The recent European elections presented the increase in
far-right parties. The most significant being the triumph of the Front National
party in France. Le Pen described the votes as a ‘France for the French’,
calling on Hollande to dissolve the French government. The win shocked many
students in France and led to an all out protest denouncing Le Pen and her
party. Many slogans held the sign: Dear Europe, we are sorry. This was coupled
with UKIP coming out as the winning party for England. The key issues that both
parties seemed to echo was anti-immigration; which is ironic as both are former
colonising countries, which aimed to have the largest number of allies, so rather
than allowing the countries that fought alongside them sovereignty, they are being
forced out.
The gradual dissatisfaction with the EU is problematic. As European
countries that claim multiculturalism are voting for far-right parties that not
only discriminate but also refuse to vote. With voter apathy being at an all time high it’s
no wonder that these parties were voted in. In conjunction with this, times of
hardship present extremism, explicitly displayed in Greece. The EU is presented as being the driving
factor for the rise of extremism, issuing a cry for change either in home countries
or the make –up of the European Parliament.
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