Why more and more Europeans start leaning towards the right

The European right is gaining electoral momentum

One report which pooled 150 political scientists analysing casting decisions from pro-right voters within the last 30 years found staggering results in favour of nationalist movements. 

Roughly one in four European voters now cast for right-winged and far-right parties within regional and general elections.

The analysis found that far-right parties in 31 European countries have risen to more than 23% in their latest general elections from 10% a decade ago, and a sharp contrast to the 5% in 1995.

Matthijs Rooduijn, political scientist at the University of Amsterdam and leader of the research, conducted a PopuList survey, finding that 30% of participants would vote for anti-establishment movements.

“When we started the PopuList project in 2018, the key finding was that one in four Europeans were voting for populist parties, mostly far-left and far-right,” Rooduijn said. 

“Now one in four are voting for far-right parties, mostly populist. It’s a big shift.”

The research points to these movements making gains between 2023 and 2025, with notable nations such as France, the UK and more recently, Germany.

Based on latest elections, how far-right parties are looking like in 2026 

Belgium’s Vlaams Belang (VB) holds 14% in national elections compared to its previous 12%. But the country also divides its elections in the two French speaking and Flemish regions, with 1 in four Flanders voting for (VB).

Georgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d’Italia) jumped from 4% in 2018 to 26% in the latest elections, leading the right-wing coalition to power, its first since post-fascist roots led the nation.

France’s Rassemblement National (RN) led by Marine Le Pen has reached the second round of national elections for two years in a row, and is looking to repeat the same trajectory this time around. 

However, Le Pen is leading polls coming in as the favourite to take over Macron’s presidency and enter the Élysée Palace once and for all. 

Le Pen’s RN surged from 19% to 37% to become the country’s largest single party in the French parliament. 

Across the channel, our very own Reform UK boosted itself from 2% in 2019 (with Brexit and all that), to 14% in 2024, and to 23% in the most recent polls.

Despite Reform showing signs of downfall, Nigel Farage’s party still keeps a stronghold on UK politics.

Lastly, Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) have gained momentum, doubling their votes from 10% to 21% in 2025.

More recently, the far-right German party has come out as resounding favourites in Mecklenburg with 38% or votes, which came after an overwhelming win in Saxony-Anhalt, securing 44% of votes.

How other European right-wingers are looking like:

• Austria’s Freiheitliche Partei Österreich (FPÖ) jumped from 16% to 24% in their 2024 Elections
• Portugal’s Chega! (‘Enough!’) rose from 7% to 18% in 2024
• Czechia’s ANO (‘YES‘) has been at the helm with 27% in 2021 to 34% in 2025

Rooduijn emphasises that this isn’t a trend or a sudden appearance, but that it has been a boiling pot of parties pulling themselves apart since the last decades. 

“It’s been under way for decades, and accelerating recently,” said Rooduijn. “It’s important to emphasise this isn’t a sudden thing.”

He also ties the sudden growth as parties finding a good balance with current media. 

“The bigger and more successful they get, the more ‘normal’ they become.

“That’s helped by the media, and by mainstream parties embracing their ideas.”