Far-Right and Nationalist Parties Make Gains in European Elections: Macron and Scholz Suffer Defeats, Extreme Movements Rise

Brussels, Belgium, Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium Belgium
Assita Kanko urged more mainstream parties to join forces and form a pro-European, pro-democratic alliance.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats finished behind the extreme-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party with a rise to 16.5% in projections.
European elections held on June 9, 2024 resulted in significant gains for far-right and nationalist parties.
Marine Le Pen's National Rally gained a substantial number of seats in the European Parliament, leaving Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party struggling.
These results are described as stunning defeats for Macron and Scholz, who had both campaigned on centrist and pro-European platforms.
Far-Right and Nationalist Parties Make Gains in European Elections: Macron and Scholz Suffer Defeats, Extreme Movements Rise

European elections held on June 9, 2024, resulted in significant gains for far-right and nationalist parties across Europe. The preliminary results showed a shift towards right-wing politics, with some countries experiencing record highs for these parties. This trend was particularly noticeable in France and Germany.

In France, President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party faced a significant defeat at the hands of Marine Le Pen's National Rally party. The National Rally gained a substantial number of seats in the European Parliament, leaving Macron's centrist group struggling to maintain its influence.

Similarly, in Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats finished behind the extreme-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The AfD saw a rise to 16.5% in projections, marking a significant increase from previous elections.

These results have been described as stunning defeats for Macron and Scholz, who had both campaigned on centrist and pro-European platforms. The gains made by far-right parties are seen as an indicator of voter dissatisfaction with the political mainstream in Europe.

Assita Kanko, vice-president of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), warned that ignoring citizens' concerns could give space to extreme movements. She urged more mainstream parties to join forces and form a pro-European, pro-democratic alliance.

The European People's Party (EPP), led by Manfred Weber, is expected to remain the largest grouping in Brussels. Weber has vowed to deny far-right parties any kind of influence in the European Parliament and urged mainstream parties to join forces with the EPP.

Ursula von der Leyen, a center-right German politician, is predicted to seek a second term as European Commission president. The outcome of these elections could have significant implications for Europe's political landscape and its future direction.



Confidence

100%

No Doubts Found At Time Of Publication

Sources

76%

  • Unique Points
    • French President Emmanuel Macron announced early legislative elections after his party suffered a heavy defeat from the far-right National Rally party.
    • German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic party fell behind the extreme-right Alternative for Germany in projections, with AfD rising to 16.5%.
  • Accuracy
    • Initial projections provided by the European Union indicate far-right parties have made big gains at the European Parliament.
  • Deception (30%)
    The article makes editorializing statements and uses emotional manipulation by describing the far-right parties' gains as 'stunning defeats' for Macron and Scholz. It also engages in sensationalism by using phrases like 'world's second-biggest exercise in democracy,' 'marathon election,' and 'rising to second place.' The article selectively reports details that support the narrative of far-right gains, while ignoring any potential counter-evidence or context that may mitigate the significance of these gains. For example, it mentions that Macron's Renew group lost big but does not mention any specific losses or context for why this might have happened. The article also makes no attempt to disclose sources for the initial projections mentioned in the article.
    • Far-right parties made major gains at the European Union parliamentary elections Sunday, dealing stunning defeats to two of the bloc’s most important leaders: French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
    • Macron immediately dissolved the national parliament and called for new elections, a massive political risk since his party could suffer more losses, hobbling the rest of his presidential term that ends in 2027.
    • Scholz suffered such an ignominious fate that his long-established Social Democratic party fell behind the extreme-right Alternative for Germany, which surged into second place.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains several instances of inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to emotion. The author uses phrases like 'stunning defeats', 'massive political risk', 'thud of defeat', and 'ignominious fate' to evoke strong emotions in the reader. These phrases are not necessary for reporting the facts and therefore constitute fallacious use of language.
    • The National Rally party of Marine Le Pen dominated the polls to such an extent that Macron immediately dissolved the national parliament and called for new elections, a massive political risk since his party could suffer more losses, hobbling the rest of his presidential term that ends in 2027.
    • Le Pen was delighted to accept the challenge. ‘We’re ready to turn the country around, ready to defend the interests of the French, ready to put an end to mass immigration’, she said.
    • Macron acknowledged the thud of defeat. ‘I’ve heard your message, your concerns, and I won’t leave them unanswered’, he said.
    • Scholz suffered such an ignominious fate that his long-established Social Democratic party fell behind the extreme-right Alternative for Germany, which surged into second place.
    • A jubilant AfD leader Alice Weidel said, ‘After all the prophecies of doom, after the barrage of the last few weeks, we are the second strongest force.’
  • Bias (80%)
    The article reports on the gains made by far-right parties in the European Union parliamentary elections and their impact on French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The author does not express any bias towards or against these parties or their leaders, but the language used to describe their victories and the consequences for Macron and Scholz could be perceived as negative. For example, 'stunning defeats' and 'ignominious fate' are used to describe Macron and Scholz's losses. Additionally, quotes from far-right leaders like Marine Le Pen are presented without criticism or qualification.
    • In France, President Emmanuel Macron announced he was calling early legislative elections after his party suffered a heavy defeat from the far-right National Rally party.
      • Le Pen was delighted to accept the challenge. ‘We’re ready to turn the country around, ready to defend the interests of the French, ready to put an end to mass immigration’, she said.
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      96%

