out by the Bertelsmann Foundation shows. In view of the rising popularity of right-wing demagogues in many European countries and in the US, commentators discuss how to counter right-wing populism.

Using her Twitter account, Marine Le Pen was one of the first to congratulate Donald Trump. Like other far-right politicians in Europe she sees her chances as having improved after his victory. Does she now stand a better chance of becoming the next president of France? Or will she be unable to emulate Trump's success?

While Europe's right-wing populists are celebrating Donald Trump's election, leading EU politicians have pragmatically offered to cooperate with the new president. Commentators fear that politicians like Le Pen and Wilders will take inspiration from Trump's victory. Others explain why their hopes will be dashed.

The right-wing extremist party LS-Naše Slovensko and its leader Marian Kotleba won enough votes in the general election in March to enter parliament for the first time. The press is shocked that the party secured the support of 24 percent of the first-time voters. What can stop Kotleba's advance?

Three months after taking office several initiatives by the new Croatian government have made it clear that it wants to put the country on a national-conservative course. Some commentators are worried that the country is shifting to the right. For others that's just what the left wants the public to believe.

First corruption accusations against the minister for veterans' affairs, now an anti-Semitic tirade at the party conference of right-wing coalition partner HSP-AS. Croatia's government is increasingly coming under fire.

After regional elections in which the national-conservative AfD party won seats in three state parliaments the press is discussing the consequences for Europe. Some commentators fear that if Germany moves any further to the right the continent's cohesion could come to an end. Others criticise Merkel for claiming there are no alternatives to her refugee policy.