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Populists Surge, Centrists Criticized Amid EU Election Turmoil

10/9/2025

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Center

Populists Rise, Centrists Criticized

Right-wing populists gained ground after the 2025 European Parliament elections but fell short of expectations.
Centrists, Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission), faced criticism for complacency amid rising populism.
Czech Republic: Andrej Babiš's party won 35% of the vote, signaling a shift away from pro-Western coalitions.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned, deepening instability under President Macron.

Left

Orbán Targets Antifa

Viktor Orbán announced a crackdown on antifa, labeling it a terrorist organization, echoing Donald Trump.
Experts warn the U.S. hard-right shift is influencing far-right movements globally toward extreme policies.
Belgian and Austrian far-right parties echoed Orbán, while the UK Reform Party pursues MAGA-like policies.
Activists urge pro-democracy groups to learn from each other, citing Poland's electoral victory.

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Populists Rise, Centrists Criticized

Right-wing populists gained ground after the 2025 European Parliament elections but fell short of expectations.
Centrists, Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission), faced criticism for complacency amid rising populism.
Czech Republic: Andrej Babiš's party won 35% of the vote, signaling a shift away from pro-Western coalitions.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned, deepening instability under President Macron.

1 / 2