      • Unique Points
        • Assita Kanko, vice-president of European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), says ignoring citizens’ concerns gives space to extreme movements
        • Turnout in European parliament elections estimated at 51%
      • Accuracy
        • European People's Party (EPP) predicted to remain the largest grouping in European Parliament
        • French President Emmanuel Macron announced early legislative elections after his party suffered a heavy defeat from the far-right National Rally party.
        • German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic party fell behind the extreme-right Alternative for Germany in projections, with AfD rising to 16.5%.
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      99%

      • Unique Points
        • European Parliament elections showed gains for right-wing parties with nationalist and anti-immigrant policy agendas.
        • President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party got battered by the National Rally of Marine Le Pen in France.
        • Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats finished behind Alternative for Germany in Germany.
      • Accuracy
        • Far-right wins were significant in France and Germany.
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      76%

      • Unique Points
        • Europe's far-right parties produced strong or record results in the European Union's parliamentary elections.
        • Ursula von der Leyen, a center-right German politician, is expected to seek a second term as European Commission president.
      • Accuracy
        • French President Emmanuel Macron announced early legislative elections after his party suffered a heavy defeat from the far-right National Rally party.
        • German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic party fell behind the extreme-right Alternative for Germany in projections, with AfD rising to 16.5%.
      • Deception (30%)
        The article contains editorializing and pontification by the author. The author expresses his opinion that 'Europe is not just hospitable to illiberal nationalism, but possibly a crucible for a new age of right-wing politics in the West.' He also states that 'The European Union, long hailed as a post-national bastion of liberal values, is not just hospitable to illiberal nationalism, but possibly a crucible for a new age of right-wing politics in the West.' These statements are not facts and are the author's interpretation and opinion. The article also contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position. For example, it states 'The different far-right parties across Europe have a shared position on identity, immigration and Islam, and it's also where they're increasingly converging with the center right.' This statement is not complete as it does not mention that there are also significant differences between far-right parties on other issues. The article also contains emotional manipulation as it uses phrases such as 'grim reading for centrist stalwarts' and 'chastening so dire'.
        • The different far-right parties across Europe have a shared position on identity, immigration and Islam, and it's also where they're increasingly converging with the center right.
        • Europe is not just hospitable to illiberal nationalism, but possibly a crucible for a new age of right-wing politics in the West.
      • Fallacies (85%)
        The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting Nicholas Vinocur and Politico's analysis of the trend towards conservative nationalism. However, this does not constitute a logical fallacy on its own as it is a valid use of evidence to support an argument. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the European Union elections results as 'grim reading' for centrist parties and implying that the European Union is becoming a 'crucible for a new age of right-wing politics in the West'. This can be considered an informal fallacy as it is an emotional appeal rather than a logical one. The author also makes several dichotomous depictions by contrasting 'liberal values' with 'illiberal nationalism', and 'the European Union's aggressive climate policies' with the far-right parties' positions on these issues.
        • ]The European Union, long hailed as a post-national bastion of liberal values, is not just hospitable to illiberal nationalism, but possibly a crucible for a new age of right-wing politics in the West.[
        • The different far-right parties across Europe have a shared position on identity, immigration and Islam, and it's also where they're increasingly converging with the center right.
        • No matter the open internal borders of the Schengen Zone, the European Union is working hard to fortify its external barriers to asylum-seeking migrants.
      • Bias (80%)
        The author expresses a clear bias towards the far-right political parties and their success in European elections. He describes their gains as 'definitive arrival' and 'arrival of a new age of right-wing politics in the West'. He also implies that these parties are a threat to liberal values by stating that 'The European Union, long hailed as a post-national bastion of liberal values, is not just hospitable to illiberal nationalism, but possibly a crucible for a new age of right-wing politics in the West.' The author also uses language that depicts these parties as extreme or beyond the pale by referring to them as 'extremist factions' and 'putative descendants of Europe’s fascist movements'. He also implies that they are a danger to centrist politicians such as French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
        • Political firewalls against extremist factions once considered beyond the pale tumbled from country to country.
          • The European Union, long hailed as a post-national bastion of liberal values, is not just hospitable to illiberal nationalism, but possibly a crucible for a new age of right-wing politics in the West.
            • The far right, headlines blared, was on the march.
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication