In the recent European Union Parliament elections, right-wing parties emerged as the strongest performers, with many of their new seats expected to come at the expense of hard-line greens and their liberal allies. The composition of the next EU Parliament is predicted to have a significantly reduced influence from radical environmentalist leftists and their fellow travelers in the Liberal group.
The establishment conservative group is projected to gain 14 new seats, while various conviction-right groups look to pick up seats at the expense of expressly globalist parties. For example, France’s RN and Germany’s AfD are expected to secure a combined total of 17 new seats. In contrast, the Liberal ‘renew’ group is predicted to lose 17 seats, while the Greens-EFA are expected to fall by a considerable 21 seats.
The decline in support for hard-line Green politics can be attributed to the energy crisis and the high costs associated with alternative energy projects. Voters have likely concluded that this is not an ideal time to cut off reliable power sources amidst soaring energy bills. Furthermore, the actions of Green politicians once in power have made headlines across Europe, potentially damaging trust among voters in the competence of Green parties to govern.
The rushed total turn-off of nuclear power in Germany during the Ukraine War energy crisis serves as a prime example of the rise and fall of the Green movement in Europe. This has been felt most strongly among German young voters, who have shifted their voting preferences from the environmentally focused Greens to centrist conservatives and populist parties.
A major global survey last month caught this shift in attitudes across Europe, with ‘reducing immigration’ overtaking ‘fighting climate change’ as a priority for European voters. This change in public sentiment likely contributed to the right-wing populist AfD securing second place in Germany, despite facing internal and external challenges that had impacted its performance.
Overall, the recent EU Parliament elections have demonstrated a significant shift in voter preferences, with right-wing parties gaining ground at the expense of hard-line green and liberal parties. This change can be attributed to factors such as the energy crisis, the actions of Green politicians once in power, and a general shift in public priorities across Europe.