In thrall to Viktor Orbán and the hard right, Europe is facing its moment of truth
GuardianJun 18
The Facts
Voters have given a boost to right-leaning parties in the European Parliament elections, as projections suggest that the mainstream center-right is on track to win most seats, while nationalist parties have made significant gains.
Based on provisional results and exit polls, the European People's Party (EPP) has gained 10 new seats to continue to be the largest grouping in the legislature with 186 members of the European Parliament (MEPs).
The Spin
Left narrative
It's concerning that far-right Eurosceptic parties have polled well in the EU elections because now — and for the next five years — they are likely to pressure centrist parties on key issues such as immigration, climate change, and defense. Hopefully, internal disputes between them will prevail and prevent a bigger impact on these policies.
Right narrative
The right has grown popular in these EU elections precisely because Europeans are tired of mass immigration and a failed globalist agenda — including green ideology. It's no coincidence that Macron was humiliated in France while Germany's center-right Christian Democrats came top after toughening the line on immigration — with the AfD second.